Faith On Every Corner - December 2021

December 2021

From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north.

By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen.

Job 37:9-10

Visit Our Website at www.FaithOnEveryCorner.com for previous issues of our magazine.

COVER PHOTO

BY DEBBIE DOUGL AS

I am a retired Fire Captain from California and wilderness kayak guide in Alaska. I have been living in Juneau for 23 years by Mendenhall Glacier and have been blessed doing remote wilderness photography.

I have been involved in photography since high school. In the past twenty years I have been able to share my photography with different ministries around the world. I also share my photography and personal Alaskan stories on board a cruise ship in Southeast Alaska.

INSIDE COVER

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR “Tis the season.” Isn’t that what we hear just after Halloween? It seems that more and more people are rushing Christmas and looking at it more like a Hallmark holiday. The stores put their decorations up as soon as Halloween is over. I understand that to a degree, especially those that sell decorations for the house. I’m guilty of looking at everyone’s posts on Facebook and liking or loving their beautiful homes, but I wonder what the little ones think?

I think I want an old-fashioned Christmas back. One where decorations went up in December - families visited one another - people dressed up to go to church service – and oh, the midnight services. To walk out at midnight in silence as we worship our Lord and Savior. There isn’t much like it. And so, my prayer for you all is that you think about what Christmas is truly about, that you don’t stress about money or gifts, that you find a great Bible-based church and worship in prayer and song. And on Christmas morning, the first thing you think about is how blessed you are to know Christ Jesus.

Karen

and C

raig R

uhl

We have so many wonderful articles, poems, photos, and more in this month’s issue. Please take the time to read through it and share a link with your family and friends. You never know who may be touched by one of the articles they read in this issue.

Craig and I wish you and your family and a very Merry Christmas.

Much love - may God bless you all.

Karen Ruhl Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.com

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Table of Contents

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER: Debbie Douglas ... Cover & Inside Cover December Prayer by Tynea Lewis ... page 21 Merry Christmas from The Ruhls ... page 78 Christmas Poems ... by John Alexander ... page 6-7 The Little Tree ... by Melissa Henderson ... page 8-9 Prince Of Peace ... Andrea Marino ... page 10-11 Giving Christ ... by Dr. Kathleen Oden ... page 12-13 Morning Coffee ... by Michael E. Wells ... page 14-15 Under Heavens Skies ... by Nicole Byrum ... page 16-17 The Holy Day of Christmas ... by Yvonne M. Morgan... page 18-19 Learning To Love ... by Gina Sewell ... page 20 December Prayer ... by Tynea Lewis ... page 21 A Savior Is Born: The Backstory / Poem ... by Dave Evans ... page 22-23 The Gift Of Words ... by Craig Ruhl ... page 24-25 Listening With Our Eyes ... by Peter Caligiuri ... page 26 Reason For The Season ... by Mike Buchanan ... page 27 Dear Carl ... by Anna Friend ... page 28-29 The Giving Season ... by Esther Bandy ... page 30-31 Thank You ... by Vivian Satterwhite ... page 32 What Is Christmas To You? ... by Brenda McDaniel ... page 33 Road Trippin’ - Morristown, Tennessee ...by Karen Ruhl ... Page 34-37 4PAGE | M4 AG A Z I N E N A M E 3

My Christmas Blessing ... by Sharon K. Connell ... page 38-39 Honoring God Through Adversity (Part Two) ... by Jeff Foster ... page 40-41 Bookshelf ... Book Reviews ... page 42-45 I Heard It ... by Krystle Nicole Martin ... page 46-47 The True Meaning Of Christmas... By Cindy Oriol ... page 48-49 Sing God’s Praises ... By Dr. Irene Surya ... page 50 Merry Christmas, Everyone ... By Rolanda T. Pyle ... page 51 Feeling His Presence ... by Karen Ruhl ... page 52-53 A Treasury Of Christmas Poetry ... by Chad J. Thieman ... page 54-55 God With Us ... by Joel Berry ... page 56-57 The Seven Easiest Ways To Kill Your Fellowship ... by Joseph Akinrinola ... page 58 Beauty From The Ashes ... by Shara Bueler-Repka ... page 60-61 Christmas Joy ... by Diane Buie ... page 62-63 My Mission Trip To Namutamba ... by Walter Godfrey ... page 64-65 A Little Bummed In Bethlehem ... by Steve Wilson ... page 66-67 Culinary Conversation ... Rocket Barber ... page 68-69 The Greatest Gift Of All ... by Patrick Higgins ... page 70-71 Abundant Grace ... by Eleanor Gamarsh ... page 72-73 Rise Up ... By Lynn Downham ... page 74-75 Christmas Lesson ... Maureen Kambarami ... page 76-77

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Poems by John Alexander

Christmas Joy I don’t know who will read this rhyme, Your circumstance, the place, or time.

You may be lonely, hurting, sad, Perhaps you’re joyful, happy, glad.

John Alexander lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife and his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Christmas Poems

By John Alexander Christmas brings many memories, some from long ago, some more recent. In addition to remembering the birth of Jesus, it’s also a time of reflection, a time with family and friends, a time of remembering loved ones no longer with us. I pray you are able to reflect on many fond memories as well as make new memories with those you are near.

I had trouble picking which Christmas poems to share with you. I pray you are blessed by the ones I chose. You can read more of them by searching my poems for the word Christmas at www.QuietTimeRhymes.com

I pray the songs you sing and hear Will lift your spirit, bring you cheer.

I pray this Christmas you find peace And in your heart may joy increase.

I can’t reach out and take your hand, But pray you know and understand, The One whose birth we celebrate, Who made the way to Heaven’s gate.

The shepherds heard the angels sing And share the joy, “Good news we bring.”

He is the Christ sent from above, Who gave Himself for us in love.

Blessings, John

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One Empty Chair There are too many people with one empty chair.

So many are hurting, who need love and care.

Remember this Christmas, those no longer here.

Hold on to the memories so precious and dear.

Never Old Angelic voices Christmas Eve Sang “Hallelujah, earth receive The Son of God who’s born this night.”

O’er Bethlehem, a star shone bright.

We read the story, never old.

So many years it’s been retold.

Reach out to those near us in need of a touch.

Our small acts of kindness can bless them so much.

If we know someone hurting and feeling alone, We can still show our love when we pick up the phone.

A card or a call, a small gift that we’ve made Can offer some comfort and help the grief fade.

In these days social distancing’s taking its toll.

Our need for a touch comes from deep in the soul.

I pray we survive it and come out unscathed, That expressions of love will endure and be saved.

I pray like the flowers that blossom this spring, We’re set free to embrace, take our mask off and sing.

The Christmas songs this time of year Reflect the words we long to hear, Of peace on earth, good will to men.

No room for Mary at the Inn, Inside the manger she gave birth.

The newborn King who made the earth, Who made the stars shine in the sky, Who with the Father reigned on high, Became a man that we might live.

The greatest gift that one could give.

Sharing Christmas Thanksgiving’s behind us, and Christmas draws near, Tradition reminds us to be of good cheer.

Why break with tradition? Let’s still find a way To celebrate Christmas beginning today.

We’ll play all the music passed down through the years, Let the One in the manger dispel any fears.

The words and the music seem different somehow, A year full of changes has brought us to now.

It’s not about holly or wreaths on the door, But sharing and caring. Love others once more.

We’re forced to resolve what’s important to keep And clean out the clutter that makes our life cheap.

It’s not about treasure we gather on earth That gives our life value or measures its worth.

I pray we find Christmas each day that we live.

It’s not about getting, but what we can give.

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The Little Tree

By Melissa Henderson

Tall tree. Short tree. Big tree. Little tree. Fresh cut or artificial. Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes. Our family enjoys sharing time decorating the Christmas tree each year. Ornaments created when our son was in preschool still adorn the tree.

When I was a young girl, there were years with a real tree and other years, an artificial tree. The real trees often dropped fragrant needles on the rug.

The artificial tree lacked the scent of the forest but was still beautiful. The bright lights cast a glow in the evening. Each year, I looked forward to finding out if we would have a real tree or an artificial one.

Either way, I was happy to decorate with ornaments, garland, lights, and candy canes.

When my husband and I married, we chose to purchase real trees from the local tree lots. Stands were set up on corners of neighborhoods. Signs saying “Fresh cut Fraser firs or Pine trees” were placed at the entry of each lot. Alan and I visited several places until we found the best tree for us.

Then, when our son was born, we decided to visit local tree farms. Hayrides, apple cider, a petting zoo, and more brought joy to our child and us.

Some years we bundled up and braced the snow and freezing temperatures to cut down a tree.

Other years, we chose a pre-cut tree. Then, there were the times of picking out a tree in the rain. Another year the temperature was so warm, we wore short sleeves and even sweated while choosing a tree. Each experience was memorable. Laughter, joy, and precious times with family.

These days, we opt for a pre-lit artificial tree. That works great for us. One special tradition is having a big tree in the living room and a small tree in the office/playroom. Even though our son is now grown and married, we still decorate a small tree for our son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. This little tree gives special joy.

A small present is always placed under the little tree. In the morning, the family eats a delicious breakfast and then opens presents that are under the big tree in the living room. By the time afternoon comes, we pretend to remember a present that may have been left under the little tree. After checking, we find that indeed there is one more present for everyone. Our family is thankful for each other and the love and joy we share.

At Christmas and all times, we thank God for His love and forgiveness. God gave His precious Son so that we can have eternal life with the Father.

What a precious gift!

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Click on the book covers to purchase Melissa’s books.

Whether we have a real tree or an artificial tree, we remember the true reason for Christmas. I pray the world will draw closer to God and receive His special gift.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV) How are you preparing your heart, mind, and soul for Christmas? Can you think of ways to share the love of Christ with others?

Merry Christmas!

Melissa Henderson

Award-winning author Melissa Henderson writes inspirational messages laced with a bit of humor. With stories in books, magazines, devotionals and more, Melissa hopes to encourage readers. Melissa is the author of “Licky the Lizard” and “Grumpy the Gator”.

Her passions are helping in community and church. Melissa is an Elder, Deacon and Stephen Minister. Follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and at http://www.melissaghenderson.com

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Andrea loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoys cycling on the open roads with her husband, David.

Prince Of Peace

By Andrea Marino

Where is peace to be found in a world of trouble and chaos, where evil appears to have the upper hand? Nothing new; Jesus told the disciples the ruler of this world was coming and He would not be talking with them much longer. (John 14:30). Twice in John, Chapter 14, Jesus tells them not to be troubled, adding ‘or fearful’, the second time (John 14:1, 27b). I wonder how much the disciples understood as to what was about to take place. Hearing the Lord speak of His betrayal, also that He was going away and coming back (John chapter 13), questions arose in their minds.

“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5 NIV). What does He mean when He says, “In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,” and “I am going to the Father.” (John 16:17 NLS)?

Wasn’t this Jesus the Messiah, come to save them from the oppression of their enemies? In all the misunderstanding, Jesus offered His peace. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.” (John 14:27 HCS). Peace is the message of the cross. Jesus’ perfect life, sacrificed in death, gives the ability to have peace with God. The ruler of this world has no power over the Lord. Thank God for Christmas. Jesus has come to save us all.

We who are alive today have the advantage of the written Word, regarding events that took place when Jesus first walked upon the earth. As for the first disciples, they had to walk through faith. Hearing about His rising from the dead must have sounded odd, even unbelievable. However, witnessing the Lord bring people back to life was no doubt spectacular.

Thirty-five years ago, when my brother passed away, my family prayed for God to restore life to him. We believed in Heaven, yet our hope was for a Lazarus happening in the here and now. How joyous it would have been had God granted the miracle. But the resurrection truly needed is something more earth-shattering, far greater than a mere extension of our temporary existence. While death is not something we care to consider; we need to consider it. If my brother had been brought back to life in 1986, the question of what lies beyond the grave would have continued to taunt me. After watching the movie, Bambi, at age five, death hung over me as a black cloud. In Psalm 116.3, King David describes terrors of the grave as ropes around him.

It isn’t the worst thing to see trouble and sorrow surrounding us, because the moment we are born, there is a personal death sentence upon us. We need the Lord. Still, if our hope in Christ is for this life only, we are to be pitied. (2 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 15:19).

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Click on the photo of the book to purchase from Amazon.

Jesus did not come to earth to make this world better; He came to show man the way to have peace with God. “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernelsa plentiful harvest of new lives.” (John 12: 26 NLT) Thank God for Christmas, for Jesus, Prince of peace.

By His death our debt of sin is paid; and by His rising again, the grave has been conquered. Because of Jesus, we can say the sting of death is over. In answer to the disciples’ question about how they could know the way to where He was going, Jesus told them, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14: 6 HCS). If Jesus says He is going to prepare a place for us, one day to return and receive us, we have real cause for rejoicing no matter what happens.

“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True. He wore a robe stained with blood, and His name is the Word of God.” (Revelation 19:11,13 HCS)

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Dr. Kathleen B. Oden is an author, missionary, and Bible teacher. She has been the Administrator of God’s House of Refuge Church & School of Evangelism, for 25 years. Dr. Oden attained a Doctorate degree in Christian Theology in 2000. After a bad fall in 2014, she realized that she had to start eating healthy, in order to fully recover. She became a Certified Health Minister and a Certified Essential Oil Coach. She loves ministering to people and God gave her a health ministry called, Create AnewU Health Ministry. Her health ministry has opened the door for her to share what the WORD OF GOD has to say about eating healthy. Dr. Oden has published over 20 books through Amazon.com and several of them are about health and wellness. https://createanewuhealthministry.com

Giving Christ!

By Dr. Kathleen B. Oden WOW!!! I cannot believe that it has been a whole year since my very first article was published in Faith On Every Corner Magazine! How time flies!

But the most important thing about it is the fact that there are two new friends in my life that have been such a blessing to me, Craig and Karen Ruhl!

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Thank you so much for the love, prayers, and trust! You are true Christian friends! Two precious gifts from the Lord! Thank you for believing in me and giving me a platform to not only share information about health and wellness but also about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

WOW! All we have to do is “give” in order to be more blessed! And the wonderful thing about giving is that everyone has something to give to help others; time, prayers, a smile, money, patience, trust… etc! But the most important gift we can give is Christ. A true giver is a person who gives and expects nothing in return. Their mission is all about making someone else happy.

We serve a God that is all about giving! He gave us His one and only begotten Son! For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (KJV) And because of Jesus, the only begotten Son, we are all more blessed than we deserve. Apostle Paul tells us in Acts 20:35 (KJV) just how to get more blessed. I need all the blessings that I can get. What about you?

