O HOLY NIGHT

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

MY NUMBER ONE FAVORITE SONG ABOUT OUR SAVIORS BIRTH.

EACH TIME I HEAR "FALL ON YOUR KNEES" TEARS BURN MY EYES!!!!



WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE FAVORITE SONG ABOUT OUR SAVIORS BIRTH?

FIRST EDITION

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

Keeping with the theme: FALL ON YOUR KNEES, here is an article of mine from the our church newsletter called FIRST EDITION.

It is partly my testimony, so I thought it went well in the December chapter of THE HOLIDAY SERIES. It is quite long, but here it is in entirety.

by KM WILSHER
It is not the easiest thing for me, being transparent, especially to brothers and sisters. Despite what I know, that Christians are not perfect people but forgiven children, I have a past. I would love to leave my past where it is, behind me; but there are others out there struggling with the same horrors I struggled with, and I feel a call to reach out to them. So I must be transparent every chance I get.

15 years ago, homeless, on my knees, and at the bottom of a rope I admitted to an addiction to crystal meth. My journey did not end there. I am among what they call cross addicted, so years later, I then came to admit I was an alcoholic. And today I can claim sobriety only one day at a time.

Nature vs. Nurture? I am not a theologian, a psychologist, or scientist, but I know that in the past I have had a strong tendency to search for relief and escape in substance.

In times of trouble I have ran to alcohol, drugs, and nicotine, but these are just the darkest of substances to which I have run. I have also turned to food, television, and work to fill a need.

In this great nation of ours there are many ways to escape the stress and trouble of life. And the sheer number of ways to avoid the pain, along with the ease and accessibility of them is overwhelming.

Many people had traumatic childhoods, but not all of these turned out to be drug addicts or drunks. Many human tragedies happen daily, just the unfair day to day events are enough to cripple us, why did I turn to drugs and alcohol? I have no idea. Was it because I was born with a predisposition? I don’t know. I do know that I thank the Lord for his deliverance before those substances drove me to an early grave or worse. I think hurting someone else in a drunken stupor would have been worse than death.

12 step programs were a catalyst for me. I did grow up in the Church, but after many years of the inability to follow some rules man had given me to follow in order to meet God on judgment day, I’d thrown religion out the window. The 12 steps led me back to Jesus Christ. Those steps were a bridge back to the loving arms of the lover of my soul who had waited and longed for me to see Him through my broken world. Those steps were also an enlightening process that God used to show me a way back home – to Him.

And now I have a passion to share this story, to hold up road signs to others, road signs pointing to a bridge that leads to Jesus. Many suffer from addiction. Addiction in many forms, relationships, working too much, gambling, etc. I even know women that cannot put romance novels down, reading until all hours of the morning, missing sleep and important dates all to read another book.

This is why groups like, Celebrate for Recovery, and FCC’s own His Path to Recovery are so important to me. The need out there is disturbing, the need not only to reach out to those who drink too much, but also the need to reach out to those in other dark cells of escapism.

There is hope. Jesus is the answer, but sometimes it takes someone who’s been there to deliver the message. Sometimes it takes someone who shares your same character defects to realize you are not alone in yours.

We all have been labeled in this life: Most likely to succeed, Class Clown, Most likely to screw it all up. The good news is we as Christians have the best label: Saved. I know that most secular 12 step groups are ever trying to squeeze God out, but God is the motivation behind those steps, and Jesus reached me through them.

So if you know someone still suffering from addiction, remember that there are Christians praying for them today. Praying for them to see the road signs, the steps, or maybe an ex-addict to help them find their way back to Jesus, their way back home.

Have you written your testimony?

MOVIE MONDAY

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
UNLEASH THE MAGIC
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

For Movie Monday in the month of December, a chapter entitled: FALL ON YOUR KNEES. I am looking at great bible story movies. And of course, during the month we celebrate Jesus' birth, THE NATIVITY STORY came to mind first.

THE NATIVITY STORY
However, there are other great movies that give us a veiw into the life of Jesus:
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
JESUS





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AND didn't want to forget the following movies, that really gave me a contemporary look at these TRUE bible stories.

