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 |    We live much of life amid unique choices. Joy is anchored in The One beyond our life. |
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“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .” ― Charles Spurgeon “Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” ― C. H. Spurgeon “Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” ― Charles Spurgeon “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ― Charles Spurgeon “When your will is God's will, you will have your will.” ― Charles Spurgeon https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2876959.Charles_Haddon_Spurgeon (Philippians 2:13, KJV)    |
Christmas. The mere word creates emotions, both good and bad. Some of the happiest times of childhood are at Christmastime for some. Some of the most distressing times of childhood are at Christmastime for others. Why has Christmas become this annual big event? What do musical pageants in churches and schools have to do with life, during the other eleven months of the year? Christmas is December. December is Christmas. Joyful gifts. Gifts of joy. Songs. Sweets. Aromas. Dancing children at play. Christmas. Is it just for Christians? Do others of the world find benefit? How could one event of such an inauspicious beginning have such a lasting impact on the world for over two thousand years? How could a homeless man in ancient Israel have created a modern timeline, that counts the days from his birth? How could a little boy born in a smelly stable create the sweetness of peace, that has potential benefit for all of Mankind? How could a carpenter with rough hands build a church with the lasting gentleness of peace? Christmas means Peace. Peace means Christmas. Hope exists within its arms. It's arms bring Hope to all. Jesus, Joshua, Osee, Hosea, Oshea, Yeshua, all have the same root meaning. The name means Salvation. When someone is in charge, when enemies are kept at bay, when strength of character, purity of heart, and everlasting Truth (John 14:6) are found in the One, Who has created everything, (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1) then Peace has the opportunity to flourish in the heart and in the world at large. The opposite of Jesus is chaos. (Genesis 1:2) One wonders how a man, who, arguably, never owned a home of His own on Earth is the heir to the everlasting Home in Heaven. One wonders how this homeless man with twelve disciples, (one of whom betrayed him to death,) has had His message of Hope and Peace to fill the entire Earth in two thousand years when He Himself lived on Earth just scant months past His thirty-third birthday. Jesus did so little, that is revered as being the necessary things for creating fame in modern life, yet people around the world reverence or at least respect His name, even if they do not embrace His message. What an upside-down Kingdom! Become famous by serving others. Give your life away in order to draw others to Life Everlasting. The true spirit of Christmas lives every day of the year. For this we can agree with the immortal words of Charles Dickens, through the mouth of his amazing character, Ebenezer Scrooge, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!” https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/494832-i-will-honour-christmas-in-my-heart-and-... Scrooge gives me hope, that even the most self-absorbed, angry hearts can be redeemed by Jesus, the Prince of Peace. by Jay O'Toole on December 13th, 2019 |
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