My Friends and Family, this time of year is the most special to me, and yet I try and live every day in the same manner. I know life is tough; I know it can be difficult at times, but still as yet, there is a lot of room for Happiness and Joy…in Jesus Christ!

I know that I have written many an article about past Thanksgivings and Christmases, remembering how things were when my Mom and Dad were still around. I wrote about our Festivities and our small feasts, many in this world would never know of. Still as yet, my Parents had little money, but we were Blessed to have these times together and know the Joy for all my years to come. It is always a Blessing to be able to write of those times once again, hopefully to enlighten others, to help raise their Hopes and Dreams, just as they do for me.

One of the things that I KNOW is this: Life is tough, work is hard and Family time is scarce, for most. As yet, with the Lord Jesus Christ in your life, these small moments can be wonderful…if you are willing.

I know how things are. When I was working in the Medical Field, I knew 8-whenever days, 10-day stretches at a time, working and thinking till there was almost nothing left. Ya see, people never stop getting sick just because it’s the Holidays. As a matter of fact, the sicknesses usually get worse during the Holidays – too much food, too much drinking, sad people with no future, and the list goes on. You get my point, right?

As I look back on my life, I have known times like that, sad almost to the point of being disabled. When I was overseas, Christmas time was the worst to deal with. There was always the same old Christmas music as when I was a kid, the songs that I loved as a kid, but that was back then. I sat in the Chow hall and watched grown men tear up and cry, when “I’ll be Home for Christmas” was played. My Own heart sinking, my own eyes watering up! “Why is Life so hard?” was screaming in my head! But I did not know Jesus Christ back then; the prospect of seeing tomorrow was not there!

It was so hot and humid that the Christmas feeling was non-existent! Other times, the Rain would be pouring, coming down in sheets so hard you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face! SO I did what every other guy did; I would push all those feelings I was having as far down in my heart as I knew! “Don’t think about it; don’t remember!” was the theme of the day! How sad is that? So yes, I know how tough this life CAN be. Again, I did not know my Lord and Savior back then. Today, I wonder how different I would have been had I known Jesus Christ in those days? What about YOU?

Do you have any idea of how wonderful a glass of cold whole milk is when you never get any? They tried to make those times better: reconstituted Turkey and Mashed potatoes and dressing, but no milk. As a matter of fact, there was little that was NOT reconstituted in some fashion, and it usually tasted horrible. Still as yet, it was that…or nothing…so you ate it and tried not to remember. No one to hug and to Love, no caring…only fighting to see this afternoon, and you never tried to imagine seeing tomorrow morning…it might not happen at all!

So, as we sit down to Thanksgiving and Christmas…PLEASE remember those that are in the Military, living each and every day…somewhere far, far away – probably missing all the wonderful smells of home, the joy of being together with Family, laughing and joking. Trust me; it brings grown men to Tears!

Today, I am healthy and I thank the Lord for that! I am back home and I have buried my weapons of war! I want the Love of Family…I need that Love again and again. I have the chance to make these Holidays special and Bright for my Family…that the Lord Blessed me with, and that is what I am going to do…PRAISE THE LORD.

Please don’t forget all the Older people in Nursing homes everywhere; they do indeed miss all those times with Family and Friends. Remember those working in Hospitals, Policemen and Firemen, all that are still working the Holidays…For you and me. You cannot give of yourself enough! Take the time and give to those that will otherwise…have no Christmas or Thanksgiving. What’s it going to cost you? A little time, a little effort? Ya think?

We all have memories, thoughts of yesteryear, how everything USED to be and probably could be again…if there was someone that could help. The Lord Jesus Christ told us to “LOVE ONE ANOTHER…AS HE LOVES US.” It should be an everyday thing to do nowadays, but I digress.

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

We watch the “Christmas Carol” (with Sir Reginald Owen, 1937) movie every year, and it shows how people truly are. Do they show love for one another, the same as Jesus Asked us to do? Not for all, that is for sure, But…it does show that there is redemption…only through Jesus Christ….the Reason for the Holidays. It is sad that the movie does not prove this out, though it should! Such was the world back then and today. Still as yet, must everything remain the same? Must there be people without hope, of Christmas and Thanksgiving, or of Jesus Christ in their lives? Absolutely NOT. That, my Friends, is our responsibility to provide for them! In over 2,400 years, it is still the same…Jesus Christ FIRST.

I am home…finally! I am older now, retired with my wonderful Wife as well. My kids live next door, along with my Grandsons…so I AM BLESSED OF THE LORD. Still as yet, the world continues to fall apart, as we live in “the End of Times!” The question now is, what should we be doing as we wait on our Lord and Savior to return? Exactly what the Lord said above, “Love one another!”

Are we Blessed above all others? Yes…if you belong to Jesus Christ! So, if we Bless others, will the Lord Bless you and me…you KNOW HE WILL. HIS Holy Word tells us that!

I am going to get a Christmas tree this year, and we are going to have a Feast on Thanksgiving and on Christmas, and we are going to bring others to Jesus Christ! We are going to live as our Lord and Savior has asked us to, and we are going to do so with all the Love in our Hearts that we can muster! We will have all the smells of the season, all the JOY of the Holidays, and we are going to share everything the Lord God has Blessed us with! Absolutely…Joy to the World…The King is coming!