Now, with that said, it is impossible to be a giver that does not feel joy after giving. Therefore, we are more blessed immediately because the joy of the Lord is in our hearts! Let’s make this year different! I am challenging you to give Christ instead of stuff this year.

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In the Book of Genesis 4:9, Cain said, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Yes, we are! Because when we help others, we are giving them Christ! A lot of us have more than enough, “stuff, stuff, and more stuff.” Therefore, I challenge you this year to give at least one thing, that will seriously change another person’s life! Christ told us to go visit the sick, feed the hungry, help the elderly… etc!

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38 (KJV) This is a PROMISE from God! This year, make a list just for Christ! Don’t think about who has been naughty or nice. Just be a blessing and give them Christ! Are you willing to take my challenge and give Christ? Let’s all do something in the name of Christ, do something that will make others feel Christ, do something that will cause someone to say, “that is so very nice,” because you gave them Christ! Don’t think about it! Go for it! You can do it!

You will be more blessed by giving Christ!

GIVING CHRIST CHALLENGE:

Dr. Kathleen B. Oden

I am giving away: 5 TICKETS TO MY 7TH ANNUAL 21 DAY CHALLENGE IN JANUARY 2022 PLUS, THOSE FIVE PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE 3 MONTHS OF FREE ACCESS TO MY COACHING PROGRAM. RULES I CHALLENGE you to write me a letter telling me why you or someone that you know needs to improve their health, but cannot afford to pay for coaching. #1 The letter must include the full name and email address of the person who needs the coaching. #2 The person who needs the coaching MUST be able to download the coaching app on their cellphone. #3 The person who needs the coaching MUST be able to communicate with me via zoom. #4 I must receive your letter by the deadline date December 15, 2021.

Send your letter to: Dr. Kathleen Oden 8045B Antoine Dr. #131 Houston, TX 77088

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Morning Coffee With Michael E. Wells Man For All Seasons We all go through periods in our lives with special needs.

Times when our problems were unique to the season we were in and through the progression of life, our needs would change again. The cares of a little child seem inconsequential to the overwhelming pressures of adulthood. But the child’s needs are real just the same. A desire for peace and purpose transcends age and time. So our heart cries out, “Is there a Presence that can remain throughout?”

Michael E. Wells has a passion for writing letters of Christian encouragement. With poetic style and moving messages, the reader is often comforted and consoled, inspired, and refreshed. Since his retirement from Federal Service in 2006, most mornings are spent penning letters of the heart. Tucked away in the foothills of Pennsylvania, he leads an idyllic lifestyle in a pastoral setting. This backdrop helps to set both mood and message for his many writings. You can find his book, “Morning Coffee with Words For The Day” at Amazon.com.

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A child is consumed with the wonder and innocence of the day until tragedy strikes the family and is then overcome with a sense of loss. What can now help to heal the wound and give comfort in the night? A young man insecure about his role to play in life looks for guidance and affirmation. A new mother overwhelmed with the responsibilities of family silently despairs of her inabilities. An older couple faced with the news from the doctor they are soon to be parted bravely holds onto the hope of reunion.

Tragedy and loss are part of the human experience but never to be unnoticed by a Presence of compassion and renewal. God, in the form of Jesus, experienced all of our emotions. He loved His mother and cared for those close.

He gave of Himself to strangers and was angry at mistreatment to others. He cried at the death of a friend and unselfishly offered Himself at the cross. The writer of Hebrews states He is uniquely qualified to be our intercessor before the God of heaven. In chapter 4 verses 14-16, we read that for every season of our lives we have someone whereby we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

So no matter the season we are in, from cradle to the grave, the Presence that can remain is Jesus, man for all seasons.

Season Of Fruit And Nuts

A Step In Time

We find ourselves once again in the midst of three of America’s most closely celebrated holidays. In a little over one month, we will eat more than ever and spend more than ever. We will be more joyous than ever and be more sad than at any other five-week period of the year. Truly, it is the best of times, it is the worst of times.

More memories are triggered at this time than throughout the year, some good, some bad. We must individually come to a place of peace for all that we have been through in order to lay hold of the good that still surrounds us.

From the moment God stepped into time, He began to walk to the cross. Creator God had become Son of Man. With every day that passed, He drew closer to leaving. It was a moment of mortality for the Master of Eternity. He brought hope to the helpless, forgiveness to the guilty, healing for the sick, and life to the dead. We were touched by His Divinity and God had been touched by our humanity. It was said that He cried at the death of His friend Lazarus.

That being said of the season we now find ourselves in, let us go onto the fruits. I am very encouraged by the reported random acts of kindness during this time. Strangers helping strangers. Miracles of the heart, forgiveness, and compassion being shown as people truly consider the season we are in. It is not our nature to do so but when we are guided and empowered by a love greater than ourselves, we begin to realize life is not about us but about our impact on those around us. This is a time to share the best we have and the most we have. This is a time to share ourselves.

Finally, the nuts. I am truly amazed at the cruelness and unkindness of some people, especially during the holidays. Their only pursuit is for themselves and usually at the expense of someone else. Their rudeness knows no limit, they are oblivious to the true meaning of the celebration they find themselves in. Their pursuit of materialism has consumed their compassion for others.

Willing not only to dismiss the less fortunate but to take advantage of them given the opportunity.

But such is the world we live in and not much different from other generations before us. During this time, may you be the word of encouragement, the helping hand, and the one who shows love in this season of fruits and nuts.

All the while, the shadow of the cross was cast upon His path. Three short years God ministered upon the earth He created to finally become what Abraham had prophetically said to his son Isaac upon that hill over a thousand years earlier, “God will provide for Himself a sacrifice.”

He is the waymaker in the wilderness, the guide through the dark journey, the one who has gone on before us. It was a journey’s end at the foot of the Cross, a promise kept at a tremendous cost.

He lived to give us hope, He died to give us heaven. Jesus said, “I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:18 NKJV). Christmas is about the birth of a Savior who dies the death of a man. He said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13 NKJV). What gift do you give a Savior who calls you His friend. We give the gift of True Love. It is all that is uniquely ours to give, but it is enough, for it is all that He asks.

“Behold, the virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23 NKJV) “And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV)

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Click on book cover to purchase on Amazon.

U N D E R H E AV E N ’ S S K I E S

by Nicole Byrum

In the darkness of the early morning hours, I stand in my driveway looking up to the shining stars and reigning moon. I take it all in, breathing in the cool air.

I am always in awe. As I begin my run, I consider that these very stars were spoken into existence by God and marvel that He knows them each by name (Isaiah 40:6). Inevitably, my mind then turns to Abraham, and a fulfilled promise of old: “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them... So shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5 ESV). Yet somehow these joyful and hope-filled thoughts become intermixed with a twinge of sadness; for I know that these twinkling lights which declare God’s glory in creation and remind of His faithful covenant promises will only be seen on this earth. I can’t help but wonder if I will miss them in heaven.

In this season of twinkling lights, I am reminded that as beautiful and glorious as those stars in the night and morning skies shine, there is a better light that has come into our world. In the first chapter of the book of John, we learn Jesus is the Word and that through him all things were made; that in Him is life, and that life was the light of men (v.3-4). Verse 5 (ESV) then says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” A few chapters later, Jesus made this clear when he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,” (John 8:12 ESV) and, “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark” (John 12:46 NLT).

The Psalmist declared of God, “You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent” (Psalm 104:1-2 ESV). As Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 11:3) it makes perfect sense that He is light in every sense of the word. He is light in that He is the wellspring of both eternal life in heaven and abundant life on this earth (John 4:14, John 10:10). But the apostle who recorded Jesus’ words in the gospel of John also revealed to us his glimpse of the City of God: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23 ESV).

In heaven, there will be no sun, moon, or stars, for there will not be a need. Again, John wrote, “And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5).

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Nicole is a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 14 years of experience in community mental health. She is the author of Remade: Living Free a book written for women in recovery from substance abuse and unhealthy relationships. Nicole also maintains a blog at nicolebyrum.com as well as a podcast, 5 Minute Word. Both focus on topics related to faith and relationships. She lives in Northwest Ohio with her husband and two children.

When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, running, or cooking.

In heaven, the stars will not be needed to mark the time and seasons (Genesis 1:14), for eternity has no concern of these. These same stars that now sing his praises (Job 38:7) will be replaced by the singing saints gathered around His throne.

And rather than the stars declaring God’s majesty (Psalm 19:1), we will bear witness to His glory and majesty with our own eyes and voices. And still, the stars that nightly remind us of God’s covenant promises will no longer be needed; for we will be in the presence of Christ, the one who fulfilled every covenant of old. We will stand in the glorious light of our triune God, and night will be no more. As I await that day with great anticipation, I will be mindful to thank God for graciously giving us the stars this side of eternity. Casting upward glances to those stars above as I run, I will intentionally enjoy them while I can, though something tells me I won’t be longing for them in heaven after all.

Available on Amazon - click link!

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Blog at Turningmountainsintomolehills.org Twitter: @ymmauthor Website: Yvonne-Morgan.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YMMauthor/ Books: Turning Mountains into Molehills (2017) Rest in God Prayer Journal (9-2020) Faith, Hope, and Love in a Broken World (12-2020)

The Holy Day Of Christmas

by Yvonne M. Morgan

I wish each of you a Merry and Peace-filled Christmas and a Blessed New Year. Yvonne The line snaked around the inside of the building.

I heard angry voices raised in protest as people jostled to maintain their spot in line. Soon, an argument broke out over a popular toy down one aisle.

Unfortunately, this did not feel like the Christmas holiday.

Music blared overhead, and I stopped as I heard the words of the John Lennon song, “So this is Christmas.” I deeply sighed as I realized this is what Christmas has become for so many of us; it was no longer a Holy Day. • Anger • Frustration • Dread • Waiting • Want

Holy Day “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV) Isaiah prophesies about the birth of Jesus in this verse above, and his words hold such beauty within them. They offer a glimpse of the real meaning of Christmas as it describes Jesus. Christ will be called: • Wonderful • Mighty • Everlasting • Peaceful These words provide such a contrast from the chaotic holiday season we experience today.

All of these negative feelings now dominate this season of joy.

Reread the Bible verse—does calmness settle over you? Do you sense a change in your spirit? I do.

What happened to change our hearts from celebrating Christmas as a sacred event into a commercialized experience? How did the day go from a Holy Day to just a holiday?

The Wonderful Counselor This descriptive term echoes a peacefulness, which is lacking in our Christmas season today. My vision of a wonderful counselor sees a loving God sitting next to me as He listens with a caring heart. His presence offers comfort. This babe in the manager will be our eternal hope as His wisdom guides our steps on the path of life.

“This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.”

(Isaiah 28:29 ESV)

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Mighty God and Everlasting Father When Isaiah wrote these words, unrest and wars filled his world, much like our world today. The Jewish people of that day looked for a mighty warrior to come and save them from those who sought to destroy them.

Instead, the King of Kings arrived as a tiny baby. His true nature lay hidden under the swaddling clothes in the lowly manger. This Mighty God, Creator of the universe, and every living thing left His throne in heaven to come to earth. He came to teach us love and peace.

Much of the world missed His message because they looked for a warrior God. Jesus offered life eternal with Him. A gift to those who accepted His message. He calls us to love and live in peace with our neighbors. It is still a radical message today.

“But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” (Luke 22:69 NIV) Prince of Peace Ah, peace! My soul longs for God’s peace in my life and world this Christmas season. I long to spend time in a church lit only by candles, sing the old, traditional carols, and feel God’s presence settle the busyness of my heart.

• • • •

I want to make memories that will last longer than any gift I could buy for my family.

Peace is the thing the entire world desires but does not know how to find.

Jesus gives lasting peace to His people.

He provides peace for today, peace for Christmas, and peace for all eternity.

Daily Bible Study

Myanmar Orphanage The situation in the town surrounding our orphanage is dire. The military controls the town and has shut down all the schools and hospitals. And, the COVID cases are climbing. Please consider helping us as we provide for theses children. Donate at https://www.paypal.me/oreinc Yvonne M Morgan, Christian author and speaker https://yvonne-morgan.com Click on book cover to purchase.

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 NLT) Making the Holiday a Holy Day Make time for the Peace of Christ to invade your Christmas season this year.

• • • •

Schedule quiet family time.

Read the Christmas story as a family.

Share the Love of Christ with a lonely neighbor.

Give back to your community.

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Learning To Love

By Gina Sewell As Christians, we are called to love. The two greatest commandments that Jesus taught his followers were: 1) to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds, and 2) to love our neighbor as ourselves. Okay, the second I am working on. I do love people. That’s why I have such a strong need to help wherever I am able. But to love everyone? No matter what they do to me?

No matter what they say to me? No matter how much they hurt me? This is where my emotions begin to take over.

I get angry. Anger, in itself, is not a sin. But to take it to the extremes that I tend to, at times, is a sin. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:26 (ESV), “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,” To me, that seems like it is saying that it is natural to get angry—just don’t let that anger control you.

I have been through a lot in my life. One purpose of my writing is to not only tell my story but to share my heart. I have been through things that, quite honestly, I don’t want to talk about. But I know I need to because God brought me back from there.

From that place of darkness that I knew I didn’t belong, yet I spent several years there. That place where the devil resides. I think we always tend to bring our demons back with us from those experiences. For many people who have been down the same road as me, it is the demon of addiction.

Temptation seems to follow us throughout our lives.

But I squashed that demon ten years ago. No, for me it’s my anger. That’s the demon that refuses to let go.

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The key to ridding ourselves of the torture that having a temper may cause us is, quite simply, love. We must love everyone and that will take lots of prayer for most of us. The more we pray to God, talking to him about our feelings, asking him to enable us to love, even those who have hurt us, we begin this process. We become slower to anger, we build our relationship with the Lord, and we are able to take this first step in making the world a better place.

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of the hate that rules this world. I want to make it a place of love and joy and compassion for others, so I am learning to love.

Gina Sewell is a mom and grandma who lives in the Dallas, Texas area, where she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family. She loves to write about Jesus and encourage others. Gina shares her journey on her website: http://www.ginabartonsewell.wordpress.com

December Prayer

By Tynea Lewis

Dear Heavenly Father,

Tynea Lewis is a teacher turned workfrom-home mom. She and her husband live in Pennsylvania with their two children, and they love spending time together at their family cabin.

Tynea remembers loving to write as early as first grade. She has a heart for encouraging others in the midst of their messes.

You can connect with her at her personal blog (www.tynea-lewis.com), on Instagram (@TyneaLewis), or Facebook (@TyneaLewisWriter).

We pray for those who are lonely this holiday season. The holidays are usually a time for family and friends to come together and enjoy time with one another. It’s a time for houses to be filled with love and laughter. It’s a time for tables to be filled with food. It’s a time for hearts to be filled with joy. But for some, this time of the year is a painful reminder of everything they don’t have.

