Activated December 2011

8/3/2019 Activated December 2011

1/16

Vol 12 Issue 1

change your l i fe . change your world

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!Celebrating the Savior

Gods Christmas GitThe perect ft or every heart

A Time or Refection9 ways to maximize the season


2/16

Vol 12, Issue 12

P E R S O N A L L Y S P E A K I N G

I youre fnding it harder than usual to get into the

Christmas spirit this year, you arent alone. Its been

an especially tough year or this weary world o ours.

Te frst two months alone saw popular revolts break out in 13 NorthArican and Middle Eastern nations, ollowing unisias lead a ew weeks

earlier. Some were bloodless, others bloody, but all proved that there are no

overnight fxes or longstanding social and economic disparities. We all hope

or the best or the 300 million people in those countries, but we must also

realize that change will be a long, slow, and probably painul process.

Nature struck next. An earthquake powerul enough to shit the earth on

its axis rocked Japan. sunami waves crushed property and spirit alike. Over

27,000 people were killed or recorded missing, and damage to nuclear reactors

raised the specter o a Chernobyl-level disaster.

Tose werent the only unsettling events o 2011, o course, or necessarilythe worst or us personally. Its usually events that dont make headlines that

aect us the mostthe loss o a loved one, severe illness or injury, fnancial

troubles...

As 2011 draws to a close, we ask the age-old question: I God is all-power-

ul and truly loves us, as the Bible says, why doesnt He do something to relieve

our pain and suering?

He did. He sent Jesus.

God eels our pain. He understands our heartaches and sympathizes

with our losses. He longs to draw us close, to soothe, to heal, to comort, to

reassure. He wanted so badly to help us that He sent His Son in human orm,to live among us; to experience our hardships, to be His hands, to reveal His

heart, and to put us in direct, personal contact with His love and power. God

didnt send Jesus to remove all o our problems, but to equip us to get through

them and become better or them.

And that is why we have reason to hope this Christmas.

Keith Phillips

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E Keith Phillips

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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise

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2


3/16

By Abi F. May

Many people look forward to

Christmas with mixed feel-

ings. Tere is happy anticipation o

celebrations, good ood, a break rom

work, and time relaxing with amily and

riends, but also the anxiety that comes

rom especially busy days o decorating,

shopping, cooking, baking, and entertain-ing. Some also ace the likelihood o

riction when their amily gets together,

while others ace loneliness.

No matter what our circumstances or

expectations, we can all have a meaningul

and truly blessed Christmas i we will take

a ew minutes each day or quiet reection

on symbols o the season like these.

Nativity scenes

From live reenactments to miniature

models in an endless array o styles and

materials, the fgures o the Nativity are a

visual reminder o the central characters o

the Christmas story. Joseph stands tall and

steadast. Marys head is bowed in humil-

ity as she reects on the Christ Child she

has delivered. Shepherds kneel in adora-

tion. Tree kings in fne robes approach

with gits in hand. Te donkey that

Mary rode to Bethlehem stands alongside

sheep and perhaps a cow. All attention is

directed toward the tiny baby lying in a

manger. He is at the center o Christmas,

yet the scene would not be completewithout each o those other fgures.

Each o us also has a role to ulfll in

the scene o lie. With Christ at the center,

the picture is complete.

Christ beside me, Christ beore me,

Christ behind meKing o my heart;

Christ within me, Christ below me,

Christ above menever to part.

Christ on my right hand,

Christ on my let hand,

Christ all around meshield in the strie;

Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my

sitting,

Christ in my risinglight o my lie.

St. Patricks Breastplate, adapted by

James Quinn


4/16

The wreath

One o the most universal Christmas

decorations is the wreath, a circle

o evergreen that is oten adorned

with ribbons, baubles, candles, or

other trimmings. Te circular shape

reminds us that Gods love, which

He sent to us in Jesus, knows no end.

