The Preparation Needful

The Preparation needful
By the saints of God today
The Light that means salvation
As we walk that narrow Way

The Word of God so understood
By seasons spent in prayer
Receiving through His Spirit
All the things that God would share

These are the gifts of Christmas

All the world so needs to be Bestowed on those who seek the Truth That graced the only tree Was placed to be our Sacrifice Then laid within a tomb But only for the Sabbath day As Christ had to resume The work of our salvation By His intercession there Within the sanctuary Where the Spirit bears or prayers And makes anew each garment Once He's placed on us His own When we through doubt have fallen And some seeds of sin have sown To give to us a new resolve To be the more like Him Who is the greatest Gift of all Both now and way back when We first had our encounter With the elements of love That brought us to confession Of the sins not spoken of But we had to uncover To the Lord that we might be Unburdened from their power To restrain our purity And once we had confessed And had received the Blood and Wine The Blood that is His cleansing And the gospel Word His Wine The Gift became our purpose For our living here on earth To bring to other precious souls The hope of their new birth So as you face this Christmas With its tinsel and its cheer Or simply live in silence With no family that's near Adjust your thoughts and focus On the greatest Gift of all The Gift that God was giving In that lowly cattle stall And thank Him for the Promise That is yours eternally If you are here preparing For what all the world will see When Christ returns in glory To receive His very own Who knew each day as Christmas Through the Gift that was their own.

Luke 2:6-14; Hebrews 6:9-20 Lee Forbes 1 Corinthians 13  Christmas Style (c)By Sharon Jaynes If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely  plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and  shiny glass balls, but do not show love to  my family, I’m just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens  of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet  meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned  table at mealtime, but do not show love to  my family, I’m just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the  nursing home, and give all that I have to  charity, but do not show love to my family,  it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels  and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of  holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata  but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of your way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able  to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those  who can’t. Love bears all things, believes all things,  hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break,  pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will  rust. But giving the gift of love will endure. Let’s Pray- Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son,  Jesus, on that starry night in Bethlehem.  I am still amazed at Your great love for me.  May I never lose sight of the true meaning of  Christmas, but celebrate Jesus’ birth with joy!  Help me to give as You gave--with love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. One Thing God Wants You to Remember at Christmas Sharon Jaynes December 19, 2016   Today's Spotlight sermons from CFC churches- ~ Dec. 18, 2016 ~        Simeon  Speaker: Rick Sinclair Location: Madrid  [Listen to Pastor Rick's message to be challenged to become desperate, and to have expectation!]     No Name Speaker: Daniel Paladin Location: Potsdam    ~Dec. 11th ~     Mary Speaker: Ben Levendusky Location: Madrid CFC sermons You can check out many other sermons, and select the ones of interest to you. Maybe you missed one... Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of recent posts. Then click Older Posts for more) MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Posts coming up next week- #77 God Honors United Prayer 27th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel #78 Blessings from United Prayer 29th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel Why Make Him Lord? 31st- Saturday's post by Jean Oathout #79 Spiritual Power is Multiplied 1/3rd- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel