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Newsletter
- November/December [Newsletter
Archives]
Today I had some Christmas
music playing in my car and was noticing some of the decorations
that our little town in Kentucky puts out each year. They really
go all out in our area to usher in the Christmas season. There were
signs that said “Happy Holidays” and others that said “Season’s
Greetings” but all were intermingled with prominent displays of
“Merry Christmas” and “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” I love
this time of year so much. I love the feeling it gives me to play
Christmas songs that I’ve now purchased on CD, but played them on
records when I was a kid. I love the lights and the food and the
fact that people take time to wish you the appropriate greeting
for the closest holiday, Thanksgiving, Christmas or the New Year.
I love having several days in the course of about a month to celebrate
with my family something that we all enjoy and believe in. I even
love the fact that I have to look forward to a diet and a few resolutions
on January 1st.
But more than any
of that, I love the Christ of Christmas. I love the peace He is
in the midst of hard times. I love the joy he gives when situations
dictate otherwise. I love the grace and mercy that I’ve received
and did absolutely nothing to deserve. I love the wisdom that I
am so slow to accept when my intellect tells me something else.
I love the power to overcome in His strength what I can’t in my
own weakness. And I love that He loves me no matter what.
Sometime between now
and 2007 (you just have a few days), make sure you have a little
time to reflect on where you are and where you’re going and make
sure that God is right in the middle of it. If you find that He’s
not, change your course to where He’s going. It will make your 2007
the greatest year of your life. I know that because the Bible says
to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not to lean to our
own understanding. But in all our ways to acknowledge God and He
would direct our paths. It also says that He has plans for us for
a future for our good. I’m sure that the only thing that will keep
us from reaping the benefits of that is to disregard God’s plan
for our own. And, if you’re like me, you’ll find His is a whole
lot better in the long run.
We’ll talk again next
year. Can you believe it’s just around the corner. Have a Happy
Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year in whatever
order you choose. By the way, thanks for visiting me by way of the
website. Drop me a line if you get a chance.
Blessings,
John Darin
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