I love getting these little clips I get from Randsom Heart Ministries, This is a snip-it from the book "Sacred Romance". With all the hurts I've endured over the past few years, this spoke volumes to my heart. I wanted to pass it along hoping it will encourage all of you as well.




I Wonder What God Is Up To?



Several years ago I went through one of the most painful trials of my professional life. The story involves a colleague whom I will call Dave, a man I hired and with whom I had labored several years in ministry. We spent many hours on the road together, speaking to churches about the Christian life. A point came when I needed to confront Dave about some issues in his life that were hurting his own ministry and the larger purposes of our team. In all fairness, I think I handled it poorly, but I was totally unprepared for what happened next. Dave turned on me with the ferocity of a cornered animal. He fabricated lies and spread rumors in an attempt to destroy my career. His actions were so out of proportion it was hard to believe we were reacting to the same events. He went to the head pastor in an attempt to have me dismissed. The attempt failed, but our friendship was lost, and several others were hurt in the process.

In the midst of the crisis, I spoke with Brent one afternoon about the turn of events and the awful pain of betrayal. He said, "I wonder what God is up to in all this?"

"God?" I said. "What's he got to do with it?" My practical agnosticism was revealed. I was caught up in the sociodrama, the smaller story, completely blind to the true story at that point in my life. Brent's question arrested my attention and brought it to a higher level. In fact, the process of our sanctification, our journey, rests entirely on our ability to see life from the basis of that question. As the poet William Blake warned long ago, "Life's dim window of the soul distorts the heavens from pole to pole, and leads you to believe a lie, when you see with, not through, the eye."

(The Sacred Romance , 146–47)

Letter from Jesus about Christmas --

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset
that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've
forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and
that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My
birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I
do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can
probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been
blessed with children of your own.. I don't care what you call the
day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE
ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you
that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My
birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put
in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My
followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the
town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling
the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I
who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree.
Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one
in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each
of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15:1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My
birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:



1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the
way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love
and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and
lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to
know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares
about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the
wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you
write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this
year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you
can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them
the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here.
Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and
forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt
to take their own life this season because they feel so alone
and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is,
try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the
difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in
your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work
there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't
allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you
from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the
store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let
their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a
missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to
those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole
families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree,
but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you
don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to
the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and
they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about
your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't
do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people
know by your actions (rather than your words) that you are one of
mine.


Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself.
Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of
all the rest.

Check out the list above and get to work; time is
short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a
most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:



I LOVE YOU,

JESUS