Today's Turning Point; David Jeremiah

Tuesday, December 25
Service Stars
Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people.Luke 1:68

Recommended ReadingMatthew 2:1-11

A story is told of a man and his son who were walking slowly down the street one night, observing all the service stars hanging in the windows of homes to proudly proclaim the fact that a son was serving his country in war. The little boy clapped his hands excitedly each time he saw another star and was very impressed to see some houses had more than one star. Finally, they came to an open area where there were no houses, and the evening star shone bright in the velvet blackness. Suddenly the little boy said, "Oh look, Daddy. God must have given His Son, for He has a star in His window!"
When you see the star atop the Christmas tree, let it be a reminder to you of the immeasurable sacrifice God made when He sent His precious Son to earth so that we may have eternal life with Him. Offer a word of praise and thanksgiving to God for His gift that came "wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12).
More light than we can learn, More wealth than we can treasure, More love than we can earn, More peace than we can measure, Because one Child is born. Christopher Fry

What if ...

I like presents, don't get the wrong impression form the previous blog that I don't like presents. I got to thinking, what is my gift to Jesus? It is after all, His day of celebration. What if this year I choose to actually live out the Casting Crowns song ""If we are the body"?
"But if we are the body Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way? There is a way."

What would happen if I actually lived this out? How can I do this?

• I make dinner for my sick neighbor
• I visit my friend's mother in the hospital and share Jesus
• I pour myself into my kids
• I show honor to my husband AND fervently prayed for his godly leadership in our family
• I hang a JESUS stocking on the mantle along with the others and started a tradition where each family member places a note describing their own gift to Him for the new year. What a great conversation starter for the visitors!
• I am swift to hear and slow to speak
• I place a mini table-top christmas tree somewhere special all year. I write the names or initials of those I love who are lost on bulbs and hang them on the tree. Through the year I can add names as well as remove those who got saved. Great visual to help remind me the harvest is plentiful
• Be a harvest worker!
• I handed out PD4 cards with a glad heart!
• I let Jesus inconvenience my timetable with His!!
• I spent the 24 days in December leading up to Christmas in dedicated prayer about..well whatever God wants to talk about. I hush and listen.
• I learn new things so God can use me in ways beyond MY capability. Yield and obey!
• I sincerely thank those who minister to my kids...
• ...and in turn, minister to theirs.

Wow, there are tons of ways to give our King gifts. How about just one?

"Are you ready for Christmas?"

I have been asked this question, as have you, alot! Even today I was asked twice. For some reason that question disturbs me. It is an innocent enough question and I understand everyone's meaning. Have I bought all the stuff yet?! (no, I haven't) Grocery shopped? (Sam's last week!) House clean? (It was on Friday)...

I am ready for Christmas, and have been for over 4 years. See for me, this Christmas is something more personal. It isn't a happy holiday. It is the day God expressed His extreme love for me in that His Son chose to leave His glorious kingdom and become a human like me- for me. Born in humility and to die in humility. Because of what He did, not because of who I am. The Bible tells of His virgin birth, His sacrifice of death because of our sin, and His resurrection from the dead. If it weren't for the sin of man (yours and mine) there would be no NEED for Christmas. Do you get that?

Satan uses something fun and good (sharing gifts) to divert the real meaning of Christmas. Have you ever seen a cat staring at a bright and shiny christmas bulb or ribbon? Their eyes are so transfixed! They don't even blink. Satan has done the same thing. He has tricked us into staring at the shiny thing instead of the Saving thing..The Word! Jesus! The shiny bulb on the tree isn't bad...but it can be when that's what we fix our focus on the stuff.

Jesus' holy spirit put on flesh that day, Christmas Day. Why would He leave glory and splendor and come to Earth knowing His path would end at the cross, covered in my sin, seperated from His Father for the first time? To offer a gift so utterly unbelievable. Are you ready for this? He became like me, flesh, so I could become like Him. I asked forgiveness of my sin and asked Him to be my Lord. See, I accepted the greatest gift of all.

