Gifts/Giving Dec 09

We have been talking about Compassion in Rush Hour this month. On 12/13 we talked about gifts and how God gave us the greatest gift ever - Jesus. We followed that up with a question - What will you give? This time of year, so many people focus on what they want for Christmas, they miss the opportunity to listen and see what would bless those around them. I want to encourage you to follow God's example and give your very best this year. You'll have to watch and listen. Pay attention to those around you to see what would be a blessing to them. Compared to getting stuff, you actually do feel better when you give and especially when give your very best. Make this Christmas about others and discover the joy of giving.

Things I learned from my dog Walter

Kind of a sad note to start off December but here is something I learned about life from my dog. On Thanksgiving evening he decided to go for a walk on his own and got hit by a car. He was hurt real bad and he didn't make it through. He always lived life a little dangerously. When we first brought him home, as a puppy he decided to try out some rat poison - he made it through that one. Several other close scrapes with vehicles, fights with muskrats and other critters and dogs and the list goes on. It got me to thinking. When we live our lives headed in a direction that is opposite to the way we should be going, eventually it could get us. The Bible says there is blessing in obedience. We talk every week in Rush Hour about three rules. One of those is, "I need to make the wise choice." I wish my little dog would have made the wise choice and stayed home but he didn't. I hope you choose your friends wisely and if they ever want to talk you into going someplace you know you shouldn't, that the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart and you will make the wise choice and do what is right. Rules are good and they protect us. Obedience to instruction and direction does the same thing. Even Jesus learned obedience as He grew up. I wanted to share with you what I learned form my dog that is a good reminder of why we need to make the wise choice.