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PEACE ON EARTH!
Ever since the angels appeared on the hillside with the great news of joy and peace, Christmas has been a time of singing. You've probably sung each of the following Christmas songs below-except that the titles have been changed just to mess with your mind. See if you can figure out the real Titles-the first one, for example, is "Deck the Halls."
1. Embellish the interior passageways
2. Listen, the celestial messengers produce harmonious sound
3. The Christmas preceding all others
4. Move this way, entire assembly of those who are loyal in their belief.
5. Expectation of arrival by mythical, masculine perennial gift giver.
6. The first person nominative plural of a trio of far Eastern heads of state.
7. Small masculine master of percussionistic cylinders.
8. Natal celebration devoid of color, rather albino
9. Jovial yuletide desired for the second person singular or plural by us
10. Nocturnal time span of unbroken. quietness.
The angels sang, "Peace on earth," and Jesus Christ is the Prince of peace (see Isaiah 9:6). He came to bring peace to a world of turmoil. He came to bring peace into your life when things seem to be falling apart. God's brand of peace starts with trusting Christ personally and allowing his peace to rule your life. It spreads to others as his peace transforms your life.
Jesus came to be the great peacemaker too. The peace that Jesus provided-the peace that you can experience today-is the peace of forgiveness and reconciliation, That's what Christmas is all about: God reconciling with his human creation so that you can be friends again with him and others. Spread God's peace. That's a birthday present Jesus will really appreciate.
answers (1). Deck the Halls (2). Hark, the Herald Angels sing (3). The First Noel, (4). O Come, All ye Faithful. (5). Santa Claus is Coming to Town. (6). We Thee Kings. (7). Little Drummer Boy. (8). White Christmas. (9). We Wish you a Merry Christmas. (10), Silent Night.
2011-2012 VLB Theme
Unmovable, Unshakable
"I want You, in my Service!"
"We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth." (3 John 1:8)
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed; for he that biddeth him God speed is a partaker in his evil deeds." (2 John 1:10, 11)
In these two epistles John speaks of two different types of people-those who help the Truth and those who help advance a false doctrine. We need to heed John's advice in the third epistle to receive those who work for the Truth and do our part in spreading the message. In the second he warns us against supporting those who bring anything contrary to the established doctrine lest we be found partakers of his evil deeds,
How can we help the Truth? It certainly does not need assistance in the way we usually view the word help. We help the Truth in doing everything that we can to get its message to the next person. We help it by holding it up for the entire world to see. We help it by keeping it our hearts and living it with everything that is within us. We help the truth in its work when fall in love with it as well. If we cannot do these things then we may be in danger of partaking in the evil deeds of those who fight against the Truth.
Dustin T. Hays
General VLB Coordinator
Life's Greatest Purpose
Sharon Griffin
God created each of us for a purpose and with great detail He planned our existence. Neither you nor I are an accident or mistake. God has a plan for each life and never is it too late for His plan to be fulfilled. The ultimate reason for the creation of man is to bring glory to God.
"For of him and through him and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:36).
Creation glorifies God and reflects Him in some way--the change of the seasons; the waves of the oceans; the sunrise and sunset; the majestic mountains. God's glory can be seen because everything was created by Him for this reason.
Man was created in the image of God to honor Him and to bring Him glory. The focus of Heaven is in glorifying God--they never rest day or night from saying, "Holy, holy holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" (Rev. 4:8). It is impossible to define or to describe the true glory God deserves from mankind. A glimpse into the heavenly realm recorded in Revelation goes beyond just singing. When we purpose, above all else, to live our life glorifying God, our focus changes and suddenly things of this earth lose importance. Goals change, choices in life change, our daily routine changes. Why? Our purpose for living has changed.
A life which glorifies God brings pleasure to Him. We exist for this reason--to please God.
"Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honor and power: for thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev. 4:11).
There is no greater purpose for living! In realizing this great truth our lives be transformed to a life giving "...glory, and honour, and thanks to Him who liveth forever and ever.
Penetrating Love
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. 1 John 3:1
One crisp, cold winter morning the temperature outside was in the lower teens. The man looked out the window and watched the sun climbing into the sky. Hmmm, somethings strange. He saw water dripping off of the roof, but it's way below freezing he thought. How is this possible? He was amazed at the power of the sun's rays. They originate some 93 million miles away but were still able to melt the frost despite the cold temperatures.
How this is like God's love! We live in a world that is spiritually cold and dark-a vast area of frozen souls trying to survive in perpetual frost. Were it not for the penetrating rays of God's love shining down through the ages, all men would remain a frozen mass of lifeless existence. How is it that even in the midst of a freezing environment our souls can radiate the warmth of God's touch and we can experience the haven of warmth He created for us?
No matter how cold the wind blows, true fellowship with God will warm the soul. When we fellowship with others were are able to soak up the life giving rays and collectively gather warmth. God has given each of us the ability to warm the hearts of His people. As we allow God's love to flow through us and warm the hearts of others, we can receive His penetrating rays into our own hearts.
God desires vessels through which he can flow. souls that come into contact with such a radiant heart will feel the circles of warmth. Cords that lie broken will vibrate once more.
Have you allowed God's love to penetrate your life? Are other people experiencing His touch through you? Open your heart and let His love radiate into your innermost being. Let the cold winds blow while you bask and soak up the warmth.
When God reigns, love reigns.
