ONLY 365 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

  One regular year is 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 47 seconds. Because this is rather unfunctional, a normal year has been given 365 days and a leap year 366 days. On Dogpatch leap years February 29th is added.

  With this info in mind, just think, there’s only 365 days until Christmas!

  Do I hear a relieved sigh “It’s over until next year!” from some of you while others think “I wish it were this nice all year.”?

  Though Christmas preparation, anxious or not, has today moved far down the list, it has been replaced with Returns (Estimated $100+ million this year.), Customer Service, bills to be paid, reassembling with this time reading the instructions, and possibly day-after decompression, sadness, or even depression. Then when such business is taken care of, there’s the still with us the nasty national and world scene.

  It’s a good time to remind ourselves of Romans 12:1-3 God-pleasing thinking and action is for every day application:

·         Be careful in our relationship to others. (Mt.7:12; 1Thes.5:11)

·         Do not forget the less fortunate, those suffering adversity. (Mt.7:12; 25:34-46)

·         Marriage is holy and should be treated thusly.

·         We are to be Philippians 4:11 Christians.

·         Life is not about cash and carry. (1Tim.6:10)

·         Fear not. (62 times in Scripture.)

·         God will never leave nor abandon His children. (Deut.32:6; Jos.1:5; 1Chr.28:20; Heb.13:5)

·         His John 1:12 family can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?" (Ps.54:4; Heb.13:6)

·         Remember those who have spoken God's word. Think about their lives. Imitate their faith. (2Tim.2:2, 14)

·         Jesus Christ, The Word, is the same yesterday and today-and forever! (Jn.1:1; Heb.13:8)

·         Know His Word and stand fast upon it. We are not to live willy-nilly silly as though God’s Truth is foreign to us or as a spare tire. (Ps.119; 2Tim.2:14-19)

·         As His John 1:12 children we are different; yet in this world but not to be of this world; accept this and live accordingly. (Phil.3:20)

·         Be thankful in word and deed. (Eph.5:20; Phil.4:6; 1Thes.5:18)

·         As His redeemed people, deciding to follow Him will not always result in pleasant experience this side of heaven. (Heb.11)

·         Christmas as holiday is past. Christ-mas should be every day. (Ps.118:24)

·         His gift is not without serious responsibility. We’re to communicate it in step and speak. (2Tim.2:2)

·         We must think as God’s people, Biblically eternal-wise. (Jn.3:3; 1Cor.2:16)

  “Now may the God of peace, who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good to do his will, accomplishing in us what pleases him through Jesus Christ. To him be glory forever and ever! Amen.” (ISV Heb.13:20-21)

 EBB4