We've been told it's happening

What's happening?  Everything.  Stand by.  While waiting, enjoy our post.  Might be allowed to    release more news tomorrow. Glory be to God almighty.

HOLY HUMOR

During these serious and troubled times, people of all faiths should remember these four great religious truths:

     1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God's Chosen People.

     2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

     3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world.

     4. Baptists do not recognize each other at the liquor store.

GOOD SAMARITAN

A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?"

     A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence,"I think I'd throw up."

DID NOAH FISH?

A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishingwhen he was on the Ark ?"

     "No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms!"

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most
quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23 . She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly,

     "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

UNANSWERED PRAYER

The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why. "Well, Honey," he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. "I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon."

      "How come He doesn't answer it?" she asked.

BEING THANKFUL

A Rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, "So your mother says your prayers for you each night? That's very commendable. What does she say?" The little boy replied,

     "Thank God he's in bed!"

ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS

When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past). For several weeks,after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, "And all girls." This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, "Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?" Her response,

      "Because everybody always finish their prayers by saying 'All Men'!"

SAY A PRAYER

Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away. "Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer." said his mother. "I don't need to," the boy replied. "Of course, you do "his mother insisted. "We always say a prayer before eating at our house."

     "That's at our house." Johnny explained. "But this is Grandma's house

     and she knows how to cook!"

THE BIBLE

Did you know that... When you carry the Bible, Satan has a headache. When you open it, he collapses. When he sees you reading it, he faints. Let's read the Bible every day so he keeps on fainting. Maybe one day he'll have a stroke and never wake up. And did you also know that when you are about to forward this email to others,  The devil will discourage you but forward it anyway.

Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God

Author Leo Buscaglia

WHAT THE CHRISTMAS CANDY CANE SYMBOLIZES

The Pure White Stick of Hard Candy

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White was used to symbolize purity. He had two aspects of purity in mind. First, the white symbolized the purity of the Virgin Birth. White has long been the symbol of sexual purity. Originally that is why a bride would walk down the aisle on her wedding day in a white wedding gown. The white dress testified that she was a virgin.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virgin. Let’s look at the account in Luke 1:26-35. Note verse 34. Mary testifies to her virginity, her sexual purity. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin. The white of the candy cane reminds us of the Virgin Birth of Christ.

Secondly, the white of the candy cane reminds us that Christ was sinless. Christ, the God-man, lived a perfect life. He never sinned once. This is testified to in many passages of the Bible.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Do you know why it is so important that Christ was sinless? He was sinless so that he could pay for our sins! The following verses testify to this truth…

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

The pure white in the candy cane represents the sinlessness of Christ.

The Rock-hardness of The Candy Cane

The candy cane is made of rock-hard candy and there is a reason for that. The rock symbolizes the Solid Rock (Christ) who is the foundation of the believer and the Church.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:24-27 gives us a clear illustration of the stability of building our life on the Lord Jesus Christ and instability of building our lives on anything else.

The Old Testament is filled with references for the Lord being our rock. Here are just two examples.

Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalms 62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.

The rock-hardness of the candy cane symbolizes that Christ is the solid rock of the believer's life.

The Candy Cane Forms The Letter "J"

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. I remind you of what the Angel said to Joseph -- And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

There is no more important or powerful name in all the universe than the name Jesus. I have good reason for saying that. Turn in you Bibles to Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus Christ is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Every created being, angelic or human, will bow and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the SUPREME SOVEREIGN and ONLY SAVIOR. Those who choose to do it now become his children by faith in His atoning death. Those who will not make that confession now will confess Jesus is Lord when they stand before the Great White Throne of Judgment, but then it will be too late. In that context, before the Great White Throne of Judgment they will be admitting that they are justly damned to the Lake of Fire because they refused to receive Christ as their Savior when they live on the earth! Confess that Jesus Is Lord NOW! Receive Him as your Savior TODAY!

The "J" of the candy cane stands for Jesus. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6).

The Red Stripes On The Candy Cane

"Genuine" candy canes had three small red stripes and one large red stripe on them. There is a good reason for that. The candymaker used three stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed or saved from our sins. Isaiah 53:5 points out our Lord's punishment for our sins -- But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 1 Peter 2:24 makes it clear that this is what took place -- Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the Cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life if we believe on and personally receive Him.

Revelation 1:5 says that Christ loved us, "…and washed us from our sins in his own blood." As we have seen earlier, in 1 Peter 1:18-19 it is the precious blood of Jesus Christ that redeems all who believe from their sins. One of my favorite songs is Nothing But The Blood of Jesus. It goes this way: What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

The three small stripes on the candy cane symbolize the whipping that Jesus took as he paid for our sins. The broad stripe symbolizes the blood Christ shed on the Cross as He died for our sins that we might be saved. Is Christ your Savior?

There you have it. The Christmas Candy Cane is a wonderful Christian Christmas symbol. The pure white symbolizes the purity of the Virgin Birth and the sinlessness of Christ. The rock-hardness symbolizes Christ the solid rock, the sure foundation of the believer. The "J" stands for JESUS the Savior, the name which is above every name. The three stripes symbolize the whipping that Jesus took as payment for our sins and the broad stripe His shed blood for our sins on the Cross.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season!!!

     

With God, all things are POSSIBLE.