KBC Advent Devotional 2010

(1) Gift Ideas for the One Who Has Everything

Nearly every magazine, webpage, or store you come across this time of year claims

to have the solution to all your gift giving needs. They all have suggestions for that

special someone on your list; you know the one I’m talking about, the one who

already has it all! Gift ideas for the “foodie”, the animal lover, or the sports

fanatic.

In all the hustle and bustle of the holidays it is so easy to get wrapped up

(no pun intended) in finding the perfect gift for everyone on our list. But have you

thought about a certain someone that should always be on your list? Chances are

the actual name won’t be found on your Christmas shopping list somewhere between

Mom and Aunt Suzy. Is God on your Christmas list this year? I know you’re

thinking “but I’m not going to go buy God a sweater or a new tool set,” but hear me

out for a moment. God’s name may not actually be listed on your shopping list but

doesn’t he deserve a gift too? He gave us the ultimate gift by sending us His son,

Jesus Christ, but what can we give Him in return? He is quite literally the person

on your list who has everything! Before you start to fret over how you will ever

match such an amazing gift, just relax. The only thing on God’s Christmas wish list

this year is YOU. He wants your time, your gifts, and your heart.

What gift will you give of yourself to God this Christmas? Will you send a

card to a shut-in, donate to a shelter, share your testimony with a friend, or

commit to read your bible more? It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive,

just something between you and God. I challenge you to take a few moments this

holiday season to think about your gift to God. Take it one step further, beyond

the Christmas season, and think about what gift you can give to God all year.

Remember, all God wants is you, he already has everything else!

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed

down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with

gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping!

Melissa Abshire

(2) Christmas is a very special time for everyone. Each person has their own

special reason; some for food, some for gifts, some for the famous Santa Clause, and

some for church. My special reason is family. It is nice to see Santa at the mall, or eat

Grandma’s great cooking, or get presents, or go to the Christmas Eve service at church.

But more important to me than all of that is taking some time off from our busy lives to

spend real quality time with our close family and even relatives we may have not seen

since last year. Do not get me wrong food, presents, and church are great, but we can

enjoy those things anytime. Christmas to me is all about spending time with my amazing

family.

Adam Sauls

(3)Hope

“ ‘Tis always morning somewhere in the world. – Richard Henry Horne

AND the sun will come up and shine through our windows again. We need

to remind ourselves of this when we feel at wit’s end, when we believe that

we’ve done “all we can do,” and are emotionally spent. Today is the first

day of the rest of my life. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Is

this fable or truth?

Christ endured the cross for our redemption. We have never experienced

such a challenge as this!

Read Hebrews 12: 7-13

“Endure hardship as a discipline; God is treating you as sons……. Therefore,

strengthen your weak arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your

feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

God helps us get through each challenge, opportunity and trial even when

we do not see the point. We have no real excuse when it comes to

plugging into God’s Power and succeeding. So many times I look back and

think, WOW, I learned a lot from that episode. All of life balances periods

of challenge with contentment. I believe that is how God works it out for

us to learn and lead.

Have you not gained Hope from your challenging times? Have you not

gained strength from a hurt in your past? Have you a place to give hope

and example to those who follow in your legacy?

Terry Johnson

(4) It seems to me that once you hit Labor Day the rest of the year goes by

quite fast. The heat of summer slowly subsides while the trees just begin to

change color. There are a few days you can have the windows open and not run

the heat or the AC. Soon it’s time for our Halloween get-together where we sit

out in the driveway, hand out candy and have fun with the trick-or-treaters.

High school football comes and goes. College volleyball comes and goes

as does Homecoming, the State Fair and Veterans Day. We set the clocks back

an hour and now it’s dark and cold at 5:30. There are commercials on TV for

Christmas CD’s. The people that had their Halloween decorations out on Labor

Day have decorated their house for Christmas six weeks out.

