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Merry Christmas! We love you all in Jesus!
This morning I will be recording our radio program for Christmas. Please pray for me, as I am still partly cloudy on what the Lord wants me to share.
I am in prayer. I have about finished my sermon for Christmas Eve at FBC in Reserve. I went through 2 hours of message therapy yesterday for my back, neck shoulders and arms. I am healing!!! I have had set backs on this problem for now over a year. The therapist, who is a Christian, said my circulation was at 30% in my arms when I started therapy 2 weeks ago, it is now at 60%!!! PTL!!! PTL!!! Pray for me now as I will be traveling 3 weeks in a row to preach, Reserve, then to FBC in Magdalena and then back to Reserve. I do feel better, please pray for my continued healing. I am also getting a new office chair to help with my posture at my computer desk. I am also making other changes in my day to help. If you would be moved by the Lord to make a year end gift to FGGAM, please click here, we are a non-profit 501c3. https://fggam.org/donate/
It seems every year that more and more people are suffering from anxiety, depression, etc at Christmas. It just breaks my heart. The Lord has
gifted us with a wonderful relationship with Dr. Michelle Bengtson, I want to share her very popular post at FGGAM.ORG with you……
Festive and bright.
Homes and trees are decorated with twinkling lights. Mailboxes are filled to the rim with holiday cards and letters. The sound of Christmas music follows us in the mall and grocery store as we shop and on every radio station that plays as we drive about.
“Merry Christmas!”
“Happy New Year!”
Well-wishers spread holiday cheer at every opportunity.
But, not everyone is feeling merry and bright. Some are lost. Broken. Hurting. Lonely. Filled with despair. They’re suffering from depression.
How do you help someone who is depressed, especially during the holidays?
9 practical ways to help the hurting at Christmas:
- Pray. Before you spend time with your depressed loved one. Pray for them, pray for yourself and pray for your interaction. Ask God to lead your time together.
- If someone is alone during the holidays and you know that contributes to their depression, include them in celebrations. Ask them to attend your church Christmas Eve service. Take them for a coffee. Do they sing? Invite them to go caroling.
- Realize that the holidays are especially hard for many people. For those who are depressed, the holidays may make them feel even worse. Spend time with them outside of holiday parties and themed events. Your loved one may not be able to reciprocate in a gift exchange. Avoid the added stress and potential for unmet expectations.
- Does your loved one suffer worse depression during the holidays because they are grieving a loss? Be sensitive to painful topics. Ask your loved one if they would like to talk about their loss. While some may feel more sadness talking, others feel comforted.
- Be respectful and honoring of your loved one’s feelings. Nobody chooses to be depressed. Depression is a medical condition like diabetes and heart disease.
- If you’ve never suffered with depression, it’s hard to understand how painful the suffering is. Give grace. Be compassionate.
- Spend time with your loved one. Be available. Sit with them so they aren’t alone. Depression fuels loneliness.
- Keep expectations to a minimum. Normal everyday activities can seem overwhelming to a depressed friend or loved one. Make it easy by meeting in a place that’s convenient for them.
- Have you ever heard someone say, “It could be worse?” When you suffer with depression, you feel as if it is the worst feeling in the world. Don’t minimize the pain of their suffering. Be sensitive.
We all want to feel loved, accepted and considered worthy. Show the same love that Jesus would show. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. “Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).
What ways can you support someone who is struggling today?
For more hope and posts like this, visit Dr. Bengtson’s website:https://www.DrMichelleBengtson.com or follow her on Facebook:https://www.Facebook.com/DrMichelleBengtson
To learn more about “Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression,” Dr. Bengtson’s newly released book, see: https://drmichellebengtson.com/hope-prevails-book/.
I pray that this Christmas season you will be able to help someone that is hurting.
From Adrian Rogers this morning at FGGAM.ORG…….
BIBLE MEDITATION:
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Many people think these three gifts were just incidental. No, they’re fundamental. These were not trinkets; these were treasures that didn’t occur by happenstance. This was something the wise men had planned. These gifts are highly symbolic. They carry deep significance.
In the gifts the wise men brought to the young boy Jesus, gold speaks of His sovereign dominion—He was born a King. Frankincense speaks of His sinless deity—He is God in human flesh. Myrrh speaks of His sacrificial death—He was born to die that we might live.
- He is King and they brought gold.
- He is God and they brought Him frankincense.
- He is our Savior and they brought myrrh.
Sovereign dominion, sinless deity, sacrificial death.
