FAMILY: ONE OF GOD'S GREATEST GIFTS

Well, we just had another wonderful Christmas at our home. Dave, Kristin, and Caleb stayed with us for a few days, Jeff and Connie visited everyday and then Christmas day we all enjoyed gift-giving and dinner. Karen and I do not do Christmas in the traditional way; trees, decorations, and such, but we do like giving our kids gifts. God started all of this gift-giving, before the foundation of the world was laid. "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son." Giving is at the heart of the Gospel. Please hear me, if God cannot teach you to be a giver then He cannot use you. Dan, Sarah, Abigail, and little John live in Panama City, FL and enjoyed their Christmas this year together, they were with us for Thanksgiving what a wonderful time we all had, and Joshua was with Jenna his girl friend and her family. As I watched FOX News they would tell of all the Christian pilgrims who traveled to Bethlehem this Christmas. I thought to myself what a waste of time Jesus is not there anymore. Jesus is not a baby in a manger, but is now seated on the right hand (a place of honor) of the Father, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus is no longer a poor little defenseless baby, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And someday (I believe soon) He will be coming in the clouds of glory, with His heavenly host, as our coming King and will judge the nations. "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:11-16) Then I thought, they left their families during one of the most important family times of the year to see a place where they THINK Jesus was born.

The longer I go in life the more I realize I know little about life. But my friend there are a few truths I have learned. The first and greatest truth is Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tell me so. This is the greatest and most important truth we can learn about life. If we can learn this truth all other truths will flow correctly from this one. We will be well adjusted knitly joined together with our brothers and sisters in the Lord (and with those in the world who do not know Him) able to come to completion and find fulfillment in our lives. The second truth is if we have God and our family we can face anything in life. Yes that is right if we have God's precious Son Jesus (as the chief cornerstone of all of our relationships) and our family we will be able to endure anything life throws at us. The older I get the more I appreciate my family. They say the older you get the smarter your Dad and Mom become. My Dad is 82 and my Mom is 77, I cannot imagine how smart they will be when I am 60. My Dad is filled with years of wisdom and knowledge and my Mom is still so precious and sweet to me. Our kids and their families are so special to us. The older we get the more we do not want them to leave when they come home for a visit. But I know this is not God's plan for them. We had our day-to-day time while we were raising them. But now we have visits and all of those precious memories to keep us going. Of all of God's wonderful gifts He has given me, second only to the Holy Spirit and salvation, is my sweet-heart and wife Karen. What a blessing Karen and been to me. She has been strong when I was weak and weak so that I could be strong. She gave me four wonderful children. She has cooked and cleaned and love me for over 28 years. How she has laid her life down for us all in the family. Oh God help me to be a better husband and father to my wife and family. Family: one of God's greatest gifts.