Here is your critical strategy to joy. This is a sure, true game plan, despite the nation’s money meltdown, your own personal meltdown, and whatever else that could rob you of your joy.

FOCUS ON OTHERS, not yourself. (Philippians 2:3-4)

There it is – Joy for the New Year.

People who are sold out to that which is greater than themselves – helping family and friends, or those less fortunate – get the most “bang” out of life. They are more joyous — not a continuous high, mind you, but a happier “bang” than the ones who are always looking out for “good ole number one.”

You’ll be the recipient of more “kick” out of life than the one thinking “money will solve my problems, and success will make me happy,” as Man in the Mirror’s Patrick Morley puts it.

You’ll possess more inner peace than the one who stands before the mirror watching his or her life drain away (wrinkle city, here you come).

TURN THE SPOTLIGHT OFF – off yourself. Forget your own self-importance, your aches and pains, your feelings and fears. Instead get busy focusing on others.

The terminally ill know this truth. You work out priorities quickly when you’re near death. No one, who’s about to cash in the chips, ever wished he’d bought that new car or spent more time at the office. What does matter is what you did for others will continue to exist after you’re gone.

Everything else is this myth that is perpetuated by the media: “More things and more worldly success equal wholeness of life.” What a crock. Don’t buy it.

Instead, get busy FOCUSING ON OTHERS – RELATIONSHIPS.
(Philippians 2:3-4).

By Men Who Win Founder Gary Chester Morse (1945-2010)

Sincerely,
Men Who Win Ministries
www.menwhowin.com

As the river rose, warnings were given via radio, TV and shortwave. Large Jeeps drove through the area to evacuate people. As a Jeep drove by the man’s house, he was told:

“You are in danger. Your life is at stake. You must evacuate. Get in the Jeep. Let us help you evacuate.”

“No,” the man replied from his doorstep. “I have faith. I will be ok. The flood won’t get me. God will take care of me.”

The water continued to rise.

Soon the man was on the second floor. A boat was going through the area and arrived at the man’s house. Rescuers made every effort to convince the man to take action so that his life would be saved.

“You are in danger. Your life is at stake. You will drown in the flood.”

“No worries,” says the man. “I have faith. Everything is ok. Even though the flood is rising, I will be fine. God will take care of me.”

The flood continued to rise.

The man went to the roof to avoid the rising water. A helicopter pilot sees him on top of the roof and hovers above the man. Using a megaphone, the pilot tries to convince the man to grab the rope ladder which was dangling above his head.

“You are in danger. The flood is still rising. You will drown if you do not grab the rope ladder. Let us help you.”

“No worries.” says the man. “I will be fine. Yes, the flood is higher but I have faith. God will take care of me.”

The flood rises. The man drowns.

At the pearly gates, the man says to God: “I had faith. You let me die.”

To which God replies: “I sent you a Jeep, a boat and a helicopter. What more could I have done for you?”

–

(Seen in many forms all over the ‘Net; this one was found here: www.MichaelHartzell.com)

To them the walls looked big and insurmountable, but to me they looked miniscule. The challenge of the maze was intricate to the mice, but to me-the one who created it, the one who was perched to see every detail-the answers were obvious.

After several days of watching my mice wander through the maze, I took a ruler and began to gently nudge one of them down the correct path. Within seconds, my mouse was enjoying a hearty meal.

Although my understanding of the spiritual parallels between men and mice was very limited when I was a young boy, I now see many similarities. As humans, we wander through life (many times aimlessly) hoping to stumble upon blessings and fulfillment. The challenges look extreme, and the roadblocks seem insurmountable. The “maze” of life creates questions, fuels insecurities, and promotes confusion. We feel like little animals scurrying around searching for hope.

As we often feel alone, there is One who sits in an elevated position watching with interest. God looks on as we make decisions, only to discover that we have caused ourselves pain and stalled progress. He sympathetically sees us invest in things that steal from our value and takes us away from His ultimate plan for our life.

