Why Jesus is Better than Santa Claus

I got sent this a few days ago and thought I'd share. Bear with me and my questionable translation skills!

God Bless
-AMR ;-)

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Why Jesus is better than Santa Claus

Sent (and possibly written) by Arturo Quiros Lepiz
http://www.mensajesvida.cjb.net/

Santa lives in the North Pole....
Jesus is everywhere.

Santa travels in a sleigh...
Jesus walks on water and

Santa comes once a year...
Jesus is always there to help us.

Santa fills your stockings with trinkets...
Jesus supplies everything you need.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...
Jesus waits at the door and knocks, and then enters your heart when you invite him in.

To see Santa, you have to wait in line...
Jesus is as close as a simple mention of his name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap....
Jesus lets you rest in his arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, the only thing he can say is "Hey there little one, what's your name?"....
Jesus knew your name before you were even born. He not only knows your name, but also your address. He knows your past and your future.

Santa has a belly that seems to be full of jam...
Jesus has a heart filled with love.

All that Santa can offer is "Ho Ho Ho"...
Jesus offers health, help, and hope.

Santa says "you better not cry"...
Jesus says "put your burdens on me, and I will take care of you."

Santa's elves make toys....
Jesus makes new lives, repairs broken hearts, and fixes broken homes.

Santa can make you smile...
Jesus gives you happiness that sustains you.

Santa leaves presents under the tree....
Jesus was our gift in the manger who died on a tree.

Santa appeared many years ago (the story of Santa)...
Jesus has always been.

It's obvious that we can't really compare the two, but we need to remember who Christmas is really about. We need to put Jesus back into Christmas. He is the real reason to celebrate this time of year. The saying "Christmas is the time to give an receive", doesn't refer to Santa's gifts, but rather to the delivery that Jesus made to save us and to give us a path to follow. Remember that one act of love is worth thousands of gifts....

Grow in Wisdom

I came across this one as I was looking for a good Christmas devotional. It talks about wisdom and uses Jesus as an example of what it really means to grow spiritually (mature as a christian). Having been back in Boston for a good 4 hours now, I think it's a "wicked good read", so I hope you enjoy (you really should come to boston sometime if don't know what i mean...).

-AMR ;-)

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Grow in Wisdom
by Reverend Dr. Henry T. Rhim

Read Luke 2:41-52

Luke 2:52 lets us glimpse the glory and the humility of Christ Jesus even as a young boy: "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." As Jesus matured, he grew in wisdom and understanding of the nature of heavenly things and of his specific mission and purpose. Luke shows him confounding the minds of the teachers as he sat in the temple listening to them and asking questions. These learned men were astonished at his understanding of the Scriptures.

But as wise and mature as Jesus was, and though he was beginning to comprehend who he was and the scope of his mission, he humbled himself. When his parents scolded him for causing them to worry because he had been missing for several days, he submitted himself to their authority.

Christian maturity results in greater wisdom, but that is not cause for pride or arrogance. On the contrary, as we increase in wisdom, we realize that our strengths lie not in our abilities, but rather in the abilities of Jesus Christ who lives within us. As we study the Bible, we find that meekness and humility, as well as wisdom, are attributes of Christian maturity.

As Jesus increases our wisdom and our understanding fo him, our stature in life may be elevated; people may look up to us and rely on our wisdom. We may grow in "favor with God and men," but as Christian men and women, our strength and growth should be exemplified by meekness, humbleness, kindness, and forgiveness toward others. That is the true sign of wisdom.

Additional Scripture Readings:
Provers 11:2; 15:33
James 3:13,17

Someone Ate Christmas!

Can you believe it's already december 20th? I don't know about you guys, but it certainly doesn't feel much like the Christmas season to me. Finals and other work have been pretty much consuming my life for the past couple weeks and being on campus isn't exactly the best way to get into the Christmas spirit. It occurred to me yesterday that people would be expecting presents from me, and so I started thinking about the logistics of shopping and how to select gifts for people without going broke. These days, I see the people buying trees and hear the songs about rudolph and frosty but it just doesn't seem to excite me, the way it did when I was younger.