Meetings of any kind at KBC have to consider the Christmas schedule and

how it impacts their decisions. Somebody says, “Have a nice Thanksgiving; are

you going out shopping the next day at 4:00 in the morning?” A trip to our attic to

adjust the dampers on the furnace takes me by several shelves full of Christmas

decorations, lights, Snow Village and Lionel trains that my once tomboy daughter

has outgrown. I wonder to myself as I shut the door “when will I get time to put

up the outdoor lights this year?” Our $2.00 discount card arrives in the mail from

Burleson’s where we buy (Robin deals) a Christmas tree every year for 20 years

now.

A discussion centered on Christmas gifts and traveling over New Years

arises after supper. Sunday I’m handed a bulletin with the holiday schedule of

events beginning with the Thanksgiving alliance service and everything going on

at KBC through the end of the year. Somebody asks me, “Will we have a

Sunday School party this year? At our house or somebody else’s house?” My

anxiety level inches up.

And so I struggle to hold on to the true meaning of Christmas through the

weeks leading up to the big day. While I love all the traditions and events,

there’s one that is most important to me…..Christmas Eve service at KBC. Here

is where everything I’ve experienced in the last few weeks is put in perspective.

It puts everything material aside and gets me where I need to be Christmas eve

and day….close to God and close to family.

Jim Farrington

(5)Christmas

C- Jesus “Christ”, Lord of all

H- Give your “Heart” to God

R- Jesus has risen!

I- Be an Inspiration to others.

S- Star of Bethlehem

T-Give Thanks to God for all of your blessings

M- Mary, mother of Jesus

A- Angel, what we all strive to be.

S- Share your love of God with others.

Merry Christmas to all- As your families gather to

celebrate, remember to thank God for your blessings and

share your love with all.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Mrs. Pete

(6) At the Peterson house we have a few traditions that are centered on the

Christmas holiday.We like to laugh, love, and eat way too much more than we should. There is always the tree, stockings, presents, bar-b-que ribs, and many

other treats. The going to see family, and friends that we see one time a year, and are kind of glad to see them for a while. Then there is the spending of too much money on things that we want instead of the things that we need. By this time of the year I know the songs to the play at church long before Hayden, and we always love to see the children perform in the play. There is "Charlie Browns Christmas", "The Polar Express", and we never forget the "Grinch”. We get tickets to the "Christmas Carol" every year, and take the whole family, we just Love Scrooge! We go to church and celebrate the birth of Jesus, and try to teach the children the real meaning of Christmas. Sometimes I wonder who is teaching who, one of the boys will always say, or do something that will make me think that is the real meaning. I have found that if you really want honesty just ask, or watch a young child, or even more important listen to what they have to say. There is one other tradition that I hopefully will do for the rest of my life, it is the Christmas Jar. It was a gift from a true friend a few years ago. The whole concept is very simple, and I think that is why it works so well for me. The gift is a simple quart jar with the words Christmas Jar written on the outside. Over the course of the year, I will place my change in the jar every day. The first year I put all change in the jar pennies, nickles, dimes, and quarters it didn't really matter to me. Whatever I had in my pockets at the end of the day. That year I had $98.85 in the jar, and it will take you almost the whole year to fill it up. I put the $1.15 with the jar, and had a crisp new $100.00 bill. Then you find someone that has less than you or is really having a tough time, and you find a way to get them the money. The first year it was a man who had lost his wife to cancer, but got to keep the two young children. He worked two full time jobs, but could not quite make the ends meet. The money was placed in a Christmas card, and left under the windshield wiper of his car. It was tagged from someone who loves you, merry Christmas. The next year I only placed silver coins in the jar, and even a few bills, and amount of the jar sky-rockets.

We sit down s a family and decide together who we will give the gift to, and how. The whole process keeps me thinking about giving the whole year, instead of just around the holidays.So if you are like me and need a little reminder all year, just let me know, and I will gladly see to it that you get your very own Christmas Jar.

The Peterson Family

(7) It warms my heart to see my family together in anything we may

be doing; Christmas seems to be a time when this opportunity presents

itself the most. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is it seems to always

be busy with some activity the church may be doing. It brings all of us

together. I love all the programs and other ways to worship with all

members of the family stopping their busy lives and being still for just a

moment. It seems to always just come together for just such a time. This is

the tradition I love the most about Christmas.

