Merry Christmas

Wishing you sparkle wishing you cheer for a bright and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love-- Cassandra Falun

P.S. I will start writing again at about the first of January wish you all the best.

Evangelism

This goes along with my post from yesterday.

• The wise men were surprise guests at Jesus’ house, they weren’t expected at all. They were surprised that they knew who Jesus even was for he was just born, let alone come and worship him. But our God specializes in the unexpected. Celebrities and the homeless, prostitutes and socialites, little old lady’s and tiny children, the cool and the hopelessly out-of-touch – Jesus reveals himself to people from all walks of life, The magi remind us of that.
• Do you tend to share the gospel only with certain kinds of people? – Or the ones you think are most likely to accept it? Brand out! You’ll be surprised at who comes to worship Jesus.

-- “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel” –which means, “God with us.” ~Matthew 1:23

• In order for us to get with it, God needed to get with us… literally. So scratch out that picture of a God far, far away. He’s already come as your Immanuel.
  

Bits and Pieces

What do you say to a two year old when he asks, "Where is Jesus in the tree?".

Christmas Traditions

• Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands from Jerusalem, asking,”Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his start as it arose, and we have come to worship him.” Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, as was all of Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law. “Where did the prophets say the Messiah would be born?” he asked them. “In Bethlehem,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people in Israel.’” Then Herod sent a private message to the wise men, asking them to come see him. At this meeting he learned that exact time when they first saw the star. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” After this interview the wise men went their way. Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with Joy! They entered the house where the child and his mother Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Bet when it came time to leave, they went home another way, because God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. ~Matthew 2:1-12

Well when we were children (not that long ago for me :P) we got told many things.

When we got told the story of Jesus’ birth me go told three kings went to worship him… or they when to an inn and the inn keeper said there was no room in the inn but they could use the stable. So on and so forth. You know what I am talking about? But…

• Where does it say…
• That there is an inn keeper?
• Where does it say they are kings? They are wise men.
• Where does it say he was born in a stable?

The list could go on. We need to know the true story of the birth of Jesus. Do you know it? (Read Matthew)

Lots of people think of Christmas as presents and Santa Clause. I saw this real cool video this is what it explains. This person thinks that people get confused between Santa and Jesus:

o They both have beards

o All surrounded by little children scurrying about

o They both have a last name that begins with ‘C’

o They both have a ton of nick names

o How common it is that they both know all the children’s names in the world.

o Both like to keep lots of details on all of us

o They are both gernerous

o So on and so forth.

But they are not so common after all. Kids send letters to Santa wishing for things that they think they desperately need. But Jesus doesn’t break into peoples chimneys and eat their cookies left behind. How Santa has a naughty or nice list, kids hope that he isn’t so strict. Jesus he forgives us all and loves us all no matter the circumstances.

Bits and Pieces

You are loved! Have a great holiday season!

Jesus and Santa - IgniterMedia.com

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=0af81b18765cbfa8ac99
--Go to the site above and watch the movie. It is awesome for Christmas time and the difference between Santa and Jesus

Love

• Written by the Apostle John—A.D. 85, Ephesus, 1 John 4:8-12

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 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 on 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.

--- Some things in life you have to do--- and some things you don’t. Well, loving others isn’t one of those things you can get away with just doing when you feel like it. It’s not optional. Because God loved us so incredibly, he requires us to love one another. Whether we feel like it or not. When it’s easy and when it’s hard. Loving others isn’t optional--- it’s mandatory.

• “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.” ~1 John 2:9

Since God loves everyone, what does it say about your love for him when you totally dismiss someone he sent his son to die for?

…>> Really makes me stumble over myself when I read this cause I have a brother and when I say I hate him or whatever… this is it… it explains it all. Tough to know the truth sometimes<<…

--I thought I would share some random facts and quotes that I found in an old Christian magazine. I clarify them all as bits and pieces.

Bits and Pieces

Prayer is a gift you give to those you love.

