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Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
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| DECEMBER ISSUE |
(read past issues here)
IN THIS ISSUE
Featured
Article: The Perfect Gift
In The Spotlight: No Room at the Inn?
What's New & Coming Soon
Daily Thoughts
Prayer Requests/Results
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| FEATURED ARTICLE |
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The Perfect Gift
Christmas
is almost here. It's the single biggest day of exchanging
gifts on the planet (well, at least in the Western world).
Every year people get all in a tizzy trying to decide
what to give as presents. Aunt Molly wants a fine art
print. Little Susie is begging for that new, really life-like
(maybe too life-like!) doll. Johnny wants an X-box. Your
wife would be happy with a romantic dinner away from home
and a paid for babysitter. Dad is, well, impossible.
So often we think we need to provide the "perfect
gift". That aside, we tend to get too wrapped up
(pun intended) in finding gifts, perfect or otherwise.
It's so easy to forget that there is a perfect gift. God
has provided it. This gift of redemption, salvation and
justification by faith in his son, Jesus the Christ is
really and truly the perfect gift.
The gift That Keeps On Giving
No other gift can keep on giving
forever and ever. We're talking eternal life in union
with God-pretty awesome!
It's the gift we've always wanted (even when we didn't
know it): total undeniable and unconditional love.
It's what we really need.
It keeps on giving. Because of it, everyday we are being
renewed.
We couldn't possibly purchase this gift ourselves. There's
no need, it's already been paid in full and at a price
we couldn't begin to afford.
Anybody Can Have It
It is free to all. No one is excluded.
There is an unlimited supply. The only ones who don't
get the gift are those who refuse it.
You can't earn it. It's not a performance-based bonus.
You can't give this gift, but you can help others receive
it. When you do you feel like you are a part of the
present.
The Perfect Gift? Yes. Ask God for it. Recognize and
repent of your own human failing and imperfection. It's
kept you in bondage to sin and separate from God. Humble
your ego-self and open your heart. Ask forgiveness.
Tell him you are ready to receive Jesus-your own personal
savior in the most intimate relationship possible. You'll
get the ultimate friend for everlasting life.
You don't even need to wait until Christmas.
Discover more thought provoking articles
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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
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No Room at the Inn?
Here
in New Mexico Los Posadas is a cultural tradition to re-enact
the search Joseph and Mary made for a place to stay in
Bethlehem when Jesus was about to be born. Typically the
songs are sung in Spanish, but sometimes in English. While
not all of us are innkeepers or can open our homes to
accommodate strangers there is a constant need for the
homeless to find both shelter and compassion. If you get
a moment, please visit our SPOTLIGHT
SPECIALS page and read about ways to help the homeless.
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| WHAT'S NEW & COMING SOON |
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Some of the new articles on our site include:
Self-Help Programs Aren't Enough
Spoonful of Sympathy
What's The Hurry
I've had a chance to use the new iLumina software, a digitally
enhanced Bible and encyclopedia suite from Tyndale publishers
and it is pretty impressive. You can read the review
by visiting this link: iLumina
Coming soon will be reviews on the following books:
"Revolution in World Missions" by K.P. Yohannan,
"Restless Pilgrim:The Spiritual Journey of
Bob Dylan" by Scott Marshall with Marcia Ford, and
"A Patchwork Heart" by Kim Moore and
Pam Mellskog.
You can read the various reviews currently on site at
Reviews
There are many worthwhile sites on the world-wide-web. Discover
some of them at our all-new LINKS
section.
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| DAILY THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS |
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Call
to me and I will answer you and tell you great and un-searchable
things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3).
When you found God, it's like you stumbled on a treasure chest
full of the most amazing riches. We're not talking about
money. We're talking about salvation and a new life. When
see these first and most important gifts, it can seem
like we've seen it all. But God's riches don't just end
there.
As you continue to walk with God, it is as if you keep
finding secret drawers and doors in His treasure chest.
These secret compartments just keep opening to show you
new and wonderful things: adventures, challenges, victories,
friendships, spiritual gifts, and lasting joy.
God's gifts in your life never end. He never runs out
of things He wants to show you and explain to you. But
you have to keep searching out His treasure. If you do,
you will have a life filled with great and wonderful riches.
(thanks to Pete for the commentary)
Get daily inspiration with a Scripture verse and commentary
at
Daily Thought
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| PRAYER REQUESTS & RESULTS |
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Prayer
works. It really does. Only those who've never truly tried
it with the proper intentions would say otherwise. We
want to pray for you and your needs. If you have a specific
request let us know at prayer
requests.
Of course, we keep you information confidential.
We also like to share testimonies of answered prayers
at prayer results.
You can send us your testimony by email. Use our form
at contact us. If
you do not want your name to be listed simply let us know.
By sharing God's love and how He helps us you encourage
others in a powerful way.
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SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND ENCOURAGEMENT
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have comments please let us know.
Send an email
"It
is curious that physical courage should be so common in
the world and moral courage so rare."
Mark Twain
Copyright 2002 Living the Solution, all rights reserved.
Tom Gilbert
Editor/Web-servant
Living The Solution
www.livingthesolution.com
Toll free 1-800-399-2564 ext 105
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Practical Biblical Solutions for life's challenges
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John
Fischer challenges believers to break out of the safety
zone and share Christ through acts of love, intelligent
conversation, and genuine compassion.
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