Te evergreen reminds us that Christ

lives orever.

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a

Son is given; and the government will

be upon His shoulder. And His name

will be called Wonderul, Counselor,Mighty God, Everlasting Father,

Prince o Peace. O the increase o

His government and peace there will

be no end.Isaiah 9:67

Christmas avorites in various coun-

tries around the world: marzipan and

colorul Christmas cookies through-

out Europe and North America;

ruitcake and trie in English-

speaking countries;panettone(sweet

bread) in Italy, Latin America, and

with a slight variation in Romania,

where it is known as cozonac;pande Pascua (sponge cake) in Chile;

vnon cukrov(iced Christmas

cookies) in the Czech Republic;

stollen (ruitcake with marzipan) in

Germany; cougnou (sweet bread) in

Belgium; almond cakes in Spain; and

ponche crema, a sweet hot Christmas

drink in Venezuelato name just a

ew. All can serve as reminders o the

sweetness o Gods presence throughChrist in our lives.

Sweet Jesus, is there anything sweeter

than You? Te memory o You is

more delightul than anything else.

Your name is joy; it is the true gate

o our salvation.Saint Anthony of

Padua (11951231)

Candles

winkling lights, red ribbons, and

shiny tinsel adorn homes and pub

places, announcing the arrival o t

estive season. Candles, representi

the light that Jesus brought to our

world, are rarely missing among th

decorations. Tey symbolize God

light entering the world at Jesus

birth.

Te people who walked in dark-

ness have seen a great light; those

who dwelt in the land o the shad

o death, upon them a light has

shined.Isaiah 9:2

Carols

Listening to Christmas carols or si

ing along while decorating the tree

baking Christmas cookies can relie

stress and lit your spirits. Singing

carols together also draws amily a

riends closer and adds substance t

the celebrations as you join the cho

o angels who announced Jesus bi

Christmas treats

Gingerbread was possibly the frst

treat to be associated with Christmas.

It was frst baked in Germany during

the Middle Ages, and over the years

other sweets have become traditional

4


5/16

Silent night, holy night,

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and Child.

Holy Inant, so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,

Shepherds quake at the sight;

Glories stream rom heaven aar,

Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!

Christ the Savior is born,

Christ the Savior is born!

Josef Mohr

Bells

Behold, the virgin shall be with

child, and bear a Son, and they shall

call His name Immanuel, which

is translated, God with us.1 Te

jubilant sound o Christmas bells,

proclaiming the arrival o Gods Son,

is among the most joyul sounds we

associate with Christmas.

Ring Christmas bells, merrily ring,

ell all the world, Jesus is King,

Loudly proclaim with one accord

Te happy tale, welcome the Lord.

Mykola Leontovich (translation: Ray

Conni)

Christmas Eve

Many o us are busy right up until

the evening o Christmas Eve, but we

shouldnt miss reecting on the drama

o that night 2,000 years ago. A young

woman must give birth in a stable.

Her newborns frst bed is the animals

eeding trough. But in the sky a new

star has appeared, and on a nearby

hillside angels proclaim to lowly

shepherds that the Savior is born.

O holy Child o Bethlehem, descend

to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in, be

born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels the

great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, our

Lord Emmanuel!

Phillips Brooks

Gifts

Christmas shopping starts earlier every

year. Although we may not enjoy the

shopping process, theres a special

pleasure in tracking down something

that will be a happy surprise or our

children, other amily members, and

riends. While wrapping presents or

arranging them under the tree, take amoment to remember the One who

came to give His lie or us.

Dear Jesus, it is Your birth I am

celebrating this Christmas. Te

shepherds brought their wonder

and worship; the wise men brought

their gits o gold, rankincense, and

myrrh to honor You. I bring love and

gratitude.

1. Matthew 1:23

When Christmas feasts

are over

Sometimes the days ollowing

Christmas can seem anticlimactic.

