New Life For The Nations

 A DIFFERENT SHORT CHRISTMAS STORY

Ian came home from work late in the week before Christmas, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the front door. ” Daddy, may I ask you a question?” said Jack.        (Continued)

“Yep, sure, what is it?” replied Ian rather brusquely.

“Daddy, how much to you earn in an hour?”

“That’s none of your business!   Why do you ask such a thing?”  Ian replied angrily.

“I just need to know. Please tell me. How much do you make an hour?” Jack pleaded.

“If you must know, Jack,I make $12:50 an hour,” answered his dad.

“Daddy, may I please borrow $10:00?”

Ian became furious.  “If the only reason you asked is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy for Christmas or some other nonsense, then you march yourself  straight to your room and go to bed.  Think abut why your are being so selfish.  I don’t work hard every day for such childish frivalities.”  Jack quietly went to his room and shut the door.

 Ian sat down and started thinking about Jack’s questions. After about an hour or so, Ian had calmed down and started to think.  Maybe Jack really needed that $10.00.  He really didn’t ask for money very often.  The man went to the door of his son’s room and asked, “Are you asleep, son? I’ve been thinking maybe I was too hard on you earlier.  Here’s the $10 you asked for.”

Jack sat up. “Oh, thank you, Daddy,”  he cried.  Then reaching under his pillow he pulled out some more money. The father started to get angry when he saw his son already had money.  The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father with tears in his eyes.

“Why did you want more money?” his daddy asked. 

“Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do.  Daddy, I have $12:50 now.  Can I buy an hour of your time?   Please come home early on Christmas Eve so I can have dinner with you.”  Ian was crushed.  He put his arms around his little son, and begged his forgiveness.

In the year 2012 are you going to adjust your priorities?  My priorities will be:  God, family, work.  My personal relationship with God is first.  I plan to pursue God with everything I have.    Time with my family will be second.  Time will slip by and I will not miss what is going on with my children and grandchildren.   Then I will dedicate myself to do my work as unto the Lord with the best of my abilities.

Don’t let 2012 slip by.  “Redeem the time for the days are evil.”  Eph. 5:16

IMMANUEL–“GOD WITH US”

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.” which is translated, “God with us.”

I grew up in a church which preached a great message of salvation and right living. At the age of 12 I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I knew that if something happened and I died, I would go to heaven and be with God.

It wasn’t until years later that I came to understand what being “saved” really meant. “Going to heaven” was only one aspect of this great salvation. I began to learn that being a Christian placed me in a special relationship with God. Salvation was not just to “keep me from going to hell.” God really wanted to fellowship with me everyday and be a part of every area of my life. I learned to be conscious of His presence in my life all day and to talk to Him. How comforting it is to know that because of Christmas we have Immanuel–God with us in Christ Jesus.