Sharon Peters

(8) A Christmas Memory

Several years ago Hal had a Christmas program at Charles and Linda

Harper’s farm. It was a cold-cold December day. We were expecting guests for

dinner and did not think we could go but something inside told us to go. Hal

was a reporter and he felt like something was going to happen and it did. Jesus

was born. Hal built up the excitement with his reporting. The first scene was

Mary and Joseph arriving at the inn. The innkeepers were great actors

portraying telling them there was no room at the inn. Then they were told they

could stay in the stable. That is where Jesus was born. The actors and the scenery

made one feel they were actually present for the momentous occasion. It was a

memory that we shall never forget.

(9) A Family Tradition

Nellie’s father came to live with us 46 years ago when our daughter Kim was four weeks old and our son Mike was six years old. He lived with us ten years and Nellie’s family always came to our house after he died. Nellie had five sisters and all of them were together most years until 2002 when the oldest sister died. After 46 years they still come. We usually have 25 to 50 each year and we still look forward to them coming very much.

Dudley & Nellie Stallings

(10)

MANGER TO CROSS We often don’t look past the Gospels to read about the birth of Christ,

but Advent is also described in Philippians where it says this about

Christ:

(From the NIV)

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own

advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

(From the Message)

6-8 He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself

that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.

Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become

human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He

didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life

and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death

at that—a crucifixion.

What it means to us: Look at vv 6 & 7 and remember that while

God the Father gave His Son, God the Son also equally gave Himself.

He didn’t hold back. He wasn’t forced. He wasn’t coerced. He was on

His throne in Heaven and gave it up to become a servant, with the

ultimate goal of dying as a criminal would die and receiving the punishment intended for us. And the motivation for this wonderful gift

that he gave was pure Love – for all of us. Accept His gift today as we

celebrate His birthday.

Read all of the passage – Philippians 2:1 -18 to get a powerful

message of how this knowledge can transform our lives.

Bill

(11) As a child I remember the fun we had on Christmas mornings. First we would get up and open our presents, then we would go to my Grandparents' house to celebrate Christmas with them, my aunt, uncle, and cousins. Granddaddy would have hidden rolled up money for all of the grandkids on the Christmas tree. After finding our present, we would then all eat lunch together. Grandmother had been working on this since the previous day. She would always have at least 10 different cakes and pies spread out on the chest freezer for all to see. It was hard to concentrate on the meal with the anticipation of these delicious desserts staring back at us. What I remember the most though was the excitement of all of us being together. As I have gotten older, I cherish the times that we've had with our families. After our adventures from Raleigh, to Texas, to California, and finally back to Raleigh, David and I had gotten our first home and both of our families came up to spend Christmas with us. This was the first time in many years that we were all together, in one place. Having a house full of family brought back happy memories from my childhood Christmases at my Grandparents’ home.

I am so blessed with the time I have had with David’s family and mine. Our families are so very important and I wish I had more time with my Mom and David's father. I am thankful for the years I did have with them. My wish is for everyone to have a Joyous and Blessed Holiday season. And that we keep the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts all year. Dear God, we celebrate the gift of family. May we all appreciate the love we share with our families and our church family. Amen. Beverly Hinton

(12) Christmas is my favorite time of year, not only because I get

presents, but because we are celebrating Jesus’ birthday. Each

year, I like to help my dad put out the reindeer in our yard, and

then the night before Christmas I put out the “reindeer food”.

On Christmas morning, I get to open up my presents from under

the tree and see what Santa Claus brought for me! But, I always

know that it is Jesus’ birthday. I get three presents from Santa

Claus, just like the baby Jesus got from the wise men. But mine

is not gold, frankincense and myrrh. Mine is always toys. I say

my prayers every night and thank God for all his blessings and for

the food He gives us!