Presents have been given, and visit

have come and gone. We eat letov

rom Christmas dinner, and tidy u

the house. In a ew days a new yeawill beginanother round o ups

downs, happiness and pain. But th

joy and magic o Christmas do no

have to ade. We can keep Christm

every day by reaching out to God

being touched by His love.

Celebrate the east o Christmas

every day in the temple o your

spirit, remaining like a baby in thebosom o the heavenly Father, wh

you will be reborn each moment i

the Divine Word, Jesus Christ.S

Paul of the Cross (16941775)

Abi F. May is an educator and

author based in Great Britai

and an Activated staff writer


6/16

giftChristmas celebrates the

most important birth inhuman history, when the

Creator o the universe entered our

world in bodily orm as both God

and man in Jesus. An angel appeared

to announce Jesus birth to a ew

shepherds who were watching their

sheep at night. I bring you good

tidings o great joy which will be to

all people, the angel proclaimed,

or there is born to you this day inthe city o David a Savior, who is

Christ the Lord.1

As I was thinking about that,

I was reminded o another event

that took place a ew days later.

When Jesus parents presented Him

in the temple, in accordance with

the Mosaic Law, they met an old

man who had received a personal

promise rom God. Te mans namewas Simeon, and God had told him

that he would not die beore seeing

the Messiah. When Simeon saw the

baby Jesus, he took Him in his arms,

praised God, and said, Lord, nowYou are letting Your servant depart

in peace, according to Your word;

or my eyes have seen Your salvation

which You have prepared beore the

ace o all peoples, a light to bring

revelation to the Gentiles, and the

glory o Your people Israel.2

Both proclamations make it clear

that Jesus came to bring salvation

to all peopleanyone who wouldbelieve in Him, regardless o race,

religion, background, or anything

else. God so loved the world that

He gave His only begotten Son, that

whoever believes in Him should not

perish but have everlasting lie. For

God did not send His Son into the

world to condemn the world, but

that the world through Him might

be saved.3Whoeverbelieves. Salvation is

Gods Christmas git to you and me.

Peter Amsterdam and his wife,

Maria Fontaine, are directors

of the Family International,

a Christian community of

faith.

Gods

1. Luke 2:1011

2. See Luke 2:2632.

3. John 3:1617

4. John 14:6

In classic Christian thinking,

iconography and paintings

... the more spiritually alert

folkhis mother, the wise mSimeon and the shepherds

all seem to know what is

happening. Salvation is com

through this one child: it wil

cost God everything, and yo

nothing. You cannot help Go

but he has come to help you

Martyn Percy

I you havent received Gods

ultimate Christmas git, you ca

right now by welcoming Jesus

your Savior. Simply pray a pray

like the ollowing:

Jesus, I want to experience Godslove and care, which are promise

through You, the way, the truth

and the life.4 I open my heart a

invite You in. Amen.

christmasBy Peter Amsterdam

6


7/16

Happy Birthday,

Jesus!By Helene Mineo

beore, were hearing it or the frst

time.

I had turned 16 shortly beore

I ound Jesus, and to celebrate mybirthday my amily and riends had

organized the biggest party I had

ever had. Now, however, I hardly

remember the party or presents, but I

can still describe every detail o how

I met Jesus. He flled my empty lie

with His love and happiness, and

that was by ar the best present I

have ever receivedbeyond my wild-

est dreams!I remember standing outside

with some riends at midnight on

the Orthodox Christmas Eve, our

aces turned up toward the clear,

starry sky, yelling, Happy birthday,

Jesus! at the top o our lungs. I

still get goose bumps remembering

how happy I was at that moment.

o this day, every time Christmas

comes around, you will fnd me

singing Happy Birthday, Jesus o

Christmas Day.

Tat frst Christmas ater I cam

to know Jesus, I wanted to give

Him another present I was sure H

would be pleased withother peo

introduced to Him, so He couldfll their hearts with as much joy a

He had given me. Tat desire hasn

diminished over the years, either.

