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Just two more weeks before “Breathless” is released. Go to my Books/Articles/Etc. page of my website to receive a $2.00 off coupon for the printed book.
Go to http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php to read the first chapter and to add your name to be notified when it’s released.
Yesterday was Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord. Did you remember it was because of Him that you received those presents? If not, that’s okay. It’s never too late to celebrate Jesus’ birth or the gift of his life that he gave to us.
Go back and read the story of his birth again. Matthew 1:18-25 reads, 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
If you didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas, remember the greatest gift given to us all. God gave his son to us so we may have grace and salvation. There isn’t a better present than that.
I listen to Air 1, the nationwide Christian radio station. One of the DJ’s asked a very good question the other day. Is Tim Tebow breaking God’s rule to not show his faith in public?
According to Matthew 6:1. Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. If this is to be taken literally, then Tim Teboe is breaking a rule of God.
I thought this was a good issue because a lot of people follow the rules so tightly, they don’t give any leeway. And they often confuse what is being said. Matthew 6 goes on to read in 6:2-4, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
These verses are saying that it is okay to show your faith before others, as long as you are not doing it to show off. If you are doing it with a Christian heart and not to get pats on the back, then that is fine. I have a feeling Tim Tebow is not doing it to get recognition, even though that is what’s happened. He’s been professing his faith for years. It would have been a lot easier for him to stop his actions, than to keep going forward.
Do you show your faith in public? Do you pray when you eat out or are you too embarrassed? Ask yourself this question? If you’re too afraid to acknowledge Jesus in public, why should He acknowledge you to his Father? As long as your actions are pure of heart, you will have no worries.
How many of you are Christian women with a husband who doesn’t believe? Or children who don’t attend with you? That makes the holidays lonely when you want to attend church functions but you don’t want to go alone.
Loneliness is a tough time at the holidays for people who have no one near. It can also be hard for Christians who have no support at home for their beliefs. When they want to go to the Christmas musical or play, they might decide not to go because going alone is no fun.
If you know someone who does not have any family who attends church functions with them, pull them aside and invite them to join you, especially if you’re going alone. If enough solo attendees get together, it could turn into a party.
And don’t forget, no matter how many times you have to do things by yourself, you’re never really alone, Jesus is always with you. Bible verse Matthew 28:20 reads, … And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Celebrate Christmas with friends and family whether they believe or not. And if you find yourself going to church alone, just remember to save a seat next to you. If’s it crowded, keep room in your heart. Jesus is a good fit whether in the pew or in your soul.
A woman in San Diego, in an attempt to locate her lost Chihuahua, stood on a street corner with a sign asking if anyone saw it. The reason it became a news item was she wore a bikini to get the attention of passing drivers. She not only got their attention, she got the attention of a weirdo who not only sent her a picture of a Chihuahua (not necessarily hers), but of his private parts.
Why would this woman be surprised? Females need to understand that when they dress provocatively, they will garner attention. Unfortunately, it’s not always the attention they want. A teenager might wear something low cut in order to get a certain teen boy to notice them. Unfortunately, they also get the pervert down the street to notice also.
1 Timothy 2:9 reads, I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes. God didn’t want women to garner unwanted attention years ago, and he doesn’t want us to do it now.
You don’t have to dress in a burka to keep safe, but use some common sense. Don’t let your cleavage hang out all over and don’t allow your backside to show. Leave something for the imagination. If you want a certain man to notice you, let him notice you for what’s inside, not for what’s hanging out.
This way, it will remain a mystery until you decide to show it to the person of your choice. And the weirdo down the street will remain oblivious to what you have to offer.
P.S. I’m not blaming any victim who has received unwanted attention for the way they’ve dress. It was not your fault, it was the fault of the idiot who hurt you or attempted to hurt you. I’m just suggesting we don’t put ourselves in that position in the first place.
