“This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again. Howard W. Hunter

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Another year has ended. Another Christmas is here. Thank you for allowing me to share my love of and faith in Jesus Christ. It many ways, it has been a different December from what I planned – very limited social interactions with others. Yet, in many ways, it has been exactly what I planned. I took my walk with Christ. I served, at times under difficult circumstances, and felt His comfort and Love. Throughout this entire year, through the pain and suffering, I was never alone. He was always near.

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STORY IN RUSSIA

In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage. They relate the following story in their own words:

It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear – for the first time -- the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.

Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.

The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat -- he looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at his completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately -- until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.

Then Misha started to ad lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, 'If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?' And Jesus told me, 'If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.' So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him -- for always."

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him -- FOR ALWAYS."

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To the Babe of Bethlehem, I celebrate your birth. You gave m e a perfect brightness of hope.  To the Savior, I celebrate the pattern you gave me to live happily and to return to my Father in Heaven. Until next year, may God bless you and keep you safe in the arms of his love.~~~ Marilee

Because he Lives

Because He Lives - YouTube

Because He lives;
Because He rose in mighty triumph from the grave
I put my trust in Him, and seek to follow Him in faith
Because He lives

Because He lives,

I Shall find strength To stand against the tempter’s power

He is my refuge and defense in every troubled hour

Because He lives

chorus:

Because He lives,

I can bear whatever burden may be mine

I am encircled in the arms of love divine Because He lives,

Because He lives

Because He lives,

He will banish every shadow of my pain

Every sorry will be swallowed up in Him

For in his hand is healing for the weary soul

This I know because he lives

Because He lives,

My heart is filled with peace amid a world of fear

And through the blindness of the night,

In Him I rest secure

Because He lives,

Because He lives,

There is no task so great that I cannot endure

I bear no heartache that His tender mercy cannot cure

Because He lives,

(chorus)

Because He lives I will fear no darkness

Because He lives I will walk in light

Because He lives I will praise His kindness

Because He lives hope shines ever bright

Because He lives I will seek His righteousness

Because He lives I’ll follow where He leads

Because He lives I shall conquer even death

And I shall live because He lives!

Because He lives

I will rejoice in Christ and glorify His name

And with the willing voice of gratitude proclaim:

My Savior lives!

Because He lives

He will banish every shadow of my pain

Every sorrow will be swallowed up in Him

For in His hand is healing for the weary soul

This I know because He lives