THE DAY AFTER

Good morning on this rainy day after Christmas!

What a beautiful day yesterday was! Blessed time with my son and family and friends. My husband read the Christmas story and prayed and thanked God after we opened presents. That is always so special when he does that. God is so good all the time. No, better than good, great, awesome, wonderful Counselor, almighty God, Prince of peace. We can never praise Him and thank Him enough. He really deserves more than we can give.

We found a Christian channel on TV that had a beautiful fireplace with stockings hung, on the screen, playing Christmas hymns and carols most of the day. That was really cool. New toys were slung all over the house and good food abounded. We had a special young friend who came to dinner that moved here from Idaho to go to school in Chattanooga, and then graduated, found a job here and lives here without her family. That has got to be hard. But we have done that. We moved away from our families in California 21 years ago and we are still here. That was really hard but the best move for a young family.

So, today what will we do? The plan is to go shopping. But it is supposed to rain at least this morning anyway. My husband will go back to work. I really need to clean up my house which is really hard to do with toys still slung around and two active little boys bouncing around. But you know what? I would rather have the boys and the toys bouncing around than just me in my house any day. I don't get to see them that often so that is always a blessing for me. As I said the other day, children are a blessing from God, and grandchildren are an extra special blessing especially at my age.

So, we hope you had a blessed, peace-filled Christmas Day! Whether you’ve never read the Christmas story in the Bible or have heard it a thousand times, take a few moments one last time this Christmas to reflect on the promise of Jesus Christ—and the fulfillment of that promise—in Isaiah 9:6-7 and Luke 2. It would never hurt to read it again and again throughout the year but in case you don't, do it one last time this Christmas.

Just think in a matter of days, it will be 2013. A new year, a new day will dawn. There will be a lot of changes I would imagine with the economy the way it is. I have heard it said that life is going to change dramatically for Americans in the next few years. If that is the case, what can we do? 

First of all, we need to give our lives totally and completely to Jesus. We need to live for Him and trust Him with all our being. We don't need to worry about anything because God is in control. He has a plan, He has our backs. He loves us even when we think that no one else does, when we have no one but ourselves, when we do wrong. He loves us anyway. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his 
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him 
shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

And hope does not put us to shame, because 
God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5

Follow God’s example, therefore, 
as dearly loved children
Ephesians 5:1

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12

As the last week of 2012 dawns, let us be the imitation of Christ that people need to see so that they too will want to know what we have in Christ. May we be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love 
comes from God. Everyone who loves has 
been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait 
for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ 
to bring you to eternal life.
Jude 1:21

Have an awesome and wonderful day!

Les (lesbear)










 

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