I may not pass out posters on the

street this Christmas, but I will fn

other ways to share Jesus with as

many as I can.

Gods infnite, all-encompassin

lovethe heart and soul o

Christmasnever ceases to trans-orm those it touches. Lets each d

our part to give Jesus a very happy

birthday this year by giving Him t

others.

Helene Mineo is a member of

the Family International in

France.

Because I grew up in the

Soviet Union,I didnt celebrate

my frst Christmas until 1991, when

I was 16. Until then, I had neverseen a manger scene, never heard a

Christmas carol, and never been told

the story o Jesus birth. But that year

the truth and spirit o Christmas

stormed my heart and mind and

let me eeling tipsy with happiness

rom December 25th (Christmas in

the West) to January 7th (Christmas

according to the Julian calendar and

the Russian Orthodox Church). Ispent those two weeks with members

o the Family International who had

recently introduced me to Christ.

We wished a happy Christmas to

everyone we met, and passed out

colorul posters with the Christmas

story to thousands o people, many

o whom, like me just a short while


8/16

At a social event,I was

pleasantly surprised to meet up

with two colleagues with whom

I had worked decades earlier. We

chatted about the intervening years

until our conversation turned to

the joint project we had worked on.

While we agreed on the sequence o

events and the fnal outcome, each

o us remembered dierent details.o get a clear understanding o

what actually happened, someone

would have needed to merge our

recollections.

I thought o this recently when

rereading the accounts o Jesus birth

in the gospels. None is complete

in itsel, but together they tell an

amazing story.

Matthew begins with the dilemmaJoseph aced when learning rom an

angel that his wie-to-be was expect-

ing a child o whom he was not the

ather.1 Matthew also tells us that

certain wise men, or magi, ollowed

a star rom their homes in the East to

bestow gits on the newborn King;2

that the wise men and Joseph were

warned in dreams about the evil

intentions o jealous King Herod;

and that Joseph, Mary, and the inant

Jesus escaped by eeing to Egypt.3

Mark adds nothing to the story.His gospel begins when Jesus is a

grown man about to start His public

ministry.

Luke provides many details that

Matthew doesnt, including how the

archangel Gabriel visited Mary with

the news that she would give birth

to the Messiah,4 her initial reaction,5

and a later onea passage now

known as Marys Song o Praise, orthe Magnifcatin which she extols

God and His plan or the Son she

will bear.6

The Heart of the MatterBy Chris Hunt

1. Matthew 1:1825

2. Matthew 2:111

3. Matthew 2:1215

4. Luke 1:2637

5. Luke 1:38

6. Luke 1:4655

7. Luke 2:17

8. Luke 2:814

9. Luke 2:1518

10. John 1:14

Luke also explains how it

happened that Jesus was born in

Bethlehem, even though Joseph an

Mary were rom Nazareth; how it

came to pass that the King o Kin

the Savior o the world, was born

a stable;7 how angels announced H

arrival to nearby shepherds;8 and h

the shepherds, ater visiting Him,

spread the news ar and wide.9

John gives no details, but in on

o the most powerul verses in the

Bible goes straight to the heart o

the matter: Te Word became e

and dwelt among us, and we behe

His glory, the glory as o the only

begotten o the Father, ull o grac

and truth.10

Chris Hunt lives in GreatBritain and has been readin

Activated sin ce it was fir st

published in 1999.

8


9/16

God sends a prophet to

prepare the way.

An angel appears to the priest

Zacharias and tells him that his wie,

Elizabeth, will have a baby boy, even

though she is long past childbearing

age, and that they are to name the

baby John. Te angel also explains

that the baby has been sent by God

to prepare the way or the Messiah.

Te baby grows up to become John

the Baptist. (Luke 1:525)

The angel Gabriel visits Mary.