However, Christmas isn't about gifts, reindeer, or some fat guy in a red suit (as much as TV may try to convince us otherwise). It's about the birth of our Savior, a fact that often gets forgotten. So as you finish up exams and start heading home for the holidays, don't forget to keep the CHRIST in christmas-- now that's a reason to rejoice! :-)

Have a blessed holiday, if I don't see you (i'm outta here at 5:30pm today....). I'll keep sending these along as often as I can!

-AMR ;-)
check out the campus journal devotional

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Out of Focus

Sorry to send this one out so late but better late than never, right ;-)?

This devotional is taken from "Our Daily Bread" and it talks about the getting sidetracked from our relationship with God. I think that this is an especially important subject, in this crazy time of year, since it's really easy to be "too busy studying" to take time out for God on a daily basis. It's important to keep the "big picture" in mind so that we don't lose touch of what's really important in life. That's not to say that we shouldn't study, but we need to prioritize and really think about what things we can "put off until things lighten up a bit."

Enjoy!

-AMR (time to get some much needed sleep!)
check out the our daily bread devotional

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A True Test

All I can say about this one is: true, true....it being 6:20 w/me just going to bed just about sums up how much I can relate.......

Anyway, pick the appropriate message below as a conclusion to my $0.02 for today . I've kept all of you in my prayers so if you've got something specific that you want me to pray for, just ask!

If you're not done:
Keep up the good work! The break will feel SOOOOO good if you know that you didn't give up and instead put in that big push at the end!

If you are done:
Congrats! You survived the semester! May you have a wonderful holiday and safe travel to and from your destinations.

Peace.
-AMR

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A True Test
by Krishana Kraft
(from 12/14/01 Christianity Today teen newsletter)

A fresh stack of index cards, a pile of textbooks and hand-written notes from the semester covered my desk. It was that time once again--crunch time for semester exams. The next few days would be focused on recalling what I had learned and trying to memorize everything I hadn't absorbed.

I had always started my school year determined to study a little each week, but somehow those weekly study times piled up into one big, blow-out study session. (Not something I recommend.) Counting down the hours till test time, I'd spend my moments filling out every blank index card I could get my hands on. Once I accumulated a good stack, I would take a break from writing and start testing my memorization skills. It was amazing how much information I could cram into my brain, in such a short amount of time.

I felt like my brain could breathe again after I had released all of that stored information onto my test. I could now resume normal sleeping habits, eating habits (something besides cold pizza and Oreo cookies) and limiting my intake of Mountain Dew.

Yet, once that stored info was released on the test a lot of it seeped out of my brain forever. Why? Because I didn't take the time to really learn the information, but instead just memorized enough to hopefully pass the test.

Semester exams aren't the only tests I've taken in my lifetime. I have little "tests" every day-- decisions about how to treat other people, spend my time, or even trust God's faithfulness. The only way to pass these life "tests" is to really learn about love, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, stewardship and trust. And your best study source? God's Word.

Psalm 119 talks a lot about the importance of God's Word in our daily lives:

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word" (119:9). "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (119:11). "I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path" (119:104). "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (119:105).

God's Word shouldn't be something we memorize just to recite back the correct answers. Instead it should penetrate our hearts and change our lives.

You never know when a true "test" of your integrity, faith or even forgiveness will arise. Instead of carrying around a stack of index cards with memory verses on them, let's hide God's Word in our hearts and really learn it. So, at any time or place we'll be prepared to take those "tests" and pass with flying colors.

Seize each day in his presence!

Galatians 5:17

A daily devotional from www.dailydevo.com.....good luck on your finals!

-AMR

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The Daily Devo
by Pastor Steve Baney

"The Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires."
Galatians 5:17 (NLT)

Whatever God wants, we naturally want the opposite. This isn't as simple as changing our mind. If it were, it wouldn't be a problem. It's a matter of a complete and miraculous change made by God. If you want it, you must pursue it. Ask for it. Pray that God will change your desires. Look for it. Find good examples in the Bible and in the church. Live for it. Devote every aspect of your life to the Spirit's desire.

