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I imagine that God feels great pain and disappointment in
those of us who feel disappointed in His gift when we don’t
welcome it with enthusiasm. God’s gift comes in quietly and
humbly without all the bright shiney ribbons and bows. He
doesn’t announce it with a great fanfare. No, His gift started
out in an unassuming manger and was wrapped up in
swaddling clothes. The little Lord Jesus didn’t have the best,
but He was given to us by God Himself, to give us His best.
God’s greatest gift was presented in a plain brown wrapper
and anyone who chooses to unwrap it with sheer
thankfulness will receive the best and most wonderful gift
ever given. But, there are those who simply refuse to even
look at it and then there are some who might try it and then
will return it. It’s important to remember that it is a gift, God
doesn’t force it on anyone.
I know from my “past” life, while still in the material world,
there were times that I would receive a gift that made me
feel there was no thought behind it. I felt I deserved more
consideration and instead of being happy, it made me
rather sad to think that no one really knew me. I feel many of
us still think this way unless we know Christ. We have
turned this special time of year into a holiday of greed, self
will, and self righteousness. It’s all about us and not the
One.
And then many times we have heard people say, “It’s the
thought that counts.” If that’s true, then why do we refuse the
gift that God so thoughtfully gave all of us to enjoy? There
was never and will ever again be a gift so carefully thought
out and so timely delivered than the free gift of God’s grace
and salvation through His blessed miracle named Jesus.
Shouldn’t the Christmas season at least have the word
CHRIST in it? We are living in a time where we see CHRIST
being removed and replaced to a more political correct
version of “Happy Holidays”. This makes me wonder,
without Christ, what holiday are we celebrating? We need to
get our priorities back on track and stop allowing Satan to
overshadow the cradle which led to the cross, with his lies
of deceitful manipulations. Christmas doesn’t reflect around
Santa Claus and the giving of gifts to good little boys and
girls.
Again, what message are we sending our children when we
tell them that Santa will not bring them anything if they are
bad? First of all the Bible says that no one on his own is
good anyway. Our good works, and behavior just don’t cut it
with God and yet, we tell our children that this is all they
need. They are rewarded for their good behavior, but in
reality God will not reward no man for good works unless he
has faith along with it. We are sending crossed signals to
our young children and even to others who don’t yet realize
that it’s not about them or what they do, unless Christ is the
focal point in their lives.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Rom. 3:23 (KJV)
“God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.” Jn. 3:16 (KJV)
The carefully thought out gift of Jesus for our salvation was
thought about even before the creation of the world. Jesus
was the main reason for man’s existence even before time
began. Talk about alot of thought behind a gift!
“Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet
Jeremiah.” Mt. 2:17 (Amplified)
The book of Matthew confirms that Christ’s coming was
foretold hundreds of years before by Jeremiah. It was not an
accident that Jesus came when He did, it was His
“appointed time”.
So this year as you are considering what “perfect” gift to give
those you love, ask this question, “Who do I love and know
enough to give ‘The Gift’ that keeps on giving?”
And as you present this gift that comes in a plain brown
wrapper, remember this; one size fits all, it will never go out
of style, and the more it is used, the better it will become.
God meant that no one ever refuse it or return it.
Won’t you honor the Lord by giving someone this special gift
this year? After all, didn’t you receive it? God means for all of
us to share it with the world and if you start with a loved one
who doesn’t yet know this ‘Gift’, then begin here. This gift can
be contagious and will spred quickly when given. It’s not
meant to be kept a secret. It’s for young and old, rich and
poor alike. Anyone can give it and anyone can receive it!
God also tells us that we are responsible for sharing this
gift with those who need it. For without it, their salvation and
redemption lay in the balance of eternal damnation and their
blood will be on our hands. Think about that the next time
you decide not to pass this special gift along. What better
time than now?
Christlikeness never goes out of style.
Vivian Gordon is anxious to pass this special gift along to as
many that will recieve it. God has blessed her with a
teaching and writing ministry to spred the Gospel along in a
way that others may understand how much God loves them.
She wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a blessed
New Year.
Since herbs are plentiful this time of year, why not use them to make a
variety of simple herb butters? You can even freeze the butters to enjoy
in the cooler fall months ahead.
Use these tasty butters on everything from grilled steaks, fish, and
chicken, to cooked vegetables. And don’t forget to slather some on a big
chunk of fresh bread.
To make herb butters, chop the herbs very fine (and pulverize the
seeds). Cream the butter. Then blend in the herbs and seasonings. Roll
the herb butter into a log, then wrap the log in waxed paper. Store in the
refrigerator, or put in the freezer (for up to 6 months).