ACTION POINT:
Because He is a King, He has my wealth. Because He is God, He has my worship. And because He died, He has my witness. All that I am, all that I have, all that I do, belongs to this One. That is wisdom. That’s what a wise man will do. Do some soul-searching today. Are you really wise?
We thank Marilyn Hagen of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Esko, Minnesota for sharing this with us! Marilyn and her husband Milt, are great supporters of FGGAM! Marilyn is the Choir Director at St. Matthew’s, we are so proud of her! We all grew up together, Milt, Marilyn and I, in Windom, Minnesota! We have been able to share this Christmas Cantata with you now for 3 years in a row! PTL! Thank you Marilyn. God Bless you and Milt and to all a Merry Christmas from Sharon and I!
St. Matthew’s Choir Cantata sung on Sunday morning, December 10th. The heart of Christmas is Jesus Christ, and that heart is given to all.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155682786822787&id=53994902786A CHRISTMAS MUST READ FROM Darlene Quiring….YOU SHOULD GET A KLEENEX FIRST….
A CHRISTMAS STORY TO REMEMBER
It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn’t been enough money to buy me the rifle that I’d wanted for Christmas.
We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible. After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible.
I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn’t in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn’t get the Bible instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn’t figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn’t worry about it long though I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.
Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. “Come on, Matt,” he said. “Bundle up good, it’s cold out tonight.” I was really upset then. Not only wasn’t I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We’d already done all the chores, and I couldn’t think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one’s feet when he’d told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn’t know what..
Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn’t going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn’t happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed.
“I think we’ll put on the high sideboards,” he said. “Here, help me.” The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.
After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood – the wood I’d spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. “Pa,” I asked, “what are you doing?” You been by the Widow Jensen’s lately?” he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I’d been by, but so what?
Yeah,” I said, “Why?”
“I rode by just today,” Pa said. “Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They’re out of wood, Matt.” That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand.
“What’s in the little sack?” I asked. Shoes, they’re out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a little candy.”
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen’s pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn’t have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn’t have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn’t have been our concern.
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, “Who is it?” “Lucas Miles, Ma’am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?”
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.
“We brought you a few things, Ma’am,” Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children – sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn’t come out.
“We brought a load of wood too, Ma’am,” Pa said. He turned to me and said, “Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let’s get that fire up to size and heat this place up.” I wasn’t the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn’t speak.
My heart swelled within me and a joy that I’d never known before filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.
I soon had the fire blazing and everyone’s spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn’t crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. “God bless you,” she said. “I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us.”
In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I’d never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.
Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.
Tears were running down Widow Jensen’s face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn’t want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, “The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We’ll be by to get you about eleven. It’ll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn’t been little for quite a spell.” I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said, “Thank you, Brother Miles. I don’t have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will.”
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn’t even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, “Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn’t have quite enough.
Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand.”
I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen’s face and the radiant smiles of her three children. For the rest of my life, Whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.
UNKNOWN AUTHOR
Our thanks to our dear, dear friend Darlene Quiring of Mt. Lake, Minnesota. Darlene and her son Jeff serve on the Windom Revival Committee. Merry Christmas Darlene and Jeff!
Since God started FGGAM 5 years ago we have had thousands of visitors each month, going on 4 million visitors since we started! ONLY GOD COULD DO THIS!
At the end of November FGGAM.ORG website had received 529,140 visitors this year. We are on track to have reached 4 million people since we started FGGAM just over 5 years ago. PTL!
The top countries that visit FGGAM.ORG in order are: U.S., Turkey, Russia, Great Britain, Japan, Canada, Israel, France, Germany, Poland, China,India, Brazil, Ukraine, Philippines, Italy, Indonesia, Australia, South Africa, Malaysia, Pakistan, Chile, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
All stats are made available to us by AWSTATS.
The FGGAM website is a full-time position by itself!
My sermon podcasts are posted at FGGAM.
We have around 40 volunteer writers at FGGAM!
Dewey’s Daily CUP is into it’s 20th year! We still send out the Daily CUP by email and also the CUP has its own website. Deweysdailycup.com We thank the Lord for this ministry! The Lord founded this ministry 20 years ago to be a praying ministry and to also share stories of inspiration.
Please pray for Sharon and I as we go forth into 2018. We love you all in Jesus!
Thanks to all who support this ministry with their love offerings and prayers. We are so blessed by your love. We would like to give you all a Christmas hug! |