A young woman, pledged to

be married to a carpenter named

Joseph, is visited by the angel Gabriel

who oretells that she will bear a

sonJesus. She wonders how this

could happen, considering she is a

virgin, but Gabriel tells her that her

child will be the Son o God.(Luke 1:2628)

Mary is saved from scandal.

An angel appears to Joseph in a

dream, encouraging him to marry

Mary as planned, oretelling that

her child would be Jesus, the Savior.

(Matthew 1:2024)

A heavenly host announces

Jesus birth to shepherds.

Shepherds watching their ocks

in the felds near Bethlehem are

visited by angels on the night o

Jesus birth. First an angel tells them

that the Savior has been born; then

the sky is flled with more angelsproclaiming Gods glory.

(Luke 2:820)

The infant Jesus escapes an

assassination attempt.

An angel appears to Joseph in a

dream, warning him to take Jesus

and Mary to Egypt because King

Herod plans to have the child killed.

(Matthew 2:1318)

Back to Nazareth

Once again an angel appears to

Joseph in a dream, advising him to

return with Mary and the child Jesus

to their homeland o Israel, as King

Herod is now dead.

(Matthew 2:1923)

ANGELSin theCHRISTMAS STORY

By Abi F. May

Hark! the herald angels sing,

Glory to the newborn King;Peace on earth, and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful, all ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With th angelic host proclaim,

Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark! the herald angels sing,

Glory to the newborn King!

Charles Wesley

The angels who sang praises on

the night Jesus was born still sin

today. Their voices are drowned

out some by the noise and busy

ness of life, but if you take the ti

to listen carefully, youll hear the

Join them in singing praises to o

heavenly Father.Alex Peterso


10/16

As I rushed around the

streets of Morelia,

Mexico,the stoplights were

crowded with beggars. It was

Christmas Eve, and I had gone out

with my 10-year-old daughter or

some last-minute shopping.Look at her! Cathy drew my

attention to an old woman who had

stopped begging momentarily and

was rubbing her cold, bare eet.

Shes someones grandmother,

I thought aloud, but instead o

being home with her amily, she is

out here in her bare eet, trying to

scrape together a little money or

Christmas dinner. Ten an ideastruck me. Cathy, lets go home and

get together some ood or her.

It was already getting dark, so she

probably wouldnt be working that

stoplight much longer. We raced

home, ound a couple o sturdy

bags, and began going through our

well-stocked pantry and rerigera-

tor. Rice, beans, dried jalapeos, a

jar o salsa, corn tortillas, a cooked

chicken. It was easy to fll the bags

rom our abundance. A loa o bread,

jam, bacon. I tied the bags with largebows, and we headed o to fnd the

old woman.

At frst we thought we had taken

too long and missed her. Ten we

saw her trudging slowly down the

street, her shawl wrapped tightly

around her, probably on her way

home.

Hello! Cathy greeted her and

continued in Spanish. We saw youat the stoplight and brought you

some ood or Christmas dinner. We

hope you and your amily will eel

Gods love this Christmas.

Te old woman looked at us with

wonderment, and tears welled up

in her eyes. Ten she took Cathys

hands in hers and kissed them.

THE BEST PART OF

CHRISTMASBy Josie ClarkTank you. Tank you. God bles

you. You are beautiul. You are a

Christmas angel.

She took the bags and continue

down the street.

Our own Christmas Eve was e

tive, as usual, and the next morninCathy opened her gits. When I

asked her i she was having a good

Christmas, she replied, You know

Mommy, seeing that old woman

so happy last night, and having he

kiss my handsthat was the best

Christmas present I got. I think gi

ing is the best part o Christmas!

