The Fragrance of Christ

I'm sure you have had a negative experience when sharing the good news of Christ. Some people just don't want to hear about Him. Even though your concern is for their eternal life, they usually think your shoving "religion" down their throats.

To help us understand why so many have a negative reaction to our faith, the apostle Paul uses the analogy of a Roman celebration of victory. In his day, when a general returned to Rome after conquering the enemy, he made a triumphal entry and led a parade through town. he rode in a golden chariot surrounded by his officers and followed by his troops. At the end of the procession were the chained captives.

During this pageantry, clouds of inscense floated among the participants and the assembled onlookers as pagan priests carried their censors. To the conquerors, this was the sweet aroma of victory. To the captives, it was the smell of death, for they would soon be killed by wild animals in the arena.

In the same way, we are a sweet fragrance of Christ to one another as we follow in His victory over sin and death. However, to those who don't know Him as Savior, we are reminded of the judgment they dread.

Even though some people will be repulsed by us and our message, we MUST continue to share our hope with gentleness and grace (1 Peter 3:15-16). Paul hated Christians at one time, yet he would be the first to affirm that the Lord can reach a hardened heart and change a captive into a victor!

December – The month for peace

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14)

December brings a chilly, gray looking sky. Colors are muted, and cold weather seems here to stay. Winter solstice arrives toward the end of the month, with the official first day of winter. Even now, days are beginning to lengthen and we can gradually look forward to more daylight.

Though one of the coldest months on our calendar, it is one of the warmest months in our hearts. For it is the month that Jesus was born. He came into the world poor, wrapped in swaddling clothes, His bed a manger. Joseph and Mary, His parents, were far from the comfort of their home the night of His birth, having journeyed to Bethlehem to be counted in a census. Turned away from the inn, they were sent to a stable. There, among common animals, He was born.

The world was changed for all time!

This is a story told many times, but never to grow old. It rings down through centuries, always new and inspiring. For Jesus came to bring peace and love to a weary world. His words and deeds are fresh in our hearts to this very day. The joy of His birth is echoed in the love we share with others.

Sometimes the message of His birth gets lost in commercial trappings of the holiday. It becomes a time of gifts and cards and parties. But we should always remember the real reason for Christmas.

Take time during the holiday festivities to stop and think of Jesus. When His Spirit of Peace becomes a part of our lives, each day will be Christmas, and each night will hold promise of joy in the morning. So find a quiet corner and say a little prayer, a prayer of love and brotherhood for all men.
Usher the old year out by letting your faith shine like a beacon to herald the new year.

Decide right now things are going to be better for you and for your loved ones and that, with God’s help, you will work hard to make it your best year ever!

December 7th – Pearl Harbor Day, the anniversary of the Japanese attack of Pearl

Harbor in 1941, putting the United States into World War ll.

December 25th – Christmas, the birthday of Jesus, and a time for good will toward all men.

December 31st – New Year’s Eve…a time to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new year with anticipation.

The beautiful story of Christmas

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. (Luke 2: 7-14)

Personal Forecast
If you were born in December, you are ambitious and hard working. Your interests are many, and you are curious about many things. You have great self discipline, which makes you a tower of strength to those who depend on you. Don’t be too pessimistic this month. It is a good time to apply yourself, because things will work out well for you if you really try. Your faith in the Lord’s blessings will be rewarded!

A Prayer for December
Dear Lord, I pray now for Your blessing of peace for all mankind, peace that comes from faith we can all work toward a new year of harmony and good will. May everyone be filled with joy in small things, touched by affection and good friends. A truly happy life doesn’t demand wealth or fame. It is sufficient to have enough for each day’s needs, with something left over to share with those less fortunate. It is to be surrounded by dear ones, and to make them glad. It is to love and be loved. To have all this is to be rich beyond measure, and to live in true contentment and peace of mind. This is the month we celebrate the birth of Jesus, Prince of Peace. Let me always remember His lessons, and strive to follow in His way. Teach me to think of other people with understanding, and to live each day fully and trustingly, enfolded in Your love. Please let the coming year find me strong in faith, Lord. Thank You, Precious Father. Amen and Amen.

2010 Angel Card Project

Mark is founder of the Angel Card Project. Every year lots and lots of folks come together to spread a little holiday cheer to those who need it. They join together and all send Holiday cards to the less fortunate, sick, elderly, lonely, and those who just generally need a good cheering up! Many of the people who receive cards from this project might not otherwise have anything to make them smile during the holiday season. This can even include Military Individuals! So they send them Christmas Cards to put a smile on their faces and a nice warm feeling in their hearts. This is strictly a VOLUNTEER project. Mark hosts it every year to give folks an opportunity to give a little something back at Christmas time to folks who deserve it.

We are volunteers this year, helping Mark spread the word. Won't you join us in this blessed event?

Just click on this link: http://www.countrychurchcrafts.com/angelcardproject2010
or the Angel Project Banner to learn how you too can bring a smile into someone's life, sharing Holiday love and smiles.

You Are Worth It

We should never go through life doubting our existence or believing the lie that our life does not matter. By being alive in this day and time, we should be eager for each new day that comes our way to meet its challenges and exceed what we even thought was possible. By having a quiet confidence, we are reaffirming our faith in ourselves as well as our faith in the Lord who has promised our success and our victory. Get it deep in your mind and heart that you are special and are alive today because you are meant to accomplish something that no one else has been equipped to accomplish.