Lord, help me to do what your Spirit desires.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1997.

Jesus Knows How You Feel

Phillipians 2:5-8 (New Living Translation)

"Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights a God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he humbled himself even futher, going so far as actually to die a criminal's death on a cross."

And now for something completely different.....This came from a book written to address the events of September 11. I know it's kinda long but I hope that you take the time to read it eventually, since it's well written (and it even has a story that includes a child AND puppies!).

-AMR

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From:
"The Gift for all People: Thoughts on God's Great Grace", by Max Lucado

Jesus Knows How You Feel

Jesus knows how you feel. You're under the gun a work? Jesus knows how you feel. You've got more to do than is humanly possible? So did he. People take more from you than they give? Jesus understands. Your teenagers won't listen? Your students won't try? Jesus knows how you feel. You are precious to him. So precious that he became like you so that you would come to him. When you struggle, he listens. When you yearn, he responds. When you question, he hears. He has been there. Like the little boy in the following story, Jesus sees you with a heart of compassion. He knows that you are special....

A boy went into a pet shop, looking for a puppy. The store owner showed him a litter in a box. The boy looked at the puppies. He picked each one up, examined it, and put it back in the box.
After several minutes, he walked back to the owner and said, "I picked one out. How much will it cost?"
The man gave him the price, and the boy promised to be back in a few days with the money. "Don't take too long," the owner cautioned. "Puppies like these sell quickly."
The boy turned and smiled knowingly. "I'm not worried," he said.
"Mine will still be here."

The boy went to work-- weeding, washing windows, cleaning yards. He worked hard and saved his money. When he had enough for the puppy, he returned to the store. He walked up to the counter and laid down a pocketful of wadded bills. The store owner sorted and counted the cash. After verifying the amount, he smiled at the boy and said, "All right, son, you can go get
your puppy."

The boy reached into the back of the box, pulled out a skinny dog with a limp leg, and started to leave. The owner stopped him.
"Don't take that puppy," he objected.
"He's crippled. He can't play. He'll never run with you. He can't fetch. Get one of the healthy pups."
"No, thank you, sir," the boy replied.
"This is exactly the kind of dog I've been looking for."

As the boy turned to leave, the store owner started to speak but remained silent. Suddenly he understood. For extending from the bottom of the boy's trousers was a brace-- a brace for his crippled leg. Why did the boy want the dog? Because he knew how it felt. And he knew it was very special.

Franchise Faith

Sometimes it's really easy to get caught up in the differences in worship styles and traditions at churches other than your own. Coming to Columbia was the first time that I was forced to find a church on my own. Visiting different churches every week I experienced many different worship styles and really had to think about what it was about a church that really allows me to worship and grow spiritually. Even though (after 2 years of searching) I ended up joining a church that is very similar to my church back in Boston, I really feel like it is the right place for me, as opposed to simply being a place that doesn't really provide spiritual nourishment, but instead just feels comfortable.

Despite different traditions and worship styles, we are united as a body of Christ by our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. If you are not feeling "fed" by your current church home, perhaps it's time to get to know a new part of the "family" (you know, like meeting those 2nd cousins once removed....:P)

-AMR

(i must apologize for the end of my commentary....a lot of things sound funny at 4:30 that don't quite have the same magic in the light of day)
check out the campus journal devotional

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Predicting the Future

I liked this one so I hope you do too (I don't think I sent it before....). It kinda relates to the one I sent out monday about "hidden fears". The point is that God is in control so there's no need to worry about the future if we trust him.

Good luck with the rest of the papers/projects/exams....the end is very near!

-AMR
check out the our daily bread devotional

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Fighting For Your Mind

The only way to know what's right and how to respond in a given situation is to read the word so you know what it says. While having the text to consult is good, the best thing is to have it in your heart, easily accessible and impossible to take away from you. Try it! It's not as hard as it sounds because we all process and memorize info every day. Think about how many song lyrics, poems, fav quotes, etc. you already know and produce at appropriate times......how many bible verses can you say that about? How can we live our lives according to God's will if we don't know what it is?

