Meaning OF Christmas pat II

As we all think about this today, I want to give you something to think about.

God gave his gift to us when Jesus was born. We think about the word that was spoken by the angles in Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Well the peace he was talking about was the peace between himself and Man and that he was extending his goodwill toward man. Jesus was going to close the gap that had been there since Adam and Eve committed the sin. His love was so great that he wanted to become closer to us all. The risk God took was tremendous. He set all the hope of mankind onto his Son. You may be asking what risk could there be? Because, Jesus was born as a man he had the same feelings, desires and temptations that we did. At any time he could have said no. He could have bowed down to the Devil and took any of the temptations. I cannot support this very well, but I believe that the Devil had to ask to tempt him in a special way just as he did Job. He knew that because of whom Jesus was he had to make the stakes even bigger. Jesus asked God in the garden that if there was any other way to do what needed to be done that the Cup passes him. Good had trust in his Son to do the right thing. The true gift for man came on a Good Friday and then the greatest gift came Easter. Jesus Gave His ALL then and His Father was true to his word and lifted him up. It is time we let Christmas go back like it was during the first part of the church. Just a blip on the radar. We need to celebrate Easter like we do Christmas. Maybe with more flare!

Christmas

It is 1:12am and I am up. I been thinking about Christmas and been wanting to write. There is something on my heart. I read today in the Courier Journal that said that Christ needed to be taken out of Christmas. Actually it was a letter to the editor in responce to that article. The writer went on claiming the paper was anti-christian and so forth. Regardless it brought home my message I needed to tell all of you. The world will take Christ out of Christmas, because we have already. See, we teach our children about a jolly fat man named Santa. Last I checked Santa is not in the bible. Yes, I know that Santa Claus is based upon Saint Nicholos. So why do we not tell his story and for get this man that lives at the North Pole with elfs and reindeer? These parts of the story are not part of St. Nicholas. Saint Nicolas was a man who did great things for God. His warmth of giving and helping others needs to be told, but the truth not a man in a red suit that really takes on the role of God. Please don't dimiss this think about it. THink of all the things Santa stand for. This will sound over the top but look at Santa and Satan look at the words. Does this mean anything nope other than Satan wants to be a false God. Santa is too. We give so much now, during this time of year. Why don't we do this through out the year? Why do we buy presents that cost so much? Would it not be better to take that money and help the poor and hungry? We want to use the Magi gifts given to Jesus to justify our tradion, then let us only give three gifts. We have allowed the holiday to become something it should not be and that is bigger than Easter. See yes God sent Jesus and that is great. But the real gift came from Jesus in his acceptance of who he was and taking the sins to the cross. He had a choice. He could have not done it then this holiday would be useless. So when you go about your business today think of this. WWJD? It still applies today as it did then.

Update on love and forgivness.

God is funny how he test you. See today was a birthday party for Wayne Smith. Wayne is Melissa's dad, My ex-father-in-law. It was a great party and it was nice to be able to attend and feel like I was part of the family, but something came up. You see I was a big jerk and to tell you the truth that is one reason me and Melissa is not together. I carry a burden that I need to give to God. I was told all is forgiven and I believe that in the way I am treated, the problem comes within me. Anyway about 15 years ago there was a big blow up and it caused so hurtful feelings among both families. There was one particular person who was not blood related, but was a close family friend. She proceeded to put her nose into it and I kindly back then closed the door on it. Since that instead of treating just me like a jerk ot taking it out on me, took it out on Melissa and Rose this whole time. She never would speak to any of us since that time. Remind you Rose was only 4 maybe at the time. Funny thing we all got over it and moved on she still holds that against us and we are not together. Melissa told me just tonight that this person is just now starting to say somethings to her. Funny thing also about this, I never really said much to her other than to keep her nose out of it, after all she was not family. Well tonight I saw her come in and I wonder what would happen. I did not go out of my way but I did pass her and I put my hand on her shoulder and said Hi. I asked if she was okay. Not once did she look at me and just said hello and okay.

Here is where I sinned, I instantly got mad. It was like someone slapped me. I walked away and held on to that anger. Melissa asked me and I told her. She looked at me and then told me that she had been asked if we was back together. I am sure there was more, but Missy decided not to give me the rest. I got mad and said a few choice words. All the anger and memories from that night flooded my mind. I finally had to let it go. I just let it go, and now I been asking God to forgive me of my mistake and to help me to let it go.