If we only knew how special God sees us, we would never allow our temporary trials to get us down or discouraged. We would be true overcomers because we would see with renewed eyes how special we really are. Be encouraged to believe this truth about how special you are in God's eyes and rededicate yourself to being positive, outgoing, steadfast, faithful and unwavered in your walk with the Lord. By doing our simple part of staying in faith, the Lord will continue to do His part to lead us onto the path that is best for our life. (Psalm 139:17-18) (Psalm 103:10-12) (Philippians 3:13-14)

Place this before your eyes for easy remembrance in the future. These simple anecdotes for life do so much to remind us of what is most important in life.

YOU ARE WORTH IT

1. Do not undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

2. Do not set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

3. Do not take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

4. Do not let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past nor for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

5. Do not give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying. It is a fragile thread that binds us to each other.

6. Do not be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

7. Do not shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find.

8. The quickest way to receive love is to give love; The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.

9. Do not dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope; To be without hope is to be without purpose.

10. Do not run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been, but also where you are going.

11. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

Author Unknown

Psalm 103:10-12~He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Hebrews 13:5-6~Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Philippians 4:8-9~Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

When The Odds Are Against You

Have you ever felt backed up against the wall, with the odds stacked against you? In those situations, Christians often refuse to acknowledge an important truth. They fail to recognize that God may actually be the one who is orchestrating their challenging circumstances.

You may think, No way. God protects me from such things. The world and satan are doing this to me. Maybe. Yet maybe, God is trying to tell you something ~ and He needs to get your attention. Besides, satan can’t do anything to us unless it is sifted throught the Father’s hands first.

Again and again in Scripture, we see that the Lord uses difficulties to build faith. It’s easy to trust Him when things go our way. However, God often removes comfort and false securities from our lives to remind us that He is the true source of our strength.

Consider this passage, Judges 7:1-25, in which Gideon was ready to lead a powerful military of 32,000 men into battle against the enemy. However, the Lord stepped in three separate times, whittling the Israelite army down to less than one percent of it’s original size. Our reply would have been, “What? It’s impossible to defeat enemy forces with just 300 men!”
That is probably true, 300 men alone couldn’t do it. But the Lord can! That is the lesson of Gideon.

When the odds are not in your favor, don’t think God has abandoned you. Your friends, money and success may disappear, but they won’t win the battle anyway. Stand your ground and keep your eye on the Lord. With everything stripped away, you will be amazed at what your heavenly Father will achieve.

Gideon was undoubtedly feeling anxious. He was about to attack an enemy camp of more than 130,000 trained soldiers, and he was going to do it with just a handful of men.
In this terrifying moment God gave him encouragement.

God woke Gideon at night and strategically positioned him to overhear an enemy soldier recounting a frightful dream ~ a vision of Israelite victory!! This situation assured Gideon that the Lord was at work in this daunting situation. God graciously used this incident to show His sensitivity to one man’s faintheartedness. And He still does today.

Consider the power of a friend’s encouraging words. Think about how meaningful it is when an unexpected blessing seems to fall from heaven right in your darkest moment.
These are not “happy accidents” rather, they are precious confidence builders from God.

Our challenge is simply to remember times in the past when our loving Heavenly Father has encouraged us. Standing on the evidence of His faithfulness, we can boldly face the future, knowing we are not alone.

As inhabitants of a fallen world, we will at times face heartache, intimidation, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. As children of God, saved and secure in Christ Jesus, we are never beyond reach of our Lord’s encouragement.

Bottles and Books

You number my wanderings, put my tears into Your bottle, are they not in Your book? (Psalm 56:8)

Are you the kind of person who keeps a daily record of what you do? I journal, I write down things that take place, and needs that I pray about.

Did you know that God is keeping a journal about you? His journal is composed of bottles and books. David sais, "You number my wanderings, put my tears into Your bottle, are they not in Your book?" God watches our traveling and notices our weeping. He has His eyes on our feet and His eyes on our eyes.

God sees where we walk. He knows the paths we've been on. Some of these paths have been rather bumpy. But that can be for our good, for as a little boy once said, "The bumps are what you climb on." God sees our wanderings, and He's marked it all in His record.

God sees when we weep. He sees and records our tears and files them for future reference. Among the Semitic people, mourners often catch their tears in a little bottle, a symbol of their sorrow. Then they place the bottle in a tomb or casket.

One day God will show you the book and the bottle. He's going to say, "I knew when your heart was broken. I knew what you were going through. I've kept a record of it. Now, that sorrow shall be turned into joy." And everyone of your tears will become a jewel of beauty to the glory of God.

God knows your difficulties and sorrows. The day is coming when your sorrow will be turned to joy, and your tears will glorify Him. (Psalm 56)

God Is Faithful

"God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:9)

I use to have an answer for most problems in life. I had a lot to say on almost every subject. I now have fewer answers, and they might be reduced to the simple phrase, "God is faithful."

I don't say that lightly or without thought, I say it because I know it is true, and I have discovered that it is true no matter what is happening in my life.

With confidence, I say these words at the end of the worse statements in the world: My son doesn't want anything to do with me and I don't know what to do...but God is faithful. I lost my job aand I don't know how the bills are going to get paid...but God is faithful. My husband/wife left me and and my heart is torn to pieces...but God is faithful.

Sometimes God doesn't seem to be faithful because He doesn't answer our prayers as we expect Him to. I have had to change my expectations. If the whole purpose of my life is to learn to love God and to show His compassion to the world, then what He is doing "in" me is more important than what He is doing "for" me.

Through many tears I have discovered that if I will bring every jagged edge of my life to Him, He will continue to mold me to become the woman He called me to be.

Whatever is happening with you right now, as your sister in Christ, I urge you to meditate on these words of life: GOD IS FAITHFUL.