Puppies and Winnie the Pooh

At church this morning, the preacher back home gave a sermon on the birth of Jesus.  How Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays, if not the most. 

He proceeded to give many examples that made you think.  On how to appreciate the simple things that Christ give us, whether it's health or joy.  As well as Salvation, I mind you.

The preacher told a story, how a boy had $2.37.  He came into a pet shop where he asked to see the puppies on sale.  The manager let the boy look at the five puppies, each of them $30 a piece.  However, there was a puppy lagging behind the rest- a sixth.  The boy looked at the puppy and said, "I want that one!"

The manager looked at the boy and said, "Why do you want that one?  It's lame! It's leg is messed up.  I'll let you have it for free!" 

The boy looked at the manager and said, "I don't want it for free!  He's worth as much as the rest! I'll give you all the change in my pocket ($2.37) and pay you 50 cents a month until he's paid off!"

The manager looked at him like how he was crazy.  The manager said, "Well, don't you want one that you can run with?  This dog is worthless and slow."

The boy replied, "Well I can't run that well either!"  The boy showed the manager his leg underneath his jeans, his leg was in a metal brace.  "That puppy deserves a home and someone to understand him.  Someone who he can relate with."

This story was in a Chicken Noodle for the Soul book, according to my preacher.

God's and Jesus' love for us is like the little boy.  Why would they be interested in sinful humans when they already have thousands of Angel's to glorify them?

God loved us so much, he sent his only begotten son to save us, to buy us.  Just not for $2.37, but with Jesus' life.   God is with us everyday at every moment, he relates with us and feels our pain, our joy, our restlessness, and when we are weak and lame.

Even though our sin has made our relationship with God impaired, He still sees the value in us.

The next example my preacher demonstrated is how Christians relate to the show "Winnie the Pooh."

Some Christians act like Eeyore, they view the negatives in life and see next day as worse.  They see the life God provided them a waste and without purpose. 

Some Christians are like Piglet, where they are afraid of everything.  They never trust God and become overwhelmed by everything that comes in sight.

Then there are Christians who are like Winnie the Pooh.  They are content with what they have, and are always looking for the sweet things (honey) in life.

Also, there are Christians like rabbit.  They are don't want to form a relationship with God, but do everything on their own and garden carrots.

Yet, there are Christians like Tigger.  They bounce around with energy and bring joy to everyone! 

I consider myself to be the most like Piglet. I worry about everything and easily become overwhelmed by everything that comes my way.


What this has to do with the birth of Christ is not many Christians are like Tigger.

Many Christians are afraid to speak with high energy and enthusiasm about the birth of Christ, including myself at times.

What makes Christmas a truly joyous holiday, in celebrating the birth of Christ, is that not only is it the beginning of new hope.  But, God profiled his promise in the Old Testament!

In Isaiah 6:9, the Bible states:

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His Kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this"

According to the Pastor at the church I attend at ECU, the New Testament compliments and adds to the Old Testament, not taking away from.

This goes to show, God always keeps His promises.  The Birth of Jesus is a celebration of a Profiled Promise and Hope!

Have a Merry Christmas!

<3 KM

God, Santa, and the Christmas Spirit

This year for Christmas, I made all the presents for my close friends.  I make gifts not just because I am a poor college student, but also because I feel these gifts are more special.  Not that buying gifts is wrong, I love receiving purchased clothes and gift cards (hint-hint Mom and Dad).

But, I give hand-crafted gifts because receiving a custom, unique gift that is one of a kind in the entire galaxy has a special effect on people.

Giving gifts and seeing how genuinely appreciative a person is, is rewarding itself.  In our culture, giving gifts is a custom that we do out of love and compassion.  We give gifts to make others happy.

Yet, how many times do we fail to acknowledge every day the best gift ever created by the Lord Himself?

I know that I personally fail to appreciate the ultimate gift every day; I commonly take for granted the Salvation promised through the Crucifixion of the Lord’s only Begotten Son.

We give Gifts in Honor of the greatest gift the World has ever received!

John 3:16 States: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (NIV).”

The gift of Christ was given to us out of the Lord’s Love and His Compassion.  We know that we do not deserve such a wonderful gift.  Heck, if God was Santa- we would probably all receive coal for being on the Naughty List, all because of the sin we commit unintentionally on a daily basis.

However, God is not Santa. 

He is the God that loves us unconditionally, even though we don’t deserve it.

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:9-12

His Love surpasses all things.  He blessed us with His son because he wants us to be happy, and to spend all eternity with Him rejoicing in His Righteousness.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (NIV).”- Romans 21: 4

True, we can never love as much as God, or give the best gift ever (since it was already given).  

Gifts are more than physical items, gifts are small things of actions and spoken words through Love!

But, I challenge you- next time you give a gift, ponder the amount of joy the person will receive.

Next time you compliment someone, how much joy will they receive…will it come off as negative criticism?

When you refer to someone in a conversation, are you speaking harmful things that can cause emotional pain?

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

-John 3:18