Simplicity

FOODS FOR POOR MAN'S TABLE – WHO IS TO BLAME?

A brand New Year is coming a few days from now. A New life for some people, a new hope for those who still keeps holding on to hope, but for the rest of us, it is a beginning of the same old story, the same old struggles, and the same poverty that may even seemed reached pass into the extreme.

Amongst every word that Jesus has uttered, how can we forget the words when He said to us "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) but unfortunately when we look around us, what do we see? Do we see life as how God meant it to be, do we see pictures of beds of roses, and milk and honey. No we don’t, instead we see reality taking the best of us. We have been left behind by time and we remained silent while hopelessness fills our eyes. We consume our daily lives with questions that we ourselves do not even understand let alone aspire to answer them.

What can we do? Where do we go from here?

Before, we were use to seeing Scad fish and rice as the food for poor man's table. That was not very much but acceptable. Now it seems as if everything shifting instead of scad fish you'll see hardboiled eggs, noodles and rice on there table. Just imagine 8 children shares one glass of coffee for breakfast, you feed 10 mouths with five hardboiled eggs for lunch, and for dinner a total of 3 noodles. It is very sad to admit but these are the reality of life.

Can we blame God for this kind of life? Or can we blame the government? Perhaps we can blame ourselves for all the wrong choices we have made?

All I can say is that nobody who is in their right mind will ever consider this kind of a life style. No one asked to be born in bondage. But within every cry this I know, just as long as there is life, as there is hope.

Remember, God is full of mercy and compassion and love to those who suffered, the weak, the despondent, he is very pitiful – He feels for them, He feels with them. And His words and ways, His promises and His gifts, His plans and His poses all manifest His grace. We must not forget there is God watching over us and will lead us from anything the world can set in our way.

Sin

"If we cover our sin, God wil uncover it;

If we uncover it to God,

He will cover it with His own blood."

Teach The Children

I would like to share the very inspiring story (below) from one of my favourite site. Hope the message of this story will give you the courage to tell your kids who is Jesus Christ in Christmas.

Skeptic people may not believe in Christmas. They might say, "it is a myth nothing to celebrate because for them there is no such thing about Jesus Christ" - well, it is their choice not to believe.

But one main reason about Christmas is when He came down in earth and He shall save his people from their sins - this shall be his great business in the world: the great errand on which he is come, to make an atonement for, and to destroy, sin: deliverance from all the power, guilt, and pollution of sin, is the privilege of every believer in Christ Jesus. The new ERA.

As Christian, Jesus Christ is the true meaning why there is Christmas, and Christmas is the beginning of relationship with Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Isaiah 8:8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

The story:

Teach the Children

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I had just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room, and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out.

"What are you doing?" I started to ask.The words choked up in my throat, and I saw that he had tears in his eyes.

His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement: "TEACH THE CHILDREN!"

I was puzzled, what did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children. Teach them the real meaning of Christmas. The meaning of Christmas that now a days has been forgotten."

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point Heaven ward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward Heaven.

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. Teach the children that the star was the Heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of His promise. He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light, we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love Christ showed for us. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.

He then pulled from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF. Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December. He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood that He shed for us.

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy Babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men.

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring strayed sheepback to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper.

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. Teach the children that it was the angels that
heralded the glorious news of the Saviour's birth. The angels sang "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will."

Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled outa BELL. Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should bring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Santa looked around and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes.

He said, "Remember, TEACH THE CHILDREN the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship Him, Our Lord, Our God, and Savior.

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me

This is for you H.

When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today;
While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand;
That an angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand;
And said my place was ready, in Heaven far above;
And that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearlylove.

But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye;
For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for, so much yet to do;
It seemed impossible that I was leaving you.

The good days and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared, and all the fun we'd had.
If I could re-live yesterday, just even for a while;
I'd say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized that this could never be;

For emptiness and memories would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things I might miss come tomorrow;
I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through Heaven's gates, I felt so much at home;

When God looked down and smiled at me from His great golden Throne;
He said, "This is eternity, and all I've promised you;
Today your life on earth is past, but here it starts a new.
I promise no tomorrow here, for today will always last."