As He observes our choices He is not silent. He tries to interject wisdom, yet many times we fail to listen. Either we don’t realize that God is actually there, or we are convinced that we have a better understanding and view than He does. By both ignoring and rejecting Him, we keep Him locked out of our lives.

We are not pets in a maze, we are sons and daughters of God, yet we still need the gentle nudges that help position us correctly. There are rewards along the way, as well as at the end of our journey, but only as we let God direct and lead us will we discover them. Through His word He speaks to us. By His Spirit working within us, He guides us, He warns us of impending danger, and He indicates the paths of blessing. He doesn’t leave us to our own devices, but He has offered us His assistance as we traverse the trail of life.

He sees every bend in the road. He knows every trial that will come our way. He has a perfect perspective and only when we invite Him to determine our direction will we begin to make progress and truly enjoy the rewards.

(Source: www.GroundWire.net – used with permission.)

1. Listen without interrupting. (Proverbs 18:13)

2. Speak without accusing. (James 1:19)

3. Give without sparing. (Proverbs 21:26)

4. Pray without ceasing. (Colossians 1:9)

5. Answer without arguing. (Proverbs 17:1)

6. Share without pretending. (Ephesians 4:15)

7. Enjoy without complaint. (Philippians 2:14)

8. Trust without wavering. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

9. Forgive without punishing. (Colossians 3:13)

10. Promise without forgetting. (Proverbs 13:12)

–
Source: a graphic seen on Facebook; links added by the webmistress

“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.”
~ Bill Vaughan

“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.”
~ Benjamin Franklin

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”
~ Oprah Winfrey

“Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.”
~ Henry Ward Beecher

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.”
~ T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”

“I think in terms of the day’s resolutions, not the year’s.”
~ Henry Moore

“Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.”
~ Author Unknown

“May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions.”
~ Joey Adams

“New Year’s Day is every man’s birthday.”
~ Charles Lamb

“No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam.”
~ Charles Lamb

“Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”
~ William Arthur Ward

“Oh, I’m still living
At the old address,
And I’m waiting on the weather
That I know will pass.

I know that it’s true:
It’s gonna be a good year…”
~ “In the New Year” by The Walkmen

sources:
www.quotegarden.com/new-year.html

thinkexist.com/quotations/New_Year/

While at the mall a couple of years ago, my then four year old nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom, “Where’s the line to see Jesus?”

My sister mentioned this to my dad, who immediately became inspired and jotted words down to a song in just a few minutes. After putting music to the words, and doing a quick recording at home, he received a great response from friends. He sent the song off to Nashville without much response, except for a Christian songwriter who suggested adding a bridge at the end of the first chorus.

My dad then asked if I wanted to record the song to see what we could do with it. I listened to the song, made a few changes to the words to make it flow better, and we headed to Shock City Studios.

It was at the studio where Chris, owner and producer, rewrote the 2nd verse and part of the chorus… With goosebumps and emotions high, we were all hopeful and felt like we had something special. The demo was recorded in just under 2 hours and sent off again to Nashville… still no response.

Then 2 weeks before Christmas last year, my cousins Greg and Robbie decided to do a video to see what we could accomplish on YouTube. The first day we had 3000 hits and it soared from there. We received e-mails, phone calls, Facebook messages from people all over asking for the music, CD’s, itunes, anything… We had nothing.

After a couple of meetings with Chris following the amazing response, we got serious. We headed back into the studio this past spring… and here we are today, loving that thousands upon thousands of Christians have come together remembering the true meaning of Christmas. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults cannot understand. Hopefully Spencer’s observation will cause people all over the reflect on the love of Jesus, and that one day we will all stand in line to see Him. We are most thankful to our Heavenly Father to have this chance to share our music with you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE.

Hear the song and watch the video at YouTube.

