Joel asks us to "step up to God's dining table" and enjoy the fabulous banquet of "joy, forgiveness, restoration, peace, healing----whatever you need". That's where I will be for my Christmas dinner. As we read chapter 10 this holiday week, may we tap into the holiday spirit and realize our abundance and prosperity with great gratitude.
The link below has the beautiful Christmas song: Mary, Did You Know?
http://www.andiesisle.com/didsheknow.html
5 comments:
I liked this letter and decided to post it. I got it in my email today. I'm not sure it relates to this particular chapter, although Joel does advise that we stop going around full of fear, worry, anxiety, and that we stop being uptight. Here is a letter from Jesus that asks us to stop being uptight and critical and start being full of love and understanding instead.
Dear Children,
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks
are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of a pagan festival. Even so, I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most
easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that, let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town
in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just
get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity
scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers do that, there
wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a
holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish. I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I
am in relation to you and what each of our tasks are. If you have
forgotten that one, look up
John 15:1-8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is
my wish list. Choose something from it.
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My
birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I
know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them
personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford
and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or
her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile. It could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" , that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that
day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary--
especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in
your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity that believes in Me and they will make the delivery for
you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in
and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
Don't forget: I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work. Time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS
It's the day after Christmas, and I'm thinking about developing a prosperous mind-set for 2008. Joel says that God planted 'seeds' inside us "filled with possibilities, incredible potential, creative ideas, and dreams." Matthew 17:20 says, "For truly I tell you, if you have the faith of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing shall be impossible for you." In faith I am ready to start a new year, make new decisions, and establish new goals.
Has anyone read the book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert T. Kiyosaki (with Sharon L. Lechter, CPA?)? Our son, and a very close friend have both asked us to read it. I want to know how it lines up with Joel's book, and Scripture. If any of you have read it, and can help me I would really appreciate it. I need the cliff notes! LOL!
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas? I spent the day trying to escape a flu bug, and my family had the get together without me. I got to listen to my son's beautiful letter by cell phone!
Rozan
Rozan, I haven't read that book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad", but it sounds kind of like David Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" when I read the reviews about it. Frank and I did read Ramsey's book, and it influenced us enough to make us want to get out of debt and stop depending on our credit cards. I'm not sure if these books are the same, however, but I think they are both books about finances. "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" is probably motivational and inspirational in that it makes you realize the possibility and potential for wealth. I'm not sure about the scripture part or how it aligns with Joel's book. Good question, but I don't know the answer. I'm sorry you had the flu over Christmas. I had a bout with heartburn, but I'm back to trying to eat more healthy and alleviate that health issue. You are in my prayers. I'm glad you got to listen to your son's letter by cell phone. Family is so important, especially this time of year.
One thing I wanted to talk about in this chapter is the "cheese and crackers" story. For those who haven't read it, it's about a man taking a transatlantic cruise back in the day before people flew overseas. He had only enough money for the ticket so he packed his suitcase full of cheese and crackers for the trip so that he would have food to eat. Toward the end of the trip when the smell of the gourmet food from the dining room was driving him wild, another passenger wanted to know why the man always sat in a corner eating cheese and crackers during mealtimes. With embarrassement he man told the other passenger that he only had enough money to pay for his ticket. At which time, the other passenger informed the man that the meals were included with the price of the ticket!! Wow! Having been on a cruise myself, as several of you have, I was touched by that story. The food on the cruise ship is unbelievably delicious. The point Joel is making with this story is that as Christians, God wants to bless us with abundance, and we don't have to settle for "cheese and crackers". Instead we are entitled to eat from God's banquet table full of wondrous prosperity. "We are more than conquerors," Romans 8:37. I also like what Sarah Ban Breathnach said in her book SIMPLE ABUNDANCE. "You will simply not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will set into motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given to you." I think that prosperity starts with our gratitude and builds from there. Joseph Addison says, "A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world." I think if we are content and grateful for what we have while envisioning prosperity, we begin to see the blessings of God more and more with each passing day. We also need to keep in mind that prosperity isn't just material things, it is also spiritual and physical increase. When we grow spiritually and our health gets better, we are prospering too. My goal to maintain my weight loss and stay in good health is part of my development of a prosperous mindset Joel says, "Your lot in life is to be an overcomer, to live prosperously in every area." Praise God! He has great things in store for us for 2008 if we will just claim them.
We have to do our part, though. We have to believe we are blessed, see ourselves as blessed, and act as though we are blessed. May we start 2008 with gratitude in our hearts for all we have received in the past year. Johannes A. Gaertner said, "To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch heaven." I really believe that our joy comes from living each day feeling blessed.
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