Lord, we pray for the people who are hurting this holiday season. They wish to be surrounded by people who care, but they are alone. They feel like they’ve been forgotten, and the loneliness brings such sorrow.

We pray for the people who live far from their families and can’t be together. We pray for the people who have strained relationships with relatives and friends. And we pray for the people who have lost friends, spouses, parents, and children.

Lord, there is so much pain in this world, but you are the one true comforter. You are the one who brings hope and healing, and we ask that you draw these people to you. Remind them they are loved and not forgotten. Remind them you care for them and are with them through all the highs and lows of life.

Thank you for the gift of Jesus that we celebrate at Christmastime. In Jesus’ name, amen!

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A Savior Is Born: The Back Story

by Dave Evans

Many centuries ago, in the hill country of Judah, in the town of Bethlehem, a most significant event in human history occurred. It was the birth of Jesus, the Savior, and that night an angel appeared to a group of terrified shepherds who were watching their flocks. The angel announced to them, “today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

(Luke 2:1 NASB, emphasis added). Since that day, the story of the Savior’s birth has been cherished, celebrated, and retold countless times.

Dave Evans recently retired from his career as an estimator for an electrical contractor, but still works part-time. He recently served as Body Care Pastor for a small church and previously taught at a local Bible College for several years.

God led him to found and serve in several outreach ministries—a pet therapy ministry, visiting several skilled nursing facilities and retirement homes: a prayer booth on a local street corner to allow people in the community to stop by for prayer needs and an evangelism table, typically set up once a month at various malls or stores, which made Bibles, tracts, DVDs, and other Christian materials available free of charge to interested shoppers. Dave has a bachelor’s degree in business administration/management.

As a writer, he has had many poems and articles published in various periodicals and books. And he’s been privileged to do volunteer work for a local police department.

While this story is certainly familiar, the backstory is not, and the time when it occurred cannot be said to occur “today” like the birth of Jesus can. No angels were commissioned as messengers of the news. And man had not yet been formed from the dust of the ground and made alive by the breath of God. So, no historians were around to record when it happened. While the birth of Christ took place on a fixed and specific day in history, the time frame of the backstory is actually outside the limitations and measurements of time.

The Triune God comprised of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has always existed and He always had a plan in reference to future things. This plan is described as his “eternal purpose” in Ephesians, chapter three. “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:11 NASB, emphasis added). His eternal purpose is literally the “purpose of the ages” and as one theologian explained, “… there was never a moment when God had a blank mind or a time when God’s plan with all of its parts was not fully determined. He never ‘finally made up his mind’ about anything. He has always had the plan, and within the plan itself there is no chronological factor per se.”

One part of His plan of the ages included the creation of man who would be made to have free moral agency and the ability to choose good or evil. In doing so, God allowed for mankind, as represented by Adam as its federal head, to fall. So, He included in the plan a means of redemption to save man from the penalty and consequence of his sin.

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Then before the creation of the world, before man took his first breath and went on to disobey God and sin for the first time; God also decreed that there would be a Savior for mankind. Peter described this in his first epistle: “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” (I Peter 1:20 NKJV). From the vanishing point of eternity past, Jesus was preordained to come into the pages of history and to be the Savior.

Not only was this plan of redemption determined before the foundation of the world but God also chose, or elected those who would become heirs of salvation before the foundation of the world— “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…” (Ephesians 1:4 NASB, emphasis added). Astounding! Even before the first man, Adam, was created, God chose those in Christ who would be His own.

The back story of “A Savior is Born” occurred before the foundation of the world when God purposed in His own counsel what the future would hold. Then one day in the history of mankind, the Son came and was born of a virgin to fulfill the plan of God to redeem man. That day, after the shepherds came and recounted the visitation of the angels and the message they proclaimed, Luke noted Mary’s response: “But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19 NASB). May we likewise apprehend the invaluable treasure of God’s perfect plan of the ages regarding the birth of a Savior which He brought to fruition; and may we worshipfully ponder the Savior in our hearts.

Ever Closer

By Dave Evans

A time to reflect, to speculate, at this benchmark of time as one year ends, the next about to begin reflections on days past— now only memories; speculation about what tomorrow holds aware that each breath I breathe draws me ever closer to the breath of eternity.

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

(James 4:14 NASB95) “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

(2 Corinthians 5:1 NASB95)

Merry Christmas!

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Craig Ruhl is the Managing Editor of Faith On Every Corner, he is also a Published Writer and handles the business side of Faith On Every Corner, LLC. Read more about Craig at www.faithoneverycorner.com

The Gift Of Words

By Craig Ruhl

As Karen and I finished editing, formatting, and polishing this issue of Faith On Every Corner magazine (December 2021), we reflected on the precious gifts we have been and continue to be blessed with. We are thankful we have been blessed with the talent to write, edit, design, and photograph content that inspires and encourages not just us but also our other contributors and our readers worldwide.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes the word gift, as a noun, as: 1) 2) 3)

A notable capacity, talent, or endowment something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation the act, right, or power of giving (Gift is also used as a verb, denoting the act of giving.)

Every month, we receive submissions for publication in this magazine from approximately 35 contributors, from around the globe, totaling over 23,000 words.

Each article, story, poem, and photograph contains a part of the person who created it. We acknowledge that each of our contributors received their gifts and talents from their Creator. Through God’s grace, we have the ability and opportunity to take this collective talent and all these gifts and publish them as a monthly digital magazine with a worldwide readership. Now, that is re-gifting at its best!

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The Bible tells us about the gifts we have received from our Creator. Here are a few verses that convey God’s will for us in using our gifts: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

(Romans 12:6-8 ESV).

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” (1 Peter 4:10 ESV) In 2017, we set out on this mission of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ by using our gifts of writing, reading, editing, design, and photography to create this magazine. We just did not know where or how far the Lord would take us on our journey. We have met so many amazing people, each with their own story and testimony to share. Our readers come from all the corners of the earth, many in places where it is very dangerous to possess Christian literature, including Bibles. One advantage of a digital platform for the magazine— it can be viewed electronically on a cell phone and deleted instantaneously if need be.

Our contributors have shared with us how writing for publication in our magazine has blessed them with a forum to express and explore their faith.

Their stories, articles, and poems have been a blessing to us, and we know for certain they have affected thousands of others. We often receive feedback from readers about how a particular piece made a difference in their life. That is why we include each contributor’s bio and contact information, as they permit, so a reader can reach a contributor directly.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

(John 3:16 NKJV)

As we enter the time of anticipation and celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth, let us not forget this time is not about the gifts wrapped and placed beneath the Christmas tree. Our focus must be on the gifts that God has given us. Through His grace and mercy, He gave us the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior. He also gave us the precious gift of each other. It is the collective ‘We’ and ‘Us’ that Jesus Christ ministers to. This has been an awesome aspect of publishing Faith On Every Corner magazine—we are blessed to be a conduit of learning, encouragement, and inspiration. The sharing of the gift of words.

“The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”

(Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV)

Karen and I are humbled to be able to re-gift the grandest present of all—our love of Jesus Christ and all of God’s children. It is our prayer that each of you will fill your hearts with the true meaning of Christmas, now and throughout the coming year.

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Listening With Our Eyes

By Peter Caligiuri “And he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

And he said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.’” (Luke 21:2-3 ESV)

Peter and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 48 years and have two sons, six lively grandsons and one wonderful granddaughter! They live near Tampa Florida where they are members of Generations Christian Church. Peter’s blog is located at http://www.praise2worship.net/

Three years ago, right after our move, we hadn’t met many neighbors yet, so when I saw the teenage boy pull in the driveway across the street I called over, “Hey good morning!” hoping to strike up a conversation. Surprisingly, he didn’t even turn his head to look at me, and headed into his house. I was a bit put off and later grumbled about that “unfriendly boy across the street” to my wife. Nancy paused to let me finish griping, then she said, “He’s deaf, you know.

He can lip read, but he had to be able to see your face.” In an instant, not only did my attitude completely change, but I felt pretty silly to boot.

Have you ever thought how we who are hearing sometimes don’t communicate well because we don’t really look at people? Maybe, like my lip-reading neighbor, we need to look closely at the people around us. They not only focus on the words formed by our lips but also on our facial expressions and body language as they work to get the whole picture about someone.

In today’s verse, we discover that Jesus watched people closely and read far more from their actions than their words. He heard rich men loudly proclaiming their generosity as they gave large gifts, but this widow, in a silent moment of sacrifice, captured His heart. He could see by her clothing that she was poor, and in quiet demeanor her humility, but more than both of these, Jesus saw her faith.

If we ask God to teach us, we will be able to hear more than people’s words. We will hear them with God’s ears when we learn to listen with our eyes!

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Reason For The Season

by Mike Buchanan

An angel announced a birth like no other So later one could announce a rebirth like no other The Babe started in swaddling clothes To be stripped of almost everything at the end.

He was heralded by a heavenly choir on arrival So it would echo against the mocking on the cross.

Visited by strangers in the manger To make up for the ultimate desertion in the darkness.

His birth was given to a virgin To shadow the resurrected hope given to a prostitute.

He was brought royal gifts in tribute as a child In preparation for a crown given in scorn and derision.

He was born perfect So He could die sin-burdened.

He left His Glory and became like one of us Because He wanted us to become like Him. For everything started in the season of His Birth Its true reason is found in His Death and Resurrection

Painting By Mike Buchanan

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DEAR CARL

Hello, Dear Carl fans, Carl’s mom had lived in North Carolina for most of her life. She was a southern transplant and had enjoyed the culture, hospitality, and high regard for kin—family closeness. She became a widow in her early 40s and has only one son. Carl was just entering college when his dad died. Carl married a beau- tiful woman (Donna) with ties in Arizona. He moved and established his home in Arizona soon after college. Carl has 2 sons and is a grandfather of 3 children. Carl’s mom had friends and community work she enjoyed in North Carolina that kept her from moving to Arizona upon her husband’s death. She had lived in the home where she and her husband shared most of their married lives. She even- tually moved into a senior living cottage, where every week she sat at her dining table and wrote her son a handwritten letter, though he called her almost every Sunday. Near her ending years, she moved to Arizona to live with her son and his wife in Arizona. She continues to write her son letters to put away for him to read after her passing for comfort and encouragement. This letter is one he would read after her death. She writes in the present tense because she is alive while writing them. I hope you enjoy. — Anna “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’”

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Dear Carl, I love you, son. Jesus loves you more. My prayer for you in these last days is that you will walk humbly daily with Him. Let Him guide you always. Ask for wisdom. Love like Him. Serve like Him. True joy is only in a relationship with Jesus. I am at peace knowing you have Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

The holidays are coming soon. I will not be with you. It will be your first Christmas without me—no call to make, no gift to send, and no mom to share pieces of the gingerbread man with, a tradition we had since you were a small boy. Eat his chubby hands for me, and remember I get the candy eyes.

I am leaving you a gift under the tree. Son, I know tears will fall this Christmas. Find comfort in the memories. Picture me hugging Jesus’ neck and then saying sorry to Him for not falling at His feet first.

I will be so excited to be in the presence of the One who died for me so I can have eternity in good health and in sound mind to worship, sing, and, yes, dance for Him. I am tired, son. My body hurts. My heart aches to see you by my bed, without your genuine smile. We will be together again. You cannot take anything to heaven from this earth but the ones you helped to come to Jesus by planting the seed, being part of the harvest, or cultivating them with discipleship. I know I will be with you again. Thanks to Donna, you have this last letter. She wrote it for me. The gift under the tree is many more letters to read when you need a dose of mom. Bible first, my son.

Love, Mom Side note: I will be with crazy Shirley again. I wonder if she is still all about her glam and red lipstick.

Heaven is real. I am genuinely at peace, son.

Dear readers, I am Carl. Her (Mom) name is still being withheld because I hope that that you found yourself in her, as she shared her letters over the years, in her friends, or in me. She was a sensible mom, with spunk and, at times, a little bite in her outspokenness. She got on my nerves, and she was all about Jesus after she gave her life to Him later in life. She did things I disapproved of with her self-sufficient, risk-taking self at times. She was authentic to who she was and made no excuses. She loved the outcasts and unlovely. She loved my dad to the day she passed. She loved me at my worst. She loved me no matter what. She loved my kids, grandkids, and my Donna, though she often had to temper her opinions down. In the end, she and Donna were the best of friends. My first Christmas without her is hard. I am holding baby Jesus from the nativity set Mom owned since I was a baby. The foot is still broken from when I was a child. Christmas is about remembering the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Today she is walking with Him (and talking His ear off, no doubt). My tears won’t stop flowing, but mostly because I envy her. This world is not a kind one at times, and when she was here with me, she always reminded me that here is not my real home. I don’t think the pain of missing her will ever go away.

I have a new normal. My eyes will always look up toward the heavenly skies and thank Jesus for her.

This will be my first Christmas without a Christmas present from Santa. Since I was a kid, she would say, “as long as you say you believe in Santa, there will always be a gift from him.” Silly thing to close with, but it just came to my mind. Santa always left me a kid toy or game every year. Thank you for loving my mom.

Love in Christ, Carl.

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 NKJV)

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The Giving Season

By Esther M. Bandy

It’s that time of the year again. Stores and homes are filled with Christmas decorations, shoppers are buying things they can’t afford, and store owners are looking forward to the most profitable shopping days of the year. The giving season is here.

Some folks shop until they drop, then they spend the next six months trying to pay it all off. Others adopt the “Ebenezer Scrooge” mentality, and they hide their money where even they can’t find it.

Many give precious gifts to those they love while remembering their reasons for giving.

Why do we give gifts every Christmas? How did we get caught up in shopping, wrapping presents, and giving, until we’re too tired to remember where it all began?

For hundreds of years, people have given gifts during this season. Some say it was a Roman custom. Others remind us of the English tradition of giving gifts to servants on Boxing Day, December 26th. People often identify Christmas giving with Santa Claus. They trace his roots to Saint Nicholas, a bishop who gave gifts to good children and birch rods to naughty ones. In 1822, Dr. Clement C. Moore wrote his poem, “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.” Today, the mythical Santa is a modern tradition.

Many people associate gift-giving with the wise men who followed a special star and traveled a long distance to find the newborn King of the Jews.

When they finally found him in Bethlehem, he was a young child living in a house. Most Bible scholars believe he was probably under two years old.

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Matthew 2:11 (KJV) says, “And when they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down and worshipped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

The early church celebrated Christ’s Mass, or festival, in memory of his birth. Ancient authorities disagreed on the exact date he was born, but in A.D. 386, the church accepted December 25th as the day to remember. Today, some Bible scholars believe his birth was in a different season. The date isn’t important, but the reason the Son of God willingly became a man is crucial to our understanding of this miraculous event we call the incarnation.