Try the following herb butter combinations:
BASIC HERBAL BUTTER
2 sticks softened butter
1 Tsp. chopped, fresh green basil
1 Tbsp. chopped, fresh marjoram
1 Tbsp. chopped, fresh chives
1 tspo. chopped, fresh rosemary
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
PARSLEY HERB BUTTER
1/2 c. softened butter
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. chopped basil
1/4 tsp. oregano
Pepper to taste
ROSEMARY BUTTER
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 sticks softened butter
Variation: To make pretty pats of these butters, spoon softened herb
butter into candy molds and freeze. When the butter is frozen, pop it out
of the molds. Store the butter pats in the refrigerator.
Suzanne Lieurance is a freelance writer and owner of the Three Angels
Gourmet Co. which produces a unique line of “heavenly gourmet mixes”
for sale at http://www.threeangelsgourmet.com and through gift shops,
Christian bookstores, gourmet food stores, and gift basket companies
across the country.
For daily food tips and other fun food information, visit the Three Angels
Gourmet Co. blog at http://www.threeangelsgourmet.blogspot.com
Too much stress? You need a simple stress meditation. Of course, learning to meditate might intimidate you, and it’s tough to find the time for daily meditation. A solution to both problems is a meditation you can learn right now, that will take a minute to do each day.
An Easy Stress Meditation
When you breath through your mouth, it expands your chest. Breath through your nose and you’ll notice how your abdomen extends. Nose-breathing causes the diaphram to pull air to the bottom of your lungs. This delivers a good dose of oxygen into your bloodstream and brain, and it also tends to relax you. Breathing through your nose is healthier, and it’s the basis of this one-minute meditation.
Here’s how you do it. Close your eyes, sigh, and let the tension go out of your muscles. It may help to tense up your muscles first, then release that tension. Then let go of your thoughts, as much as possible, and take four or five slow, deep breaths through your nose, paying attention to your breathing.
Can Meditation Be This Easy?
The short answer is yes. No, you’re not likely to get you into a deep meditative state with this simple stess meditation. However, you will get benefits, including a clearer mind and a reduction in stress.
It helps to develop a “trigger” for your meditation. For example, do your four breaths when you get into the car, or right after lunch each day. These triggers are places or times that remind you, so your meditation becomes a habit.
You can say this isn’t “real” meditation, but there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the relaxation you’ll get from this technique. If you want, you can always pursue deeper meditation later. Meanwhile, remember that not everything has to be difficult to be of value. Why not try this easy one-minute stress meditation?
Steve Gillman writes on many topics including brainpower, weight loss, meditation, habits of mind, creative problem solving, generating luck and anything related to self improvement. Learn more and get FREE e-courses at www.SelfImprovementNow.com
Every year before the NFL draft takes place fans all over the world participate in mock drafts that outline which teams they think will choose which players. Even though this may not sound like fun, there are millions of people who participate in these drafts every year.
The NFL draft is often a very difficult event to predict. Teams change their minds at the last second, and there are always trades that happen which nobody could have possibly foreseen. But regardless of the inherent unpredictability, every year people get out their mock drafts in order to fantasize about which player will be picked by which team.
The most common type of mock draft is one that you join in with a couple of other people. The way it works is that each person gets to draft for a different team. So if you are drafting for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos you will wait for your turn to come around and then make a selection
But while this is going on, you must also keep track of who everybody else is drafting. This way you know who is available when your picks come around.
The reason that so many people like to take part in these mock NFL drafts is simple. First off, they like to stay involved in the game during the off season. And secondly, these participants like the chance of acting as a coach or general manager on draft day. Chances are that every football fan has fantasized about being a coach or general manager at one time in their life. This gives them the chance to live out their dream.
The NFL draft is a big deal to everybody involved. It is safe to say that fans everywhere are setting up their mock NFL drafts right now.
Check out our NFL Football Odds Comparison to get the very best football odds when betting.
NanoTech is certainly coming a long way these days and the research and development companies are flush with new ideas to try out. Well luckily I have another one for Team USA as they conceptualize a new future period when nano-technology will change the world. I would like to see vehicles which run on titanium dioxide nanotubes. What are you talking about you ask?
Well let us consider the potential of coatings or skins of these nanotube titanium dioxide sheets, which have between them nano carbon tubes sheets. The titanium dioxide nanotubes would have trapped inside each a copper atom. Each set of 3 sandwich sheets would be put in parallel to the each other with perhaps 50 sheets total would be the thickness of the skin? Now consider a car, boat, missile, UAV, aircraft, blimp or some other form of transportation made up of these sheets on the outside hull.
As the airflow rushes between the sheets from the relative wind the flow of static electricity from the air would excite the copper atoms imbedded in the nanotubes made of titanium dioxide encasing the copper atoms. The copper atoms would bounce back and forth and create energy, which would be collected by the carbon nanotube sheets in between and carried to a battery system. The battery system would then spin a propeller, wheels or cause material memory to flap the wings for the propulsion. Consider this in 2006.
“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/