I got hurt because she still has not forgiven me. That was wrong for me to get hurt and me to get mad. She will have to answer for her actions; I have to answer to mine. I wish I could go back and change a lot of things, but I can't all I can do is ask for forgiveness and then let God sort it all out.

We are not responsible fot those we seek forgiveness once we do what God calls us to do then it someone Else's ball game.

It is the season- Love

I was seating at my desk and was listening to a song from Rascal Flatts called "A winner at a losing game." Basically it is about two people one in love with the other and the other does not feel the same way. The song says so much to my heart because I am there in a way, but this is not what I am here about. At least not yet. I am here to talk about Love. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 it talks in the King James about charity which when translated in today's meaning read as love. I want to hone in on a couple one verse. It is verse 8 "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. " Here we are told that the things that some churches put an importance on Prophecies, and speaking in tongues and knowledge, which is another study in itself, all will cease, but love will last for ever it never fails it will be there when all else does. I want to address an issue with a question.

So why is it that we have 50% divorce rates in the church like we do outside the church? Why is the church not setting an example? The church members lost that love? No, church members have forgotten what it means to be a follower of Christ. They go to church and play church for everyone to see them, but when it comes down to the rubber meeting the road. They fall short.

WOW that was harsh! Right? Well it is the truth. We are under a order from God himself to love one another, to forgive one another and to be like him. What would happen if God one day says, "hum I not "feeling it"?" Love is not a feeling that everyday stays the same. It alive and it ebbs in and out, it flows! Why do you think God used a river as an analogy? If your reading this and your married. If you look at your spouse and you feel hate and anger then I hsve to ask you a couple of questions.
1. Do you claim to be a christian?

2. IF so, then why are you not on your knees asking God to change your heart?



My heart? Yes, your heart! It is your hate that you feel! Hate is something that we do. It is not from God. It is something that can destroy us if we don't deal with it. Jesus told us in Matthew 18:22 "Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." You don't know what I live with. Your right I don't. I do know he can take that hate and turn it back into love. A love that forgives no matter what happens. No matter how big a pain in the rear your spouse is.



"Well, Are you the one to talk? Mr. I have been divorced three times?" Yes, I do have the authority to talk and teach this. How? Because I would still be married had they not said the lost their love for me. You see if you know my past, I married one twice. I was the big pain in the butt. I had issues that I had not faced and was forced to last year. The thing is they forgot that they was not the greatest thing to live with. There were times I wanted to leave them, that i wished they would go fly a kite. Yet, I had learned to choice to love them and their flaws.



Let me explain. I have had to fight hatred in the last few months. You see one of them had said they would never leave me. That their love would not end. Well when things between us became hard, when we was at the end of our ropes. She left. I did file for divorce. Yet the day she signed the paper, I begged her not to. I asked her to come home. I told her that I filed the papers out of anger and I wanted it to work out. She signed them. She told me she would never come home. I found out that she lives with someone not far from here. It is another man and it has been a year. Other things happened and hate came in and I let it fester. I was totally wrong in having those thoughts. I knew this. So I began the hardest road of forgiveness that I have every taken. I cried not that I lost her, no I cried because in my heart I hated her and I wanted it gone. It is so easy to hate. So, so easy to let it go. Have I done it? Some what, yes. It is a struggle, when I hear a song that we listened to I feel the rage come in. I fight back. I think of the good times. I think about Jesus more than anything and I pray. I pray, God take this hurt and anger away, Replace it with the love I need to have to forgive." By the time the Song ends I have a happy thought of her and then I pray for her. There is not hurt. Each time the song plays or songs it becomes easier. On one song, out song the song I sung to her at the wedding. The most important song. I can now listen to and feel good. It is a good memory.



So what does that have to do with love? Easy, if you are a Christian then you have to learn to forgive your spouse. PERIOD. Divorce should never be an option. What does the song you first mention and this have to do with each other? I am still in love with both of my wives. Yes, and that will never ever change. Will it hurt my future? Nope, because God knows how I feel. He knows how it feels to love someone and they not love him back the same way. He knows how I feel. He will handle it where I don't have to. I'am lonely and wish that I had my life back, and there are times I cry. God is usually there comforting me and telling me that things will get better. I have my doubts at time and want to scream. Yet I know that sooner or later it will be okay. That it is just around that bend up there in the road.

Please listen to this video, it is from one of the best christian rock bands. Don't worry it is loud!