Christmas is in full swing. People are out and about the business of Christmas. Family and friends are coming by to visit or even share a meal. My wife has plans to cook on Saturday. I have been buying food to cook for Christmas. The presents are brought and wrapped. All preparations have been made so that Christmas day will be eventful. People are thinking about the birth of Christ. There are church services everywhere. If you can’t find one, it is your own fault. Hanukah begins Saturday. Did you know that Jesus celebrated Hanukah? Now with all the food and presents and friends, tell me what happens on January 1^st? Does everyone turn back into a pumpkin? I have seen Christmas trees in the trash a couple of days after Christmas. Do you forget about the season and go on with your life? What is Christmas for? If it isn’t to remind us who we are and where we need to be with God. Our life isn’t all about monetary gains. There is more to it than that. We need to understand why God sent Jesus to us in the first place. Jesus came to show us that we can have a relationship with God, the creator of all things. You don’t want to become a forgetful hearer. That person is doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. You want to keep the knowledge of God always in your heart and mind. I hope that you will enjoy the Christmas season and remember. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

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I am sitting here putting my thoughts together to write my next blog, my son’s big dog is sleeping on my bed snoring. Life is a joy wherever you find it. I want to write about something serious and I am laughing at the dog. I think sometimes we take ourselves too seriously and miss the joy set before us. I wonder what was going through the minds of the shepherds when they saw and heard the angels sing. Then when Gabriel told the shepherds about the Christ being born in Bethlehem. I am sure they were shaking in their boots. But they went any way. They knew that God had revealed something very special to them. When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple to be dedicated to God, there were two people in the temple who recognized the Christ. An elderly man and woman, who had served God in the temple all of their lives. You see no matter what you do in life, God has already gone before you. He has plans for each of us and will place people in our path to affect our lives. God knows the beginning and the end. That is why we can have joy in this life, because God has already seen about the details. No one can out do God. The first three fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, peace and joy. This is what God wants to give us to be able to live a good life on this earth. It says in Matthew 2:10-14 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (KJV).  I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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It seems, as of late, to have become a dirty word. The root word is disciple. It means follower or student. Discipline means to follow and learn of the teacher. Discipline is necessary in our lives. We hopefully learn it from our parents and apply it to our lives. But it isn’t always the case. Sometimes we learn it from the military or from the hard knocks of life. But discipline needs to be part of our lives so we can live a worthwhile life. The breakdown in the discipline of family values didn’t happen with yesterday’s shooting. It didn’t happen with last year’s disaster. It happened when people didn’t value in our parent’s wisdom. It happened when we decided to do our own thing. It happened when we thought we knew better than the wisdom of the ages. Rebellion is needed in our lives to get us up and out of our parent’s house. But it isn’t necessary to live a good life. To live a life of rebellion with no discipline will only led to one conclusion, death. For an example, all you have to look at is the evening news. Even in this Christmas season, there is nothing but death and destruction on the evening news. Correction will bring sorrow, but it is what is needed. Not the sorrow that you got caught, but the sorrow that leads to repentance. Repentance will show us that we need discipline in our lives. And with the sorrow, we will change for the better. In this Christmas season, remember where we came from and return to the one who help us live a disciplined life. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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The Journey determines your destiny. It is a simple statement but so true. Each of us chooses where we are going, whether it is a consciences decision or not. We have free will. That means the right to choose in our lives. It is one of the effects of sin. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, their eyes were opened and they saw as God. The real problem is that we don’t have the power to live our lives like God. That wasn’t the deal. God wasn’t going to let man live in sin with the power of God. But man, has done enough even without the power. You know the old idiom; absolute power corrupts absolutely. I have seen people seek the power of God but not God. They come together. When we seek God, we find the power. God doesn’t trust people with the power to change lives. It is a cooperative effort. As we seek God and get close to him, we ask and He does. Do you know the most surprising thing is that God will attribute His effort to correct situations to us? When we ask God and He does, He gives us the reward. My journey has been unique. No one has had a journey quite like mine. Because God so loved the world, He gave. He gave to me the world and the ability to change things. As King David said, in times of trouble or doubt, let us recount the blessings of the Lord. He knew that it would renew his faith and strengthen him in the Lord. He took a journey all through his life that led him straight to God. That is the purpose of this journey to led us straight back to God and home. So, during this Christmas season, I pray the peace of God lead you and guide you on your journey. Je veux vous souhaiter un Joyeux Noël et une Bonne et Heureuse Année.

I have been going to a local church lately. I really have enjoyed the worship service as well as the preaching. The pastor dresses in jeans and tennis shoes. My old pastor would always wear a suit. The new church is filled with young people. As God said, we become all things to all people, that some might receive the message. He has been teaching on our service to God. It has been a series on how we can find out what is God’s plan for us. And then implementing it in our lives. Of course, to implement it into the people’s lives in the world. It is interesting because when I started there was no program to help me learn about God. God took me to the backside of the desert to teach me. I took my faith and stretched it out as far as I could. Then I had to stretch my faith out further. I walk in uncharted territory. I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that God went before and protected me. It was scary sometimes because I didn’t see very many other people out there on the hairy edge. Every so often I would run across another person who was living the same life. I really couldn’t tell anyone about my adventure because they wouldn’t understand. But what really happened, is that I gain personal knowledge and a relationship with God that I don’t see very often. It all comes down to making a choice and using your faith and trusting God. Ես ուզում եմ ձեզ մաղթում Merry Christmas եւ Happy New Year:

