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Tomorrow will be Christmas Eve. It is celebrated in nearly every nation around the world. Today people are concerned about using the terms, "Merry Christmas" thinking it may be politically incorrect and offend those who are not Christian and yet we fail to realize that we celebrate Thanksgiving but don't find it offensive to those who are not native to this country, nor do we find Memorial Day or Veteran's Day celebrations, parades and holidays to be offensive to those who are pacifists. Why then Christmas? Maybe because it has such profound effect on many people as they get caught up in the giving spirit, celebrating spirit, grateful spirit, family spirit.
It is said, "all hearts come home on Christmas." but those who are Christian realize this world is really only a temporary home. To those who aren't believers I would suggest one activity to really do in the new year.
MAY YOU DISCOVER WHO YOUR DADDY REALLY IS.
Not your worldly father but your spiritual Father and if you don't believe you have one then I would ask you to research broadly and discover WHY you believe there is no God, no spiritual Father who has deliberately paved a path to salvation, no reason to believe in something bigger than yourself. I encourage you to find proof by resurrecting as much key evidence as you can. After all, if you are not convinced, you can at least be specific about the reasons you remain without faith.
You see, Christians realize one thing. This series of stories and letters which is over 2,000 years old and has been translated into every language has had a profound impact on the world. It is the most read book in all the world. If it had simply been a convenient fairy tale there would be no major interest in continuing to translate it for others and few would still be using the verses and stories as practical advice for today. Something that is not real or full of holes is generally treated as a myth and read as a tall tale or fairy tale. Today it is the basis for numerous religions, is used to swear in political figures or promise truthful testimony in trial and is still the most quoted book of all time. Do you know any quotes that have sustained this type of longevity from Cinderella or Rapunzel...hardly!
Image via WikipediaSo read or look into the things you have major questions about. Go to groups where you can challenge Christians to explain why they believe. Be pro-active in your efforts to prove yourself correct, prove there is no Divine Being, no heaven and no God and perhaps if you really go through with the effort, in your search you might discover something you little suspected...who your daddy really is.
So let's review and wrap up the 12 MAYS of CHRISTMAS and get on with the eggnog and the caroling and the reindeer games, but not forget this did not transpire because a glass slipper did not fit or a nose grew too long or because someone's avatar was in trouble...We celebrate Christmas because over 2000 years ago a miracle happened and all because one little baby arrived.
1st May of Christmas:MAY YOU DREAM BIG AND BELIEVE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD
2nd May of Christmas: MAY YOU FORGIVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS AND NEVER LOOK BACK
WITH REGRET
3rd May of Christmas: MAY YOU FIND YOUR JOY AND GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE
BLESSED BY ITS PRESENCE ALL AROUND YOU
4th May of Christmas: MAY YOU ALWAYS REALIZE YOUR RICHES
5th May of Christmas: MAY YOU TAKE 5 GOLDEN MINUTES A DAY JUST TO BE
6th May of Christmas: MAY YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH AUTHENTICITY AND BE COMFORTABLE
WITH WHAT YOU CHOOSE
7th May of Christmas: MAY YOU USE THE NEXT YEAR TO SATISFY YOUR SOUL HUNGER
8th May of Christmas: MAY YOU BE THE SUNSHINE IN SOMEONE'S STORM
9th May of Christmas: MAY YOU GIVE UP WHAT IS NOT WORTH SAVING AND GIVE OVER TO GOD WHAT YOU REALLY HOPE TO ACHIEVE. MAY YOU LET GO OF WHATEVER YOU NEED TO LET GO OF IN ORDER TO HANG ON TOWHAT REALLY MATTERS
10th May of Christmas: MAY YOU DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
11th May of Christmas: MAY YOU DARE TO SHARE
12th May of Christmas: MAY YOU DISCOVER WHO YOUR DADDY REALLY IS...ALWAYS AND
FOREVER.
and may you and your loved ones find this Christmas more special because you just MAY be the ONE who can make a difference today, tomorrow and for many more Christmas's to come.
Live a Great Mission...AMEN
Your 11th May of Christmas is simple. Dare to Share. If you want to give yourself one really meaningful opportunity, open up the possibility of sharing one of your talents or one of your interests for the benefit of someone else.
Volunteer you time, resources, energy, money and/or creativity for use where it can be the most good. Sure, maybe volunteering at a homeless shelter is not for you or maybe you don't want to get involved in certain issues. But there has to be at least ONE cause you feel passionate enough about to offer to help in some way.
If you can't roll up your sleeves and get involved in person, maybe you can helping by contacting others, stuffing envelopes, packing canned goods, shopping for specific needs, collecting necessary staples. ANY way you can be helpful without cost to an organization is significantly appreciated.
Image via WikipediaI know people who put on puppet plays for children in hospitals regularly and others who collect toys, pet food, blankets and even gift cards to pet stores for animal shelters. A good friend of mine volunteers to help mentor single mothers at an outreach program. A couple I know unload supplies and stock the shelves at a food bank weekly. Volunteering is a privilege and sharing your gifts with others blesses both of you.
Maybe you have always said that someday you wanted to help. Abandon the someday myth because no one knows if they will get another someday. Decide today what you will do it and commit to sharing your talents and excess with someone who would treasure that gift. Hospice programs and nursing homes are always looking for volunteers. Two women in Midwest wanted to make life easier for a man trying to juggle holding down jobs and raising his children while ministering to a love one with a critical illness. They began volunteering to clean his home once weekly. After just three months, more women volunteered and more houses were added and within a year there were over 40 volunteers and 26 clients whose homes were cleaned without charge by people who just saw a need and stepped up to help.
Image by Getty Images via @daylife
What you have to offer might be the only gift someone really wants. Share your resources and you will discover the amazing impact it will make. Someone or something somewhere is hoping you will make the commitment today to not let another year slip by without becoming part of a movement to give some time or energy to a cause you support. Last year I listed several volunteer opportunities and decided to once again list some because everyone can use another's gifts in some way.
Pick up the phone or email today and MAY YOU DARE TO SHARE. I promise a year from now, you will wish you had done it sooner.
Habitat for Humanity
Nursing Homes
Big Brother Big Sister Association
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
MEALS ON WHEELS
HUMANE SOCIETY
PRISON MINISTRIES
and a LIST OF A DOZEN MORE UNIQUE PLACES TO DARE TO SHARE
from this time last year. You see there will always be places and causes that desperately could use what you have. It's up to you to decide no more some day...today, MAY YOU DARE TO SHARE.
"then they will ask, Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in,or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you?" and the King replied, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."Matthew 25:35-40
Image via Wikipedia
Image by limevelyn via FlickrEveryone has "those days". Days when it looks like the light at the end of the tunnel is permanently out;
days when it appears that you are spinning your wheels attempting to do your best and falling farther behind; days when you wonder if things are going from bad to worse; days when there seems little to be sure of and much to doubt.
It can seem like the world is spinning out of control and you become discouraged looking at the future, but that is just when those horrific statistics of what life is like for the other half of the world make us realize how we really need to be grateful and appreciative of being so favored;so blessed.
Sure, some people have to work two or three jobs to stay afloat, but even when that happens, we are still much farther ahead of those people whose yearly income is still less than what we might bring home in a week. We may have to pay for our health care but we don't have to know our children will die from lack of ever having a doctor within a hundred miles of our village or medicine available to fight off a disease.
We grumble about the high cost of gasoline all the while forgetting that some people will never know the luxury of transportation. We can become frustrated with our government but still have the freedom to complain, attend religious services, and decide what career we want to pursue without fear of serious repercussion or bodily harm. We complain about the high costs of education but forget that somewhere there are countless youngsters who will never learn to read or see the inside of a school. We become anxious when the cost of living goes up and our dollar much stretch even farther but never consider clean drinking water and food in our cupboards as treasures others only dream about.
Image via Wikipedia
It is so easy to become so accustomed to comforts that we simply expect them. We feel entitled to the "good life" all the while insisting that things need to "get better". When you have so much, it's hard to even envision anything less. Most of the ordinary everyday blessings we just wake up and find at our fingertips from indoor plumbing to cell phones, instant movies to designer coffee, microwaves to computers are stuff in dreams to people who live half way around the world.
The next time you have "one of those days", you can honestly know it really COULD be worse. When the TV is down or the washing machine breaks, at least you have a TV or washing machine. The same when the car needs a new transmission or you need a roof repaired. If we could just stop taking everything for granted we might recognize we are more blessed than most.
There is a saying I love,..."It's not having what you want that matters, it's wanting what you have." I so often forget how very true that is. The more you have the more you tend to want and the vicious cycle of taking the "good life" for granted is passed on from generation to generation.
It's just a few days before Christmas, and often we all need to realize how truly blessed, truly fortunate and truly wealthy in many ways we are, probably even on our worst days.
That's when we need to think about the 10th May of Christmas:
MAY YOU DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
We would surely miss all our luxuries and blessings if they were removed, but how often do we actually express gratitude for having them? How often do we think about any of the things we so easily take for granted as incredible blessings instead of entitlements?
People say God doesn't always give you what you deserve, but He gives you what you need. In my case, he has given me so much more than I deserved and I sometimes I still complain and continue to hold out my hand and ask for more. Sometime I forget about an attitude of gratitude and instead expect the rest and the best.
How about you? Have you ever wondered how differently your life might be without a home, car, food, utilities, a job, clothes, health care, education, freedom?
It does make you want to close your hand and wonder how to begin to even say "thank-you"
Image via WikipediaThanks be to God for his indescribable gift(s)! 2 Corinthians 9:15
Image via WikipediaSo read or look into the things you have major questions about. Go to groups where you can challenge Christians to explain why they believe. Be pro-active in your efforts to prove yourself correct, prove there is no Divine Being, no heaven and no God and perhaps if you really go through with the effort, in your search you might discover something you little suspected...who your daddy really is.
