Christmas Blessings - My Savior

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. I'm sure you're counting them now? I'd like to thank God for my Savior.

Zephaniah 3:16-18 (NLT)
"On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more."

Luke 2:10-11 (NLT)
"but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!"

2 Timothy 1:9-10 (NLT)
"For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News."

I've been a born again believer for about 18 years now. It hasn't been so long ago that I can't remember how life was prior to Jesus coming into my heart. Let's suffice it to say I was not a happy person. Oh sure, there were moments when I was happy. But I had no peace. I worried about everything. I struggled with alcohol and drug use. I was not a very nice person to be around; very self-center and self-serving. My marriage was not doing well, and, to tell you the truth, I wasn't too sure I cared. What a difference Christ has made in my life. He has given me so much more than I deserve. Are you struggling right now? Does it seem like everything in your life has gone wrong and you're not sure of your direction? Do you lack peace? It could be that you need Jesus to help you to turn your life around. You can do it today. Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving.

Have you accepted Jesus' gift of salvation? If you have, then your really need to praise God for sending Jesus to pay the price for your sins.

Blessings,

Bill

Christmas Blessings - My Job

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. Have you started counting your blessings yet? I'd like to thank God for my job.

Proverbs 21:5 (NLT) "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."

Ecclesiastes 5:11-12 (NLT) "The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers! People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep."

2 Timothy 2:15-16 (NLT) "Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior."

Many of my peers tell me they wouldn't want my job. I provide 3rd level support for the Ops Management Reporting web site. In addition, I'm responsible for sending/supporting the FLWB reports for the company. I'm also the catch-all for many other types of support issues that come up and aren't part of my other teammates' job responsibilities. I'm a very busy person, and I have many days where I feel a bit overwhelmed by the amount of work I must complete. But I'll tell you what, this is one of the best jobs I've ever had (with the exception of being a stuntman -- it was fun, but it didn't pay enough). Anyway, my point is God has given me a means to support myself and my family's needs (and some of their wants as well).

Do you have the means to earn an income? Praise God for allowing me to work and feel good about what I do.

Blessings,

Bill

Christmas Blessings - My Church

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. Have you started counting your blessings? I'd like to thank God for my church.

Romans 12:4-6 (NLT) "Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you."

Ephesians 1:22-23 (NLT) "God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself."

Ephesians 3:6-7 (NLT) "And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News."

Colossians 3:14-16 (NLT) "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts."

My church is not perfect. In fact I was told a long time ago that if I ever found the perfect church, I should never join it because I'd ruin it. While I could have taken this comment badly, I understood the joke. No church is perfect because it is made up of people, and people aren't perfect. As a church made up of humans, we are all subjected to our sinful nature. We stumble and bumble through life relying on God to do something amazing with our efforts, but sometimes we cause more problems than good. This may sound like a "train wreck" rather than a church, but the good news is we are united in our love for Jesus, and God's Word is preached with no apologies. We have an amazing Missions program -- supporting missionaries in Europe, Africa, South America, and the USA. We have many programs that minister to members of our immediate community. I think we really are a church that cares and we're doing what God has called us to do.

Are you part of a loving church family? Praise God for allowing me to part of the Body of Christ.

Blessings,

Bill

Christmas Blessings - My Family

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. Now that Christmas day has passed, it's easy to run down and think of all the things we had on "our wish list" but didn't receive. When I was younger, I always seemed to have a "let down" as I considered "the list". As I get older, I don't think about it as much because I have grown to realize how very blessed I am. So I'd like to share some of the things for which I am grateful. Perhaps these are things that weren't on your "list", but you're blessed to posses.

Job 29:18-19 (NLT) “I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life. For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew.'"

Proverbs 8:31-32 (NLT) "And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family! And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful."

I realize my family's not perfect, but I love them very much. I have a 20 year old son and a 16 year old daughter. At times, I have trouble liking them, but I always love them. My wife and I are high school sweethearts. We've been together 29 years this New Year's Eve (the night I gave her my Ring). Recently my mother-in-law came to live with us…boy has this made things interesting. You know what, I'm blessed to have a wonderful family. My kids are kooks (the nuts don't fall too far from the tree--if you know what I mean). They have terrific (although at times very strange) senses of humor, and every adult who spends time with them tells me marvelous compliments about them. My wife is a saint (verified by the miracle that she has not killed our children during this teenage phase they're going through, and the fact that she's put up with me all these years). I know without a doubt that God brought us together for life. My mother-in-law's dementia provides many humorous interludes as she asks the same questions and makes the same comments within minutes of each other.

Are you blessed to have a loving family? Praise God for the many gifts He has given us.

Blessings,

Bill