LIBERAL GRINCHES?

AMERICAN LEFTISTS vs OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD!

Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child (SPOCC) – the largest Christmas gift-giving project in the world – has been brightening lives of children in third world countries since it was founded in 1993, with with over 100 million shoe boxes full of gifts and joy . SPOCC Founder William Franklin Graham III (or just plain Franklin) is reporting that Operation Christmas Child is now on track to deliver almost 10 million shoe boxes to disadvantaged kids this Christmas season around the world! This is an effort which cannot be matched by anyone, anywhere...and follows a trend of Christians doing what we do best - love others in Jesus' Name.

These wonderful gifts are packed by churches and some schools, as well as private schools around America by mostly ordinary families and their children, with a lot of love and care going into each box. Yet there are people whose dark soul of the night are not just criticizing Franklin Graham (son of the great Billy) for who he is, but by extension, they are grossly insulting the kindness and good hearts of America’s Christian families who supply the majority of these boxes.  (Businesses, Scout Troops and other smaller outfits fill out a good percentage of boxes as well.)

So what are in these boxes that has the irreligious left, pagan grinches and just plain heartless people so upset? Well, I can tell you, first –hand, that these boxes are chock full of toothpaste; toothbrushes; mild soap; wash cloth; combs; socks; safe toys or age appropriate games (no cards etc); school supplies  (pencils; crayons etc); t-shirts; picture books and even a personal note to either a boy or girl, if you wish. Dolls; stuffed animals; harmonicas and jump ropes are allowed. NO toy guns, NO toy knives and nothing dangerous are allowed. No  liquid or food stuffs are included. No medicines or any violation of local cultural norms are packed in ANY of these boxes. Wow! I have never seen such subversive materials go out to children of the world! Yet, these liberal people who are champions at squealing for other people’s  money, while spending absolutely none of their own for somebody else, would deprive a poor child in over 100 countries something they would buy their own kids!

In the past few years, Operation Christmas Child has been kicked out of the Air Force Academy and a number of public schools, for two reasons – they are a pure 100% Christian group and secondly, their leader is Franklin Graham. Who is Franklin, apart from the son of America’s greatest preacher Billy? Franklin Graham never fails to stand up for Jesus Christ – the Name above all names – and the superiority of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. That’s why they hate him – Christ! It has nothing to do with the fact that he is a conservative.  For almost 2000 years, the unredeemed has hated Jesus Christ  and will continue to until He returns and puts a stop to this world system. 

It matters not to the critics that Samaritan’sPurse are among the first responders whenever there is a catastrophe like Hurricane Sandy; or a Typhoon in Philippines or the Earthquake in Haiti. It matters not to the critics that Samaritan’s Purse will not only go and minister to all these westernized “Christian” countries with medicine, food and comfort.

But Samaritan’s Purse gives freely and responds immediately to tragedies in Islamic and other countries as well.

So how does one respond when personally attacked for loving the less fortunate as we are commanded by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Well, we pack more shoe boxes! In fact, we help Duck Dynasty’s Uncle Si pack 50,000 more shoe boxes by following these simple instructions and help brighten somebody else’s Christmas. (This post was inspired by criticism of my support for OCC from anonymous people).

CLICK HERE TO GET ABOARD THE LOVE TRAIN TO BLESS THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD

WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, PRAY FOR THEM TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR,THIS IS THE BEST GIFT WE CAN EVER GIVE ANYONE, SHORT OF WITNESSING TO THEM ONE ON ONE ABOUT THE LORD JESUS!

Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Hanukkah and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!

EVINDA LEPINS ON "SELF-CONTROL"

BERNIE'S NOTE:
What we witnessed during the Nike Shoe Riots of 2011, in the past five days, not just a complete breakdown of decency and humanity....but a glaring lack of SELF-CONTROL. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 that "God did not give us a spirit of timidity (or fear) but of love, power and SELF-CONTROL". Self discipline and personal responsibility are gifts from God to ALL human beings! God has written His Law in the hearts of ALL mankind. Some just can't read it because their hearts are not right!


Also Galatians 5:23 tells us that one of the Fruits of the Spirit is self-control. The only people who even possess the Spirit are those who are saved and called to the elect as children of God in Christ. In light of all of this, my friend Evinda Lepins, author and conference speaker, has a very nice take on Self-Control or Temperance, as we get close to winding up yet another beautiful Christmas season!