THE PRINCE OF EGYPT

ESTHER

Can you think of more? Did you see the movies I've listed? Did you enjoy them?

I KNOW THE END OF THE STORY

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

"Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go." John 21:18

My family has always been very involved in missions local and abroad, planting Churches, serving Jesus. As a child, on my way to the Indian Reservation with my family to spread the Word and give food and clothes, I would picture myself as an adult on the mission field in some role. However, to my shame, my teens and early twenties did not glorify Jesus. And in my mid-twenties, I went on a journey to study every religion I could find of to locate the Truth: Science of the mind, New ageism, Indian mysticism, Buddism, Hinduism and others, and thank the Lord Jesus Christ the search for the Truth led me home. The Truth was in my life all along – Jesus was always who He claimed to be: The Son of God – and I could finally see!

In my late twenties I began to serve Jesus with all my heart, and looking at the mission field again. At Metro Church in Denver, Colorado I became a fan of some missionaries to Russia and Portugal. But, I was sincerely touched by a woman who came to visit Lakewood Church of Christ who ran a Christian elementary school in India. It was small and poor, but attendance was coveted by the community due to the love of Christ Jesus.

I thought I had found my calling. In fact, I had to do a persuasive speech in my communications class at a secular college and I spoke about the Indian Christian School and my desire to go and teach/witness there. It was a secular school, but at the end of my presentation the students gave me money! I collected $30 to put toward what I would need to get to India. The professor said he’d never seen anything like it. The Spirit was moving beautifully and my life was good. Alas, that $30 still sits --as do I – stateside.

Funny how things work. . .I’ve heard it said, “We make plans and God laughs.” I don’t know about that, but I do know in my life I’ve made plans and He says, “Wait.” Not just mission plans, but ministry plans, family plans, writing, education and career plans too. And, He says, “Wait.” “Wait” is not the easiest thing to do.

I’ve said to my Lord for many years, “I’ll go anywhere you want me to go.” But I think I always meant “anywhere but here.” And, as I’ve stayed “here”, I have remained extremely faithful and in love with the Son of God. I will not leave Him ever again.

Like Peter said in John 6:68
“Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Yes, eternal life and ironically, the Truth for which I left Him to search for in my twenties.

I wondered if I was the only one who felt this way. Was I the only one God asked to stay put -- to “Wait.”

Sarah came to mind. God asked her to wait for His promises to be revealed and fulfilled. Wait well into her elder years. I have a very strong bond with Abraham’s wife. I know we are very different. She was very beautiful; she was a wife, and the mother of many nations. I am pretty frumpy, single, and the mother of none, and yet I feel we are united.

That bond developed while I was reading the book: SARAH: Book One of the Canaan Trilogy by Marek Halter. It’s a good book. I read it a couple of years ago. And page after page I found myself saying, “Hang on Sarah. Don’t fret. Don’t give up hope. I know the end of the story.” I found myself wanting to step into her story and tell her what I know. A few months later as I was in despair, losing hope and laughing at the prospect that God had plans for me to prosper; I heard a distant voice saying, “Hang on, child. Don’t fret. Don’t give up hope. I know the end of the story.” Love, Sarah.

From my viewpoint it seems like all those around me have “go orders”. I have great respect for you all and admiration beyond belief. I feel so lucky God has placed you in my life. But, my question is; Has God asked you to wait?

FALL ON YOUR KNEES, THE HOLIDAY SERIES, DECEMBER CHAPTER

THE HOLIDAY SERIES
DECEMBER CHAPTER
FALL ON YOUR KNEES

Why the title FALL ON YOUR KNEES? This month is the deepest darkest part of the year, literally. The days are shorter and the inky night is longer than ever. Is this why we celebrate the birth of our Savior? I would like to think so. His birth, a bright light shined into the dark sin engulfing mankind. The star, a shimmering reminder that in the dark days of your life, Jesus shines through.
I love the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and this month I will fall on my knees in adoration of Him and his grand love for us.

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my
love. John 15:9

No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have
believed that I came from God. John 16:27

Jesus loves you this intensely!

Come back in December for many "gifts", book reviews, and praise for Jesus!

Are you ready for Christmas? It’s December 1, Christmas is around the corner.

When do you send out your Christmas cards?