David Talley

6 years old

(13) Each year growing up, right before we left to go to my grandmother’s house on Christmas Eve, my mom and dad would round me and my brothers up for a photo in front of the Christmas tree. One brother on each

side and me in the middle. As we grew up it was funny to see them argue over who was taller, but now that we are older the conversation has turned to who is slimmer! Funny how things change, but still remain the same. We always took the picture about 5 minutes before we were suppose to leave, all the presents were still under the tree, the smell of my mama’s cooking in the air and me anxiously ready to get Christmas started! When I was younger that was really the start of Christmas for me, it was all about December 24 & 25. Ready, set...Christmas! 48 hours of seeing my entire family, spending time with them, eating delicious food and opening presents. Now that things have changed a little, the starting line of Christmas for me is no longer at 5:30pm on December 24, but probably the first day I see the church and/or town decorated for the holiday season. So, now I get almost an entire month of feeling like it’s time to take that picture in front of the tree and I’m able to experience holiday memories with family and friends for an entire month! I am blessed that the older I get, the more my family grows and the more I begin to realize that it’s not just the people standing in front of the Christmas tree that are my brothers and sisters, but my brothers and sisters in Christ are there too, through the way that each of you has touched our family’s lives and makes us who we are today. To God be the glory for sending us a gift that lasts for eternity!

Now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22

Jessica Jones

(14) A Dusty Red Bike

Remembering my childhood, every December would see the number of gifts

under the freshly cut fir tree grow as the much anticipated day would near. Dad would

often ask, as he watched me eyeing a package bearing my name, “Wanna know what’s

in it?” The query drew a stern glare from my mom who never gave up the “treasure”.

No one ever called my dad a “man of mystery”, for when it came to presents; he found

it difficult to keep a secret. At no time of year was that trait my obvious than at

Christmas.

One Saturday morning, a few days before Christmas, my parents were off to

town to “run some errands”...code for “Christmas shopping”. I knew that to be true

because no parent would leave three curious boys unsupervised surrounded by wrapped

boxes. As they were about to leave, dad gave us direct instructions, “You boys stay out

of barn while we’re gone”…code for “look if you want but don’t tell your mother.” No

sooner did that ’64 Buick clear the hill and we were racing through the back yard to

open that hinged veil that separated us from certain exhilaration.

(Looking back on that day I’m sure I was the voice of conscience, trying to deter

my siblings from overt disobedience, but being the youngest my opinion counted little.

Well, at least that’s how I remember it. Anyway, back to the story.)

As the two elders fought to enter first, I couldn’t immediately appreciate the

cause for their excitement. But as my eyes soon adjusted to the dimly lit treasure trove,

I could see what awaited us all. There, amid the tobacco sticks and burlap stood three

red bicycles. A new bike is a joy to any young child, but when it’s your first, well that’s

something special!

Before I realized the consequences of my actions, I had that wheeled wonder

out for all to see and for me ride. Only trouble is, I had never ridden before. You

remember what it’s like don’t you, trying to ride a bike for the first time? It’s kind of like

trying to put in a contact lens while sitting in a three-legged chair. But no matter…off I

went. Then on…then off again. Then on…and off. I never quite got the hang of bicycle-

mechanics and the balance required. But no matter, back into the barn went my new

bike and all I had to do was to wait until Christmas.

It’s difficult for a 5 year old to act surprised, even on Christmas morning, when

there amid all the gifts from “Santa” stand two shiny new bikes and one dusty, slightly

“used” two-wheeled wonder.

That first Christmas was all about anticipation, centuries of foretelling being

realized by one glorious, miraculous event. For those who viewed the manger for the

first it was like God was saying, “Wanna know what’s in it?”

David Betts

(15) Joy!

Psalm 46:1-7

Shortly after the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem described in II Kings Hezekiah wrote this

song of worship and praise. The small army of the Israelites committed to God as their

leader had defeated and army of nearly 200,000 Assyrians. They were safe. God never

left them!

Not long ago there were 33 men trapped beneath the earth in Chile. They made it 17

days on meager rations until they were located.

Many times in situations like that the persons in the group take on roles. There was a

medical person, a trainer, a spiritual leader and so on. When one of the reporters

interviewed the spiritual leader of the group, he proclaimed that there were not 33 men

in the mine….There were 34 as GOD was with them. God never left them!

God is Sanctuary! God is Refuge! God is Awesome!

We humans tend to focus on our trials. We have high anxiety over our fears. We often

create our own fear where we would be better to seek and be in awe of God’s solution.