—
More Christmas Videos

Digital Story of the Nativity

Christmas in a Nutshell

Christmas Spirit (The Right Way)

Let’s Rethink Christmas

Tragedy struck the home of America’s most popular poet. On July 9, 1861, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s wife, Fanny, was near an open window sealing locks of her daughter’s hair in a packet, using hot sealing wax. It was never known whether a spark from a match or the sealing wax was the cause, but suddenly her dress caught fire and engulfed her with flames. Her husband, sleeping in the next room, was awakened by her screams. He desperately tried to put out the fire and save his wife. He was severely burned on his face and hands.

She, tragically burned, slipped into a coma the next day and died. [Longfellow's] grievous burns would not even allow him to attend her funeral. He seemed to lock the anguish within his soul. Because he continued to work at his craft, only his family knew of his personal suffering. They could see it in his eyes and observe his long periods of silence. His white beard, so identified with him, was one of the results of the tragedy – the burn scars on his face made shaving almost impossible.

Although a legend in his own time, he still needed the peace that God gives to His children. On Christmas Day, three years following the horrible accident – at age 57 – he sat down to try to capture, if possible, the joys of the season.

As he came to the third stanza he was stopped by the thought of the condition of his beloved country. The Civil War was in full swing. The Battle of Gettysburg was not long past. Days looked dark, and he probably asked himself the question, “How can I write about ‘peace on earth, good will to men’ in this war-torn country, where brother fights against brother and father against son?” But he kept writing – and what did he write?

“And in despair I bowed my head:
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said,
‘For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men!”

It seems as if he could have been writing for our kind of a day. Then as all of us should do, he turned his thoughts to the One who solves all problems – the One who can give true and perfect peace, and continued writing:

“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Just as that Christmas in 1864 was made better for Longfellow, may we experience a Christmas that will be the greatest ever. May we actually find the peace that Longfellow wrote about in the carol – true peace with God, for this is one of His greatest gifts to us.

Read the full article at the source:
www.inspire21.com/stories/holidaystories/AGiftofPeaceandHope

“And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 (NIV)”

It’s here! It’s finally here! Christmas is finally here! I just love Christmas, don’t you? What do you like best about Christmas? Is it the Christmas tree with its blinking lights? Maybe it’s the beautiful music or the delicious Christmas goodies. Perhaps it’s Christmas dinner with turkey and dressing and all of the trimmings. For some it might be all of the parties or visiting with family and friends. For many people the best thing about Christmas is the presents — both the ones we give and the ones we receive. Especially the ones we receive!

Hmmm… Can you think of anything I have left out? Oh yes! It’s someone’s birthday, isn’t it? Whose birthday is it? That’s right! It is Jesus’ birthday. You know, sometimes we get so caught up in all of the decorations, lights, parties, and presents that we miss the real Christmas.

That reminds me of a story I heard about a little boy who had always wanted to go to a circus. One day he was walking down the street when he saw a poster in a store window. The poster said that a circus was coming to town and that a ticket to the circus cost one dollar. The boy ran home and asked his daddy if he would give him a dollar to go to the circus on Saturday.

His daddy told him that if he would work hard and get all of his chores done, he would give him a dollar to go to the circus. Saturday morning came and the boy got up early and did all of his chores.

“I have all of my chores done,” the boy told his dad.

The boy’s father gave him a dollar and the boy headed into town filled with excitement about seeing wild animals, trapeze artists, and all of the things that come with a circus. Since he arrived in town so early, he was on the front row when the circus parade started down the main street of town. The boy was thrilled when the animals and other circus acts paraded by.

At the end of the parade came the clowns and following the clowns was the ringmaster. When the ringmaster passed by where he was standing, the boy ran out into the street, took his folded dollar bill from his pocket, and handed it to the ringmaster.

“Thanks, mister,” said the boy, “that was a great circus.” Then he turned around and walked home. He never knew what he had missed. He thought he had been to the circus, but he had only been to the parade.