Dont forget to show hospita

to strangers, for some who ha

done this have entertained

angels without realizing it!1

Josie Clark is a freelance

writer in the U.S. and a long

time Activated reader. 1. Hebrews 13:2 NLT

10


11/16

Jesus temporarily

renounced the rights of

His citizenship in heaven

and became a citizen of

this world. Tough He was

rich, or our sakes He became poor

that we through His poverty might

become rich. He not only adaptedHimsel to our bodily orm, but also

conormed to the human ways o

lie, customs, language, dress, and

living, that He might understand

and love us better and communicate

with us on the lowly level o our

own human understanding. He

did it that He might reach us with

His love, prove to us His compas-

sion and concern, and help usunderstand His message in simple,

childlike terms that we could grasp.

David Brandt Berg

As you enjoy all the blessings o

lie this Christmas, stop and think

about what meager circumstances

Jesus was born into. He had so

much, yet became so little. He

became nothing so that we could

have everything. All that we have,

we owe to Him.

Maria Fontaine

Oh Christmas star, shine your light

and guide us all to the true mean-ing o Christmas! Direct us to the

Savior, the Prince o Peace, that we

too may have peace in our hearts

and good will toward all men.

Troi Fountain

It is Christmas every time you let

God love others through you. Yes,

it is Christmas every time you smile

at your brother and oer him yourhand.

Mother Teresa

Tere is a lot going on this

Christmas. But it is not in the shops

and the parties and the pulsating

lights. o be part o it you need

to fnd time to be quiet, to be

silent and still, to contemplate his

presence in your hearts and in your

minds. He is there. He wants to

embrace you. Let him. And having

discovered what is really going on

at Christmas we cannot, in the end

keep quiet about it. We cannot

live in a world that, in spite o thetragedies and sorrows, is still a wor

ull o gits, without saying thank

you. We cannot be part o what

Christmas is really about without

praising and gloriying God.

Cardinal Cormac

Murphy-OConnor

Christmas is not a time or a season

but a state o mind. o cherishpeace and good will, to be plenteou

in mercy, is to have the real spirit

o Christmas. I we think on these

things, there will be born in us a

Savior and over us will shine a star

sending its gleam o hope to the

world.

Calvin Coolidge

The reason

for the season

POINTS to

PONDER


12/16

Each December I ask my

children,oby and Kathy, now

seven and nine, to go through theirtoys and clothes and set aside what

they have outgrown or no longer

use. Ten I check what theyve

selected, weeding out worn-out

items and exercising my veto power

in a ew cases, and box up the

best o the rest to give to others

who have less than we do. Besides

instilling in the children a spirit o

giving, I have ound this to also bean eective way to trim down on

clutter and put gently used items

that they no longer need or want to

good use.

Last Christmas both o my

children seemed more materialistic

about the holidaymore ocused

on the presents they were hoping

to receive, and less inclined toward

giving. I wondered why, as well as

whether or not they were aware otheir change in attitude.

I decided to take an indirect

approach. What do you think is

the true meaning o Christmas?

O course they knew that

Christmas is a celebration o Jesus

birthday, but they stopped at that.

On the frst Christmas, did God

give us only His rejects? I asked.

No, oby replied thoughtully.He gave us the very best He had

His most special treasure.

And that is the true spirit o

Christmas, I explained. o give o

our best to others, like God gave us

His best to us.

Te kids thought about this or

a bit and then came up with a plan

SPECIALTREASURESBy Mary Roys

It is the personal

thoughtfulness, thewarm human awareness,

the reaching out of the

self to ones fellow man

that makes giving worthy

of the Christmas spirit.

Isabel Currier

to give away some o their avorit

toys, rather than just the ones the

were tired o. oby chose to givesome o his avorite Matchbox ca

and Kathy decided to give one o

her dolls. We packed these with t

rest o the items we had set aside,

and I took the children with me

when I dropped o our Christma

donations.

Instilling values in my children

is one o my greatest responsibili

as a parent, and teaching them tothink o others beore themselves

a big part o that. Giving sacrifci

shouldnt be a once-a-year occur-

rence, o course, but Christmas is

perect opportunity.