• “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.” ~2 Thessalonians 1:11

Never give up true friends for new ones.

• “He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” ~Proverbs 17:9

Imagine a world where ability started new everyday. Responsibility. Accountability. Reliability.

• “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” ~1 John 3:18

Once and for all… I am not for sale. Got it? I’m me. Not an image. Not a look. Don’t try and sell me. It’s wrong. I’m God driven to seek the truth. And free to be alive… in the Spirit.

• “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ~Isaiah 55:9

The guys… the girls. More alike than different.

• “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” ~Galatians 3:27-28

Strength

• It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battles; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. ~Psalms 18:32-36

You know, a battle isn’t necessarily hand in hand combat out on a battlefield. We all fight our battles everyday. It is like in school do you struggle in speech class, or in calculus with the complex equations? Do you struggle with people putting you down? Or how running a timed mile in a gym or in cross country? Whatever difficulties you face--in schooling or at home or people who just don’t care— God goes with you. He understands that some things in your life feel like a battle field. Just as God helped David, who needed strength for the battle, he’s ready and willing to help you, too!

I make mistakes, I think everyone has their faults… sometimes we go down the hard way, are you one who does that? Refer to:

• The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant giving light to the eyes. ~Psalm 19:7-8

Love Always and Forever,
Cassandra Falun <3

Bits and Pieces

"Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing."

The Past

· By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. Then the Lord rained down burning sulphur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

· ~Genesis 19:23-26

When in friendships or relationships, you feel like God is telling you to move on because of their ways, but you don’t leave immediately or you never do. You want to hold on so tight and never let go. Lots wife was told to run from Sin City and to never look back, but she did and turned into salt. God is looking out for YOUR best interest, if you look back and wonder “what might have been”, it keeps you from seeing “what might be”. When it comes to letting go of your past, one look back can be your last.

When I read this it really struck me, like how immature I was to bring up the past to hurt someone or someone did the same to me… or bring up the past and be scared of the future. The past hurts, prepare for the future. God is there for all of us, be strong because I know you’re a survivor.

Bits and Pieces

* Wait on God, and you will see His excellent plans unfold! *

Prayer

• One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he was finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” ~Luke 11:1

Prayer doesn’t come easily to some people. Like Luke 11:1 says even the disciples asked Jesus how to pray better. And in psalms there are many cries from David for God to hear him. (Psalms 143)

Prayer is something your learn how to do- - just like everything else in life. I am not a master at prayer but I try. Prayer is all about the faith- - believing God hears you even when it doesn’t seem like it. He promises to listen to everything we say, so we all have to trust in that. Our God is near us when we pray. How awesome is that?! He doesn’t just hear us, he is right there with us… wherever you go… shopping, etc. When you find yourself faced with a hard decision or feel hurt and alone- - God is there when you pray.

• See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is wise and understanding people.” What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? ~Deuteronomy 4:5-7

Our God is amazing! All you have to do is have faith, trust, and believe that he is there with you always, even when you pray, even through your struggles, through everything! Our God is an awesome God!

Bits and Pieces

“Our God is an awesome God he reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power and love our God is an awesome God.”

Basketball

I am so confused how my teacher treats me like I suck... in a game she will barely let me play. It is so hard for me because it is my favorite sport, they want me to pay 100 dollars with the pants included... Should I pay for that, even though I dont really get to play? Or should I cheer from the sidelines instead of on the bench in uniform?... I look at these quotes and debate my thoughts all the time....

-"Somewhere behind the athlete you've become, the hours of practice, the coaches who push you, and the fans who cheer for you, is the little girl who fell in love with the sport and never looked back. Play for her."

-Champions are not made in gyms, Champions are made from something they have deep inside themselves -- a desire, dream and a vision

-God understands our prayers even when we can't find the words to say them. God loves you, whether you like it or not.

This last quote really makes me think about how life is, God understands where I am coming from, yet I shouldnt quit.

-----Input anyone?