In the hustle and bustle of Christmas, we sometimes forget the real reason we celebrate the season.

The liberals have tried to take His name from Christmas and replace it with happy holidays, but we must carry the torch!

The world has commercialized it and it’s all about getting presents, but we know the true meaning.

It” about God coming as a baby, knowing before He camel He would die

Imagine, the love it must have taken, knowing before hand the abuse and ridicule. How He loves us, thank God He came!

Through Him, all mankind has the opportunity to be saved. That’s why Satan hates His name so much.

We wonder why the world wants His name taken out of society, it’s because it’s in His name we are saved. The world is blinded and knows no better.

We have set aside this day to celebrate His birth, let’s remember who He is ans why he came.

Lord, help us to never! forget the true meaning of Christmas and let us tell all of His saving grace. Amen!!!

RL

It’s been cold here for a week, I try to stay `inside. The only problem is I feel like a prisoner.

Have you ever felt like a prisoner to something, locked in and no way out?

I have and let me tell you, it suck!

I got into a habit of dipping, it started out just a little every now and then. But, it soon engulfed my life. I felt, I had to have one or I’d freak out.

It had gotten so bad, I would go to sleep eith a dip in my mouth. I was hooked! This little substance had control over me.

During the stroke of 2005, the Lord supernaturally delivered me, I no longer dip. This is not the norm, usually one has to go through a procedure

One thing I have come to hate, something having control of my life.

I got real frustrated this week, I looked at my disadvantages and had a “Feel sorry for Ricky Day” It did not last long but as long as it lasted; I felt horrible.

I know staying inside is no big thing to you
But, to me it’s a biggie; I feel closed in and bored.

Maybe there’s a thing in your life that you’ve tried to shake it off, never give up; keep on trying

It may not be today, tomorrow or this year, don’t get discouraged; victory is around the bend.

Lord, we need your strength, to do that wich seems impossible. You are the God of the Possible, help us to see with eyes of faith; to believe and overcome!! Amen.


RL

I love this time of year, not too cold not to hot; just right.

It’s just before Thanksgiving, Paula my wife has already started cooking treats and snacks. On Thanksgiving day, all of our kids, grand kids and niece’s and nephews will be here. A houseful of relatives.

We will eat and get to full and then watch the children as they play.

I will set and listen as our girls talk about old times and then argue about some trivial point.

Then we we go back and eat some more and play games until it starts to get dark and parts of our family leaves. Since none of them are avid hunter, they stay until dark.

Then the following Saturday, we put up the Christmas tree. The two girls living at home, help my wife. It’s a joy to watch them put up the lights and ornaments

It’s so festive here, I love it. They say people who have been depressed, find it more depressing this time of year but, not me.

I love the season, the feeling in the air and all the activities.

The best is having our family together, I think it’s precious.

There is one thing I don’t like, since the stroke of 2005; I haven’t been able to eat my favorite food, roasted pecans.

Lord , during this time my heart goes out to those in foreign lands. Those who serve our country. Men and women who can’t be home. Bless each and everyone. Also here at home, those who are without a home, a family or a warm meal. Bless them all in Jesus name.

Amen!!!

RL

My heart goes out to the child that get bullied. So much aggravation and needless fears. These kinds of scares emotionally can change a person’s heart. To become black and cold. Talk about trust issues, a major problem Bullying is not new, it’s been around a long time. We just have more of it, so we pay more attention I know what I’m about to share, does not fit every situation When I was `12, I was only 3’ feet tall. I was picked on by a lot of kids. There was this one, who would pick me up over his head One day, he picked me up and thew me against the wall. I cried, people laughed and I felt humiliated. I swore that day no more. I had enough. I decided to stand up for myself no matter how it turned out. The next day, sure enough he came my way Before he picked me up, I shouted, meet me outside. We went outside and I drew a line in the sand I said, I dare you to step across the line, you might whip me but, you’ll know I was there. He looked at me bewildered, threw his hands at me and walked off. I was elated, I thought I was in for a beating. From that day on, no one picked on me. Some times a person just has to take a stand. Do what it takes, no matter what. So it is in our walk with God, we are always being pushed around. There comes a time we must say, enough’s enough. It hurts to lt someone go, it hurts to stand when all else is falling around you. Sometimes it hurts when the junk in our life keeps us from God, t’s time to let go and let God. Lord, we are full of stuff, we need You to remove all, so we can truly love and be loved! Amen!!! RL

Setting in my room as the sun shines in, my mind takes me to a time of innocence; a time almost forgot

It was when I was 15 and life was full of energy and exorbitance.

We were learning to drive and could taste freedom around the corner. No longer were we dependant on others to take us anywhere, we had our license and the world suddenly became a bit more available.

My brother gave me his old car and bought him another, I was ready to go. Ready to go anywhere. We are so juvenile in our thinking, one does not go off at age 15. First he must become skillful and master the art

So it is in our walk with the Lord, we must learn how to walk before we can run, we must have a proven track record.

When I first started driving, I ran in the ditch, into other cars and out of gas. At first my track record was not so good. But, as I continued to drive, it got better.

As a Christian, at first I was full of the Spirit and did not know what to do. I did some crazy things that gave me the reputation of being flaky.

Then I asked my pastor to teach me and as I matured in the faith, being mentored; I soon had a good track record.

Using wisdom in your walk with God or in any area of your life, will take you far.

Soon in my driving, I was driving everywhere, only because I had built up confidence and was not afraid.

So in my walk with the Lord, I had been mentored and traveled down many a road and no longer was I afraid

Lord, in our lives we need You to take us by the hand, via by someone else or through our own lives experiences. Help us to mature in Your most Holy Faith.

Amen!!!

RL

Sunday, our Youth did a program to honor our veterans, no; it wasn’t Veterans Day

It reminded me of the 6-8 grades, we had chapel once a week. It was like clockwork, we always sang patriotic songs .

I can remember songs and quotes from our forefathers, that we learned in chapel. Not only did we learn about American courage and how much our forefathers loved God, we heard the Bible being read

This was in the day that was not supposed to be. I wasn’t a Christian at the time but, I remember

Our school was one of the first to be integrated but, there was very little fighting. I look back now and I contribute that to the Godly man and women who were not afraid to teach us such things.

Today our schools are of a different time, our teachers are in a fight, just to make it through the day. There is no chapel to teach them the Word or about our forefathers. The kids of today know nothing of their Godly heritage, they are taught instead that our forefathers were heathen and agnostics.

As a church and parents, it’s up to us! To teach them all we know and some we don’t. Mostly we need to teach them the Word and proper conduct.

The buck stops at home, we can blame the school, the church but, it starts at home

Lord, help us to teach our kids and yes grandkids who You are and how they are to act properly.

Amen!!!


RL

As I write this, it’s raining outside, dreary and depressing. This could be your world, one filled with nothing to look forward to or just plain hopeless.

Satan loves a mind bent on feeling this way, He thrives on peoples fears and feelings of worthlessness

We must learn to RESIST him and in doing so, he MUST flee!! But, a prerequisite is we must first obey God.

I cannot count the many times I disobeyed God and yet I still am surprised when Satan is crouching by. So many times we inadvertently blame God but, it’s our fault.

If I had done what He had taught me in His Word, I would not be in this or that mess.

I know from being a pastor, I am not alone, we all have shall I say MISSED IT!
We are nothing but children, we must constantly be reminded or at least I do.

So if it’s raining and you feel hopeless,, Flee from those thoughts; OBEY GOD and then TURN FROM YOUR WICKED WAY
S And then he will flee!


Lord, forgive us for we are but children! Amen!!!


RL