So much of this gets in the way of our joy.

Certainly the Chilean miners could only strive to be healthy – Mentally, Physically and

spiritually - until the best of the entire world united and came together through the

pleas of their President and God’s grace to affect a solution. Men above and below the

earth exhibited extraordinary faith and patience as they endured and mastered their

challenge!

Many of us were glued to the television as the newscast covered their rescue over about

24 hour’s time! The world was filled with joy.

God is ever present. He does not get distracted and preoccupied. Nothing can hide

from Him. He is the great Deliverer.

Christmas only begins the story of our Joy!

Terry Johnson

(16)Three Wise Men Gifts

Every Christmas Eve after my family has a wonderful Christmas

Eve dinner, my parents, brothers and I gather to talk about the birth

of Jesus. My dad always reads the passage and we all sit around and listen. After, my dad starts to talk about the three gifts the Wiseman

gave to baby Jesus. My parents give us three gifts also. The first one

is Gold. Gold represents the gift of royalty. Also that Jesus will be the

king forever. For me it represents something I REALLY want bad. The next gift is Frankincense. This gift represents sacrifice, Christ’s

divinity, his sweet Savior, and his priestly role. This gift for me is

something that is related to Jesus. I usually get something like a new

bible or devotion book. The third gift is Myrrh. This gift for Jesus represents Christ’s human nature, the suffering savior and passion.

THe gift of Myrrh for me is something to cleanse my body. I usually

get body wash, lotion or shampoo and conditioner. I look forward to

this tradition every year. It makes my family’s Christmas extra

special!!

Merry Christmas

Blair Poirier

(17) Charlie: I guess you were right Linus; I shouldn’t have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I don’t really know what Christmas is about. Isn’t there anyone who understands what Christmas is all about? Linus: Sure, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Linus: “And there were in the same country Shepards abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in the manger.’ And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men.’” Linus: That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

- Luke 2: 8-14

Rick Talley

(18)Taking things for granted

When I was younger, I loved making my Christmas list and getting it ready

to send to Santa. It would take me hours to write everything down. My sisters

and I would go thru the Toys R Us catalog and circle the toys that we wanted and

writing our names by it. On Christmas Eve my sisters and I would always sneak

down stairs and look at all the presents that Santa had left us during the night. In

the morning the living room would be filled with all the toys and presents that we

could have ever wanted. There were always more then we could have ever

needed.

This past summer going to the CAC really opened my eyes and I realize

how blessed I am to have everything that I do. We all take things for granted

every day. I have a car to go wherever and whenever I need to go somewhere, I

am able to afford college tuition, if I want something all I have to do is ask my

parents for it or buy it myself, and to have a house with both parents and

everything we would consider a good home. We are blessed!

Going on the trip in July made me think about how we get almost

everything we want. There are kids in Saint Louis and all over the world are less

fortunate then we are. We get upset when we don’t get everything on our

massive wish lists. There are kids all over the United States and this world that

are happy when they get even one thing for Christmas. It doesn’t matter if it was

on their list or not, they are thankful and appreciate what they got.

We should all remember to count our blessings and not to take things for

granted this Christmas season. If you don’t get that special gift that you wanted,

just remember at least you had a present to open on Christmas morning.

Dear God, Thank you for providing us with everything we will ever need. Help us

to help those who are less fortunate all year and not just during the holidays. I

hope that you will help me keep an open mind. I pray for all the kids who are not

getting presents this Christmas. Keep your arms around them tight and let them

feel the warmth of your love. Thank you for all the blessings that you provide

every day. I love you so much God. Amen.

Becca Farrington

(19) My favorite Christmas memory is the year that

my dad came home from army. I had wished that he

would come home and be with us on Christmas morning

but when Christmas day came and went he still was not

there. 4 days later we went to meet my daddy’s plane.

My dad came home and my heart was filled with

joy and I could not believe my eyes there where

so many soldiers left and right. I could tell which

solider was my dad. We got to spend the next day

celebrating Christmas with my dad.

Jesus knows what our hearts and minds need.