-AMR
(good luck studying/paper writing/project-ing....it's almost over!)
Check out the campus journal devotional

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Putting It Off

Procrastination is probably one of the biggest problems that we struggle with on a daily basis. This time of year it only gets worse, since our workload seems to increase exponentially. I know how difficult it is to motivate ourselves but just think-- it will all be over by next week at this time (for most of us, although not me!). If you can pull it together to write a paper you can be proud of or to rock that final you've been dreading all semester it will make this upcoming break so much sweeter.

You can do it! I've got faith in every one of you!

-AMR
Check out the campus journal devotional

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Romans 2:21 (hypocrite)

It's wonderful to encourage one another and to support each other in the best way that you can. How many times do you find yourself telling your friends something that you yourself do not do? I know that I do it all the time. We all have a good sense of how to live a healthy lifestyle, for example, but do we really do it? I average 3-5 hours of sleep in a given night, yet I'm the first to get on my friend's cases when they do the same.

It's great to love our friends and try to help them to live their lives the way that Jesus would want them to. Just don't forget to take care of yourself! Take some time to examine yourself and pick one bad habit/quality to try to improve this week. It's often hardest to change ourselves but think about what there is to gain! If we ask God, he can give us the strength to follow through.

-AMR

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The Daily Devo
by Pastor Steve Baney

Romans 2:21 "You, then, who teach others, do you
not teach yourself?" (NIV)

We need to hear this sometimes. Sometimes it's so easy to see what is wrong with someone else, while it's so difficult to see what's wrong with ourselves. This doesn't mean we shouldn't teach others. We should. But we should do it with gentleness and love. Be quick to love just as Jesus was.

Lord, help me to have a pure heart so that I can be right with You.
Holy Bible, New International Version. Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1988.

Hidden Fears

Happy Last day of classes! I know you're probably stressed out about the remaining things that need to be done before the end of the semester but you made it this far so keep up the good work! The end is near!

Today's devotional touches on the subject of fear and how we deal with it. It okay to be afraid but it's important to acknowledge it and to trust God to help you deal with those fears.

You may view me as a confident senior who's got everything figured out and under control but I've come to a very scary point in my life. Graduating from high school, pretty much everyone went off to college and it was basically life as usual, with all of us returning to Boston on breaks and hanging out like the good old days. However, graduating from college is not like that at all. People are in the process of applying to school and looking for jobs all over the country. Even for those people (like myself) who plan to continue in our schooling, life as a graduate student is still "being a grownup" having to take care of everything on your own.

Fortunately, I've come to realize that even though I'm entering a new stage of my life that is very different from any previous level of responsibility I've ever had, there is one constant-- God. God has been faithfully watching over me through every step of my life so far, and he's not going to let me down now. So although the idea of possibly moving 3000 miles away from my family for the next 6 years of my life is still rather intimidating, I know that God will be right there with me, and if God is with me, I can overcome anything (Romans 8:31).

-AMR (didn't mean for it to end up quite so long..just read the passage from Samuel if you're short on time!)

Check out the our daily bread devotional

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The Prayer of....You

I like this one because it addresses some of the feelings that we all
have at one time or another.......

Do you ever feel like God won't use you for anything because you're not some sort of "super Christian"? Do you hesitate to share the gospel with people because you don't have all of the answers?

The good news is that "nothing is impossible with God," (luke 1:37) and he has a purpose for each and everyone of our lives, and all we have to do is seek him out. God is faithful and always answers our prayers (although not in the way that we necessarily expect). If we "pray continually" (1 thessalonians 5:17) and truly have faith, God will use us to do great things for his glory.

-AMR
check out the campus journal devotional

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Tuned In

There's a line in an En Vogue song that says "everything happens for a reason." That pretty much sums up what I have to say about this passage. If we remember that God's in the driver's seat and stay "tuned in" to him, he will use us in marvelous ways :-).