So, sorry if I hesitate when you ask, "Hey Karen, are you ready for christmas?". My heart's desire is to ask you...Are you ready? If you don't have evidence in your life that Jesus transformed you..completely rocked your world and made you NEW, then you're not ready. His word is very clear on this. Jesus came once and He promised to come again for His own.

So Iask with all sincerity, Are you ready for Christmas?

December 7, 1941: The Day of Infamy

http://switchboard.real.com/player/email.html?PV=6.0.12&&title=National%20Geographic%20Channel%20Pearl%20Harbor%20special&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgeographic.com%2Fngm%2F0106%2Fav%2Ff5m1.ram

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq66-3b.htm

December 7, 1941. The day the Japanese military attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, crippling the Pacific fleet and causing military and civilian casualties to reach a toll of 2388 dead and 1178 wounded. Even for those not present, the events of that day would forever change the lives of most americans.

Being a nurse, I have tried to imagine being on duty on that Sunday morning at the base hospital in Hawaii. In 1941 I'd be wearing a fresh starched white nurse's uniform complete with cap and stockings. If it were quiet at 0755, I'd have already completed shift change and would begin rounds on my patients. Within a hour that very uniform would be unrecognizable now being covered with battleships and plane fuel that covered my patients, but more so covered with the flesh and blood of servicemen who were burned and wounded. I wouldn't have near enough medication to quell their cries of pain and suffering. The injuried would just keep coming and coming. I'd hear the panic screams of "Nurse, over hear! Help!".

Sorry of its a bit graphic, but I think at times we forget the reality of an event, thereby not giving true appreciation to those who were there and were involved. Not only on Dec 7 but in all of WW II.

Please take the time to view and hear the recollection of men who survived the attack and the FDR speech. The second link is to a written interview with Lieutenant Ruth Erickson, NC, USN a nurse who reported to the hospital the day of the attack.

To all war veterans...thank you.

I like coffee.

I love coffee. I love strong, fresh coffee. I particularly love Starbucks coffee. I can smell it right now in my mind’s nose by simply describing it. My mouth is watering at this very minute as I recall the flavor, the aroma…oooohhhhwwwee!

Not living near a Starbucks we recently went to a nearby coffee shop. I ordered a latte. Hoping against all hope I tasted it and …..nope, not even close. (Dawn, this is like drinking Dr. Thunder after drinking Dr. Pepper). Sorry, had to hook up a friend there first!! It didn’t even taste remotely like Starbucks. Once you taste the very best it is very hard to accept a substitute.

For my co-connoisseurs of coffee it is similar to your first cup of coffee being a cup of “Choc-Full O’Nuts” brand. Decent. Hit the spot. Did the job. It grew hair on my chin.
The next cup you have is a fresh brewed cup at Cracker Barrel. Better. Smooth! Very tasty. Then weeks later, when at the mall for the first time grab a Tall NF SF Vanilla Latte. Wow. Elegant and yet intriguing. A fine complex example of a full body with satisfying walnut flavors. After that, you simply can’t drink “Choc-Full O’Nuts without always comparing it to Starbuck’s coffee.

Why do people accept substitutes? There are always people around us who have settled for a generic love because they haven’t tasted the love of Jesus. For if they did, the true love FROM Him they would never go back, accept anything less. God’s love is perfect. God’s love is ultimate. Flawless. Forgiving. Seeking us. He calls for us to taste of His love. “Come unto me” He tells us. When you do, no other love can substitute. All other expressions of love are limited, flat, generic and conditional.

Are you offering a cup of coffee with your life? Are you a coffee source they can tap into? Is it the BEST you offer or are they receiving a substitute version that leaves a bitter taste in their mouth?

Jesus, help my life to be an offering that is pleasing to you.

Romans 8:39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.