Why did God the Father give His only begotten Son, and why did God the Son willingly leave his home in heaven to be born as a human from the womb of a virgin? The Son of God had to become the Son of Man so He could be both wholly God and wholly man.

Galatians 4:4–5 (KJV) says, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

Only humans are born under the law, and only a human could redeem other humans born under the law. Born under the law of God, all humans are guilty of transgressing that law. Only a perfect human could perfectly keep and fulfill the law. Jesus accomplished our redemption on the cross by exchanging our sin for His perfect righteousness. It was crucial for the Son of God to become the Son of Man so he could pay for our sins by shedding his blood as he suffered and died on the cross.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) says, “For He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

The perfect Lamb of God sacrificed His human life and shed His blood to cover the sins of all who would believe in Him. If He were not human, this would have been impossible. He is truly the Son of God, and God could not die. Jesus became the Son of Man so he could die for our sins.

As we celebrate this giving season, let’s remember the wise men who gave gifts to the new King. They gave him gold, a fitting gift for royalty. They gave frankincense, the resin from a tree. It would be burned to produce a sweet incense offering to God the Son. The third gift, myrrh, is a shrub used for embalming. This child was born to die. When the wise men found the King of the Jews, they gave him their best.

Their gifts can’t compare with the gift that God offers us. God’s gift wasn’t wrapped in holiday paper or tied with a bow. God’s gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

In Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) we read, “For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given.” The child was born to Mary and her husband, Joseph. The son was given

by God the Father to be the Savior of the world.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Have you received God’s precious gift?

If you’ve received Christ as your Savior, your sins are forgiven, and you have the promise of eternal life.

Will you thank God for saving you and tell others about him? If you haven’t received him, you can do it today.

John 1:12 (KJV) says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” Do you believe Jesus died for your sin? Are you willing to confess your sin to God and pray to receive Christ as your Savior?

Romans 10:9-10 (KJV) says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

When Esther Bandy was five, she heard the gospel in a Good News Club and received the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior. Since then, she’s worked as a nurse, a missionary, a local director with Child Evangelism Fellowship, and a Spanish teacher in a Christian school. Now she’s an author. Esther’s work was published in the anthology Treasures of a Woman’s Heart, and she’s a contributing author for the upcoming anthology Triumph from Tragedy. http://esthermbandy.com/ https://www.facebook.com/EstherMBandy She is a contributing author for the upcoming anthology Triumph from Tragedy.

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Vivian Satterwhite lives in the lovely foothills of North Carolina, where she writes poetry and fiction. She has published a book of short stories, Sweet Tea in Autumn, and a collection of poems, Shadows of Other Rooms.

Vivian can be contacted at viviansatterwhite.vs@gmail.com

Thank You

By Vivian Satterwhite

for coming to us that night shown by a star in the eastern sky as Wise Men traveled with gifts to give You were born to die that we might live

the Magi knelt in reverence

by Your halo’s shimmering glow and centuries from then, today we thank You, Lord for coming to us that night to save our souls

Click on book covers to purchase these books.

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Brenda McDaniel is the author of My Angel My Hero with two more books soon to be published. She is from Roanoke, VA. She holds a B.S in Psychology and M.A. in Counseling. She has enjoyed writing poetry and short stories, even as a small child.

Brenda says she is now living her dream come true!

What Is Christmas To You?

By Brenda McDaniel

It’s been two long years of pain, suffering, division, and strife. For our nation and world. But still, the Bells of Christmas will ring in all our churches. The songs of Christmas will be played and the choirs will sing of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. No matter the darkness in this world, the Light of the Christmas Star still shines brightly forever.

The Lord’s birth in the manger of Bethlehem forever changed our world. Death and darkness no longer win. Eternal life, love, and forgiveness have won the battle. Our Lord Jesus Christ showed us what life is all about—love, hope, faith, and forgiveness. He lived a life of devotion to His father, loving others, and giving totally of Himself by doing miracles to heal the deceased and hurting.

He showed those around Him that there is a God and this world isn’t the end, but only the beginning. That there is a Heaven and a Hell and all will be judged according to their works. He showed us there is a spiritual world. One that, in the end, we will live our eternal lives in peace, faith, and love.

Or in agony and pain if we make the wrong decisions in our life.

My blessings are having my niece Casey still with us for another Christmas, as she survived a terrible car wreck last Christmas eve, suffering a brain injury but overcame it too. My other blessings are having my sister and my other niece still with us.

They both had Covid. My sister Debbie had her shot. Lauren had to have an antibodies treatment because she was pregnant, so she didn’t get her shot. Both overcame with God’s help. And now my special blessing is having my great-niece, a beautiful, sweet baby girl who just arrived in October.

So always count your miracles and blessings. Never take anything for granted. And thank the Lord this Christmas. For He always walks beside us, even into eternity!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)

So take stock of your life. Decide what Christmas means to you, and turn your life around. Or travel the long dark road to despair and agony. It’s your choice, so choose wisely. For you will live in eternity with that decision! Count your blessings this Christmas. There are some we take for granted.

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Morristown, Tennessee - historic district seems to be in a revitalization period. Morristown’s National Register Historic District is the home of the only overhead sidewalk system in the United States.

We headed home after a two-day stay and look forward to visiting this area again in the future.

Karen-Ruhl.pixels.com All photos are copyright 2021 to Karen Ruhl

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Road Trippin’ To Morristown, Tennessee

by Karen Ruhl

Smack dab in the middle of November, Craig and I decided to take a much needed break and hit the road for a few days. We try to find a location that has enough siteseeing opportunities to take plenty of photos. I found Morristown online and off we went for our adventure.

Once we arrived and found our hotel, we went off to explore. The first place we visited was Cherokee Lake. This is a beautiful park with a great children’s playground and amenities. We were shocked to see how low the lake was and asked if they were doing work on the dam. Looking up the stats online showed that Tennessee has been having a moderate to extreme draught over the past few years. It was evident as we visited other parks.

We were in Morristown on Veterans Day and stopped by Roadhouse Restaurant to get lunch.

While there, we got to see a 21-gun salute, Craig was thanked for his service by many, and he was treated to a free lunch. My eyes were filled with tears of love and pride.

Panther Creek State Park is a state park in Morristown, Tennessee, United States. It is located prominently on the shore of Cherokee Lake, an impoundment of the Holston River. This is a view of Cherokee Lake from the overlook in Panther Creek State Park.

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Downtown Morristown, revitalization

While driving around, we found Jefferson City and this beautiful mansion.

(See photos on the next page) They are closed right now as they prepare for their Christmas celebrations. It was a treat to see from the outside. Maybe one day we will be there when it is open to tour.

From their website: “Glenmore Mansion is the only public house museum in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Built by John Roper Branner in 1868, it is one of the southeast’s best examples of a second empire architecture still standing today.”

Barn outside of Jeffersontown, TN

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All photos are copyright to Karen Ruhl 2021, 2022

Karen-Ruhl.pixels.com

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Author, Sharon K. Connell lives in Houston, Texas from where she writes Christian Romance Suspense, containing a bit of mystery and as much humor as she can get into a story. She’s also written many award-winning short stories in a variety of genres.

Sharon attended college in Illinois, graduated from the Pensacola Bible Institute in Florida, and holds a certificate in fiction writing from the International Writing Program through the University of Iowa.

She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Scribes Critique Group, Houston Writers Guild, and CyFair Writers. She is also the founder of the global Facebook Christian Writers & Readers group forum. Her monthly newsletter, Novel Thoughts, goes out every month to its subscribers in all parts of the world.

Visit the offical website of Sharon K. Connell https://www.authorsharonkconnell.com/

My Christmas Blessing

by Sharon K. Connell Well... the season is upon us. I can hear the groans and moans from all over the world. The hustle and bustle at this time of year leave many cold and unwilling to get into the spirit of Christmas. Is this you? It doesn’t have to be.

Most of us know the twenty-fifth of December probably isn’t the day when our Lord Jesus Christ was born. No one knows the exact date. We know from the Scriptures He was born while shepherds kept their sheep outside.

“And there were in the same country shepherds 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 good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people;” Luke 2:8-12 KJV So that dispels the myth.

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Let me lay to rest an old argument I’ve heard for most of my saved life. That old dispute about it was too cold in December for shepherds to keep sheep outside all night. It was not. First of all, sheep are covered in wool. Shepherds would also have been covered in wool outer garments as well as having wool blankets to keep them warm.

Also, Jerusalem’s daily low temperatures in December range from 48 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit, rarely falling below 37 degrees. So that dispels the myth.

So, was December 25th our Lord’s actual birthday after all? I truly doubt it. When I was a leader in the Boy Scouts, I did in-depth research on holidays for one of our programs. One of the holidays was Christmas. It was a real eye-opener.

From the Encyclopedia Britannica site today, you can read how the church in Rome began celebrating Christmas on December twenty-fifth in the year 336. It was during the reign of the emperor Constantine when he made Christianity the effective religion of the empire. It was done most likely to weaken the established pagan religions of the day. This bears out with many of the other places I researched on the date. They couldn’t get the pagans to stop worshiping their false gods, so Rome turned the worship into one of Christ’s birth.

Does this mean we shouldn’t celebrate Christmas?

Not necessarily. Focus on these verses from God’s Word.

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” (Colossians 2:16 NKV).

“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.” (Romans 14:5-6 NKJV).

Now... getting back to my Christmas blessing. I went back and forth about this problem, listening to one set of Christians who said a true believer shouldn’t have anything to do with the celebration of Christmas and then listening to others who said they were celebrating the birth of our Lord, regardless of whether it was His true birth date or not.

Who was right? Neither.

This is my Christmas blessing. It’s not an excuse to make merry on the day or to join in with the millions of people who celebrate the holiday. My blessing is the peace that I’ve received after much prayer over what to do. I love my Lord and want to recognize His birth, which led to His life, which led to His death, burial, and resurrection, opening the gates of heaven to me because I’ve accepted His sacrifice on behalf of me for payment of all my sins.

The Scriptures give us more indication of when Jesus died and rose again—specific information— than about when Jesus was born. It wasn’t God’s intention that we should celebrate Christ’s birthday the way we humans do our own. It’s Christ’s life, death, and resurrection that’s so much more important. But like I used to tell my Sunday school class, you have to have a first birthday to have the second. Ye must be (born... and then) born again.

John 3:7 says, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (KJV) God has made it so easy to be born again because of his first birth in the form of a human baby. I choose to celebrate my Christmas blessing.

The day after Thanksgiving is when we put up our Christmas tree. No! It is not a Baal bush, as I’ve heard some call it, referring to the old pagan beliefs. It is an artificial evergreen tree we consider to be a sign of everlasting life. We adorn it with all kinds of beautiful ornaments to represent the beauty each Christian’s life should present to the lost world. We lay presents under the tree to commemorate the gifts the wise men brought to our Lord to honor Him as King of Kings about two years after his birth. And we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, which brought us salvation. Every Christmas Eve, we read through Luke 2 to remind ourselves of the announcement of the birth of a Savior who will open heaven’s door to all.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

(Matthew 1:21-23 KJV)

Click on photo to order Sharon’s books.

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Honoring God Through Adversity–Part Two

By Jeff Foster Life is a series of adversities, intertwined with occasions of happiness as God allows. However, when we view our trials in the light of God’s promises, we can begin to understand the purpose of our adversities.

God uses His Word to prepare us for each day and for what lies ahead. The Bible is full of examples of people serving God through various trials. God simply calls us to obedience. Nowhere did God say “do this but wait until it’s safer” or “do this but wait until they stop the persecution” or “do this but wait for a more convenient time.” When God gives a commandment, He means now—no matter what we have to face to accomplish it.

1. Faithfulness during an adversity prepares us for what lies ahead.

In the book of Daniel, chapter 6, we find the familiar story of Daniel and the lion’s den. Daniel was held captive in Babylon. He no longer had the freedom he enjoyed in Israel. He, no doubt, was in adverse circumstances, through no fault of his own.

But Daniel never gave up what God had called him to do. He still prayed three times per day, just as he did before he was taken prisoner. God blessed him for his faithfulness by moving him to the highest position in Babylon, just below the king. That didn’t sit too well with the Babylonian princes and governors who were under his authority. They conspired together to trick king Darius into signing a decree which would certainly have Daniel sentenced to death for simply continuing in his faith.

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” (Daniel 6:10 KJV) 40 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 40

Continuing to serve through adverse or even dangerous circumstances requires us to spend more time in prayer and meditation in God’s word. We need to allow our Father to draw us into a closer relationship with Him. That’s where we find peace and contentment that only He can give us, and the greater level of confidence we need to be a steadfast servant. That greater faith gave Daniel the boldness to remain unwavering even in the face of almost certain death. God rewarded Daniel’s persevering faith by keeping the lion’s mouths closed that night. His endurance not only kept him safe that night, but God also used Daniel’s faithfulness to turn the heart of King Darius. In verses 25-27, we read that king Darius sent word to all his kingdom that the God of Daniel was to be reverenced because he witnessed God’s power in Daniel’s life.

2. Faithfulness during the trial gives confidence to other Christians around us.

We need each other. We need God to watch over us, we need Jesus to save us, we need the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us, but we also need our church body to encourage and build us up.

God’s word tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV), “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

What better way is there to encourage one another than by being a steadfast example of faith during our adversities?

Paul wrote in Philippians 1:13-14 (KJV), “So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

Young’s Literal Translation says it this way; “more abundantly bold—fearlessly to speak the word”

Paul was in prison, preaching to whomever he came in contact with. He was writing letters to the churches he started, to give them encouragement, instruction, and even admonishment. Wherever he was, he committed himself to be a godly example to those that looked to him for guidance.

One personal example that I remember was a Sunday School teacher I had years ago. He made a powerful impact on me through his faithfulness during a difficult time. His infant grandson had passed away unexpectedly, and the funeral was on a Saturday afternoon. It was certainly a heartbreaking circumstance for him and his daughter. He would not have been questioned by anyone in the class if he had asked someone to fill in and teach for him the next morning. But no, he was there and delivered a well-prepared lesson as always. My respect for him was greatly multiplied that day. I was challenged that day to strive for a higher level of steadfastness in my own faith.

3. Faithfulness during the trial will manifest our trust in the sovereignty of God to unbelievers.

This one is the most critical reason to honor God during adversity.

“Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.”

