Most men never discover what they’ve got inside. A man has to face up to trouble before he knows.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Daybreakers)

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.”
–2 Corinthians 4:8 (NLT)
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Wow! Hard to believe. Another year is ready to be added to history. All the good, bad, and ugly along with all the silly and nonsensical things will now be archived into history. Shame is that 2018 will have more of the same.
I have little to complain over concerning 2017. It will be a memorable year, for it was the year I retired from teaching. After twenty-two years in San Antonio, Annie and I are a homeless old couple out begging. Nah, really Pockets and Kimberly are taking very good care of us and the house is going along.
One thing for sure, I didn’t get enough reading accomplished this year. I did make my 52 books, but it wasn’t until the day before Christmas. I’ll try to do better in 2018. I guess I’m starting to speak of New Years’ Resolutions. I’m going to try and make it a goal to write one chapter a day, especially after we move into our house. I published two books last year and I’m about half-way through another one. The issue is research. I’ve said before I don’t want to write historical fiction. People are too picky and critical. However, if there is something in the book that is of historical nature I want it to be accurate. Mostly I write for people to enjoy a story and hopefully gain something from the book.
In 2018, I want to spend more time studying my Bible. With my writing it is easy to put it on the shelf or just read a few verses. I need to study it more thoroughly. I believe there is going to be more hatred displayed, especially since this is an election year. It seems instead of doing government business and business for the people, there is an agenda of hatred. There is an agenda put forth by antichrist, by the devil himself.
I would like to travel to a few places, but I need to see my budget. Working in Christian schools for almost four decades, there was little that could be put away for retirement. I wasn’t looking for money then, and I’m not now. In fact, both Annie and I enjoy beans and cornbread :-]. In reality, we have put our trust in the Lord. Plus we have good kids that will take care of us if needed.
So 2018, come on! Let’s get the year started. Who knows? This may be the year the Lord returns–be ready, look us, for our redemption draws near. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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Ponder this for the end of the year. We are told to study to show ourselves approved. While that mainly involves studying the Word of God it also includes becoming a better citizen in the Kingdom of God, and, therefore, a better citizen of our country.
Knowledge is fundamental to life. Dallas Willard states, “Knowledge is the capacity to represent things as they are–the basis for thought and experience.” Then why all the lies and fake news? Because there is an agenda of evil. There is a battle for the mind; there is a battle over knowledge. Jesus said, “I am the truth…”. The liberals will now scorn and mock. What was the challenge in the Garden? Adam and Eve would be like God if they ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Read the story again and see how Eve and the devil added to what God said.
Once we have knowledge we are to be obedient to that knowledge. We act upon the knowledge we have. Remember though, in obedience there will come testing. Hold fast to the idea that you have the truth. Guard that truth–diligently.

Every idea is a seed and, like a seed, it germinates. Only you have to feed it to make it grow properly.”
–Louis L’Amour (Hanging Woman Creek)

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
–Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
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“O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new glorious morn.”
–Adophe Adam (Enlish lyrics by John Sullivan Dwight)

The words to my favorite Christmas carol speak of a “holy night”. The birth of Christ was a holy occasion. The world was already groaning because of sin. Now! Now there is hope. There is hope because of Christ. It was a new morning. Mankind has the opportunity to choose Christ and be free of their sin.
I’ve seen a couple of times on Facebook the following: “The world was changed because of an unplanned pregnancy.” No!
This sullies the birth of Christ, the wisdom and omniscience of God. This pregnancy was planned even before the foundations of the world. “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” (1 Peter 1:20, NKJV) Even Mary was told before she was pregnant. No, this was not an unplanned pregnancy. This was the GREAT plan of God. The famous scripture, “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son… .”
I know that everything on Facebook and the internet is true, but here is at least one huge mistake. The omniscient God has all things in His “mind”, sees all things even before they happen. Never, ever diminish the awesomeness of the Lord! Because of the planned birth of Jesus, mankind is able to experience the “dawn of redeeming grace.”

