MY THOUGHTS ON CHRISTMAS

 

     Christmas has always been a special time for me and our family.  I love the simple message of Christmas, “Peace on Earth and Good Will to Man.”  I am also fond of the many stories that surround this season.  I am going to share one of them with you today.

     Julianne Holland 13, an eight grace student wanted to do her part for Jesus at Christmas.  Without informing her parents, she addressed a letter to Jesus in care of the local post office.  It landed on the desk of the director of customer services at the local postal centre whose named was Donald Orner. 

     “Dear Friend.” Wrote Julianne.  “I am 13 years old. And you must think I’m weird for writing a letter to Jesus when everyone knows it wouldn’t get anywhere.  But I wanted to give you a message.  Every Christmas all people think about is getting resents.  But that’s not the reason at all.  I think Christmas means getting all your friends together and having a good time because Jesus was born, and that is just the beginning of all the beautiful things He did for us.  For being born He let love into the world.”

     Replied Orner:  “We have no mail route to heaven, but I am sure that Jesus is aware of what you wrote.  He knows our thoughts, our feelings in every line of your beautiful letter flowed out across the miles that no mailman could ever travel and touch His heart.  You said that you letter wouldn’t get anywhere, it touched my heart and be assured Julianne, Jesus knows, may you have a happy Christmas and God Bless You.” 

     Somehow a reporter got a hold of these letters and the story flashed around the world.

This story beautifully illustrates the message of Christmas.  Jesus brought love into the world.  The Apostle John wrote in John 3:16, “For God so love the world that He gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  The message of Christmas is God’s love given to man.   Jesus’ example of unselfish love is a model for all to follow.  Start today and accept God’s gift of love and you will know the Reason for the Season.

QUOTES FOR JUNE 24, 2026

 

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

 

            I love this time of year.  Christmas seems to bring the best out of most people.

Yes, you have a few Grinches but generally people seem more happy and generous this time of year.  What concerns me though is how each year the message of Christmas seems to get lost in the rush of presents, the glitter of the trees and the clatter of the noise.

            I am going to share with you two small stories that will help bring home the true

Message of Christmas.  A five year old refugee was being shown the wonders of a large toy department by his foster parents.  His eyes grew wide with wonderment but gradually and expression of disappointment clouded his face.  He began to search up and down the aisles and under tables and counters.  At last he burst out “But where is the child.”  After an embarrassed silence, a store official ordered a Christmas crib to be found at once and set up in a prominent place in the toy department.  At this the young boy smiled with delight.  Young as he was, he had given a lesson in the real significance of Christ.

            The day before Christmas had been full of incidents, some of them unpleasant.  Dad seemed to be burdened with worries as well as bundles.  Mom’s anxiety had reached the breaking point on many occasions through out the day.  Wherever the little girl went, she seemed to be in the way.  Finally she was hustled off to bed.  The feverish excitement of the Christmas planning had completely unnerved her,  As she knelt by her bed to pray the Lord’s prayer, she got all mixed up and prayed, “Forgive us Lord our Christmases as we forgive those who Christmas against us.”  As we watch the tense, nervous shoppers this season, we feel like praying as the little girl did.  “Forgive us our Christmases.”

            During this holiday season remember, Christmas is not about, packages, boxes and bags.  It is not about lights, trees and sleigh bells in the snow.  It is about the birth of a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.   He came to save mankind from sin.  He started out as Child but He grew into a man.  He died, was buried and rose again.  A well know adage sums up my thoughts on Christmas.  Jesus is the reason for the season.   Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year. 

GOOD NEWS

 

Nahum 1:7 & 15 – I got good news -  Aug 22, 2009

 

Intro:  Well it is good to be back with you and this is the first service in our new season.  I believe with all my heart that this will be quite the season of growth and fruitfulness.

Today I am sharing from the book of Nahum as shortly we will close the studies on the Old Testament and begin the New Testament on our four year journey of going through the Bible.

 

Background

 

1.  Nahum as you see from your outline was a prophet that lived in Judah during the

     Reign of Jehoiakim.  He was a contemporary of Jeremiah.  Nahum was called to

     Speak to Assyria.  This book has been called a sequel to Jonah.  We learn here that

     The revival that happen in Nineveh under Jonah’s ministry was short lived and the

     Assyrians fell back into gross sin and idolatry.  They once again became proud,

     Arrogant and cruel.

 

a.  Nahum’s name means compassion or full of comfort.  He loved the nature, character

     And awesomeness of God. 

b.  Nahum was a prophet of hope.  He wanted his readers to know that those who trust in

     God will be preserved by His love.  

 

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in Him.

 

1.  Nahum starts off by reminding his readers here and us, that God is good.  That God is

     Excellent, kind, virtuous, trustworthy, safe, adequate, abundant, sound, always does

     What is good to those He is in relationship with.  His character and nature are good. 

     This is a resounding statement to reminds us that in spite of what PR, the world, and

     The devil use.  God is good.  This is a resounding theme used in all the writings of the

     Bible.  God is good.

2.  Many believers ignore this book because they think that it has little application to

     Modern life.  Yet in these perilous and uncertain times, Nahum reminds us that God is

     Sovereign.  He has power over the most powerful nations.  Assyria was the powerful

     Nation of his day but Nahum reminds his audience and us that oppression, cruelty and

     Tyranny will be dealt with.  Those that do not trust God and resist Him will feel His

     Wrath.