(Ezekiel 24:1-2 KJV) God set up King Nebuchadnezzar to put Jerusalem under siege as a punishment for their rebellion against Him. In verse three, the parable begins with the boiling pot to describe the state of Jerusalem and the impending judgment they were about to receive for their rebellion against God. At one point He compares them to the bloody scum that rises to the top of the boiling pot of meat that was not properly cleaned. The pot is then emptied of the good meat and set back in the fire to burn off the filthy scum, a way of cleansing the pot. The pot here represents the city of Jerusalem and the improperly prepared meat is the rebellious and sinful people.

As God prepares Ezekiel to deliver His message, He also puts him in a trial as well. The key verse in this chapter is verse 16, “Son of man, lo, I am taking from thee the desire of thine eyes by a stroke, and thou dost not mourn, nor weep, nor let thy tear come.” (Ezekiel 24:16 KJV) You may have lost a spouse or someone very dear to you and know firsthand how difficult it would have been for Ezekiel to keep his emotions hidden when God took his wife. Ezekiel was to be an example to the people by showing his trust in God’s wisdom and sovereignty, no matter the circumstance.

“Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 24:24 KJV) “In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 24:27 KJV) If we are always complaining about our circumstances or what is going on in the world, then we can’t be a believable witness for Christ. Our job is to manifest the hope we have in Christ, to let our light shine. We make Christ attractive to those around us by staying steadfast in our faith during the adversities and trials that most people would find hopeless. When we commit ourselves to honor God, He will use us to bring hope to a lost and dying world.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 KJV)

Jeff Foster and his wife Lorena live in Granite Falls, NC. As a mechanical engineer with many years of technical writing experience, he discovered his calling to devotional writing in 2018. He finds purpose in his writing by encouraging the saints and inspiring them to strive for a closer walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His website was launched in April of this year www.seedsowing.org.

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Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf The Daily Kairos Journal Reviewed by Craig Ruhl I originally downloaded the digital version of the Daily Kairos Journal, hoping I would find a simple and yet meaningful method of Christian journaling. In June of this year, shortly after beginning to use the journal, I requested a hardbound version of the journal to use and review. The team at Daily Kairos graciously provided a review copy with a Forest Green cover.

Click on book cover to purchase this journal.

For many years, I have maintained a habit of Bible verse journaling and I wanted to expand that to recording my Bible reading plans and progress, memory verses, prayers said and those answered. It was also important to have space to write down my thoughts as I spent time in the Word each day. The Daily Kairos Journal provides all of that and much more. The journal is sturdy as well as beautiful. The paper is very fountain pen friendly, which was important to me. Each journal includes space for 90 days of journaling, plus a wonderful section to record weekly reflections. There is even a section with Bible verse suggestions by topic.

My experience in using this journal for 90 days was excellent. I like the format and the ease of use. The simple guide and instructions included in the journal are thorough and easy to understand. The journal lends itself to considerable personalization. Most importantly, The Daily Kairos Journal provides a solid framework for intentionally spending time each day with the Lord. The Daily Kairos Journal team is part of a young family-owned business. I recommend you give this journal a try!

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Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf

Click to purchase this book from Amazon.com.

The Adventures of George and Mabel

by Stefanie Hutcheson Reviewed by Karen Ruhl I just don’t know where to start on this review. I absolutely love the way this author tells stories. In this series, George and Mabel take road trips - now if you know about our road trips, you know I was pulled in immediately to these novellas. From the front cover, you know you are in for a treat when it tells you the books are “Based on an Almost (Kind of? Sort of? Could Be?) True Story.”

George and Mabel are such a loving and funny couple. You will get to know their family and friends, and be careful, if you know them personally, you just may end up in one of her books.

The writer is from Caldwell County, North Carolina. She takes you on trips and will make you want to come and visit the area. You will laugh, you will be touched, and you will be sad when you finish the books and want just one more!

This is the fourth book I have read by this author, and I am excited to read the one I hear she is currently writing!

We are pleased to have a copy of these books on our personal bookshelf.

Call For Writers For Faith On Every Corner Magazine We are looking for testimonials, acts of service, devotions, and articles of how you have witnessed God working in your life or the life of family and friends.

Email for submission guidelnes.

Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.com

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Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf Understanding Your Husband

By Fredrick Ezeji-Okoye Reviewed by Craig Ruhl Having read and enjoyed the author’s previous books, Who Prays For The Pastor and Not Without The Head, I was anxiously awaiting this book to be published. It was well worth the wait. In his most recent book, Not Without The Head, the author explores the importance of the man as the head of the household. One of the critical roles of the head of household is as husband. This companion book explores that role from the viewpoint of the wife with an emphasis on helping women win in the pivotal battle of homes with absent husbands and fathers.

Using Bible based truths, the author not only identifies problem areas, but he also provides suggestions and offers examples to strengthen the marital relationship and family as a whole. I believe every couple should read this book for a better understanding of their marital role. This book would also be very

Click on the book cover to purchase these book from Amazon.com.

beneficial for unmarried men and women to read prior to marriage.

We are pleased to include Understanding Your Husband on the Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf and in our home bookcase.

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Faith On Every Corner Bookshelf Sown In Peace

By Joy Avery Melville We are well into reading this touching story but aren’t finished in time to offer a review this month. Be sure to look for our review in the January issue.

Click on the book covers to purchase these book from Amazon.com.

Call For Writers For Faith On Every Corner Magazine We are looking for testimonials, acts of service, devotions, and articles of how you have witnessed God working in your life or the life of family and friends.

Email for submission guidelnes.

Team@FaithOnEveryCorner.com

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I Heard It

By Krystle Nicole Martin

I heard it on the rooftops I heard it on the mountaintops I heard it in the valley I heard it in the shadows I heard it in the deepest parts of the oceans I heard Your name being sung I heard Your name being mentioned I heard Your name broke their chains I heard Your name gave them hope again I heard Your name brought the dead to life I heard it in the deepest parts of the universe Your name changed them Your name healed them Your name sustained them Your name surrounded them I heard it in the deepest parts of the world I heard it in the morning I heard it in the evening I heard it in the afternoon I heard it in the deepest parts of the heart We know this Name We know this Song We know this Word We know this Being We heard Him in the deepest parts of the Heavens.

Our souls created for Him Our hearts cry out for Him Our bodies groan for Him Our minds struggle with Him We heard Him in the deepest parts of our hearts.

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He speaks We listen He moves We fall He sits We lay down He stands up The earth groans He is watching us He is listening to us We heard Him call out to us We heard Him call us to Him We heard Him in the deepest parts of our souls.

Creation sees and knows Him Creation listens and obeys Him Creation watches and waits for Him For we heard Him in the deepest parts of the Heavens.

Krystle Nicole Martin lives in Oklahoma. She is a poet who loves being an encouragement to other people. Her writing is filled with purpose. Her desire is that her words will help someone else in need.

She wants to be intentional with what she is given and to be a blessing to others.

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The True Meaning Of Christmas

By Cindy Oriol

When I was a small child, I, like many other children, thought Christmas was for presents and good times with family, until, one day at the age of nine, I heard a Christmas song on the radio. I was just about to turn it off when this song came singing through. I learned it so fast. The words were so meaningful that I remembered them over the years. In fact, I sang it to my girls when they were young and they loved it.

The song is named: C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S. It was written by Eddy Arnold and Jenny Lou Carson and was originally recorded in 1949 by Eddie Arnold. The song has been recorded by many musical icons over the years. If you would like to hear the song yourself, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2bJMRbGyS4 My mommy would take my siblings and me downtown to see all the decorated and colorful window displays with bright colors of red, green, purple, and blue light bulbs. We saw polar bears turning their heads from right to left, children going up and down on the see-saw, Santa and Mrs. Claus. We were captivated by each display. One was more exciting than the other.

There was an electric train set that began at the front of the entrance to the center of the store. It was so much fun watching it, listening to the shrill, loud sounds coming from the whistle as it drove through the quaint Christmas villages. This was our first time seeing one.

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We were just mesmerized by all the bright colors of the characters. We thought we were in Santa Land at the North Pole. Our special treat from mommy was standing in line to talk to Santa. He was a nice man with a big, fluffy white beard, a bright red suit, hat, and a black belt with black boots to match. We would sit on his lap and whisper in his ear what we wanted for Christmas. That year, I whispered to him I wanted an Easy-Bake Oven. Seeing him was the highlight of our day.

I recall that my siblings and I loved to get up in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve and sneak to see what Santa had brought us. That year while scoping out the presents, I saw my Easy-Bake Oven.

I was so excited to experiment with cooking my first recipe of brownies that I wanted to tear into the wrapping paper but I knew I would just have to wait, just like my siblings.

I tried to go back to sleep but I couldn’t and just kept thinking about it repeatedly. I realized by finding it earlier than I was supposed to, I had ruined my surprise. I wished I hadn’t peeked. I lay there tossing and turning until it was time for my siblings and me to wake up our parents. We were in unison as we said,” Wake up mommy and daddy, it’s Christmas! It’s time to see what Santa brought us.”

For several years, because of my oldest brother studying to become a priest, mommy would invite his fellow seminarians to our house for Christmas.

She loved to cook for everyone. She’d even make a little something extra for our neighbors. I remember hearing them say, “Thank you, Miss Blondie.”

One year, my youngest brother had asked for a glow-in-the-dark dinosaur model kit he could put together himself. It had so many pieces to it we lost count of them. Several of the seminarians helped to make the dinosaur come to life. It took them several hours. They were so precise with each piece. Once it was completed, they carried it up two flights of stairs and sat it down in my brother’s room, which was in the attic.

That evening, while my parents and other relatives were socializing on this majestic holiday and my brother was sleeping in the attic, he forgot TREX glowed in the dark. He woke up, glanced around and his eyes met the eyes of a ferocious animal. Every part was glowing. He jumped up, ran down the steps as fast as his feet would carry him, screaming at the top of his lungs. You would’ve thought our home was on fire.

My daddy and some of our other relatives had to go upstairs and put the dinosaur on the other side of the room. Eventually, my brother got used to seeing him glow, and he wasn’t afraid of him anymore. He could finally enjoy his Christmas present.

When I was a child, my parents had little money, but they always made sure that our Christmases were full of so much love. Because of this, my siblings and I could go to the church where we were members.

They gave out gifts to the less fortunate children.

We received a big, red Christmas stocking loaded with several small toys, candy canes, chocolates, and fruit. We could also go to the clothes closet and pick out mittens, a scarf and toboggan, a pair of boots, and a toy. Being there at Christmas allowed us to see firsthand what Christmas is about—loving, caring, and sharing. The way Jesus wants us to be towards others that we may come into contact with.

Now that I am an adult, I love to see the Salvation Army collecting money to buy gifts for the less fortunate and allow them to have a special Merry Christmas too.

As we all go into this Christmas season, let us remember the birth of Jesus is the true reason we celebrate Christmas.

In Jesus Love, Cindy Oriol

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Sing God’s Praises

By Dr. Irene Surya

On a misty morning With the grass covered in dew, I glanced across the horizon For a view of a placid river.

The graceful deer by the river Jolted me out of my gloom To worship the Lord Early in the morning.

Dr. Irene Surya has published a book of poems, In Solitude with God. Her poems have been published in various magazines. She loves and serves the Lord with her husband. She is a devout mother to her two daughters and has earned her doctorate in Engineering from a premium institution. Currently, she is working as a research analyst in a research company.

Click on book to purchase on Amazon.

I zoomed back memory lane To the words of the psalmist, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” 1 I will bless you, Lord And sing your praises With a heart full of thanksgiving For your merciful saving grace.

I will wait on you, The rock of my salvation And renew my strength And fly on wings like eagles.

I will magnify you, my Savior Precious is your steadfast love Great is your faithfulness And magnificent is your righteousness.

I will seek you, the everlasting God And rejoice with gladness With the saved of the earth For in you is the fountain of life.

1

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Scripture quotation, Psalm 42:1 NIV

Merry Christmas, Everyone

By Rolanda T. Pyle

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Such a very special time when…

We celebrate the birth of Christ, by giving gifts, having fun, and doing everything nice.

It is a time for sharing, And it is also a time for caring.

Time for family, friends, and those we love.

Time to reflect on Jesus and His Father above!

Hustle and bustle as folks shop in the store, Holiday parties at work on each and every floor, Store windows are decorated and looking great, It’s the time to love everyone and not to hate.

Christmas songs playing everywhere you go, Bitter cold weather and hopefully lots of snow.

Kids are off from school and having fun, Adults shopping, decorating, cooking — can’t wait till it’s done!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, Such a very special time when, We focus on Jesus’ birth, which is the reason, For this special, wonderful time and season!

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Feeling His Presence

By Karen Ruhl

Have you ever had a mountain-top experience?

You know, one where you just know you are in the presence of God? I know these experiences can be felt anywhere, not just on the mountain top. I have to say, though, that Craig and I have had many real experiences on top of the mountain.

The photo shown on the next page is one we had recently while traveling in Tennessee. We had several places we wanted to visit and photograph, all with lakes or rivers. As we crossed into Tennessee, we saw that the water by the dam was very low but hoped it was just drained for repairing the dam.

As we continued to our destination, Morristown, we checked into our hotel and then went out to visit our first destination, Cherokee Park. The park is beautiful, and the trees were in full fall colors. Unfortunately, as we drove down to the lake, it was very dry. I Googled the area and found out they were in a drought and had been for a few years. After being out all day, we went back to the hotel, and I suggested we drive back to North Carolina in the morning and save a night at the hotel for another trip.

The next morning, Craig said, “Karen, I think we should go to Panther Creek Park. It is just 15 minutes away; we can go there and then head home.” That made sense to me, so off we went.

The Park was nice and then we saw a driveway heading up a hill. The trees were unbelievably pretty as we went higher. As we crested the hill, we both literally gasped. There ahead was a tree-lined street with the sun coming through the leaves and making a vision that was simply heavenly. I immediately prayed and praised God. I thanked Craig for persuading me to come to the park.

God must have wanted us to stay there for a bit because our car decided it was going to have battery problems. If you read my “Road Trippin’” articles, you may recall us having car problems while up on The Blue Ridge Parkway a couple of months ago.

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Craig said he was pretty sure it was the battery and as he worked on the car, I walked around and talked to God, thanking Him for letting us see this beautiful area.

As I walked, I thanked Him for Craig and our family, and all of our writers and readers. I also praised Him for all he has done for us over the years. I may look completely mad as I walk around talking out loud, but I truly don’t care. It is my time with God and I could feel His presence.

I went to check to see if Craig could get the car fixed and sure enough, it was just corrosion on the battery terminal and it started right up. We prayed and thanked God and asked Him for safe travel on the way home.

