A SON FOR CHRISTMAS

By: Donna Selma Lind

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Isaiah 9:6

 A young soldier returned home from the Vietnam war never to be the same. He had enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at seventeen years old. Not even old enough to vote, the other soldiers from 3rd Battalion 9th Marines nicknamed him, "The Kid." 

"The Kid," fought his way through the jungle surviving many battles only by the grace of God and prayers of his grandmother did he make it out. He was awarded a Combat Valor Bronze star when his company came under intense rocket propelled grenade fire and automatic weapon ground assault. His company K sustained many casualties. As bodies lie lifeless and bullets whizzed past his head, the Kid fearlessly moved across the fire-swept terrain and retrieved an abandoned M-60 machine gun lying in an area dangerously exposed to hostile fire. As he ran back to his fellow marines he realized the machine gun was inoperable, the Kid quickly corrected the malfunction and delivered a heavy volume of accurate fire against the advancing enemy. Continuing his determined efforts he then assisted in the evacuation of his comrades to a helicopter landing zone.

His heroic actions and aggressive fighting spirit were an inspiration to all who observed him. 

But nothing in combat had prepared him to become a father and yet a short time after he returned home from war that is exactly what happened.

Unable to take care of the child, the young mother and father made the painful decision to put the baby up for adoption. The newborn baby boy was adopted by a loving family. 

The soldier never knew what happened to his son, but he prayed daily for him to grow up to know the Lord and have a relationship with Jesus.

Fast forward forty seven years later. The message came, "Your son found you and would like to meet you!" 

They came for an early Christmas. A Father and Son brought together by God's Amazing Grace. 

The tears and laughter flowed and Joy filled our home as we shared our love for the Lord and for our new son, daughter in law and three precious new grandchildren! Our prayers had been answered, they were believers and our hearts were quickly knitted together. 

The similarities between father and son, two grandsons and granddaughter were remarkable.  

The way they tilt their heads, the manner in which the fold their arms, the shape of their nose and ears, their fun and active personalities. You cannot deny DNA. 

We have many years of catching up to do and many years of exciting new memories ahead. 

How do we possibly thank God for giving us the amazing gift of A SON FOR CHRISTMAS and a beautiful brand new family to go along with our son? 

"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:5

The similarities of this story about a Father and Son and another Father and Son come to mind. 

Over two thousand years ago a baby boy was born."Unto us a child is born, unto us a son was given."

This is the story of A SON FOR CHRISTMAS. The son of God born of the virgin Mary who came to take away the sins of the world. The son who hung on a cross and gave his life for you and me.

JESUS CAME AS A GIFT WRAPPED IN LOVE FOR CHRISTMAS! 

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15

"For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Happy Birthday Jesus! Merry Christmas Blessings! 

Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!

Donna Selma Lind 💗

 

 

THE ONE THING

By: Donna Selma Lind

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come help me.”

41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 NLT

Look at the differences between these two sisters who are both in the presence of the Lord. 

One sister saturates and soaks in the presence. The other sister is so busy and distracted that she totally misses the fact that her Lord and Savior is in the room, right in front of her eyes.

BUT MARTHA 

She was:

·     DISTRACTED- She Lost the Focus.

·     BUSY, BUSY, BUSY-  She had too many ACTIVITIES going.

·     PREPARATIONS- She was the original Martha Stewart perfectionist.

·     OVERWHELMED – She was out of God’s will.

·     WORRIED, ANGRY, UPSET, CRYING, COMPLAINING - Now she was worn out, on overload and mad at everyone else who was not on her crazy train! 

BUT MARY:

She was:

·     SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS - Surrendering herself, her time and attention. She was submissive and obedient as a servant is to her King.

·     LISTENING TO WHAT HE TAUGHT - She sat, Ready to receive. Soaking up wisdom and lessons from her Teacher, Rabbi and Lord.

·    THE ONE THING OF CONCERN - The one and only thing that matters, Jesus!

·     IT WON’T BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER - What won’t be taken? Grace, Peace, Love and Joy. And her Relationship and Eternity with Jesus Christ.

MARTHA & MARY BOTH SERVANTS -

On this occasion, SERVING DIFFERENT MASTERS.

One serving and Pleasing People.

 One serving and Pleasing Jesus.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

·    WITH CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVITIES UPON US HOW CAN WE BE MORE LIKE MARY INSTEAD OF MARTHA?

KEYS TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE ONE THING DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

* SIMPLIFY! Push the EASY BUTTON. Ask yourself, how can I simplify this? Peace & Simplicity go hand and hand. Less is More. Aim for Excellence Not Perfection!

·     * SAY NO TO CHRISTMAS CHAOS!  It’s okay to Say NO! Have good Boundaries, Stick to a Budget, have Limits on gifts, money, parties, food. Choose events wisely.  Don’t overbook your calendar. Schedule time for Jesus every day! Please God, Not People.

·    * PEOPLE CAN’T DRIVE YOU CRAZY IF YOU DON’T GIVE THEM THE KEYS!

·     We all know that one person that drives us crazy…Don’t give them the keys! Don’t allow a person or situation to steal your peace and joy! Pray for Self -Control, think before you speak, count to ten walk away. Don’t let people hijack your emotions. You can’t control how they act but you can control how you Re-act.

* TAKE FIVE. Stop, Breathe and Receive God’s peace.