“Silent night, Holy night,
Son of God, Love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.”
–Joseph Mohr
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Christmas Thought:
“Christmas is a time when you get homesick–even when you’re home.”
–Carol Nelson

Nostalgia, maybe, but Christmas is a time to think of Christmas. Memories, memories are very important. I really feel sorry for those who have no fond memories of Christmas. Many think of this as a painful time, but they need a new perspective for it is a time for find the truth of the Day–the birth of the Savior. 

There would be trouble enough, but man is born to trouble, and it is best to meet it when it comes and not lose sleep until it does.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Daybreakers)

“People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire.”
–Job 5:7 (NLT)
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Not too long back I heard a person say that when Jesus came He denied His deity. No! Never! I hope that this person was speaking in ignorance, but he was speaking from the platform of a church. That is just another form of Arianism. Jesus never denied His deity.
However, Paul wrote about the “kenosis”, the laying aside or putting aside of His glory. He could not have come to earth in His glory, so He willingly put it aside to become man. I believe that is one of the temptations of Christ while on earth to take back His glory.
Remember the time in Nazareth when He passed through the crowds? On the Mount of Transfiguration He began to shine. Peter, James, and John were admonished not to tell anyone about this until after He rose from the dead. Then came that fateful evening in the Garden when He was betrayed. The soldiers came and asked, “Are you Jesus?” His simple, yet powerful reply knocked them to the ground for He said, “I AM.”
Christmas, with all its lights, the stars, the angels, all that goes with it belies the magnificence and glory of Christ. This is a glorious time because Jesus did set aside His “glory”, came to earth as a man and to become the Savior.
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Christmas Thought:
“Time was with most of us, when Christmas Day, encircling all our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek; bound together all our home enjoyments, affections, and hopes; grouped everything and everyone round the Christmas fire, and make the little picture shining in our bright young eyes, complete.”
–Charles Dickens

Our world is definitely limited. Think of that, then think of Jesus who left the unlimited to come and join us. He walked looking up at the same stars we do. He thirsted and hungered, as we do. He worked and became tired so He had to rest, as we do. But He understood that there is so much more to life and especially, eternal life, as we should.
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Say, friends, there is still time to purchase “Mal de Ojo” as a gift for Christmas. Order today and you should receive it by Christmas.

You’re just as big or small as your vision is, and if you’ve a mind to work and make something of yourself, you can do it.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Daybreakers)

“Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.”
–1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NLT)
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This time of the year it is easy to envy others. The world seems to have more to offer: the parties, the spiked egg nog, the drinks. Then there are the big spenders, the stores telling you to spend more than your means.
God calls us to a life in a temporal world that is characterized by faith. Romans 1:17, states, “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.'” (NLT) We are to be zealous in doing this walking in the fear of the Lord.
Take a look at Proverbs 23:17-18, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” The sinner has hope only in this life and in what he is doing. Tomorrow he may have a hangover; tomorrow he may be broke–there is no hope.
I have heard it said many times, “that he is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good.” That may be true, only partially. It is more true to say of most Christians that they, “are so earthly minded that they are no heavenly good.” Our treasure is to be in heaven, yet we crave the pleasures of earth. We much prefer temporal satisfactions rather than the rewards in heaven. Christians, if not careful, will throw a pity-party for themselves and envy the wicked. However, they must remember that they are called to live by a different set of rules–God’s Word.
It is true that the Christian will be disciplined by God for something sinners do with applause from others. So, be careful this holiday season not to get caught up in the “glamour” of the world. Become more “heavenly minded.”
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Christmas Thought:
“Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide-open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years… Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart.”
–George Matthew Adams

I rarely give money outside my church. There are a couple of organizations that I know well that I will give to, but at Christmas I am apt to give to the Salvation Army outside a store. I started to go up to one and all she was saying was “Happy Holidays.” Now in this more conservative climate of Christmas, especially here in Texas, I expected from the Salvation Army a “Merry Christmas.” Let me tell you, they did not get my quarter this year.
Listen, all of creation changed with the birth of Christ. Through His life we see the heart of the heavenly Father. Through His death we see the love for mankind by the heavenly Father. Through His resurrection we see the power and the victory over sin and the grave. Think for a few minutes this Christmas on those gifts.