This is not the first time that we have had a mountaintop experience. We were in the mountains in 2017 when God clearly spoke to us together. It was through a conversation Craig and I were having about writing an inspirational book. As we talked, we absolutely knew that God was downloading ideas to us and we listened. He let us know He wanted us to create a magazine. As we drove, we were made very aware of all the God-given talents, skills, and abilities that we have received over the years. Within 30 days of that ride, the first issue of Faith On Every Corner was published. Again that day, we had prayed and felt his presence. We took notes and simply looked at each other, knowing that we were in His presence, and He had something He wanted us to do. Powerful, amazing, and wonderful. I could go on, but suffice it to say, we will never forget that experience.

You too can have that experience; God is there for everyone. And, if you have accepted Christ Jesus as your Savior, you know God and He loves you.

Have you accepted Christ Jesus into your life? Would you like to know Him and have eternal life? If you would, please take the time to say the prayer on the right.

What happens when you say the prayer?

A salvation prayer, known by many Christians as a “Sinner’s Prayer,” is a prayer one would say to repent from sin, ask God for forgiveness, confess belief in Jesus Christ, and accept Him as Lord and Savior.

Saying a salvation prayer is the first step in your relationship with God.

Here is the prayer that Billy Graham led thousands of people to Christ with: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

If you said that prayer, find a good Bible-based church and become a member. The church is all of us together - not a building, and yet being part of a congregation will help you as you grow and learn more about Christ Jesus - our Savior, the reason we celebrate Christmas.

May God bless you and let you feel his presence during this Christmas season.

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A Treasury of Christmas Poetry

By Chad Joseph Thieman A Christmas Of Love

Chad Joseph Thieman Inspirational Author Chad Joseph Thieman has written six poetry gift books, two devotionals, and one coffee table edition of all his work called “The Poetry Treasury.” He lives with his wife Tina “Bryant” Thieman in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Chad’s writing includes faith-based, romantic, and nature themes. He has been writing for over 25 years and has written 365 inspirational poems, and many short stories, parables, proverbs, and devotions.

Beyond all the sparkles, Of soft Christmas lights; A lowly stranger shivers, On Christmas Eve night.

Upon the park bench, All laden with snow; On a cold winter’s night, He sits all alone.

Many will pass him by, Not giving it a thought.

Some more than once, Will laugh or will scoff.

Only a few will ever notice, The twinkle in his eyes; For only hearts led by love, Help angels in disguise.

A Christmas of love, He waits for this night; As people pass by, Beneath the streetlight.

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The First Christmas Story

The Christmas Rose

Remember for a moment the child who was born, A long time ago on the first Christmas morn.

Pretend you are there in the first manger scene, With Joseph and Mary, to witness those things.

Imagine angels singing the first Christmas carols, As shepherds watch their flocks in the meadows.

Just think of the wise men who traveled afar, Following with great faith that first Christmas star.

The first Christmas gifts, the wise men did bring, Gold, frankincense, and myrrh, all fit for a king.

The one thing missing, the first Christmas tree, That would come later at a place called Calvary.

Most flowers come and go Thro’ spring and thro’ summer, They bloom and they grow.

Thro’ wind and thro’ rain, They strive to remain, But all have their time When nature takes her toll.

They wither and die ‘Neath the leaves and the snow, All except one; The lovely Christmas rose.

It may lay dormant at times, But again it will grow.

It can bloom in the winter, In the darkness and cold.

It develops within us, The young and the old; Those who believe In the Christmas rose.

It is planted within, A seed of faith and of hope.

Sown with great care, A flower so fair.

Within us it grows, When it will bloom No one knows, But the Father above Who planted with love, This lovely Christmas rose.

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GOD WITH US

By Joel Berry

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means God with us).” (Matthew 1:23 ESV).

God’s Promise of a Savior The Gospel of Matthew provides a genealogy of Jesus Christ, from Abraham through Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. More than two millennia had passed since God’s promise to Abraham that through Him all the world would be blessed.

Around 700 BC, Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah, saying, “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 ESV). Some three hundred years later, God rebuked his people through the prophet Malachi for their disobedience and apathy toward Him; but He again promised the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 3:1 ESV). After speaking through Malachi, God went silent.

God’s Promise Fulfilled Four hundred years had passed since God had spoken to His people, but He had not abandoned them.

He was at work, moving kingdoms around in preparation for the entrance of the promised Messiah into the world. The Roman Empire had conquered much of the known world, and Greek was the established common language among the nations. The Romans had built roads that enabled people to travel, and Augustus had brought peace within the Empire. God had set the stage for the spread of the good news that the Savior had come!

And now, Joseph and Mary were engaged to be married, and Mary was pregnant. Joseph knew he was not the father, and as he considered what to do with her, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and assured him of Mary’s innocence. The child in her womb had been conceived, miraculously, from the Holy Spirit. The angel told Joseph that Mary would bear a son, and they would call His name Jesus, “for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 ESV). This would be the promised Messiah, the one to be called Immanuel!

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Luke chapter 2 tells us that Jesus did not come into the world in royal fashion. He was born in humble surroundings in Bethlehem. Since there was no room for them in the inn, Mary had no place to lay Him down, except in a manger where animals were fed. Could this truly be the Messiah that God had promised, of whom the prophets of the Old Testament had foretold? If this child was “God with us,” the one who would save his people from their sins, why would He come under such humble circumstances?

But God had a greater purpose for sending His Son into the world. Jesus was the promised Messiah, the one who would save us from our sin. Born of Mary, He became fully human, as one of us.

He had all of the same physical needs and experienced the same emotions and struggles as all humans do. But in His humanity, He did not forsake His divine nature. He was fully God and fully man, yet without sin. He came to offer Himself up as the final sacrifice for sin, bringing life to all who would believe in Him.

But Matthew and Luke confirm this child is the fulfillment of God’s promise. In fact, Luke says that when Jesus was born, an angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds in the region proclaiming, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:12 ESV).

He told them that they would find Him wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Then the sky was filled with a host of angels praising God for the birth of the Savior! The Father had sent His Son into the world, born of a virgin, conceived of the Holy Spirit, to dwell among men, just as Isaiah had prophesied.

For this, we celebrate His birth. His name is Jesus, who is called Immanuel—God with us!

Immanuel—God With Us The Israelites of that day had known of God through the Old Testament scriptures. To many, He must have seemed distant and impersonal.

They would worship God at the temple and offer sacrifices through their priests, but it had been four hundred years since He had last spoken. Now here was the Son of the living, eternal God who had come in human flesh to dwell among them!

It was no wonder that throngs of people would follow Him and listen to every word He spoke as He taught them the things of God. They saw Him perform miracles that testified to His deity.

He healed the sick, fed multitudes of people, and taught about compassion for the poor and needy.

They saw that He was kind, loving, approachable, and even touchable. They experienced God in a way that no one had ever experienced Him.

Joel Berry holds an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. A CPA by profession, he serves in his local church as a spiritual mentor and small group leader. Through his writing, Joel desires to encourage believers to grow deep roots into Jesus Christ, enabling them to remain steadfast in their faith (Col 2:7).

Joel and his wife, Cheri, have been married thirty-seven years and live in Roswell, GA. They have two wonderful sons and daughters-in-law.

Read Joel’s Blog at https://www.outoftheblocksblog.com

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I am Joseph, an author, blogger, and content writer from Nigeria. In the field of writing, I deliver unique, grammatically correct, and plagiarism-free content. Currently, I work with three online firms specializing in motivation, human capacity development, lifestyle, relationship, and spiritual writings.

You can find Joseph on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2228667160717043

The Seven Easiest Ways to Kill Your Fellowship

By Joseph Akinrinola The wellbeing or otherwise of any gathering is a corporate responsibility. Still, the individual roles amount to the overall result you see about the gathering.

I detest hearing people saying we do not have love in our church anymore. My response is to agree with that statement on one side. On the other side, I ask the speaker what he or she contributes to changing the narratives. After all, he or she could be a model of love so others can copy him or her. Every fellowship stands or falls on how responsible members of that fellowship are.

Today, I will share the seven easiest ways to kill your fellowship. Let each member of any gathering, be it church, community, family union, professional body, or social gatherings, adopt this lifestyle and the group will die before you know it. Let us go over them.

1. Do not take your attendance seriously. I observed those who complain about events, meetings, or programs closing late are those who do not arrive on time. In my opinion, one of the ways to kill your fellowship is always to go late for the program. Even at that, do not contribute to the discussion while the meeting lasts. Just behave as you are not in the meeting. Besides that, ensure you leave before the close of the fellowship. With that, you will send the fellowship to its early grave.

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2. Be a passive member. Nothing frustrates a group leader more than insincere members. He can’t predict them. The leader doesn’t know who is on his side. So another habit that can kill your fellowship is to agree with the consensus, but do not play your part. Instead, gather people behind the leaders to show why the general agreement will not work.

Through that, you will prepare the group for its funeral.

3. Be a consumer only. Check a living church or organization and you will find contributing members.

Jesus even taught us it is more blessed to give than to receive. Consider if everyone in the fellowship only wants to be given, where would the resources come from. Thus, the habit of enjoying the benefit of the fellowship without the corresponding giving is a way to kill the fellowship.

4. Always shift responsibility. One mark of failure is shifting responsibility. It is easier to complain about the leadership if you are not in the camp. However, you will see clearly when you partake in decision-making. So always give reasons you could not accept any leadership role in your group and you will be among the people killing the association.

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5. Do not be accountable. I am not aware of any other issues that kill an association other than the financial issue. If you want to close your fellowship existence, then be reckless with their money. If you are in a leadership position, use the resources of the group for your benefit, then you will see the collapse of the fellowship.

6. Do not speak the truth. Many people believed no one wants to speak the truth nowadays. I contest that statement. In an actual sense, we have fewer people who want to speak the truth because there are limited numbers of people who want to hear the truth. Therefore, one way to kill your fellowship is to keep quiet when you are supposed to talk. Since you don’t want to rock the boat, the boat of the association will sail towards a dangerous waterfall.

7. Always be a perfectionist. A perfectionist will be a dictator if he or she is in a leadership position. If not, he would not be on good terms with his leader.

Instead, he would always find fault with whatever the leader does. Such people will fight for position.

If they couldn’t have their way, they’ll threaten to leave the group. Follow this trend if you want to destroy your fellowship.

To destroy is easier than to build. As a social being, you belong to one group or the other. Ask if you are contributing to the growth or otherwise of the group. Are your habits killing the fellowship or building it. Check if you are a pillar or caterpillar.

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Bruce & Shara Repka 122 County Road 1A Hallettsville, TX 77964 (979) 732-0974 info@ponyexpressministry.com

Beauty From Ashes

by Shara Bueler-Repka

I opened the front door, and piles of trash bags met me in the entryway. “They’re filled with clothes,” my mom said, pulling them out of the walkway. It was surreal to be the recipients of charity. Life isn’t supposed to be this way, I lamented.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me… to comfort all who mourn,… to give unto them beauty for ashes,…”

(Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV) Morning sun flecked the curtains as shock waves coursed from my chest to my gut. The events of the prior day, November 24, 1980, had not been a bad dream. The nightmare was real.

My classmates and I smelled smoke from a distant fire and figured the mountain backcountry was burning again—like it always did during the high autumn winds. But when the smoke drifted over our school, apprehension rose. Rumors ricocheted through the hallways, “Structures are on fire at the base of the mountains!” My home stood in those foothills. My hands shook as I called my family from the school phone—no answer. I panicked and raced for my truck.

Patrol cars blocked my way home, so I detoured toward my grandma’s house. Gripping the steering wheel, I drove through the smoke and screaming wind. Loose pets and livestock darted between buildings and across the road. I inched my way through the chaos, fearing the worst.

As I pulled into the driveway, my family met me on the front lawn. Thank You, God. They’re alive, I breathed. But my brother’s two words said it all. “It’s gone,” he whispered. And I knew, in one afternoon, we had become homeless, losing nearly everything but the clothes on our backs.

With nowhere to go, my dad, mom, brother, and I crowded into my grandma’s two-bedroom, one-bathroom house. As I drove to my grandma’s after school, I glanced down at the passenger side of my truck—everything I owned lay on the seat.

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I fumbled with the plastic tie on the nearest trash bag. Stuffed inside were blouses from the ‘60s, skirts from the ‘70s, torn jeans, and stained shirts—a virtual circus of clothes. Bag after bag revealed more of the same, with only a few of the items fit to wear. As a newly homeless 17-year-old, this felt like rock bottom.

But a funny thing came over us as my mom and I numbly eyed the clothes now piled on the living room floor. A spark of God-given resolve. One by one, all articles of clothing became fair game as we picked our prize and headed for the back bedroom. Reappearing in a puffy, lime-green blouse, complete with stains on the front, I sashayed into the living room with chin in the air and hands on my hips. “How does this look?” I beamed. “I’m so in vogue, don’t you think?”

“You look mah-velous, dear,” Mom chirped as she disappeared into the “dressing room.” Out, she strutted in bellbottom jeans with a tear in the pocket. With pivot turns and a flip of the wrist, she wore Christian Dior on a Saks Fifth Avenue runway.

“Those jeans just become you, dahling!” I applauded.

In the midst of our antics, someone knocked on the front door—a childhood friend had sent me a package. Tucked between the tissue paper were a note and a model horse. But it wasn’t just any horse, it was King, her prized possession. I embraced him and read the note: “I know your entire horse collection burned,” she wrote. “King was my favorite, and now he belongs to you.”

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My friend’s selfless gift helped to soothe the pain of receiving others’ rejects. Luke 6:31 (the golden rule) became my new motto, and I vowed to always give the best I had when another’s need arose.

The next day, my best friend and I slowly walked together up our long driveway. My once beautiful childhood home stood lifeless, the concrete shell standing amid white ashes. Gaping holes where the windows once set now stared blankly at me like a ghost. As my hands flew to my mouth, I felt her arm resting around my shoulders.

With the popcorn bowl in hand, Mom slid the door open. The temptation was too much for one young squirrel—he blasted through the gap like a rocket. Squeals and popcorn peppered the air.

Up the walls, over the counters, bounding over the couch. That squirrel flew like his tail was on fire. Mom grabbed a broom as I ran in circles, flailing my arms at this fly-by furball. We nearly collided as he squeezed between us and shot up the curtains.

In the days that followed, friends, family, and even strangers stood shoulder to shoulder with us. They sifted through the rubble, brought food and wearable clothes, and replaced photos that burned. They prayed and consoled us as we cried.

Before the white flag waved, we somehow corralled him and he careened out the door.

Mom slammed it shut and slid down the frame in hysterics. We laughed so hard tears flooded down our faces.

Actions comforted more than wordy platitudes of, “You can rebuild.” Or, “At least your family didn’t die.”