If we are not careful, we can be like that little boy. We can get so caught up in the celebration, the decorations, and the gifts that we miss the real Christmas — the birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dear Jesus, it is your birthday. We pray that we won’t get so caught up in the celebration that we miss the real Christmas. Amen.

Lesson Learned: Don’t mistake all the tinsel and lights for the real meaning of Christmas.

Copyright © 2001-11 Sermons4Kids: Used with Permission.
Found here: www.Sermons4Kids.com/dont_miss_christmas.htm

I Need A Silent Night
by Amy Grant

I’ve made the same mistake before
Too many malls, too many stores
December traffic, Christmas rush
It breaks me till I push and shove

Children are crying while mothers are trying
To photograph Santa and sleigh
The shopping and buying and standing forever in line
What can I say?

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

December comes then disappears
Faster and faster every year
Did my own mother keep this pace
Or was the world a different place?

Where people stayed home wishing for snow
Watching three channels on their TV
Look at us now rushing around
Trying to buy Christmas peace

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

What was it like back there in Bethlehem
With peace on earth, good will toward men?

[spoken]
Every shepherd’s out in the field
Keeping watch over their clock by night
And the glory of the Lord shone around them
And they were so afraid

And the angels said fear not for behold
I bring you good news of a great joy that shall be for all people
For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord
And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace
[/spoken]

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night
To end this crazy day with a silent night

(Hear the song and see the lyrics at YouTube. The lyrics above were found here.)

In a never-ending effort to attract the unchurched, some churches have considered translating their unfamiliar terminology into familiar football phrases:

BLITZ: The strategic play that takes place two seconds after every benediction.

BLOCKING: Talking endlessly to the pastor at the church door and keeping everyone else from exiting.

COACH: The children’s Christmas program director.

ASSISTANT COACH: Every mother who has a kid in the children’s Christmas program.

COMMERCIAL: Announcements.

DRAFT CHOICE: The decision to sit close to an air conditioning vent.

DRAW PLAY: What many children (and not a few adults) do with their bulletins during the service.

END ZONE: The pews.

EXTRA POINT: What you receive when you tell the preacher his sermon was too short.

FIRST QUARTER: What most people put into the Sunday school offering so it looks like they are giving.

FOURTH QUARTER: The amount that makes up the $1 most people put into the Sunday school offering when under peer pressure to give more.

HAIL MARY: Desperate move made by ushers in a last-ditch attempt to get people to put something in the plate.

HALFTIME: Usually during the offertory when at least 14 people decide they need to use the restroom.

HOLDING: Passing on the offering place without putting in a cent.

ILLEGAL CONTACT: What gets some church leaders into trouble and out of the ministry.

ILLEGAL MOTION: Leaving before the benediction.

INTERFERENCE: Talking during the organ prelude.

OFFSIDES: When an orchestra member accidentally walks into the choir room (severe penalty incurred).

PASS INTERFERENCE:
1. Single male usher spots single woman in audience.
2. A parent moving between two teens in the pew to halt the flow of notes back and forth during the sermon.

QUARTERBACK SNEAK:
1. How the pastor gets from the pulpit to the rear door during the benediction.
2. Sunday school teachers entering the building five minutes after classes began.

RAIN DELAY: Baptism

RED DOG: Common strategy performed each Sunday by those who “own” their own pew.

SUDDEN DEATH: The penalty to the pastor who preaches more than twenty minutes.

TACKLE:
1. What takes place to the only eligible bachelor at the 35-and-over singles enrichment retreat.
2. Asking that “new couple” to sing in the choir, work in the nursery, serve on a committee, join a Bible study, and teach the middle-schoolers before they get away.

PASS: When the new couple says no.

TIME-OUT: Refreshment time in the Fellowship Hall.

TWO-MINUTE WARNING: The pastor’s wife looking at her watch in full view of the pastor.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT: Usually takes place at a committee meeting to decide on the color of carpet or some other thing.