2^nd Edition, Volume 2, Demi #32 

The holiday season is here again and with it comes the smells and sounds of Christmas.  This is absolutely my favorite time of year as I know is true for many of you.  However, recently a series of events caused me to shift focus to the true meaning of Christmas and to begin thinking about the new year to come.  

One of my daughter’s school mates died tragically right before the Thanksgiving holiday.  It was shocking and dreadful for us but I could only imagine how sad and overwhelming it was for the parents of this beautiful child.  Because of this event, I have been spending a tremendous amount of time interceding in prayer on behalf of this family, knowing that they have fallen into the depths of despair.  

While praying, God impressed on my heart that the sadness I have been feeling when I think of the gravity of losing a child is small compared to the sadness He feels every time one of His own is lost to Him forever without ever coming to know Him.  It made me realize that when ever we celebrate Christmas, God is reminded of His great gift of His son and the many people that have never come into a saving knowledge of Jesus, the Messiah.  

As a result, I determined right then and there that 2007 would be a year of more boldness in my life.  A boldness to declare who Jesus is and why I believe that He is the true Messiah who came to provide the path for us back to God.  And I want to challenge you to do the same.  

My challenge is this:  If you do not believe in God or don’t know who He is, then ask Him to show you that He is real and that He wants you to know Him and have a right relationship with Him.  I believe that God will send people across your path and will allow circumstances to occur that will amaze you as seek the truth about Him.  And if you do know God through His Son Jesus Christ, then ask Him to empower you to tell what He has meant in your life to all your family and friends and to share with them why you believe that Jesus is who He says He is – the divine Son of God.  

There is a popular television commercial that says, “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.”  I would like to amend that to say, “Friends don’t let friends and others they love go through life without telling them about Jesus.” 

Will you take the challenge?  A lot is riding on your answer.  

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.”  (John 3:16 -17, The Message Bible)  

May you and all those you love have a very Merry Christmas and come to know its true meaning in 2007!