3.  He reminds his readers, that God is a refuge in times of trouble.  He reiterates the

     Words of David written centuries before.  God is a refuge, a place of safety, a strong

     Hold and a place of victory.  Whenever trouble comes your way and it will, you have

     Three adversaries, to contend with, the world, the devil and yourself. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a.  When trouble, trials, bad circumstances come, God will be your refuge.  You can go to

     Him.  Remember He sees the whole picture, He knows what going to happen at the

     End and how it will turn out.  That is why Paul could write in Rom 8:28 that all

     Things work together for good.  God lives in the present future.  He knows that you

     Shall become. 

b.  He knew Gideon would become a mighty man of valour, He knew

     Daniel would escape the lions den, the Hebrew boys would burn rather than bow and

     They would escape the fire.   He knew Job would not curse or blame Him, He knew

     Noah would ride out the flood & that Jesus would rise from the dead.  He knows that

     If you go to Him, He will be a refuge in times of trouble. 

 

4.  Nahum then closes off this verse by stating that God cares for those who trust in

     Him.  Nahum outlines the struggle or tension of the ages.  God on one hand is just and

     Will avenge the oppression of His people and the poor.  Yet on the other hand He

     Cares for those who trust in Him. 

 

a.  Nahum points out that Assyria has sinned against God.  They had repented before but

     Because of their cruelty, gross idolatry they would be destroyed.  Nations built on

     Cruelty, arrogance and pride will be destroyed,

b.  Nahum knew that there is a limit to the patience of God.  He knew that Judah had to

     Be warned to turn to God, so he warned them as well.  He reminds them that those

     Who trust God will be cared for.  God is aware of your needs and situation. 

c.  Nahum in his introduction reminded his readers that God is slow to anger and great in

     Power.  God stated this reality in Exodus and again in Deuteronomy.

 

Look on the mountains, the feet of one that brings good news, who proclaims peace.

 

1.  This verse is made real by Gabriel in Luke 1:19, it was also quoted by Paul in 

     Romans.  This verse states those who bring the good news of peace have beautiful

     Feet.  Tell the person next to you.  You have beautiful feet.

 

a.  What is this good news, God and man are friends again, sin has been dealt with on the

     Cross, Jesus is Lord, satan has been defeated, you can have abundant life, you can be

     Healed, delivered, saved, sanctified, restored, forgiven, strengthened, encouraged and

     So many other things.

b.. One thing we must do as people who bring good news is know that Jesus will set

     People free and never give up bringing it to the whosoever. 

 

 

 

 

 

Nahum reminds us of these five truths.

 

1.  The Lord is good.

2.  He is a refuge in times of trouble.

3.  He cares for those who trust in Him.

4.  Those who bring good news have beautiful feet.

5.  We have a message of peace.

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

NEHEMIAH THE PATRIOT

 

Nehemiah – The Patriot

 

-  He was a patriot.                                                                             Neh 1:1-4

-  A man of prayer.                                                                             1:5-11, 4:4, 5:9

-  Man of faith.                                                                                   2:20 & 4:14

-  Courage.                                                                                          4:20 & 6:10-11

-  Diligence.                                                                                        4:21-23 & 6”3

-  A leader.                                                                                          4:13-20

-  Firm in convictions.                                                                        13:11-17 & 23

-  Reformer.                                                                                        5:13-21

-  Cupbearer to the king.                                                                     1:11

-  Never showed emotion until heart was broken over Jerusalem.    2:4-10

-  Told king about Jerusalem, received favour and resources from king to rebuild the

    Walls.                                                                                             2:2-10

-  Inspected the walls & developed a plan to rebuild the walls.         2:1-10

-  Was mocked by just prayed.                                                           2:19-20

-  Even enemies could not stop building of wall.  Every plan failed.  God helped

    Nehemiah to build the walls in 52 days.                                        6:15

-  Nehemiah helped the poor.                                                             5:1-12

-  Was governor for 12 years.                                                             5:14

-  Five times Sanballat and Tobiah tried to stop the work.                 6:5

-  Help lead revival.                                                                            8:9

-  Signed covenant to the Lord.                                                          10:1

-  The dedication of  walls and temple was a great event.                 12:27-47

-  Did further reforms, cleansed temple, refused business on the Sabbath and dealt with

    Intermarriage.                                                                                 Ch 13

 

QUOTES FOR JUNE 23, 2026

 

LEADERSHIP

 

            This the third on my articles on leadership.  Now I am not a leadership guru

or even a managment expert but I have been a professional leader for over 26 years.

Sometimes I feel I do an adeqaute job and sometimes I fail miserably but I never

give up trying to motivate and encourage people to be and do better.  So I have a

few quotes for you to think about and apply.

 

-  It is better to train 10 people than to try to do the work of 10 people.  But

    it is harder.  (D.L. Moody)

-  A man who wants to lead an orchestra must turn his back on the people.

-  If you are not afraid to face the music you may some day lead the band.

-  Success is knowing the difference between cornering people and getting people

    in their corner.  (Bill Copeland)

-  The employer gets the employees he deserves.  (Sir Walter Bilbey)

-  It is one thing to have ability but the ability to discover ability in others is the true

    test.  (Elbert Hubbard)

-  We too often love things and use people, when we should be using things and

    loving people.

-  Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something that you want

    done because he wants to do it.  (Dwight D. Eisenhower)

-  A good leader inspires of men with confidence in him, a great leader inspires

    them with confidence in themselves.

-  The formula for success in simply putting the right people in the right jobs and

    then sitting on the sidelines and being a good cheer leader.  (A Marchall Jones)

-  There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn't matter who gets the

    credit.  (Emerson)

 

            Here's a little prayer for all who are in leadership, oh by the way, Mom and

Dad you are a leader, mentor and role model so you can adapt this prayer for your-

self.  "Lord when I am wrong, make me willing to change.  Make me easy to live

with.  So strengthen me that the power of my example will far exceed the authority

of my rank."  (Pauline H. Peters)