EVINDA LEPINS:

EVINDA LEPINS

Did you know that in translations of long ago, the word “self-control” was translated as temperance? The explanation for the word change is this: “The various gifts given by God” – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness – “to us are capable of abuse.” 

Now let me clear that up a bit!

The right use of temperance/self-control requires the controlling power of your will under the operation and guidance of the Holy Spirit. In other words, it’s a surrendering and letting go and letting God, just like we talked about in the gift of faithfulness. See, when trying to do something within our own power and not under His power, we are either going to run into ourselves or run out of ourselves.

Here’s another really cool thing to understanding self-control/temperance: When we exercise temperance/self-control, this is our response to HIS Spirit. It suggests, not assumes, that what is learned must be put into practice.

And finally, self-control/temperance is the outer protective layer of all the other fruits, aka, gifts! Just like all fruits have a protective layer, so do the gifts. Some protective layers are thick; some are thin; some are soft, and some are hard, but the point is they protect the sweetness of the fruit/gifts within.

I don’t know about you, but I think that is so divinely ordered! Temperance to you, my friend!

Evinda

Chicklit Power!

(image by bing images)

CARLA MCDOUGAL ON THE "MERRY CHRISTMAS GIVER" STORY OF THE WISE MEN!

CARLA MCDOUGAL

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presentedgifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Matthew 2:1 

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presentedgifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Matthew 2:11

The Christmas season is the time of year we focus on Jesus, the Savior of the world, coming to earth as a babe. His humble entrance changed the future forever! God, in the flesh, bringing hope to a world filled with corruption, chaos and moral decay. In the little town of Bethlehem during the utter confusion of the census Jesus' birth silently swept in like a wintery snow. 

Questions arise about this historic account...

• How did the word get out about the Messiah's arrival?
• Why did God send Jesus at such a chaotic time?
• Are you kidding me... an unsanitary stable with hay, animals and GERMS?
• Why did the wise men bring gold, frankincense, an myrrh? Why didn't they bring blankets, baby clothes and rattlers? 

Let's tackle this last questions. Imagine the wise men just doing their thing... being wise. All of a sudden, they notice a Star beaming in the East. In all their wisdom and knowledge of scripture they recall Numbers 24:17, "A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab and destroy all the sons of tumult." These men didn't sit around contemplating the situation. They moved into action. With little time to waste they headed to the East, following the Star. Imagine their journey. Possibly they were singing songs of praise or contemplating what they would say first. With every step their hearts beat faster and faster. 


Keeping their eyes on the Star they land in the town of Bethlehem. They realize the Star is beaming its brilliant light on a meek home. The pounding of their excitement resembles their knock on the door. As it opens tender tears pour. Their eyes focus on the toddler who is with his mother. They can't contain themselves any longer. The Messiah, their Yeshua humbly standing in the midst them. In unison run toward the child and fall on their knees before Him in worship and praise. In a moments notice they begin digging into their bags. One by one they laid their treasured gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh at the feet of Jesus - their long awaited King! Tears puddle beneath them. Physically weary yet energized spiritually they leave this humble abode to return home. Wow, what a trip back that must have been!

Why did they choose these three gifts? This is an Awe-Ha moment... 

Gold symbolized Royalty (The King of the Jews)

Frankincense was a Fragrance (Used in the Temple-rep Priesthood)

Myrrh was an Ointment of Death (Prophesying Jesus' Death) 

God had it all planned out. He directed the Wise Men perfectly not only with the Star, but with the perfect gifts! Through these gifts God provided Joseph and Mary the financial resources needed to flee to Egypt, escaping the wrath of Herod. Their God, their son's Father, meeting the needs ahead of time!

Challenge this Christmas Season... May this Christmas be one you will remember as life changing. Not because of the gifts you receive or places you go, but one that embeds a deeper desire for a relationship with Jesus. Maybe the most precious gift you can give someone is the Gift of Prayer! The beautiful thing about this is it is the gift that keeps on giving. Let's call it The Merry Christmas Giver! 

From My Heart to yours,

Carla McDougal

www.reflectivelifeministries.org