The Very Best Christmas Ever

Our minister urges us to "tell our story" to our neighbors, friends, strangers, and church members. I think y'all, dear blog readers, fall somewhere in there, don't you? So here goes.

Thirty-eight years ago this December 12, I made a life changing decision. I decided to trust Jesus with my life. Now I grew up in Metropolitan Memorial Methodist Church in Washington, DC. Christened, Baptized, went through Confirmation Classes where you learn the tenets of the church, was a member of the MYF, went to Sunday School, Lenten Lectures, etc...

When C. and I married and I moved here, we joined Bethlehem United Methodist Church and raised our family there. December of 1971 our pastor invited a team of Lay Witnesses to come to our church and tell their stories. Lay Witnesses are ordinary Christians who are willing to go spend a weekend with a church that invites them and stay in the homes of its members.

One couple, Joe and Louise McBride stayed at our home.

As I heard the Lay Witnesses tell their stories, I was entranced. They told of prayers answered. Peace and joy in their hearts. Forgiveness for sins. WOW!

But I had my doubts. Was this for real?

Finally, my husband said, "Donna, if these people are crazy, they are a lot happier than we are!"

Point well taken.

So we stepped over the line together. We asked Jesus to take control of our lives and help us make God the main thing in our lives.

That Christmas was magical. Every hymn and carol was new to me. Why they are all about Jesus, and salvation! Who knew!

And so dear friend, if you haven't already taken that "leap of faith" to ask Jesus to come into your heart and help you live for God.... I strongly encourage you to do it.....I PROMISE it will be the best decision you will ever make and you will NEVER regret putting your trust in THEM.

Oh, and do not be afraid. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us: "God knows the plans He has for us; plans for good and not for evil, plans to give YOU a future and a hope." It doesn't get any better than that.

Does Your Life Have A Purpose?

The Bible Study that meets at my house will gather here tomorrow to wind up our study of The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Most, if not all, of us had previously read the PDL when it first came out but Brenda had the DVD that goes with and we decided to do it as a group. And the video is good; short 15 minute talks that add to the chapters read each week.

I really love this book. It pretty much says everything I believe about the Christian Life after 38 years of reading the Bible, listening to sermons, going to conferences, being in Bible Studies, and listening to Christian radio. So if you haven't read it I highly recommend it. AND if you haven't read it in a while, how about revisit it? (I plan to keep it on my shelf and come back to it every year or so.)

For those of you who read this but are NEVER going to read it, I will give you a synopsis of the Five Main Points. (Donnamo Notes if you will)

1. Love God With All your heart. God so loves each one of us. We are each his totally unique creation and He delights in us. Think about how gaga we get about a baby; that is the way God feels about YOU. You are his "baby" whether you know it or not.

2. Love your neighbor as yourself. We are to love others through serving them. (A neighbor is anyone you know.)

3. Go and Make Disciples. As a Christian we are made for a mission. This was Jesus commandment (not suggestion) to his disciples before he left them on earth. It is not optional.

4. Be baptized into the family of God (aka the church). You can't go it alone successfully...why try? Paul said, "forsake not the assembling of yourselves together" I know its icky and prickly to be in a church fellowship. People get on your nerves, the pastor steps on your toes, "they" don't do things the way they did at your last church or your first church....get over it...God calls us to be in fellowship with other believers. Its called a sandpaper ministry....we become more Christlike as we rub up against other believers who annoy us and challenge us to become like Jesus.

5. Teach them to do all things.....we are to grow to maturity...no 80, or 40 year old "baby Christians" allowed. In the world, we call people who don't grow to maturity...RETARDED.
If you are not going forward in the Christian life....guess what? You ARE going backward.

Selah (Biblical word that means, Pause and think about what has been written.)

My prayer is we will all be about fulfilling God's purpose for our lives. Amen.






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