And since each day's the same, there's no longing for the past.
But you've been so faithful, so trusting and so true;
So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart;
For every time you think of me, I'm right there in your heart.

I love you!

Rejoiced

Glory

Behold

Gifts Under The Tree

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15

I read that over thirty-three million American homes will purchase fresh cut Christmas trees this season. Families all over this nation are happily stringing lights and pulling out musty boxes of homemade ornaments. They are preparing the tree for Christmas morning when bright packages will bring excitement to both children and adults.

This morning I want you to recognize that the most significant tree of the Christmas season is not the one in your family room, it is the tree that was formed into a cross on a lonely hill just outside of Jerusalem. On that tree, God placed the greatest gift of all—the Saviour.

God’s sacrificial gift brought us into the very presence of God. Luke 1:32 says, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David.” The reason the angels and shepherds rejoiced after Jesus’ birth was because they had been in the very presence of God’s Son.

Not only were they brought into His presence; they were brought to the living God. For the first time, He was manifested in bodily form. We read in John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Isaiah 7:14 gives us another example of Jesus Christ and His presence as the living God: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Immanuel literally means “God with us.”

I recently heard of a woman who left her husband. The husband called the police and filed a missing persons report. The police found her living at a rundown hotel. By this time her husband realized how badly he had treated his wife. He began to write her many letters. Finally Christmas came, and he went to visit her. “Won’t you please come home?” he asked. She complied. On the way home, he said, “I’ve written you for months, why did you come home so easily this time?” Her answer—“Those were just letters. This time you came in person.”

The greatest gift ever given was when Jesus came to earth in person and was crucified on the cross for our sins. Friend, have you accepted this gift? All of the beautiful Christmas trees and presents in the world cannot take the place of God’s gift to you—Jesus Christ.

by: Dr. Paul Chappell

Smile

Mary: A Woman Yielded to God

Mary: A Woman Yielded to God
by Dr. Paul Chappell

Luke 2:4-5"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city ofNazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is calledBethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child."

Long before Mary, the mother of Jesus, traveled that arduous journey to Bethlehem, the angel Gabriel had been sent by God to prepare her for the amazing events that were about to take place.

Gabriel came to a young virgin named Mary and said, "Fear not, Mary:for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the highest: and theLord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there hall be no end." Can you imagine Mary's surprise when she finds out that she is pregnant with the Son of God? Gabriel tells her in verse thirty-five, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Can you imagine the initial fear and shock as these words reverberated in her mind? How would she tell Joseph, the man she was espoused to marry,that she was pregnant by the Holy Ghost? Would he still want to marryher? In those days, the punishment for an offence against an espousal was great. Would Joseph understand the situation?

Luke 1:38 gives us insight into the character of Mary and her yieldedspirit towards God and His divine plan: "And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And theangel departed from her." To put this in today's vernacular, this was not a planned pregnancy, and Mary's friends and relatives were probably telling her not to go through with the ordeal.

Thankfully, Mary was sensitive to the Lord's will. She was yielded to Him even in a confusing and difficult circumstance. Because of herwillingness to accept God's plan, she brought forth the Saviour ofthis world on that first Christmas morning.

Friend, when you look at Mary's life you will realize that God isready to assume full responsibility for the life that is completely yielded to Him. You may say, "I just don't know if I should step outby faith and trust God?" I believe Mary was saying, "Lord, I'm going to keep on believing, and I'm going to leave the results up to you,because if I follow Your Word, You will take care of me."

I want you to understand this Christmas that the God of Mary is the same God who says, "I will supply all of your needs." He is the same esterday, today, and forever. Are you going to trust Him this holiday season? Are you going to yield your will to His divine plan?Remember that God is waiting to bless the life that is wholly yielded to Him.