Mary Roys is a parenting lif

coach in Southeast Asia.

12


13/16

Some years back, my husband and I were serving as

missionaries in northern Brazil when an opening came up

or us to take part in a new venture helping young people

in Buenos Aires.

At the time we had three children, and I was pregnant

with our ourth. My husband is rom Argentina and washoping we could arrive in time to spend Christmas with

his elderly ather, so a ew days beore Christmas we set

out on the 7,000 km (4,350 mi) overland journey. Te

trip went fne until we arrived at the border.

Unable to drive our van into Argentina due to

paperwork complications, we decided to leave it in Brazil

until we could sort things out. Someone gave us a ride

rom the border to a truck stop in the city o Concordia,

rom where we planned to take a bus the rest o the way.

Te frst bus to arrive was ull, and when we inquiredabout the bus schedule in the truck stop restaurant, we

were told that there wouldnt be another bus until the

next day.

Our hearts sank. We elt like Mary and Joseph in

Bethlehem. December is chilly in northern Argentina, but

it was warm inside the restaurant. Te waiter, who was

there alone, said we could stay as long as we needed. We

said a ervent prayer.

Tat prayer was answered only a ew minutes later.

Several cars pulled up, and a party o about 30 people

flled the huge table in the center o the restaurant. Te

turned out to be the owners o the truck stop and their

amilies, and they invited us to join their estivities, wh

included a delicious Christmas dinner. It was midnighbeore we knew it, and we all exchanged hugs and war

Christmas wishes, as carols played over the sound syste

We elt so loved. We had arrived cold and hungry a

lonely, empty truck stop in the middle o nowhere, bu

God hadnt orgotten us. He sent His Christmas angels

frst the waiter, then the owners and their amiliesto

cheer us up and share a wonderul celebration.

At 12:20 , two bus drivers stopped at the restaur

or a cup o coee. Tey were returning to Buenos Air

with an empty tourist bus, and oered to take us thereree o charge. We slept soundly on the bus and arrived

a beautiul pink sunrise over La Plata River.

It didnt go as we had planned, but it was a Christm

we will never orget.

Rosane Pereira is an English teacher and

writer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and a membe

of the Family International.

Christmas

on the RoadBy Rosane Pereira


14/16

For many of us, since we were

young children, Christmas has been

a special time o celebrating Jesus

birth, giving and receiving gits,

and spending time with amily and

riends. But Christmas is not only atime to enjoy these blessings ourselves;

it is also the greatest opportunity o

the year to tell the world about our

precious Savior. Perhaps more than

any other day o the year, its a time

when people think about the miracle

that is at the heart o Christmas

God sending His own dear Son into

our world to lead us back to Him.

Even in non-Christian cultures,people are interested in learning the

true meaning o Christmas.

We who have experienced Gods

love in Jesus have a chance to give the

very best git this Christmas, not only

to those we know best and hold dear,

but also to neighbors and strangers

who share our world. Tere are thosearound us whose hearts are sad and

weary, who cry out or a comorter,

who yearn or a Savior. Some are

overwhelmed by ear and uncertainty.

Others are flled with despair and

hopelessness because they have no

goals and fnd no meaning in lie.

Others are laden with burdens o bit-

terness and guilt, or are imprisoned in

emptiness, or are plagued by pain, orare otherwise beset by problems too

big or them to solve on their own.

Jesus loves them and wants to take

them in His arms. But He who is all-

powerul, all-knowing, and all-loving

must have ourhelp! We are His eyes

that can search them out, His ears

that can hear their cry, His voice that

occasion to loveBy Mar ia Fontaine

1. Matthew 5:1416

2. John 20:21

3. Isaiah 61:1,3

4. Matthew 11:5; Isaiah 58:6

5. Matthew 10:8

can respond and comort them, H

arms that can embrace them.

Will you do your best to help

them? Will you give o yoursel?