·     

·     * ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE – Count your Blessings instead of your problems. Live each day with a grateful heart. Your attitude of gratitude is contagious, pass it on. Pay it forward for someone.  Serve others, volunteer in a ministry. Start a new family tradition. Make a Gratitude Board or journal and each day write down what you’re thankful for!

·     * HAVE GRACE & MERCY- EVERYONE IS FIGHTING A BATTLE. Christmas is a hard time for many. People are dealing with loss, loneliness, sadness, divorce depression, anxiety and grief. Reach out, call or text, invite them to church, get a cup of coffee, share an encouraging Bible verse, be a listening ear, give a hug. 

      ENCOURAGE, BE COMPASSIONATE. SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS! 

 TOSS KINDNESS AROUND LIKE CONFETTI!  

·      

      * REMEMBER WHAT’S IMPORTANT.  

       JESUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

       JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.  

       PUT CHRIST BACK IN CHRISTMAS. 

      BAKE A CAKE AND SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS! 

·     DON’T GET SO BUSY WITH PREPARATION’S, DISTRACTIONS and CELEBRATIONS THAT YOU MISS OUT ON THE ONE THING.  

·     THE ONE THING IS JESUS.  

Hallelujah!

 Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!

Donna Selma Lind 

SAVED BY A SEWING MACHINE

By: Donna Selma Lind

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you." 1 Peter 5:10

"Wake up. Get your Sewing Machine and go give it to Christine." 

I woke up, sat straight up in bed and looked to see if my husband was talking to me, he was sound asleep. I knew it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me. 

Sitting on the side of the bed, I wiped the sleep from my eyes and did my best to convince God he must have made a mistake and surely He meant to wake someone else for this assignment.  

I whined like a spoiled little kid crying to her Daddy, "Lord, why would I give my Sewing Machine to Christine? That doesn't make sense. I love my Sewing Machine, I don't want to give her my Sewing Machine! It's MY Sewing Machine!"  

Then I heard in my spirit; GO NOW and give Christine your Sewing Machine!

I got up, got dressed, packed up my Sewing Machine and headed out the door on an assignment from God. I had no idea what or why, but I have learned when I hear from God to PRAY and OBEY!

I drove fifteen minutes across town parked the truck and lugged my Sewing Machine up Three flights of stairs. 

Christine was one of our new tenants who lived in an apartment building we owned. I didn't know much about her except that she had health issues and was disabled. 

I knocked on the door and Christine hollered from inside, "Who is it?" 

It's me, the Landlord Donna.

When Christine opened the door a thick cloud of smoke billowed out of the apartment. A cigarette hung from her bottom lip and the smell of whiskey mixed with the cigarette smoke about knocked me back down the stairs! 

She peered at me like a bug with thick coke bottle glasses that magnified her crossed eyes. It made it hard for me to know where to look to talk to her.

In her dirty bare feet and bathrobe she snapped; "What do you want?"

I told her, I don't know why, but I believe God told me to come over here right now and give you this Sewing Machine! 

I didn't think her eyes could bug out any bigger but they did! 

She screamed and started bawling hysterical! She grabbed the Sewing Machine, grabbed me and started jumping up and down. She was blubbering something and I couldn't understand a word she was saying.

I made her sit down. I got her a glass of water and some tissues. I made her take some deep breaths so I could understand what she was saying.

In between tears and puffs off her cigarette she told me; "Right before you knocked on the door I was getting ready to kill myself!" 

She showed me the pills she had lined up to take with all the whiskey she had drunk. She was writing a goodbye note to her son.

She had decided she had nothing to live for and felt her life was worthless. She made a decision an hour ago to end her life. 

Christine told me that a few years before she had gotten very sick and lost her job, her home and all of her belongings. She and her son ended up destitute and homeless living on the streets. 

Recently she qualified for Disability and was able to get assistance to move into this tiny studio apartment. Although she was grateful to have a home she didn't feel productive or useful since she could no longer do what she loved to do. 

So she cried out to God to help give her a reason to live.

That's when I knocked on her door.

I asked Christine what her job was before she got sick and lost everything?

She told me she was a Seamstress!

Glory to God! She was a Seamstress!!!

Christine wept as she told me how she had to sell her Sewing Machine and other belongings for she and her son to survive when they lived on the streets. She always prayed someday, somehow she would be able to have another Sewing Machine. 

That day, God gave Christine the desires of her heart. 

Before I left we prayed and Christine gave her heart to Jesus!

The next week Christine opened her tiny apartment for me to hold weekly Bible studies. 

We all donated scraps of material and sewing supplies. Every square inch of her little apartment was redecorated with home sewn curtains, slipcovers and tablecloths. 

She started her own business where she made crafts and clothes to sell for extra income as well as gifts for everyone who lived in the building and came to our Bible study.

I even bought her new eyeglasses! Christine was a new woman recreated in Christ! She found her purpose. Christine was full of the Joy of the Lord and shared Jesus with everyone she met!

Who knew a Sewing Machine could save someones life? 

God did.

Would Christine have killed herself that day had I not been obedient to the voice of the Lord? 

Only God knows that answer. But I am so thankful to be used by God to have been able to give something to someone that could change and save their life. 

Yes the Sewing Machine was a gift, but I'm talking about giving the gift of salvation and Jesus Christ! 

Jesus is a gift for us to share with everyone we meet. 

The Sewing Machine was a tool used to introduce Christine to Jesus. 

It is Jesus who saved Christine's life that day. 

Jesus is the one who mended her heart and stitched her life back together! 

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

Donna Selma Lind 💗