-AMR
(I just want to point out to a certain someone that I'm going to bed before 4 tonight as promised-- check the time on this one!)

check out the our daily bread devotional

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Promises, Promises

TGIF (the light at the end of the tunnel is about to come into sight!). Today's devotional hits on the subject of promises and "our word." We all know at least one person who is constantly breaking their promises-- how does that change your perception of them? Do you believe that they'll keep future promises, or do you make back-up plans "just in case"?

A lot of times when we make promises we give "our word," as evidence of our sincerity. Take a minute to think about just how good your "word" is. The only one I can think of who never broke a promise is God. We believe him when he makes a promise because we have no reason to think otherwise. Ephesians 5:1 calls for us to "Be imitators of God" and part of that means living up to our promises.

-AMR
Check out the campus journal devotional

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When God Corrects Us

A good read.....I really like Proverbs 3 so you can't go wrong. Good luck with all the papers/projects/tests you may have these days......

-AMR
Check out the our daily bread devotional

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Colossians 3:23-24

With all the work we have these days the temptation to just give up or to not do your best is really high. If for no other reason, we should put 100% into all that we do since we do it for God's glory. That means toughing it and keeping ourselves motivated, even when it seems like the work will never go away. Don't worry, we're not in it alone though....if we do our part (put the effort in) and have faith, God will help us through it :-).

This one's taken from the daily devo (you can sign up for it at www.dailydevo.com).

-AMR

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The Daily Devo
by Pastor Steve Baney

Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it
with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not
for men, since you know that you will receive an
inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the
Lord Christ you are serving." (NIV)

If you are working for God and not for men, then your payment will be a bit more fulfilling. How can you work for God while flipping burgers or filing papers or doing some other job? You have the opportunity every day to share the love of Jesus with the people you see at work or school!

Lord, help me to learn more ways that I can work for You.
Holy Bible, New International Version. Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1988.

Conscience & Consequence

This devotional is based on the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel. I strongly suggest that you read the entire chapter (30 verses), rather than stopping the story halfway through.....

-AMR
check out the our daily bread devotional

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A Coward's Courage

I can really relate to this devotional.....I hope you feel the same way.

-AMR
Check out the campus journal devotional

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Intimacy of Tested Faith

I thought I'd spice things up a bit today....here's a devotional written by Oswald Chambers (bio). After his death (1917) his wife compiled notes from his talks into books and published them. This is taken from the most popular of these, entitled "My Utmost For His Highest." There's no single specific passage to read but there are several references interspersed throughout. Enjoy!

-AMR
Check out the Oswald Chambers devotional

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Galatians 3:1-5 (works)

Happy December (can you believe it's this warm in december??). I hope that y'all have been able to keep yourselves motivated these days....I know how tough it is to stay focused when you've got a lot of deadlines looming. Don't give up though....the end is near and you don't want a semester's worth of hard work to go to waste!

This is one of the daily devos from a few days ago (www.dailydevo.com). It's based on Galatians 3:3 but I strongly encourage you to read v.1-5 so the point is more clear. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved, and our actions are just manifestations of this faith.

BACKGROUND on Galatians: Paul preached to the inhabitants of Galatia during his 1st missionary journey. Shortly after his departure, a group of Jewish believers arrived and insisted that the gentile Christians submit to the laws of Moses in order to be saved. Chpt 3 is meant to show them the error in that thinking.

Cheers!
-AMR
(p.s. sunrise is a nice time of day...you should check it out sometime if you happen to be still up working when it occurs :P)

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The Daily Devo
by Pastor Steve Baney

Galatians 3:3 "Have you lost your senses? After
starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why
are you now trying to become perfect by your own
human effort?" (NLT)

It's so easy to get turned around backwards sometimes. We think doing good things will get us right with God. But that's backwards thinking. Getting right with God will prompt us to do good things. They are a result, not a cause. If you start by focusing on having a healthy friendship with God, then you won't be able to resist doing good things.

Lord, help me to be right with you first.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1997.