Christmas or Xmas??? That is the question!!

Good morning everyone!! Yes, a lovely day to be alive in Jesus Christ,
our LORD and savior. God is good, all the time, all the time, God is
good!
Okay, today, a little bit of soapbox and concern. Isaiah 53:7 "He was
oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led
like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the
shearers, he did not open his mouth.
In the old testament people offered animals as sacrifices for their
sins. Here, the sinless servant of the LORD offers himself for our sins.
He is the Lamb offered for the sins of all people. The Messiah suffered
for our sake, bearing our sins to make us acceptable to God.

What can we say to such love? How will we respond to him?

In Acts 8:32 The eunuch is reading scripture and not understanding,
Phillip explains and leads him to Christ. Acts 8:32 "He was led like a
sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he
did not open his mouth." The same as Isaiah. Now, I do apologize for
this being a little long, please bear with me.

We are in the "holiday season" which in the past, and Christians refer to as the Christmas season. There are stores who WILL NOT USE
CHRISTMAS, they skirt the issue and use generic terms like "holiday"
"season" "family tree"(Lowes) and on and on. Some do not allow bell
ringers at their stores. SOoooooo, what's the big deal?

Well, nothing if Christmas is simply Xmas to you. But if you keep
Christ in Christmas then it is a big deal! We, Christians, are
supporting the pulling away from Christ in Christmas when we remain
silent and do not speak up for Christ our Saviour. Just like the Bible
talks about Christ going to the cross.....who stood up for Jesus? Jesus
did!! Did Peter? Did any of the disciples?

Well, we are crucifying Christmas if we don't speak up. To not speak up is to support what is going on in the retail world. The retail world is very interested in $$$$$$$, not you and your saviour. We are crucifying Christ again by not speaking up. When we do not speak up against, then, by our silence we are standing for!! Think about that!

If a retailer polls 1000 people and 250 Christians speak up and oppose the generic and commercialism of Christmas, and 250 Christians are silent what does this tell the retailer?
It simply says 250 against -750 for!
They don't break it down to Christian and non-Christian.
The let the numbers speak: 1000 - 250 against = 750 for!

I have attached retailers from Dr. Dobson's Focus of the Family that will give you an idea of who are in the Xmas spirit and who are in the Christmas spirit

You can go to www.family.org and click on the center
area about Christmas. Also, you can go to this address:
http://www.citizenlink.org/pdfs/fosi/Attack_on_Christmas_2007.pdf

Well thank you for listening to me today. Spread the joy of Jesus, don'twatch Christmas be slaughtered and become Xmas! Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny

Where is your source of Strength????

Good morning to one and all!!! What a great day to be alive in the LORD Jesus Christ!!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!! Yesterday we talked about commitment. Commitment=you are either IN or OUT, there is NO INBETWEEN.

So many things we hear just a little bit. A 'little bit' pregnant, speeding just 'a little bit', NO, you are either IN or OUT. When you commit God is right there with you, to run the race with you. Where does your strength come from. What is the verse, uh, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me?

Our source of strength is GOD. HE takes care of all we cannot. Being human, we have a tendency to want to take care of it, solve it, do it ourselves. We are not the one who can do this, we have to learn to give it all over to God. When we become burden, heavy laden, STOP, DROP, & PRAY!! Refocus and give it all to God.

Where is freedom?? Freedom is giving everything to God, refocus, set your priorities to do what is truly important. God give us the strength and wisdom to handle these things and HE takes care of the rest.

2 Corinthians 1:5 "Our power and ability and sufficiency are from God."

2 Corinthians 1:17 "Where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom."

Thank you for reading with me today. I pray you have the commitment to follow through, focus on what is important, give the rest to God, and use the wisdom and knowledge God gives us to handle the projects at hand. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Are you committed?? To Christ???

Good morning all!! Yes, yes, yes, a wonderful, cool, fall morning!!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good!!
You know, God is committed......committed to you, me, our neighbor, friends, family, and on and on. If HE was not....what is the purpose for living? If God was not, the purpose for living would be the big "I". Without God you may as well live for yourself.....why? Because if there is not God then it is very simple....we live-we die-end of story.

Aren't you glad God is committed to us?? Being committed is God's job to us and our job to God!! Don't be half-hearted about your commitment. Just think if God was half-hearted. Okay, He'll help this morning....BUT....doesn't want to do anything in the afternoon. Wow!! What kind of god would that be??

The Bible says to be either hot or cold....but if we are lukewarm we will be spewed from His mouth. Half-hearted is lukewarm. Don't be half-hearted...go forth with great vigor!! There is NOTHING....repeat.... NOTHING greater than our GOD!! NOTHING more important!! If we don't commit to God what are we committing to?? Lucifer, the Devil, Satan...that's who!!

1 Corinthians 9:24 "In a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run is such a way that you will win."

Why run if only one gets the prize? You missed the point, you believe and you run in such a way as you expect to win. Don't give up.

1 Corinthians 9:25"Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever."
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What does this tell you? We are running for a crown that will not rust, rot, ruin in any way. How great is that!!!! We do not have to win God, just step out in faith, and may we all be passionately committed so that my life will honor you.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny