This is the season we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. As believers, we need to keep it about that. The actual gifts and the act of giving are fun and okay as long as we recognize the greatest gift ever given to mankind: Jesus the Savior. I’ve noticed that when I go to stores that people are saying “Happy Holidays” more often instead of “Merry Christmas.” The national holiday that we celebrate is called CHRISTMAS and I believe the reason for some of this is that Christians don’t stand up. We have been taught for too long that being passive and uninvolved is somehow being Godly or being a Christian. It is wrong teaching and very misguided. It’s easier to go along to get along, but that’s not what we are called to do. This Christmas Season I hope we find ourselves in a place where we are doing that. When you go to the stores, I hope you keep it about Christmas. Let’s make sure we greet people with “Merry Christmas” and be proud to celebrate the One who has made a difference in our lives: Jesus.

Just a Thought,
PSS
Legacychurch.com

Have you ever given any thought about the direction our country is headed? The more we lean towards socialism, the less we, the people that make this great nation, honor God. You can’t have two Gods. You will love and honor one and despise the other. You can’t serve and depend on God, and something else. Our dependency is supposed to be on God and no one else. In socialism, the people depend on the government for everything and the government in turn, supplies what you need.

Norman Mattoon Thomas, a United States presidential candidate, representing the socialist party had this to say: “The American People will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without knowing how it happened.” He goes on to say, “I no longer need to run as a presidential candidate for the socialist party. The Democratic party has adopted our platform.” He said this in a speech in 1944.

This is not a knock on any political party, but this is what happens when we turn away from God’s provision and depend on the government to supply all of our needs. Our spiritual alarm clock sounds off three times in the New Testament: Romans 13:11; I Corinthians 15:34 and Ephesians 5:14. We need to wake up from our slumber. Christians are the most persecuted people in America. There are those who say they believe in God, but if you examine their life, their beliefs don’t influence every aspect of their lives, just a few. It is high time that the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ rises up and pledges our allegiance to God and His Word and declare our freedoms come from God and no one else!

Just a Thought,
PSS
Legacychurch.com

Forgiveness is an action, not an emotion or feeling. It is vitally important for our spiritual, emotional, physical and mental health. Forgiveness is not earned; it is given, even though some people don’t deserve it. Someone once said it like this: “Forgiveness is a gift that you give yourself.” Webster’s defines it like so: “Allowing room for error or weakness.” We’ve all made mistakes, messed up, and hurt someone’s feelings, whether intentional or not. All of us were in need of forgiveness at one time or another. To be unwilling to forgive yourself or someone else is why some folks are stuck in a cycle. Unforgiveness has been linked to mental disorders, and emotional problems, and can be the source of blockage in your life. Some may say, “Nothing ever changes or works out for me.” It is so destructive to us in so many ways that we need to learn to do ourselves a favor and be quick to forgive and not carry an offense. Forgiving is for us, not for the one who committed the offense. It will release you, cleanse you, and allow you to move forward.

John Tollach once wrote, “When you walk in unforgiveness towards someone, it is like leaving the spiritual thermostat of your life in their room. Your feelings, comfort, circumstances and ultimate destiny are under their control. When you forgive them, you take that thermostat back and you now have the power to determine all of those things through God’s Word.”

Choose to forgive regardless of how you feel.

Just a Thought,
PSS
Legacychurch.com

What do you think our greatest need is? Is it more money, wealth, prosperity, ensuring the needs of the poor are met, health or acquiring more “stuff”? I believe Jesus said it best when He was hanging from the cross: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Jesus didn’t pray for the prosperity of the nations or their health or for the poor. He prayed for the greatest need we have: forgiveness. We need forgiveness and to forgive others as well as ourselves.

Forgiveness means to set free; to let go; to release and to liberate completely; to cancel a debt. I think you get the picture. This is what Jesus did for all who call on His name and follow Him and pursue His ways. At that time, the Romans were murdering Jesus and He says to forgive them. Think about it. Forgive those who are murdering me for no reason. To me, that’s huge. He is saying that no matter what you’ve done in your life, if you ask Him, He’ll forgive you. That’s great news. God says our greatest need is to be forgiven.

Just a Thought,
PSS
Legacychurch.com

Resentment is an attitude in which we feel or express annoyance or ill-will at what others have. It stems from believing we’ve been done wrong or don’t have what we think we deserve. It destroys us from the inside out. Another term for it is offense, or to be offended. Many people today are resentful or offended with their lot in life. They’re upset about what they don’t have, so they feel wronged in life and feel cheated. People like this will blame others for why they don’t have much.

You can see it today in our country. People believe in the concept of the people of who have to pay their fair share. They already pay taxes, but for some, that’s not enough. How sad that people are being taught to resent what others have and what they don’t. By working hard, and doing what God’s Word says, we can reverse this attitude in our lives. When we look to God, and not the government or someone else for our needs, our needs will be met. Resentment destroys our lives, and brings no peace or joy. Let’s start being thankful for what we have and let go of this destructive feeling of resentment.

Just a Thought,
PSS
Legacychurch.com