I am so glad for his birthday because he was born for us

to live. I will always have Jesus in my heart, because he

does so much for us that we should do that for

others.

Caroline Clifford

(20) One of Amber's friends has something she always says in

stressful situations: "Jesus, take the wheel!" That's just a great way

to think about things and relinquishing the wheel is something that

I have a hard time doing. Most of the time, I find myself fighting

Jesus for the wheel and invariably this leads to a crash.

Christmas is a time when I really stop to think about what

turning the wheel (or the reins, in this case) over to Jesus means.

Think about Mary, for example. She thought she had her life all

planned out - starting with marriage to Joseph. Then the angel

came and had a talk with Mary. I have often wondered how much

the angel told her about her Son and what His life and death would

be like. Boy would I - and every other mother I know - have tried

to grab the reins/wheel back at that point. But Mary, just a young

girl, really, gave the reins to God. And what about Joseph, he too,

was faced with a tough choice. In those days it just wasn't the

thing to have a pregnant fiancée and I've often wondered what kind

of ostracism, both personal and professional, resulted from Joseph

letting God take the reins. I thank God for these two great

examples and for all of the others that He tells us about in the

Bible.

At Christmas, and every other season of the year, I pray that

we all find the strength to give Jesus the wheel.

Monique Mackey

(21) I think most people connect Christmas to time spent with friends and family,

celebrating one another and the joy this time of year brings. I too have been blessed in

my life with always having family to spend Christmas with. Sometimes there are so

many family events and celebrations I find myself spending more time watching the

clock and thinking about where I need to be next than actually taking the time to enjoy

the people I was with. Thinking back through the Christmases of the past, it seemed

like many places were just, hello, I love you, Merry Christmas, and good bye. Back then

I felt so rushed.... Now that I am older, I think back to those memories and I feel more

blessed now than I did then. I am glad I was able to spend the few minutes each holiday

with everyone. I am thankful for the memories of the grandparents I no longer have and

memories of my family when were all together at the same time. Even more so, now that

I have kids of my own, I truly know how important it was to my grandparents to see us

each year and I thank God for the energy to make all those busy holidays work out. I

would like to share that experience and Christmas memory with everyone. Just to remind

them that even when we hustle and hurry around on tight schedules and long trips,

remember to take the time to experience the gifts God has given us. The gifts of family

and friends. Even if it’s only for a few moments, take the time to tell the ones you care

about how much you do. As a parent wanting nothing more than to spend Christmas

with my family, I look forward to creating memories with my children for many years to

come. I hope to teach them the importance of family and to be thankful for those in your

life you care about and care about you. The older I get the more I value friends and

family and I understand how truly priceless they are. Please pray this prayer if it’s on

your heart.

Dear God, Thank you for the wonderful gift of family and friends. Thank you for the

times we have together during Christmas to celebrate you Father. To celebrate

the sacrificial gift of your son, Jesus, so we may spend eternity with you and our loved

ones in heaven. We know our time is short here on earth, but please know God, our

times together are so cherished and we thank you for it. We take no moments with our

loved ones for granted. We lift up those families who are apart this holiday season.

Please give them peace in knowing whether they are fighting for our freedom,

celebrating the life of a loved one who has past or just separated by circumstance, you are

with us. You always are with us and are our source of comforter. We love you God, in

Christ name we pray. Amen.

Korey Hatch

(22) Friends,

I was in the middle of a couple of situations last week ...... you know .... situations. I find

myself in situations all the time. Sometimes I learn from these situations and come out

the other side enlightened, if you will. I will not get into the particulars of my situations

because that information is irrelevant. What I will share is the enlightenment part.

Sometimes confrontation of what we suspect is confirmed by situations.

Here is that confirmation ......... the face of the needy in today's world has changed. The

economic environment that has caged many of us the past several years has produced a

casualty profile unfamiliar to many of us. While the typical face of need, the homeless,

unemployed etc still exists, there is a new category of folks who have fallen victim to

foreclosure, bankruptcy and thus depression. These folks appear just fine on the outside

but inside fight a battle and struggle with situations they are unprepared to handle. Not

only must they face the banker, they also fall prey to the reality of their situation. As they

struggle with pride and embarrassment, they find themselves in a place they have never

been before. They were told and believed if they worked hard and lived right that things

would be fine..... the American dream kinda thang.