The Good Samaritans sympathized with our shock and discerned what we needed, sometimes without asking. We witnessed God’s Word walking as our town worked in harmony to help us and the many families who had lost their homes, too.

These characters of God’s creation appeared at the perfect time—a merry heart indeed does good like a medicine.

Even a nearby rancher caught my horse as she galloped through town, graciously trailering her to the safety of his corrals. My plea for her in the local paper united us.

After a few weeks and frayed nerves in my grandma’s little house, our prayers were answered for another place to stay. In God’s perfect timing, an opportunity to house-sit became available, followed by a move to a rental house in the mountains, and then a final move to a permanent residence my dad built. And we realized God had not forsaken us. He was restoring us.

As we adjusted to our new home, the Lord made sure he restored the gift of laughter, too. As the aroma of popcorn and chocolate chip cookies drifted through the crisp mountain air, raccoons loafed on our deck rail, and squirrels peered through the sliding glass door. We eagerly anticipated this community of critters that scampered across our deck to indulge in our weekly handouts.

Shara Bueler-Repka is enjoying life as a singer/songwriter/recording artist, freelance writer, and award-winning author. She and her husband, Bruce, live in their living quarters horse trailer and call “home” wherever their rig is parked. Their mail-base, however, is Hallettsville, Texas. She loves sharing God’s Word through music with her husband, riding their horses (aka The Boys) in the backcountry, and writing about God’s grace in their various adventures on the trail less traveled.

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Christmas Joy

By P. Diane Buie

This Christmas I choose joy!

Praise in the birth of a boy!

Jesus is His name At His birth - no fame.

Only shepherds standing by with angels singing in the sky From bended knee Magi did rise Giving gifts - see Mary’s surprise!

Joseph a proud dad to be How could God give His son to me?

Swelling thoughts flow into tears While Mary’s hand he holds so dear.

Click on book cover to read more or purchase.

You can reach Diane at pattydeeb@yahoo.com and gab.com/buierocks

What a treasured gift is He A tiny babe wrapped in mystery Presents of Gold Frankincense and Myrrh Jesus is a gift - to me this occurs.

God gave His son to us A gift of sacred trust Believe in Christ we must To Him our sins can be dust God’s loving breath blows sin free They are forever lost at sea.

How His grace does cover me!

God remembers sin no more His heart is like a door Our hearts we open wide Into His outstretched arms we can hide

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We can take God’s gift from above Jesus is as gentle as doves.

God’s gift doesn’t stay under a tree His gift lives in the souls of you & me.

So choose Him today.

Now’s the time; no delay.

In His joy we revel and play Jesus was born on this day!

Jesus is God’s gift to me If only one gift is under my tree I will be as happy as I can be God’s love & grace are free In the face of little boy I do choose Christmas Joy! No other gift, card or toy can match God as the face of boy.

This year, I do choose my Christmas Joy! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

(John 3:16 NKJV)

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My Mission Trip to Namutamba

By Tumwesigye K. Godfrey (Walter)

About my mission trip to Namutamba, on 1st October 2021, Focused Life Ministries. We always have a mission at the end of every year to reach out to children in remote areas to support them with clothes, shoes, food, and sharing the love of God. Very early in the morning, my daughters (Joy 8 years old and Faith 5 years old) and I started our journey deep into the village called Namutamba. As Life Focused Ministry, we believe that God can use us in every way. This village has only two public transport (cars) and you can’t get any in the morning, therefore, we had to use a motorcycle from home to the public transport pack. When we arrived, we found no car to take us to Namutamba village because they were all full and the weather wasn’t good by that time. So, we planned to use another public transport—motorbikes. On our way, the rain started, and we had to hide under the shade. I counted 6 hours from home to the village. When we reached Namutamba, we found everyone waiting for us. There was a lady who led us into prayer and then we cooked rice for the kids, and I got a group of people to arrange the gifts of shoes and clothes that we brought with us. I felt very bad to see that these kids don’t have shoes. They don’t have good clothes, and some are in a poor state of health because they lack good health facilities. Actually, a child passed on a week before we reached there that one makes us cry. The number of children we planned to give gifts to was 60, but we could not imagine that we would receive 90 children instead. As a result, some children who got nothing started crying. Yet, we had nothing remaining. But thank God because we had prepared rice and meat for them, at least they got to eat. After finishing, we had to prepare for our return back home but our coming back wasn’t easy because the roads were slippery from the rain. We left the village at 6 am and reached home at 2 pm! Special thanks go to everyone who has helped us accomplish this mission, may God richly bless you.

Tumwesigye K. Godfrey (Walter) To reach Walter, you can find him on Facebook, or email him at Walter Godfrey tumwegody@gmail.com Phone: Walter +256 782553443

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A healthcare Business Analyst by trade, Steve Wilson is a retired husband, father and grandfather who loves to see and write about finding God in the everyday. Originally from Ohio, he and his wife Jenny now live in Granite Falls, North Carolina. In his spare time, Steve enjoys reflective writing, dabbling in stained glass and, of course, spending time with their daughter and her family. www.lifesimplyspoken.com

A LITTLE BUMMED IN BETHLEHEM

By Steve Wilson As Christmas once again approaches, you can almost feel the anticipation in the air along with perhaps panic, dread, and impending doom on the part of those last-minute procrastinators. It is the time of year when the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the holiday beckon you once again to experience Christmases past. For lying dormant in the souls of adults is their inner child, anxious to burst forth and once more relive the Christmas magic of their childhood, even if some of the memories were less than memorable.

When I was very young, my family lived in an old clapboard house, the back of which faced the massive black railroad trestle that spanned the Hocking River, which we lovingly called the “Black Bridge”.

The house was small for a family of seven and had no running water. One coal stove sat in the middle of the living room and served as the heating source for the entire structure, even though it more than fell short to heat the “boy’s room”. Every year, a few weeks before Christmas, our mom would ask her kids to write a letter to Santa and list what we would like for Christmas. Being the youngest of six children, I would need assistance in drafting this “special” letter.

After our letters were complete, we would put the “messages of hope” into the coal stove so that the smoke and sparks would lift the special delivery upwards and straight to the North Pole… at least that’s what our Mom and older siblings would tell us. We knew the true meaning of Christmas was the birth of the Christ child, but Santa had to be real too… right?

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One year, my sister Jennifer and I had finished making our lists and had just tossed them in our version of Santa’s mailbox when Jennifer exclaimed, “They’re just burning up! They aren’t going to Santa! There’s no such thing as Santa Claus!!” I sheepishly looked around the room as the others tried to assure my bratty bigger sister that there really WAS a Santa Claus; meanwhile, a sinking feeling hit the pit of my stomach as the possible realization set in… bummer. I found out later that Santa indeed had a distribution center in town at Maurer’s Five and Dime; Mom would go there every week to give them a little money to secure our gifts and make sure Santa still brought our toys… sounded like extortion, but I played along.

Fast forward just a few years and we had really moved up in the world. When I was around eight, my parents bought a house that actually had running water and flushable toilets! There were three of us kids left at home and our Christmas traditions continued. Glitter dusted pine cones suspended by red satin ribbons adorned the front door. The pungent aroma of pine filled the air as pine sprigs decorated the mantle of our oversized fireplace. The Christmas tree was decked out in fine garland, multicolored lights, and ornaments before being embellished with thin strands of silvery icicles which clung to everything but the tree.

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It was during this time that I got a little savvier about the gifts under the tree. I knew surprises would eventually show up on Christmas Eve, but I just KNEW what some of those presents already nestled under the tree were. The dreaded socks and underwear—bummer! Our family had Christmas on Christmas Eve each year and we would gather in the living room and turn on the overhead lights which were only to be used for special occasions. When it came to my turn to open gifts, I would try my best to find and open the lowliest of gifts; socks, underwear, and a fresh pair of flannel pajamas first to get them out of the way. The pajamas would last until early spring when there would be holes worn in the knees and the legs would then be cut off to make “spring” pajamas.

Don’t get me wrong, I did appreciate my parents’ efforts, but I wanted the FUN stuff and besides, I could pull the end of my socks out and tuck them under my feet to avoid the toe holes and to make them last a little longer, right?

Let’s go back a couple of thousand years to a little town called Bethlehem, where the Christ child was born. Sure, there were shepherds wowed by angels and later, wise men mesmerized by a star, and of course, Mary experiencing not only the miracle of birth but bringing forth the savior of the world.

That would surely be something to celebrate but yet others were milling around that just didn’t have the same mindset and enthusiasm. You see, the Jews were awaiting their promised Messiah, the one that would bring an army of angels and completely annihilate their enemies. They wanted a super action figure that would raise his mighty sword and smite their opponents, but instead, what they received was a tiny little swaddler that couldn’t raise his head, let alone an impressive rapier. They wanted the latest and greatest toy and ended up with their version of, well, socks and underwear—bummer. And so they systematically tossed their hope and salvation aside like some unwanted gift and walked away. They rejected the perfect gift of God, what they really needed and had prayed for; instead of embracing this priceless gift of Love, they nailed it to a rough-hewn wooden cross.

As I have gotten older, hopefully, I’ve gotten a little wiser. Sure, I’m still like a kid at Christmas time. And we all want something cool, exciting, different, and stimulating in life as well. We want to ignore the mundane and go straight for the latest and greatest, the flashiest and finest.

But life isn’t as much about the flash as it is about the gift of the everyday and ordinary moments, the trials, and the learning times that God puts in our lives to make us stronger and better for Him. Here’s an example of what I am talking about.

Earlier in the year, I somehow injured my lower back, which really compromised my day-to-day activities. I finally sought out and found a good chiropractor who began my treatments back to eventual health. I had been deaf in my right ear for approximately fifteen years prior to this treatment from Meniere’s disease. Through the neck manipulations as part of his treatment protocols, the nerves going to my ears were stimulated to the point of causing a sixty-seven percent restoration of my hearing in my right ear. With the use of a hearing aid, I now have complete use of my “deaf” ear once again. Some may call this a “happy accident” but I call it God working in our every day to bring good from a bad situation; my “socks and underwear” moment became a gift of restoration and thanksgiving.

Just something to think about as we head into Christmas week. So what do you say? Isn’t it time we appreciate the gift of life, love, family, and memories this Christmas? How about giving the gift of time to spend with a loved one, you know, the gift of your presence? Oh, and by the way, I’m sure we have kept the tradition alive and well in our family, for I know for a fact that our granddaughter has some pretty pairs of Paw Patrol panties and sport socks in her stocking…

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV)

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C U L I N A R Y C O N V E R S AT I O N

By Rocket Barber

The Calvary United Methodist Church Women’s Ministry Cook Book of 1975 is a 2” thick, half-page sized, 3-ring binder full of over 100 yellowing, individually typed pages and faded hand-drawn section dividers, and it is entirely possible I possess the only surviving copy. The humble, nondescript collection is priceless to me and attempting to explain why would produce more stories than anyone would care to read in a single sitting. Perhaps those are stories for another day.

Of late, this collection of culinary wisdom, compiled by a myriad of ladies long-departed, my late mother among them, has yet again proven most valuable on not one but two fronts.

First, it has helped make profitable use of 17 swiftly ripening bananas we have because of a recent generous donation to our church. The darkening skins of those bananas were a perfect excuse to produce several loaves of banana bread and a kingly banana pudding. Using recipes that were apparently conceived before such things as calories, ‘healthy options’, or diabetes existed, our home now smells of the South as I remember it from my childhood. The waistlines of our families and friends will no doubt expand accordingly over the next several days.

Second, it has created an entirely unique and enjoyable bonding experience for the boys and me. No, I did not invite an army of grown men over for a baking party… I mean my two boys, ages 3 and 11, who spent more than two glorious hours in the kitchen with me, mashing bananas, cracking eggs, measuring flour, softening butter, spilling sugar, and licking every spoon, whisk, and beater.

Sure, we got some nice treats out of the deal, but this cookbook produced something infinitely more important than a few thousand calories of old-fashioned desserts. For two hours, the young men I’m raising had my undivided attention, and I was blessed to have theirs—talking, laughing, learning, working together at something without a flickering screen in sight. The old-fashioned fellowship amongst our trio was something far sweeter and longer lasting than anything else produced in our kitchen.

Moments like these establish the foundation for something far greater than sharing a common interest or experiencing a single event. There is a familiarity, a vocabulary, a dialogue that is produced by approaching a new task together. The process establishes a sense of trust and respect, and a tone for future conversation—things that simply don’t happen apart from the purposeful pursuit of them.

Such is the case not just with our children, but in the pursuit of Christ.

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Rocket Barber is a husband of one, father of three, a minister, a musician, an introvert, and writer who suffers from, in his own words, “a deplorable excess of vocabulary.” He has been published in a variety of locations and showcased a number of styles over the last 30 years. His credits include articles, commentaries, and short fiction for various online, print, and periodical publications, a children’s book, short and full-length screenplays, speech writing, a small poetry anthology, comedic literature, ghostwriting an NYT Bestseller, and once, the album liner notes for a #1 selling musical artist. Rocket currently lives in Granite Falls, NC. He pastors a small congregation at Anchor Church on Duke Street, and encourages you—yes, you—to drop by and say hello if you’re ever in town.

The watershed experiences of our walk certainly make for the best storytelling, but we desperately need the seemingly trivial adventures with Him, the small challenges and daily difficulties where success or failure isn’t so vital on the eternal scale.

It’s these moments that establish our relationship with Him, developing the habits and vocabulary which will become critical in our success or failure when confronted with a monumental event.

From a temporary perspective, one could say, “So what? We baked some bread today.”

From an eternal one, I can say with tremendous confidence, the Lord provided an opportunity to establish something of eternal value in my sons.

All it took was a few ripening bananas, a pile of sugar, and a bit of perspective.

It likely sounds ingratiatingly touching (at worst) or awkwardly inspirational (at best) to end this story by saying those old ladies from Calvary United Methodist Church had no idea about the full scope of what their cookbook might produce. I won’t claim to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I’m not naïve either. I suspect, on more than one level, they knew exactly what they were doing.

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T H E G R E AT E S T G I F T O F A L L

By Patrick Higgins

With the Christmas season fast approaching, the most wonderful time of the year, in fact, friends, families, and relatives will soon gather worldwide for food, fellowship, and to exchange and receive gifts with each other.

But of all the gifts humanity could ever receive, nothing can compare to the FREE GIFT God offers to all who trust in His Son for their salvation.

What makes this Gift uniquely different from all other gifts is that there is no giving on the part of humanity, only receiving.

Since salvation is 100% grace, 100% gift, 100% God, the only thing any of us can bring to our salvation is our sin, which needs God’s forgiveness. Nothing more.

