THE LITTLE BROWN BOX

A few years ago, we started a Christmas tradition...

One that will continue in our family for many years to come. 

It's Christmas Eve...The tree is lit and decorated.  We gather together in our living room.  Each family member is given a piece of paper and a pen.  On that small piece of paper, we write something that we personally want to give to Jesus.


It could be a dream...something we need His help with...whatever we personally want to give over to Him.  We then put all our papers in this little brown box (in the photo) and put it on the Christmas tree.  It is our gift to Jesus that Christmas.

After a whole year has gone by...we gather ourselves around the tree on Christmas Eve and open up the little brown box.  Most of us usually forget what we had given over to Jesus the previous Christmas.  So it's always exciting when we take out our papers and see what Jesus has done over the last year with the gift we gave to Him.  How He has worked in our lives, how He has grown our character, and how He has loved us in that specific thing we gave to Him.

Did you notice?... This gift to Jesus is not wrapped in fancy paper...It's just the box, as it is.

When we give a gift, we usually wouldn't just give it in the box.  Right?  We want it to look pretty on the outside...all put together.  Nice to look at.

Sometimes we do that with ourselves, don't we?  I know I have at certain times in my life.  We want to look nice to others.  So we wrap ourselves up to give the appearance that we are all put together.  When underneath we're really not.  After all we wouldn't want others to see the box underneath the pretty paper, in its real condition...would we?  We've all been there.

This little brown box represents our family giving to Jesus as we are.  Jesus doesn't need the fancy paper.  He can see through the paper.  What we are giving Him inside that box is from our real selves.  He prefers it that way.

 This Christmas do you know about the gift we are celebrating?

God loved you and me so much that He gave us the best gift!  When He brought this gift into the world it wasn't wrapped in fancy paper with big flashy bows.  It came...if you will... in a little brown box.

This gift was Jesus.

He was born humbly.  In a barn.  Not a fancy place at all.  His mother who bore him was a little girl-13years old.

But this gift was so important that the angels came out of heaven blowing their trumpets and sounding their horns.  They couldn't miss such a joyful and important occasion.

This gift was sent  for you and me to save us... and allow us to have a relationship with God and spend eternity with Him.

This Christmas, look for the little brown box.  Do you see it?  Maybe it will be on your nightstand...or on the kitchen table.  Maybe it will be in your car...or on your desk.  Maybe on your pillow...or on the window sill, as you look from your hospital bed.  Or maybe it will show up in the middle of a fancy party you're at...but you're the only one that can see it.  You move a little closer.  Right there on the tag, stamped in love, there's a name on it.

 Is it YOUR NAME? 

Sure enough...Plain as day

Open it...Receive it.

When your time here on this earth comes to a close this will be the one gift you'll be glad you didn't try to return.

FOR MORE ON THIS GIFT-JESUS: READ MY OWN PERSONAL STORY

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

THE SOLDIER'S COST

                                   

FREEDOM... 

I was traveling on Thanksgiving Day and I heard a Jimi Hendrix song on called, "Freedom".  That word Freedom... kept rolling around in my head. 

Everybody wants freedom.
 
Freedom...to be themselves
Freedom...of speech
Freedom...in religion
Freedom...from sickness
Freedom...from addiction
   
 The list could go on and on...  

But the thought came to me that freedom never comes without a cost.  

If you want to be free from an addiction, you have to suffer the hardships of the withdrawal.  For freedom from slavery and segregation...someone had to pay the cost.  To live in a free country many have paid the cost.

I write today to... you, the Soldier... past or present in service.  You certainly know what it means to pay the cost.  The cost of sacrifice.  The cost of being away from loved ones.  The cost of sleepless nights, haunting thoughts, terror filled dreams.  The cost of losing an appendage to your body.  Or maybe the cost of a life time of suffering emotionally or physically due to what you experience as a soldier.

You are sacrificing and giving the cost of your life.  Scripture says "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

I hope today... that you do not feel forgotten... or feel that your suffering and sacrifice have been in vain.

Whatever you are going through or have gone through as a soldier laying down your life for your loved ones, friends, and country...please know that you are not alone. 

As you have been the one sacrificing and protecting for someone else...There is someone who has done the very same thing for YOU.   One who sacrificed and suffered...was rejected, and under-appreciated.  One who endured many wounds and the wrath of God...all for the purpose of protecting and saving YOUR life.  

Jesus Christ showed the ultimate love and laid down his life for YOU, his friend.

Jesus Christ knows exactly what you feel and has walked in your shoes.

YOU, the soldier, can identify with the work of Christ.  The best part is... now you can be on the receiving end.  As you may have rescued others from the wrath of evil men here on this earth, you can rest knowing that Christ has rescued you from the wrath of God and the evil one and taken your punishment.  The punishment that we all deserve as sinners. Do you believe?

Men and women...Soldiers- past and present...Hear me when I say this:

"The love of Christ has come to YOU today.  
He has NOT forgotten YOU!"

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE 
AND YOUR SACRIFICE!