The Christmas that we enjoy was about the Birth of our Lord and Savior! One day…REAL SOON…we will enjoy the Coming of our Lord and Savior in the Rapture. That day, the Wedding of Jesus Christ with HIS Church… is super close! Once again, we will have everything in Jesus Christ…to enjoy. I can hardly wait to see my Mom and Dad and the rest of my Family Members, my Wife’s Mom and Dad and her Brother…once again. My Friends, that will only happen when you and your Family Belong to Jesus Christ. There is NO other way. The Holy Word of God…says so…Think about that!

We used to joke a little that one day in Heaven we will sit with each other and enjoy a cup of coffee together. I have no idea of whether that will be possible or not. Suffice to say we will be together with Jesus Christ…and for me…that will indeed be ENOUGH.

Can you imagine for a moment to be able to rest your head on the chest of Jesus Christ, to give a well-deserved sigh of relief…for Eternity? My Heart will explode with Love for HIM. I will sink to the ground before HIM and thank HIM for absolutely everything…I will HONOR HIM in every way I could ever know! HE is my Lord of lords and my King of kings…forever and ever!

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to each of you!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“

All Scripture comes from the King James Version of the Bible.

Today, I would like to ask a couple of questions and see if you are able to give the appropriately needed answer. The reason is this: Everyone wants the best of whatever; I don’t care who you are, it is the same. Everyone wants to go to Heaven, and many people believe they are “Good Enough” of a person to gain access to Heaven. Still as yet, is this correct according to the Holy Word of God? That, my Friends…is where the change is made…in other words, it is where the rubber meets the road.

Say what you will, but there are needful things to know before you get to Heaven. I don’t care what “Religion” you are or whatever Denomination you are, the Requirements for Heaven have never changed. “Religion” is the “Process of Worship,” but it will NOT give you access to Heaven! You can carry all the “Icons” that you want to carry, but, again, that will NOT get you into Heaven. There never was nor ever will be a person “Born on this Earth” that can get you into Heaven, except Jesus Christ!

If you go back through the Holy Word of God, you will find that Jesus Christ states, “Come unto me” and “Without me you can do nothing!” Do you see something there…the “ME” that Jesus Christ states? In other words, it is NOT the Pope or any Priest, it is NOT Buddha, It is NOT Confucius, it is NOT anyone else… JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY way to Heaven! Please read that last sentence again.

John 14:6-7 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” (Emphasis is mine.)

It is right there, once again, in Black and White for all to read and KNOW. YOU are NOT “Good Enough or Righteous enough.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Emphasis is mine.)

Did you see that? There is NOTHING you can do to save yourself. Your Faith in Jesus Christ …ALONE…will save you. Again, you can NOT be “Good Enough” or “Righteous Enough” or even “Learned Enough.” YOU MUST come to Jesus Christ and accept HIS Offer of Salvation. YOU MUST have all your SIN covered by HIS Blood from that Cross on Calvary. In other Words, YOU MUST have a working Relationship with Jesus Christ. THAT is the only way you will see Heaven!

So go ahead and NOT listen to the Holy Word of God! Deny Jesus Christ and HE WILL DENY YOU. You will NOT see so much as a second of Heaven… I am NOT saying this… the Word of God says it! The Bible is your best bet… read it! The Lord tells us over and over again,

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Am I trying to be forceful…to the extent…that the Holy Word of God…says one thing…which is absolute TRUTH…and the world says another? So then the question becomes…who should you listen to…some person or the Holy Word of God? Do NOT listen to me; read your Bible and see for yourself. IF you want to go to Heaven…then make the effort…take the time…read the Bible for yourself… THEN and only THEN…choose for yourself!

Matthew 7:13-15 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

The Holy Word of God…is God speaking to you…from God’s own Lips to your ears. Do NOT ask anyone else, do NOT listen to anyone else…read it for yourself and know…IT IS THE TRUTH. BUT you MUST read it for yourself…and then decide for yourself. Jesus Christ or Satan! One is going to take you to Heaven and the Other will take you to Hell and then the Lake of Fire…THAT IS TRUTH. God said it…I Believe it…and for me that settles it. What are YOU going to believe? Where is your Home in Eternity… Heaven…or Hell?

Let me say this…you will have to make a decision…Jesus Christ or not. Here’s the thing: should you choose NOT to make a decision…THAT is your decision to NOT follow Jesus Christ! You must completely Choose to Have Jesus Christ in your Life. Anything else…anything short of that…YOU are Lost…You are doomed. THAT, my Friends, is what the Holy Word of God says…in Black and White.

Just so you know…the Rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ…is so close…so very, very close. If you choose to wait…it could end up being too late!

2 Corinthians 6:2 “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

My Friends…there is no better time…than RIGHT NOW. Do you know when you will die…do you know when the Rapture will take place? NO. Then I can assure you, time is of the essence and there is no better time than RIGHT NOW.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“

All Scripture comes from the King James Version of the Bible.