Think about it, if humanity had anything to do with God’s redemptive plan, salvation would be unattainable, because we, by being sinners, would instantly taint it. Further, any involvement on our part would make it ‘works’ based, not God’s grace, and it would be lost on day one!

A good example of God’s grace in motion can be found with the thief on the cross. It was only by God’s grace that his heart was changed when he was mere moments away from eternal destruction. It was at that precise moment that he got to see Jesus for who He really was, the Savior of the world, even despite that He was hanging on the bloody cross next to him.

After openly confessing that Christ was whom He proclaimed to be, Jesus confirmed that his conversion was genuine by uttering the words, “Today you shall be with me in paradise.”

Talk about love! This man had nothing to offer, nothing to give in exchange for the redemption of his soul. In short, nothing had the power to save him that day except for God’s grace. Oh, to be chosen

by God! You and I are no different than he was. What this means is, if you are a true Christ-follower, while you did choose Jesus, you must never forget that it was only because He first chose you that you are even saved at all!

As spiritually dead sinners, this miracle of crossing over from spiritual death to life cannot be performed by mere man. I mean, how can dead people resurrect other dead people? Only the Most High has the power to do something so glorious on our behalf!

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In other words, much like the thief on the cross, nothing happened on your end until God, in love, first moved on your behalf. Therefore, all praise, honor, glory (and credit) must go to Him! Now, when it comes to sharing this wonderful Gift of God’s salvation we have received with others, it’s important to understand that genuine conversion can only take place when the true Gospel is being spoken, not the watered-down version many preach today, which would explain the many false converts in the world.

If His love were too soft, it would only encourage sin. If His love were too harsh, it would promote rebellion. Which is why we must present both sides of the Gospel whenever sharing it with others.

With this truth settled in our minds, as we gather to worship the One we call Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, King of kings, and Lord of lords, could there be a more important Gift we can share with our unsaved loved ones this Christmas? I think not.

So what is the true Gospel message? I’m glad you asked. In a nutshell, while it’s true that God is love, and His love for His children can never be measured in human terms, He is also a just and holy God who demands payment for sin. All sin!

What we have to offer may not come in a package with ribbons and bows on it, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s the greatest Gift of all— the blessed Good News—but only for those who receive it!

Think about it, if we don’t talk about their sin, how can we properly present a Savior who alone has the power to make them right with God? It’s only by understanding their hopeless sin condition, that they can fully comprehend why Christ “willingly” went to the cross for them—to rescue their souls from hell, thus sparing them from God’s eternal judgment.

Know what I mean? Merry Christmas everyone, and a blessed 2022 to you and your families.

God’s grace and peace be multiplied to you all…

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”

(Daniel 12:3 NIV).

But the Gospel must always be shared in love.

On the other hand, by only telling them what they want to hear without trying to sound offensive, that God loves them and has great things in store for them, their understanding of the blessed Good News will be unbalanced at best, jaded even…

Patrick Higgins is an Amazon bestseller and award-winning author of the end times prophetic series, Chaos In The Blink Of An Eye, “I Never Knew You”, “The Unannounced Christmas Visitor”, “The Pelican Trees”, and “Coffee In Manila”.

Despite what some might think, Yahweh never changes. He has always been a God of mercy and grace. But He also demands justice for sin. He is the very same God in the Old Testament as He is in the New. The Book of Revelation (in the NT) clearly proves that our Maker may be kind, but certainly not soft.

Click on photo to purchase this book on Amazon.

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ABUNDANT GRACE

By Eleanor F.J. Gamarsh I remember well the Christmas Sunday Service that Fred and I attended in 2013. The blessings we received calmed our stressed spirits. During that December there were many medical appointments for both of us, such as the dentist and my surgeon, which was the most serious. I was going to have my second hip surgery, a week after New Year’s Day, 2014.

Reviewing our Day Book for that time, I wonder now how we kept up the pace. Right after Thanksgiving Day, my Christmas spirit had blossomed into holiday decorating mode. I began to bring out pictures from their storage to hang on the living room walls and choose different ornaments from my collection. I had been making our Christmas cards for a few years.

This year, though, it was a struggle to even complete enough to send to those on my shortened list.

As long as I’d had a home of my own, I’d gathered greens to make holiday decorations; a custom held over from my younger years. I enjoyed being greeted each day with their scent that had seeped into most of the rooms. This year I wasn’t sure if there’d even be the scent of a live tree. I felt my heart shedding tears over not having one already. There was no certainty we would have a traditionally decorated live tree sitting on the antique spindle-legged table in front of the picture window since the price had risen over my limit to pay. The small ceramic tree set on the window’s wide sill at least had colorful lights. I did my creative best to create a winter holiday scene with quilt batting “snow” and some antique figurines.

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On the second Saturday afternoon, we went to our friend Gail’s home for her Tree Trimming Party. Before her friends had arrived, she had brought out her collection of ornaments, most so special they were still kept in their original boxes. While conversation flowed from one to another, the women decorated the tall tree in the living room and a small one on a pedestal table in the dining room. While Gail served us light refreshments, someone noticed snow flurries bouncing off her slider door to her deck. Everyone began talking at once about going home before there was more snow. On the drive home, we watched the light fluffy snow in the headlights beam ebb and flow on the pavement like spent waves upon a sandy beach. After we got home, I prepared a hot beverage to shed the chill we felt lingering inside us. We settled down to watch a Hallmark Christmas movie ending the day in the comfort of our living room.

On the Friday before Christmas, I asked the receptionist at my chiropractor’s office if she knew where I might find a small tree. She said, “Sure, Stop and Shop has some right out front.” My heart skipped a beat with joy over this information. I couldn’t get to the store fast enough. There it was; a tree just the right size and price.

During Saturday afternoon, Fred joined me while I was trying to decorate our designer balsam tree, adding his skill with the lights. Now our home felt more like Christmas. We ended this day early because we wanted to be on time tomorrow for the Christmas Sunday Service. We knew it was going to be special but never imagined what would happen.

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Shortly after we took our seat in a pew halfway down the right side of the sanctuary, I sensed a special presence. The brilliant sunlight shining through the rose-stained glass window behind us shed a glorious glow of blended hues over the sanctuary. I felt my heart opening to His Grace, washing away our worries about our health and my pending operation.

My husband nudged me, drawing my attention to the front of the sanctuary. My eyes brightened as my gaze fell on the gorgeous array of rich red poinsettias arranged across the chancel steps.

When I gasped over their beauty, it startled Fred for a moment. But then he whispered how the few pink and white varieties added a lovely contrast to the display. He asked if I was all right. Reassuring him I was delighted over how beautiful the poinsettias were, we chatted quietly for a minute about the generosity of many in the congregation.

Above this floral abundance, sitting facing the congregants, was the choir wearing their maroon robes with white stoles. The polished brass organ pipes behind them reflected the colorful glow radiating from the stained glass window which was located in the peak at the rear of the sanctuary of this 19th century Congregational church.

During the first half of this Sunday service, I felt joy growing inside of me for being here on this day. We were near where the Bell Ringers were seated, so we had a good view of how they handled the bells. They charmed the gathering with their carillon-like performance of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Silent Night”. Then the choir sang a beautiful tonal background while the biblical Christmas story was being read. The richness of their voices filled my soul throughout the remainder of the service. An orchestra, composed of musicians from the church’s community, complemented the choir’s singing.

As the cantata continued, the sanctuary was awash with their melodious singing accompanied by the mellow tones of flute and oboe. Their notes floated up to the rafters and into every niche. I felt there was no limit to how much my hungry heart

and soul could absorb all this beauty. I forgot about the pain precipitating the pending surgery. Nothing seemed as important as letting the Christmas spirit into my heart, and “letting go and letting God.” I was feeling very much ‘at one’ with it all. Fred whispered that he felt closer to me when I exuded joy as I was during this service.

The late morning sun continued to shine through the rose-stained glass window, which seemed to cause the time to stand still until the Benediction.

I believed that the rosy-golden glow cast throughout the sanctuary was spreading the blessing of His Grace over all the people present at that Sunday service.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

(Philippians 4:8 NKJV).

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4: 13 NKJV).

Eleanor F.J. Gamarsh enjoys reading historical novels and memoirs. She writes inspirational stories because of the challenges she has faced and overcome. Shortly after joining the Wachusett Writers and Poets Club, her essay, On Mother’s Day, was published in the local newspaper, The Gardner News. A few of her poems were published in The Poetry Corner of the same newspaper. Her love of a variety of the arts was born in childhood, inspired by her mother. They encompass needle arts to jewelry making to crafts and many in between. She enjoys caring for her gardens that she designed for around her home. Through the few years of being her husband’s wife/caregiver, Eleanor was preparing a manuscript of memoir short stories with his support. She expects to publish the book in the near future. She makes her home in North Central Massachusetts.

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RISE UP

By Lynn Downham

The clarion call, so oft-repeated in our times, was on social media the other day addressed to Christian artists and I would like to second that call: Rise Up Christian artists! If the Lord has placed the wisdom (or “hokmah” in Hebrew) in you to create, then stir your hearts and use your talents for His glory! In Isaiah 60:1-3 (NKJV), Isaiah is speaking to Israel, but if you are a born-again Christian, then you are a spiritual Israeli and this call is for you as well. “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

In Chapter 36 of Exodus, Moses is calling the artisans to come and do the work for the sanctuary. Verses 1 and 2 read, “And Bezaleel and Aholiab and every gifted artisan in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that the Lord has commanded. Then Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work.”

(NKJV)

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“How do I do this?” you might be asking yourself.

Ask Him. God will answer you. When I wanted to serve Him with my art after I got saved I asked how I could paint heaven so people would want to go there and also be saved and for 25 years the Lord has been giving me one opportunity after another to serve with my art. To not use the wisdom He’s given you to create for His glory would be like the man who buried the gift in the parable of the talents.

ALL have a gift or gifts to use and most of you reading know that and hopefully work in those gifts, but I’m particularly encouraging you artists, whether it be paint or sculpture or dance, to be bold and create for Him. “Every picture tells a story,” And we have the greatest story ever told to tell! Proclaim Him and the cross he died on! Proclaim the good news that He’s alive and returning! Proclaim the greatest love we will ever know, the love of Jesus Christ! No offering is too small, no effort is unnoticed by Him. Like a phoenix rising, I am so excited this month because even though I type today with a busted shoulder, (passed out with a case of food poisoning and hit a wall), the art studio is finally reorganized and gearing up for some serious painting! I am chomping at the bit!

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Lynn Story Downham is a fourth generation artist who returned to North Carolina in 2014 after twenty-six years on the Florida panhandle. Her seventh family tree commission was for a “family tree for Jesus.” Twenty years later she is a born-again believer with a best-selling print, a beautiful family and a passion for sharing Christ through her art. Find out more on Facebook by looking up “Lynn Story Downham’s Art” or “Lynn Downham Jesus Tree.”

Here’s one way to bless someone. One of my favorite things to do is paint biblically inspired paintings and give them to your pastor. The ideas are endless and, as I said before, just ask God and He will show you what to do! I love you all, Lynn, servant of the King

“For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” (Isaiah 61:11 NKJV)

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CHRISTMAS LESSON

By Maureen Kambarami

Growing up, Christmas was a splendid affair at my maternal grandmother’s house. It was that time of the year when we could eat until the stomach complained while dressed in new clothing. We were also allowed to go to the shops and socialize with friends until late in the evening. The smell of baked cakes and scones made in my grandmother’s underground oven filled the air at this time, and lunch always consisted of grilled chicken or goat meat, made on the open fire served with rice. For me, the highlight was the parade of my new clothes to my friends and this made my Christmas experience complete. However, one day, Christmas as I knew it, changed. It was in 1992 when a terrible drought ravaged Zimbabwe.

This drought coincided with my father’s retrenchment and as the scorching sun hardened the ground, killing all plants and livestock. My father’s pockets also dried out. It was then that he announced we had to move from the city to the farm, which had belonged to his late parents. City life was very expensive if one had no income, so we headed to the farm with the anticipation that the drought would soon be over, and we could survive on farming.

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Upon arrival at the farm, we hastily settled in and started preparing for farming. While all our neighbors had the necessary equipment, we only had a few hoes, which we used to till the land. The food we had brought was fast running out and still, the drought continued. My mother tried her level best to stretch the food by limiting us to one meal per day—supper. During the day, our saving grace was the many mango trees that my late grandparents had been wise enough to plant. The mangos were so big that a couple of them always did the trick of quietening our rumbling stomachs.

On Christmas day, I woke up with a heavy heart, thinking that this was undoubtedly the most painful day of my life. I chose a big mango tree and climbed high up, finding a comfortable branch to sit on before I started having my fruit breakfast, as was the norm. After gnawing nonstop at the green mangos, my stomach accepted the appeasement, and I got down. I did not know how to spend the day and wished that I was at my maternal grandmother’s place; that woman knew how to make Christmas special for children. As I was still pondering what to do next on this gloomy day, I heard children’s laughter coming from our neighbor’s house and immediately felt cross. They were chatting loudly, excitedly, while I had nothing to be happy for. I was still in this somber mood when I was startled by a voice behind me.

It was our elderly neighbor asking me if my mother was at home. It was public knowledge that my father did not like this neighbor, so it was surprising that she would come to our house. She was carrying a reed basket covered by a cloth on top, so I concluded she must have been selling something. I pointed to the thatched kitchen where I had left my mother and she went to look for her.

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Maureen Cresencia Kambarami, MSW, is a Social Worker with extensive experience in family counseling and therapy. A woman after God’s word and principles, she is passionate about writing Christian articles and believes in telling authentic stories to inspire and uplift others.

A few minutes later, our neighbor left our house still carrying the reed basket. That was baffling.

Why had she come to our house? She had barely reached the gate when I ran towards the kitchen to check why the lady had come to our house. I was greeted with the most unexpected but welcome sight: food! She had brought a roasted full chicken, home-made bread, and cooked rice with peanut butter and a packet of mealie-meal.

This was our Christmas present, my mother explained. Boy, oh boy, never had I been so happy to see food in my life. I screamed with joy while my mother divided the food into portions in an attempt to stretch it further. This became my best Christmas ever. I was so grateful to our neighbor for her kind gesture of offering us what we most needed, food. I also learned a valuable lesson that day, a lesson that I cherish to this day. I realized that Christmas should be a time of giving rather than a time of receiving or expecting others to give. A simple act of kindness can mean a lot to someone and can change their life forever just like how a basketful of home-made food changed mine. We never know the impact of our kind gestures on others, especially in these uncertain times when many people are struggling to cope or are dealing with a lot of losses. Let us, therefore, spread the love this Christmas and give to those in need expecting nothing in return.

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SUBMISSION POLICY

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Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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