Open Letter to Michael

Mike,

We are all saddened by your loss of Melinda.  Her struggle and subsequent victory has been an inspiration to us all. Thank you for allowing all of us to be a part of your and Melinda's lives!

You know, through the years you have allowed each of us to comfort you.  Your humility, has allowed each of us to serve you and your family in ways; that frankly, I would not have ever thought of.  Not something that would come easy to a Marine like yourself. Yes, we have been blessed.   From the first diagnose, we cried with you, prayed with you and we  rejoiced with each remission; while we were saddened with each relapse.  And finally, we celebrated with your family and friends at Melinda's memorial service.  I think it went just as she planned it.  No crying, no sadness, just remembrance of her wonderful life here . Yes, she is a pistol!

So, today, we continue to morn with you as a brother.  Thank you again for opening up and allowing us to be part of your life.  We will continue to pray for you.  And if you need anything, please do not be afraid to ask.  We would hate to miss the blessings.

John

The Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve

Not yours or mine but the Christmas Eve from Joseph's perspective !

It  started out like no other! You see Joseph was required by the government to go home.  He was not going home for the holidays; but rather, he was forced by the government to go home to be counted.  He needed to take his "bride to be " , home.  Not really  his home; but, hometown.  Yet , he was not going home to visit his family.  He was merely following  the orders of his government.  His family really didn't like him at the time; because, he choose to keep Mary around.  You know her, the mother of someone "else's" child.

So with the government demanding that he travel 10 miles or so with a pregnant wife to be, he sets out on the journey.  Please remember , that he did not prearrange his destination plans.  No Hotels.com, No Travelocity, hek, he didn't even have Avis or Amtrack.  He just had a path in front of him and one very pregnant girlfriend!  Now, the path must have been  crowded and dirty; full of people basically going about the same thing as he.  So much hustle and bustle! Not a whole lot of Christmas cheer!.  Remember, that he has that pregnant girlfriend. She riding on a donkey, she needs so many breaks.  So much time is lost that he just can't get to Jerusalem with much chance of getting a room.  What to do? what to do?  It is late, and all the innkeepers are full up and frankly , they got nothing.  However, in a glimpse of hope and the rush of delivery, they push aside the animals of the barn and give birth to a son.  What a day?  Joseph , first walks, 10 miles, finds no accommodations and then has to help give birth to someone else's baby!  He probably never did this before. You see this was a "woman thing" . Mary's mom wasn't around to help.  No midwife tagged along for the journey!  Joseph, was not just there to coach Mary through the delivery; he was the doctor of the day!  However, being the good carpenter , I am sure he had a knife.  You know, to cut the umbilical cord.

Now what? He has this child in his arms.  One that he has been told is God, his savior, and the Savior of the world. Once  again he has got nothing.  But, he wraps the little baby in the rags that he has probably just ripped from his robe and places him down in a feeding trough.  You gotta love him.  He makes do with what is available. But, what a day! Forced to travel,  messed with a donkey, cared for his pregnant girlfriend, argued with innkeepers, moved in with the animals, smelled the poop, delivered a baby, now finally the day is over.  A little sleep............?

No it is Christmas Day and Visitors are coming  !!!!

Thank you for allowing me to take some liberty with the True Christmas Story (below) and please do not hold against me any punctuation errors, etc.  It is three in the morning on Christmas Eve.

May God Bless you and your family.   Enjoy, the God who came to Earth.



\Actual Story from Luke.

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah,the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 

Holy Devoted

I have started reading about our friend Job again.  He is most likely the most popular man in history, besides Jesus himself.   He is a man whom we can all identify with.  He is our friend; because, we all can consider ourselves one with him when we experience various trials.  But, can we consider ourselves one with him when we compare our responses.  You see Job, never wavered in his dedication to his Lord. ( our Lord). Can we look to ourselves and find the same devotion?

When God was conversing with Satan it was Job's devotion that caused God to state ," What do you think of my servant Job?  There is no one like him on earth- he is truly a good person who respects me and refuses to do evil."( Job 1:8)

Can your name be placed here ?  What do you think of my servant ____________?**

for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them"  ( Ephesians 2:10)


** Taken from Daily with the King, by W. Glyn Evans

Work?

“ In fact, after studying God’s work of forming and filling the earth and then looking back on it and saying “It was good,” James had an epiphany. With delight he exclaimed, “God doesn’t make junk. I don’t make junk!” A biblical understanding of work energizes our desire to create value from the resources available to us. Recognizing the God who supplies our resources, and who gives us the privilege of joining in as cocultivators, helps us enter into our work with a relentless spirit of creativity.”

Excerpt From: Keller, Timothy. “Every Good Endeavor.” Dutton, 2012-11-13. iBooks.


When I go to work I find myself in very much the same mindset. Oh, there are some mornings that i might find it difficult to face the day; but, when I realize the place we have been given, I am "pumped"! We are good at what we do ! And we certainly have a place. I find it a tremendous privilege to work with each of our employees. We don't make "junk"!

May you also recognize that God doesn't make junk and he has given you the pleasure of His creation. I pray that your work day will be filled with new creations.