*** (Matthew 23:37-38-39) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to her, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
(Matt 23:38) Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
(Matt 23:39) For I say to you, You shall not see Me from now on until you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."
Today… I want to share my 'heart' with you; about my country and my people. I was born here in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Our nation, once; was one that believed in God, the God of the Bible. There was a ‘national’ morality… for God, for Family and for Country. Veterans, before Vietnam, were respected people for their service to this country. Divorce was an Enigma; and there was No ‘rampant’ $4-billion annual, illegal drug problem! Most had ‘hope’ in their hearts… that life was good and would continue as such.
*** (Amos 4:10-11-11) I have sent the plague among you in the way of Egypt; I have slain your young men with the sword, and have taken away your horses. And I have made the stench of your camps to come up into your nostrils; yet you have not returned to Me, says Jehovah.
(Amos 4:11) I have overthrown some among you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand plucked out of the burning; yet you have not returned to Me, says Jehovah.
Slowly and surely… as the sun sets in the west… ‘Our/My’ … beloved nation has forgotten the “God”… “Who” has blessed us; as no other nation in ‘history’. This “Thanksgiving 2010” was the first year that most stores were open and employees had to work on that holiday! Even ‘McDonalds’ and ‘Wal-Mart’ were open that day… as were numerous others. What was once sacred “Thanksgiving”… has turned profane; as Corporations have put “Profits” before… what is the “Right thing to Do!” The ‘heart’ of the American nation has been ‘sold out’… to “Change!” But Change… to What? Yes and the ‘Consumers’… have followed suit.
*** (Matthew 16:26) For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
*** (Micah 2:4) In that day one shall take up a parable against you and mourn a mourning of mourning’s, saying, We shall be completely laid waste. He has exchanged the share of my people. How He has removed it from me! To the apostate He has divided our fields.
“Christmas” was always centered… upon the “Christ Child” and that belief seemed to convey a real meaning about the Season! “Jesus” used to be… “The Reason for the Season!” But times and attitudes have eroded… to an “X-Mass”… “A Christ–Less Christmas!” Hardly anyone if ever says “Merry Christmas” anymore! It has ‘eroded’ to; Happy Holidays…! “Things & Giving”… have replaced the “Real Reason for the True Celebration of Christmas!” Say it isn’t so…? Have you even thought about “Why”… He “Christ”; came as a baby… born in a stable..? Have You…?
*** (Matthew 1:21-22-23) And she shall bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.
(Matt 1:22) Now all this happened so that might be fulfilled that which was spoken of the LORD by the prophet, saying,
(Matt 1:23) "Behold, the virgin shall conceive in her womb, and will bear a son. And they will call His name Emmanuel," which being interpreted is, God with us.
*** (Philippians 2:8-to-11) And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
(Philip 2:9) Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name,
(Philip 2:10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth;
(Philip 2:11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
*** (Matthew 24:12) and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold.
Surely, we have ‘not’ grown that ‘Stone Cold’… or have “WE?” We lock our doors, turn on our alarms… and cloister ourselves in our ‘homes’… counting our goods. We take ‘no’ thought for those less fortunate… than ourselves. Perhaps this “Christmas”… go serve and work… at a rescue mission or in an outreach ministry… that ministers to those… who have “Nothing?” When was the last time you gave to someone… who had a need… that you could meet? Would you trade all the “Trees and Gifts and Celebrations”… to minister to the Ones; who have Nothing? Isn’t that what Christmas… is “Really All About?”
*** (Acts 20:35) I have shown you all things, that working in this way we ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
*** (Luke 3:10-to-16) And the people asked him [John the Baptist], saying, What shall we do then?
(Luke 3:11) He answered and said to them, He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. And he who has food, let him do likewise.
(Luke 3:12) And tax-collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?
(Luke 3:13) And he said to them, Continue to do no more than that commanded to you.
(Luke 3:14) And the soldiers also asked of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said to them, Do not forcibly extort anyone, nor accuse any falsely. And be content with your wages.
(Luke 3:15) And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts concerning John, lest perhaps he was the Christ,
(Luke 3:16) John answered all, saying, I indeed baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I comes, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to lose. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire,
What would it be like… or what kind of nation would we have; it if were not for the “Spiritual and Social Contamination”; that Hollywood has shoved into our minds & heats… through their media…? Surely our national ‘Commerce & Consumerism’… is driven by the “Spirit of Un–Thankfulness!” We have become ‘Addicted’… to our “Entertainment”; music, videos, toys, phones, big screen TV’s, computers and the Internet. Hardly anyone reads anymore… let alone history; to study our past failures; as ‘not’ to repeat them…! Most Christians spend more time in “Entertainment”… than in the ‘study’ of God’s Holy Word!
*** (Jeremiah 14:10-11-12) So says Jehovah to this people; So they have loved to wander; they have not restrained their feet; therefore Jehovah does not accept them. He will now remember their iniquity and visit their sins.
(Jer 14:11) Then Jehovah said to me, Do not pray for this people for good.
(Jer 14:12) When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and a grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the plague.
“Christmas” or “X-Mass”… “You” today… need to decide “NOW”… and not put it off till Later! After I buy everything for mine and ours… perhaps then; I will think of someone else? But what “IF”… I give them something… won’t they feel bad… ‘because’ they cannot reciprocate? Not “IF”… you are giving in the Right Spirit of the Christmas Season! Isn’t ‘all’ you have… Only… by God’s Grace to you…?
*** (Luke 6:31-to-36) And as you desire that men should do to you, you do also to them likewise.
(Luke 6:32) For if you love those who love you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also love those who love them.
(Luke 6:33) And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do you have? For sinners also do the same.
(Luke 6:34) And if you lend to those of whom you hope to receive, what thanks do you have? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
(Luke 6:35) But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. And your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.
(Luke 6:36) Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Today is the “First Day”… of the ‘Rest’ of this Christmas Season! What will you do with this “Time”…? Has your “Christmas Traditions”… ‘replaced’ the Real Spirit of Christmas… when God gave “His Best”… to die for a “Hopeless”… “Sinful”… “Human Race”…? Christ Jesus, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings… became a man; the God Man; to atone for all mankind! Rejected by Many… accepted by Few! Will He be Lord… of your Life, Heart & Mind… this “Christmas Season”…?
Thanks, In Christ, Roger / Jeremiah 20:9.
Email: atruth459@yahoo.com
Ende…!
