e-mail 12/4/6

Yesterday at Worship, we had an awesome service in the morning and also in the evening service. Those who missed either service missed a blessing from God. There was an opportunity for "Testimony Time". This really brought back memories for me.

I remember being a part of Southside Baptist Church in Hazlehurst, Ga. as a young teenager and my pastor, Bro. Kelly Runyan gave us lots of opportunities for giving our testimony. Sometimes it was planned as part of the Worship service and sometimes it was spontaneous and every time someone joined the church they gave their testimony before the church about when they got saved. I am not sure that is a bad thing because sometimes people come into the fellowship and we don't know what they believe or if they have had an experience with God. It is no wonder that I learned as a youth in Church Training (now Discipleship Training), that I am not totally uncomfortable speaking before a group, nor am I intimidated to share my witness, because as a child I was taught that this is my responsibility to share Jesus and it was made so simple for us.

Our pastor yesterday also reminded us of the importance of stretching our faith (enlarging our borders) and let's see what God will do in our lives. He spoke of our Mission Offering and the need is great for our missionaries to stay on the field where they are called to work. If it were not for our mission offering, our missionaries would have to spend their time home on furlough traveling from church to church trying to get support. God has given us a better way.

The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is taken once a year and it is taken in December because Lottie died on Christmas Eve 1921 in the harbor of Kobe, Japan. They were trying to bring her home. She had become weak from starvation because there was no food for the Chinese that she loved and had ministered to for many years. She gave the last of her food to those she could and she paid the ultimate price.

Earlier in her life, Miss Moon had been engaged to a brilliant professor and they had considered sharing their lives in missions in Japan. After the Civil War, he studied and was exposed to the Darwin theory and to new ideas that she could not accept. Later while she was in China, Miss Moon decided that she should not be married to someone who accepted the idea of evolution. This was another time that she made personal sacrifices because she once said "Surely there can be no deeper joy than that of saving souls."

A young woman who was a student at Toccoa Falls College was asked, "why do you want to be a missionary? Her response was, "I have personally committed my life to invest in those things that matter in the scope of eternity and to care about surrendering myself wholly to Jesus and allow Him to use me to impact the kingdom of heaven. I have an unquenchable burning in my heart to share the love of Christ with people that will enter a Christ-less eternity should they never hear the Good News I possess. How could I be so selfish as to keep this wonderful news inside?"

As Christians, sharing Jesus should be as simple as breathing. It is not necessary to memorize a lot of Scripture - I have trouble remembering where the verses are found and often cannot quote the scripture address but, studying God's word for 50 years has given me an insight into who God is and I know what He has done for me. Every person we come in contact with every day should know beyond any doubt, that we are a Christian and we do not have to bully somebody into listening to us. Our attitude should reflect the attitude and mind of Christ. We can't get upset about everything and show anger; it defeats all the good that we might have done. Be kind, help others, smile more and radiate with the love of Jesus.

Say "God Bless You", "Merry Christmas". Ask if you need to if they celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ of just the holidays. This means doing an attitude check! And change if change is needed.

And finally, one thing I may mention several times during this month is this one thing. The world cannot understand why Christmas is so important to the Christian - to the world, it is a pagan holiday. Scripture tells us that their minds are blinded until they know the truth. We can do more good sharing Jesus during this time. We have the truth in us, we should let it out. Let us show Christ to the world during Christmas and not expect the world to do what we refuse to do. Getting angry about "happy holidays" or "holiday trees" means nothing to the world. Helping a person know Jesus so they can spend eternity in Heaven with Him is worth everything and the Christian behaving like Jesus during this time is a great witness. Remember it is our responsibility to...

Share God's Love,

Peggy