J’ville Centinary Meth & Pittsfield 1st Christian

Dec. 98

It happens every year. Just before Christmas, someone has a load of presents stolen. Today’s Chicago Tribune reported that a Salvation Army store was robbed.

I want to speak today on theft prevention. The Christmas season has more theft than any other. So don’t trust anyone… take a close look at the person sitting beside you. You’ve been watching me, but what have they been watching?

USA TODAY: 1) shoplifting home burglary car theft

BUT: Today…. the type of theft that’s more common than any of these at Christmas… The THEFT OF JOY. For some of us… just petty theft.. for others, grand larceny.

We rush, we buy, we wrap, we cook, we eat, we pray, we go three places in one night…. and before we know it, our JOY HAS BEEN STOLEN.

This morning: my first day of shopping. Very little Joy to the World in J’ville today. 7th-grade class project.. “Merry Christmas” Shopco. Man and wife. “Come back here, you jerk!” Local restaurant… gift cert., talking on phone, checking out customers, owner had lost keys and wife wanted him at home. Christian bookstore…. owner: I’m going home. I’m just too tired.

SO..A FEW TIPS ON THEFT PREVENTION FOR THIS CHRISTMAS....

THIS IS YOUR ASSIGNMENT my fellow Christians:

LIGHTEN UP! Let me warn you: Christians have a reputation for singing Joy to the World while looking like Hell on Earth.

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU HAVE TO DO THIS SEASON: Realize that Jesus Christ was born for you. The SECOND MOST IMPORTANT THING: Everything else.

So LIGHTEN UP! The Important stuff is already done!

---7th-grade boy knew how to lighten up.. baritone story A FEW THEFT PREVENTION TECHNIQUES:

---Wear something really outrageous to work or school some day, just to celebrate Christmas. BREAK YOU OWN PRIVATE DRESSCODE. Stop being so normal. Jesus Christ came to earth do change the entire world… the least you can do is wear loud socks. ---Take your shoes off more often. ---build a snowman in someone’s yard who can’t build one anymore ---Next time somebody at Hardees or McDonnalds tells you to have a nice day, ask them why. ---Send a love letter to someone you love then don’t sign it..let them suspect everybody in the whole world. ---Eat more ice cream this Christmas. There’s so much ice cream in the world and so little time. ---Kidnap your grandchildren and take them on a picnic. ---go to a nursing home and don’t do anything for them. Ask a resident to do something for you.. lick the stamps on your Christmas cards.. wrap a few packages… The killer of our elderly is not so much disease and infirmity but a feeling of uselessness. I’d lose my memory too, if I didn’t have anything important to remember. ---Lighten Up! You don’t have a thing to do this week that’s more important than a savior coming into the world and that’s already been done… take it easy!

STOP GIVING SO MUCH BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO AND GIVE MORE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO: ---What do you dread the most? Those things you have to do because you always do them and somebody expects you to do them. GIVE MORE SURPRISES! The fifty-dollar gift you always give to the same person isn’t much of a thrill..to them or to you. Go ahead and give it if you have to, but give the one-dollar gift that nobody expects you to give. ---Give a flower to the lady at the checkout counter who’s always so friendly ---a decorated apple to the lady who always smiles at you at church.. tell her it’s just because she smiles. ---Often: Springfield church coffee hours.. smiling, joy, laughing. Then the organ started and the entire congregation turned into prunes. ---Simply tell someone... “I’ve waited all year to say this, but I really appreciate you.” It’ll be remembered long after their WalMart Special Aftershave and Deodorant kit or their designer scarf has worn out. ---Jan Smith… our community’s chief encourager…. Writes notes of encouragement at Christmas. ---Karol.. a lady who shows up at each teacher’s door on Thursday morning with a list in hand, and asks, “What I pray for you?” ---We have a lady in our church who brings fresh flowers for the alter every Sunday (flower shop refuse)...Nobody ever brings her any flowers. ---Give more gifts without letting anyone know who did it. The best gift: when the giver is unknown. Lockers at school for Mary. ---Kmart last weekend… little girl kept shouting “Merry Christmas!” to everyone and embarrassed mother was trying to get her to be quiet. NO!

THE IDEA BEHIND CHRISTMAS IS “SURPRISE”...When I was born, I had no idea that a baby was born 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem to take away my sins. It was a surprise to me!

To keep from being robbed of your joy, FIX SOMETHING: ---Think of a problem you have which you just can’t get off your mind and you can’t do anything about. MAKE YOURSELF FORGET ABOUT IT FOR ONE WEEK. ---Think of a relationship you have which has been damaged. HEAL IT THIS SEASON. Give your pride a vacation. Christ: I shall remove your sins from you for a far as the east is from the west. The least we can do to mend a single relationship. ---I teach with a man who really grates on my nerves… Tennis shoes, sweat pants, never prepared, and the first to gripe. I also teach with an atheist who’s a wonderful teacher. Every morning he compliments the first guy. Shames me. I’m trying to learn how to be a Christian from this atheist. And it’s working!
To keep from being robbed, Give Yourself this Christmas. It’s the one gift God wants most from you.

It is impossible to be robbed of your joy while you’re giving yourself to someone else.

God blesses giving and the giver.....

7th grade nursing home project I know a church...huge endowment...spirit of church stopped once they stopped struggling and giving

Albert Sweitzer: The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who’ve sought and found out how to serve others.

Find the time to celebrate Christmas by yourself. I asked classes: When most lonely? Around people. Groups are wonderful. They’re fun. Nothing greater than a family gathering…. … but Christ never worked on the group plan. It was always one by one. Please.. PLEASE find time this Christmas to sit down with your cup of coffee or Christmas tea, and think about a Christmas where a little child was born for you alone. Take a walk on a cold winter night, alone.

To keep from being robbed of your joy, stop complaining.. Architect: the hottest places in hell are reserved for the whiner and complainers. If my life were ten times longer, I still couldn’t justify a minute of it complaining. When I speak to teachers: For every minute you spend worrying and complaining about your students, spend one minute praying. And if you’re not a Christian, go out and hire…..

I wish you the best Christmas ever... but it cannot be if you allow yourself to be robbed on a daily basis. No burglar can break into a happy heart and steal it’s joy.

Helen Dickens.. Jesus Loves you and I do, too! Lady with M.S.

Finally: be Jesus this season. Be Jesus. Today.. this morning.. before lunch.. be Jesus to someone else. Show His love.

Idaho lady wrote of her son… compass . . fell, bloodied…

“For unto us a child is born, a son is given, and he shall be called Wonderful! Counsellor! Everlasting God! Prince of Peace!”

That’s a promise. Don’t let anyone take it from you. Don’t be robbed. Claim your Joy to the World!

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