For the first time in 45 years, our government is increasing its poverty index from the

current $22,500 - raising the bar if you will. Our world has changed dramatically in the

last 45 years. Houses are bigger, cars are more expensive, our kids must have high tech,

high dollar stuff. While income for the average American has reached new heights, so

has their comfort with debt. We now have an estimated 47.4 million poor in our country.

That represents 15.8% of the population. The new poor are a well educated, hard working

group that have experienced success but now stare hopeless failure in the face.

My situations have forced me to rethink ....... who are these people? Well - they are our

neighbors, our friends, our family - they are sitting beside us in church. It is important

that we expand our minds, and more importantly our hearts, to include these that find

themselves in need. Yea, we can say they have been reckless, greedy, unwise and

irresponsible BUT does that make them less worthy of our hearts? As we enter this

season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, let's re-evaluate the face of the needy among us.

Charlie Gray

(23) My Best Christmas Ever

When I wrote the title I had been thinking about my Christmas experiences over soon-to-be eighty-one years. When I read the title aloud I realized that the journey had made me

feel very young again. Then I thought, “Maybe that’s what Christmas is really about. It is

about being and staying young. It is about a renewal of hope. It is about believing in Santa Claus again. It is about believing that God is really intent on doing something to make all

things better and new.”

I know that it is about anticipation and disappointment. It is about hard hearted Scrooges and warm, joyful Fezziwigs, Bob Cratchits, and Tiny Tims, and cold hands warmed by a

candle, and affirmations that one small boy could wish for something very hard and it would

come true and sometimes there would be a boat load of fears flashing forever away into the

night like a shooting star. It is about hope renewed. It is about families with not enough warmth or food to sustain

them in health suddenly sharing the biggest goose in the market bought by someone transformed

by heavenly visitors. It is about mothers bringing tiny infants into a dangerous world and finding food, clothing, and shelter in a strange place with no room.

This brings me to “My Best Christmas Ever” memory. At this point I need to share my

dream. I have always dreamed that my home would be a place where a happy Christian family lived. It would be a place where the extended family would gather at important times like

Thanksgiving, and Christmas and Easter. It would be a place of hospitality where the stranger

could seek refuge and the estranged could find welcome and warmth. My best Christmas ever

happened twenty one years ago. We were living in a small house, which we had built next door to my mom’s home after dad died. Our children were all gone their separate ways, but still sang in

their heart, I’ll be home for Christmas. Everyone was there in that house. Christie, our youngest,

had given us our first grandchild, Laura, on November 1. Chip, our eldest, and his young wife, Gail was present. Carol, our middle child, whose motto was “I want to do it myself.” was home

from far away. My mom from next door had a special place in the festivities.

There was a green Christmas tree, a wood fire in the hearth, the smell of cloves and turkey

cooking, Christmas music in the background, conversation, laughter, and love. Above all there was a beautiful infant named Laura whose eyes were so penetrating, deep and dark it was like

looking into the heart of God.

I spent the hours of that Christmas time immersed in whatever it was that filled that little house and yard and that part of the universe with Laura cradled in my arms and her head pressed

against my chest listening to the beat of my heart.

There had been good Christmases before and there were good Christmases afterward. But by the grace of God I believed that day in the song the angels sang at Jesus’ birth as never before.

Peace on earth is possible. I know it. I was there when it happened.

It makes no difference to me that Jesus was probably born in the Spring or that it is

improper to put shepherds and wise men together with sheep and camels at the manger scene. In fact it seems appropriate that we celebrate His birth just four days after the shortest day and

longest night of the year. I am not really bothered that Christmas carols are used in a commercial

way. What matters to me is sort of wrapped up in a comment made by a relative who scarcely

attended church. His daughter married a man of a faith which did not honor Christ as divine.

Before the wedding he said to the prospective groom. This is one thing you must know, my daughter and her children will celebrate Christmas. What matters is that in the celebration of His

birth He can be born again in our hearts.