Jesus did. He stepped outside the

most wonderul place that has evebeen created to come here to earth

and endure discomort, humiliatio

mocking, and painall in order t

save us.

You can make a dierence this

Christmas. Even the humblest

attempt to share the little you may

have can shine as a very bright ligh

others lives, a ray o hope to penet

the darkness that shrouds them.1Reach out to others. ell them

how Jesus came to earth to love

them, how He died to save them,

and how He rose again to deliver

them into a wonderul new world

that they can experience right now

on earth and also enjoy orever in

heaven. Proclaim that we celebrat

14


15/16

CHRIST,the gift ofCHRISTMASdayChrist, the Git o our Christmas Day,

Come aresh to our hearts, we pray!

O Ty ullness may we receive,

Every promise may we believe;

Richer treasure than this worlds best

Tou dost oerTou Royal Guest;

Unto those who thankul hearts uplit

And take Teethe Fathers wondrous git.

Christ, the Light o our Christmas Day,

Shine into every heart, we pray!

Dearer art Tou than Bethlehems star

o those who see Tee, though aar.

Onward still in Ty pathway bright

Lead us as children o the light,

ill the morning breaks, and shadows ee

And we fnd the perect day with Tee.

Christ, the Peace o our Christmas Day,

Fill our hearts with Ty rest, we pray!

Tough sin and sorrow surge around,

Yet is there peace where Tou art ound

Peace in the calm o sin orgiven,

A Fathers smile, and an open Heaven;

Tough clouds should gather, and ears increase

Tou wilt keep Tine own in perect peace.

Christ, the Joy o our Christmas Day,Fill our hearts with Ty joy, we pray!

Dear ones missed rom our loving throng,

Voices hushd in our Christmas song.

Can we rejoice? Oh, yet the more

For them we bless Tee and adore.

Lord, grant us all at length to see

Fullness o joy with themwith Tee!

From Te Fireside, published 1889, anonymou

the birthday o a living Savior who

alone is the answer to their deepest

needs.

As His Father sent Him, so He

sends us.2 Be Jesus hands. Be His

eet. Be His eyes. Be His lips. Healthe brokenhearted; ree the captives;

raise those who are dead in trespasses

and sins; welcome the rejected, the

alienated, the ostracized.3 Preach

the Gospel to the poor; loose the

bands o wickedness, undo the heavy

burdens, let the oppressed go ree.4

Give them beauty or ashes, the oil o

joy or mourning, and the garment

o praise or the spirit o heaviness.Freely ye have received, reely give.5

And lets not stop with

Christmas! Lets keep sharing and

giving and loving just as much

throughout the year to come. Lets

make each day a celebration o Jesus

birth, which brought the promise o

new lie or all.


16/16

What can you give Me this Christmas? Athankul heart is one git I love to receiveanytime. You make Me happy when you areappreciative o My blessings, great and small,because I love to see you happy. I love tosee you smile, and that makes Me smile inreturn. I love to see you laugh, and I love tolaugh with you. Each smile or laugh tells Methat you love and appreciate Me.

Tink o specifc things that make you

glad, and thank Me or them. And whensomething happens that makes you eelhappy or loved, thank Me or that. Whenyou do either o those, it becomes a personalgit exchange between you and Me. I giveyou blessings, which makes you happy, andyou give Me thanks, which makes Me happy.

It is even more beautiul when you fndthings to thank Me or in spite o dicultor unhappy circumstances. Its easy to bethankul when everything is going well, butwhen you can remain thankul in the midsto adversity, it shows even greater love andtrust that I will work things out or you.Tats special, and I give you special blessingsin return.

So thank Me in happy times and in sad

times, in laughter and in tears, in health andin sickness, in success and in ailure, in timeso abundance and in times o lack. Tank Mebecause you know that everything is in Myhands and under My control.

FROM JESUS WITH LOVE

The gift of athankful heart

Documents

Activated December 2011