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I have had a relationship with God for about 35 years. Most people that know me understand that this relationship is very important to me. When I first met the Lord, I didn’t know Him. I knew about Him but it wasn’t personal. I was raised in the church and was taught about God. It was a few years after I left home that I was introduced to God. I had come to the end of myself and didn’t like what I saw in the mirror. People helped me by introducing Jesus to me. At first I wasn’t sure what I had, but I knew that I needed His help if my life was ever going to straighten out. What surprised me most of all was that God is a real person with thoughts and feelings just like me. Of course, He had everything I had, but without sin. I found out that we are the image and likeness of God. That means that we were made like Him. Because God is the one who made us. But He is a real person who speaks, feels and reaches out to us. I drew near to Him as fast and as hard as I could. You know people still look at me funny when I say that God talks to me. But I would rather have God talk to me than most people. You see I’m one of His sons. And I can enter into His presence at will. In fact, He wants me to be at His side all the times. So, it is nothing to me to say that God speaks to me, because He is my Father. You have to choose to walk with God. He will not force you to join Him. When you do, you will find out that He is a real person who loves you without reserve.

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I watch people as a regular part of my day. I look for what people think and feel. It tells me what is going on inside the person. it is all part of what I asked God for in the beginning. I ask God for wisdom. It is the combination of knowledge and understanding. As I am watching people, I see something disturbing. It is the Christmas season and people are into it headlong. It is almost they have embraced it with abandon. It is funny because most of the year, they could give a flip about God and His attributes. It is like they pulled a shade to cover their soul. They are trying to hide what is really there. They don’t won’t anyone to see what is really there. It is really sad because you can’t hide from God. You ever walked up to someone and they were crying because they saw something that effected them greatly. Yesterday, when I entered into the presence of God, He was crying. It effected me so much so that I began to cry. I didn’t want to see my Father hurting. But He was sorrowful about how much people were hurting. He felt their pain and I felt His. Pain that people were feeling because they see who they are and what is really going on around them. It’s called coming to one self. Seeing yourself as God wants you to see. It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt, but it is a reality check on your road to God. But God was concerned with the pain and suffering of people. For God so loved the world, that He gave His best gift to man, Jesus. Я желаю вам счастливого Рождества и счастливого Нового года.

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It’s 9 days until Christmas. I had a birthday a few days ago. I reminded me when I was little and was waiting for Santa Clause to come. One present that I received for Christmas was a Magnus Chord organ. I played music on it for years. I kept it all this time and lost it in the flood in August. I don’t know how I feel about that or that I won’t express my feelings about it. I can remember a Prince Valiant sword and armour set, I received one Christmas. There was also a pair of pistols in a black leather holster set. I would play cowboys and Indians with my brothers. It was from an old TV show called Have gun will travel. I remember all the Christmas dinners at mommy’s. The whole family would be there. We were 8 boys. My mom and her 2 sisters had only boys. So, we went outside and played football or baseball. My grandfather wanted a baseball team. My cousin, John, died when he was just a few months old. So, there would have been 9 boys or granddaddy’s baseball team. Granddaddy didn’t live long enough to see us grow up. I think the only boy that didn’t play sports was my youngest brother. 2 of my cousins are high school coaches. We all played football, though I opted for tennis and track. When we started bringing our girlfriends to Christmas dinner, there wasn’t much space in the house. When our children became part of the celebration, the house became too small. So, we started coming in shifts, but we still ate together. So, I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams. Make memories that will carry you for a lifetime. Jeg ønsker dig en glædelig jul og et Godt Nytår.

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There is only 10 days until Christmas. I am receiving more email than I know what to do with. Sales papers are coming in by mail and newspaper. They all want one thing for me to spend my money buying their stuff. When you get married and have children you begin to understand the meaning of budgeting. Before I got married I used to buy clothes and shoes like I wanted. I would spend my money with abandon. Because nothing was too good for me. After I married, I learned to share with my wife. Then when the children came, it took all my money to see about them. I didn’t care because my family came first. As you grow up, you hopefully get the correct perspective about money. It is a necessary evil in your life. It isn’t the all and end of your life. Your family is. You and your family won’t last forever. We think sometimes that we will live on this earth forever. The only thing that is eternal is our spirit, not our body. We need to make our way on this earth while we are here. Because life is short. We have no guaranty that we live any length of time. So, as they say, make hay while the sun shines. See about your family while you can. In this Christmas season, be with your family and share your life, which includes your money. And let it be just a minor annoyance that it is. Make memories that will last for your family and yourself. God gave us this season so that we would understand who we are and where we belong in His kingdom. Έχετε ένα Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Ευτυχισμένο το Νέο Έτος.

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Most people believe if they see it with their eyes, they believe it. What we see reflects light and what we have learned and stored as memories. It isn’t always the truth. You can’t trust your eyes with the truth. Nowadays, we all have a smart phone with a camera. It takes great photos and videos. People are taking pictures of everything. Some things should be left alone. Our eyes are the most perfect camera we will ever own. But if we don’t combine it with the truth, we will never see straight in our lives. Just because you can protest doesn’t make it right or profitable for our lives. This is where seeing has to become believing. In other words, believing is seeing. If you don’t understand first, you can’t see straight. Your eyes will never know the truth. The only way to see straight is with your heart. Your heart is who you are. It is the immortal part of you that will live forever. Your heart is your mind, will and intellect. It is hard for people to forget terrible things because it is etched on their heart as a picture. And too many of these pictures will corrupt your heart. To the point where you can’t see straight or true. There is only one person who can erase or delete things imprinted on our heart. That is God Himself. He is the creator and maker of heaven and earth and all things therein. God gave us a free will. This means we can choose what we will. But it also means we are struck with what we choose until God erases it from our heart. God made it so simple for us to choose one way or the other. So, why do people keep choosing the wrong way? What profit is there in destroying our own heart? And all you have to do is ask God to help and He will. Heeft u een Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar.

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