My prayer for all of us this joyous season is that the blessed child will be born again in our

hearts. Dr. Dorman

(24) CHRISTMAS MEMORIES OF YESTERYEAR

The children and young people of today will not understand my childhood memories of

Christmas but many “old timers” will. When I was young, our Christmas tree was one

we went into the woods (not a tree farm) to chop down.The tree itself would be cedar.

There was no electricity in most rural areas then,so we had no lights on our tree. We did

have pretty ornaments , a home made garland and plenty of silver tinsel .We children

could not look forward to lots of toys but that didn’t keep us from being excited about

what we would be getting. It was a time to look forward to getting new clothes and

perhaps a doll or toy. Fruit was not available year round back then so we always looked

forward to lots of fruit for each child - an orange, an apple, a banana , a bunch of raisins

(yes, the raisins were left on their stems in bunches - not in bags or boxes like now).

If you had a fireplace and wanted to hang a stocking, you put up one of your clean socks.

If you had no fireplace, your gifts were placed in a chair by a big old wood burning stove.

We always looked forward to a coconut cake at Christmas as coconut was not available

year round then. We bought the whole coconut, put a hole in it to drain out the milk, then

cracked the outer shell and grated the coconut to put on the cake. Making a coconut cake

was a lot of work. Especially since it had to be baked in a wood burning stove.

There was always plenty to eat on the farm since we grew or own vegetables, had a cow

for milk, chickens and pork for meat. Extra food was always prepared for the Christmas

day meal because you never knew what relatives or friends from miles away would be

dropping by for a visit. There was no phone to let you know who might be coming.

Everyone was always welcomed and invited to share a meal before leaving for home.

Yes, we were poor by today’s standards, but as we were all in the same situation we did

not think of ourselves as poor. Today, I think we have so much that we don’t appreciate

what we do have. May God help us to be truly thankful for our family, home, friends,

country, church and too many other things to name. May we give thanks to God for all

that we have. Christmas is a time for giving and helping those in need. As one of our

former pastors said: “May we give not until it hurts but until it makes us feel good“.

God gave his best for us, may we give our best to him as we celebrate the birth of his

son,

Jesus Christ Our Lord and Saviour. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!.

Joyce Crider

(25) God’s generous gifts of love often come wrapped in the form of

the precious family we hold so close in our hearts. Christmas is a

special time to celebrate the miracle of the birth of Jesus with our

family. As a child, I remember going to visit my grandparents every

Christmas. I can recall the way the house smelled, decorations and

everyone was in the Christmas spirit. I will hold this tradition close to

my heart always.

My wish for everyone this advent season is to realize the

importance of family and the importance of creating Christmas family

traditions. The unique traditions each family creates every year will

be remembered for a lifetime. Strong family bonds help us thrive in

all aspects of life.

Dear God, Thank you for sending Jesus to us. Please help us this

Christmas season to slow down and focus on the true meaning of

Christmas. Help us take the time to create meaningful Christmas

traditions that will be remembered forever. Amen.

Merry Christmas,

Bridgett Ward

(26) Have you ever been tested about your faith in Jesus Christ? Katharine (last

name unknown) was tested, by her so called friends, in 1993. She was held hostage in her high school library, with thirteen other people. They went around one person at a time asking if they believed in Jesus Christ, with a Browning 9x19mm high-powered handgun, pointed to their chest. Each person said no as they went around. Either they were scared or really didn’t believe. When they got to Katharine they asked her if she believed. She responded, “Yes, I believe. I believe that Jesus Christ is our one and only savior that died on the cross for our sins, so that we will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Before she had even finished Katharine was shot in the head twice and once in the heart. She is an inspiration to me and hopefully to you also. What would you have said? Would you have said no, even if you were a Christian? Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes...” God gives us so many opportunities to share the gospel. Don’t be ashamed. Katharine wasn’t ashamed, neither should we. This Christmas share the gospel with someone who doesn’t know Him. For he was born into this world for us and saved us. It could change someone’s life. Someday, maybe, they might be put to the test like Katharine was and maybe so will you. So what will you say? Haley Harris