We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

A cheerful spirit is one of the most valuable gifts ever bestowed upon humanity by a kind Creator. It is the sweetest and most fragrant flower of the Spirit, that constantly sends out its beauty and fragrance, and blesses everything within its reach. It will sustain the soul in the darkest and most dreary places of this world. It will hold in check the demons of despair, and stifle the power of discouragement and hopelessness. It is the brightest star that ever cast its radiance over the darkened soul, and one that seldom sets in the gloom of morbid fancies and forboding imaginations.

Here are some reasons it is okay to celebrate Christmas: 1. The day itself is not really the day Christ was born. Nobody actually has the exact day down, but most believe it was not during this time of year at all. Probably it took place in the spring, not on a “cold winter's night that was so deep.” 2. Diversity over the years has taken away much of the “Romish” flavor to the holiday. Our Catholic friends do as they wish on the night before and the day of Christmas, that is granted. But we do not have a state church. There are so many other ways Christmas is celebrated that no one really thinks about it the way the Puritans did so many years ago. The problem is not so acute because of so many years of varied expressions. At least this is true in our part of the world. 3. God can be honored in gift-giving and generosity as well as in singing carols and telling the story. They’re both important if done in the right spirit. We don't have to make something spiritual out of giving gifts. You may make a birthday cake to Jesus if you wish, but you don't have to. We do need to be Christian, however, about everything we do. Emphasizing the giving part of the day can heal lots of wounds, open calcified hearts, stir up gratefulness, and just be plain fun. God's not against fun is He? 4. There may be better things to be different about. In other words, we might show our radical difference better in the way we treat other shoppers, the kindness we show to retail clerks, the warmth of our hearts, the largeness of our generosity, the thankfulness we express and really feel. 5. There are admittedly some great opportunities to make Christ known during Christmas. With all that is bad about it, we can still make our point. And we will have some sympathy for our message. For years I've led Christmas Eve services, short ones of only 45 minutes, but packed with meaning. The building will be full and all kinds of our friends and family will hear the truth as clearly as we are willing to express it.
Jim Elliff

    • Low-Cal Crunchies

    Posted on
    0
    (0)
    CATEGORY CUISINE TAG YIELD
    Grains Low-cal, Mw, Kids 4 Servings

    INGREDIENTS

    1 pk Frozen lima beans
    Or
    Or seeds
    1/4 c Salad or cooking oil
    Or Worcestershire
    1 ts Seasoning salt
    And/or peas
    2 c Nuts
    Coating
    1 tb Soy sauce
    Or teriyaki
    1 ts Optional sodium glutamate

    INSTRUCTIONS

    1. Defrost frozen vegetables; if not using seeds or nuts. 2. Spread on
paper towel or shallow plate and cook at FULL POWER in microwave oven 6
minutes. 3. Make coating; mixing all ingredients thoroughly. 4. Place
vegetables; seeds or nuts in coating. 5. Spread on a shallow pan and cook
at FULL POWER in microwave oven for 6 minutes. 6. Spread on paper towel to
dry.
7. When cool; store in tight container. Microwave time: 6 minutes
Conventional range time: 15-25 minutes at 425 deg.F. Source: Micro Cookbook
Posted to MM-Recipes Digest V4 #092 by "wgriffin" <wgriffin@ix.netcom.com>
on Apr 3, 1997

    A Message from our Provider:

    “A state of mind that sees God in everything is evidence of growth in grace and a thankful heart. #Charles Finney”

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