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The Main Ingredient of Christmas

By VC Edwards

A favorite southern holiday recipe is candied yams. Candied yams are sweet potatoes prepared with a variation of sugar, brown sugar, molasses or maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, dabs of butter, and topped with marshmallows, if desired. Any way candied yams are prepared, the main ingredient is sweet potato, made sweeter with added sugary ingredients.

One can only assume that, generations ago, someone devised this method of preparation after experiencing a bad crop of sweet potatoes. To sweeten the sweet potatoes, a cook went to her cupboard and used everything sweet that could be found, until the sweet potatoes lived up to their name. Clever as that may be when faced with a bad crop of sweet potatoes, it is unnecessary when good sweet potatoes are available. When this nutritious food is turned into a sugary dessert, it is impossible to enjoy the natural sweetness of the sweet potato. The art of cooking sweet potatoes is knowing how to pick them and then cook them to maintain their natural sweetness.

The basics of picking a good sweet potato is to never choose huge sweet potatoes or narrow potatoes with roots (the larger ones are not the sweetest ones, and if there are roots on the outside, there will be strings inside). Chose medium-size potatoes with a deep orange color. Bake them in their skin, like a baked potato. When they are soft (when you are able to stick a fork in them), enjoy nice, hot sweet potatoes. Once you have eaten properly picked and cooked sweet potatoes, it is unlikely that you will ever want sugar-coated sweet potatoes again.

Similar to sweet potatoes, Christmas has become sugar-coated—overloaded with store-bought, glittery, meaningless stuff. Christ has been bumped from Christmas, as department stores compete for our time, energy and money. We are left unfulfilled after the holiday season because we get caught up in wrappings and bows, with no gratitude for Jesus. Every Christmas, we look to do things bigger and better, with gifts and activities that have nothing to do with Christ. When we let merchants take control of our Christmas, we end up empty inside because nothing bought us closer to God. Jesus Christ is the central ingredient in Christmas and the message of Christmas never needs to be sugar-coated with fairy tales for children or expensive or unnecessary presents to those who will do likewise.

Jesus Christ gave us the greatest gift ever given. (See “God was Born” below.) If you want to do something big at Christmas and year round in gratitude of the gift Christ has given you, seize opportunities to give to someone who cannot give you anything in return. Help someone who cannot help you. Be kind to those who have no expectancy of your kindness. However you chose to celebrate Christmas, remember to invite Jesus, by sharing the message of Christ with everyone you know.

God was Born

God designed the world to operate by love. In order for God to be true to His order, He has to punish everyone who fails to love. But God, in His infinite love and wisdom, has provided man an escape from eternal death, the punishment for not loving. God made an exchange to save us from our deserved fate. He, Himself, stepped forward to be born of a woman, in order to be subjected to human conditions and temptations. When God was born, He was given a new name. You shall call His name Jesus: for He saves those from sin who accept Him as Lord. (Matthew 1:21) Jesus lived in a world of hate without ever committing a sin, choosing to love, and therefore qualified Himself to be an exchange for us. He accepted total guilt and punishment for our offenses of not loving! Jesus did not give us a license to sin; He gives each and every person an opportunity to be free from sin. Even though Jesus died, He is alive—being the only One in history to rise from death, never to die again, but ascend into heaven—proving Himself to be God!

©VC Edwards

If you confess that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved! (Romans 10:9)

© VC Edwards 2009, All rights reserved.

Found Treasure Publishing

Christian-secrets.com

By VC Edwards

God Wants You

Countless individuals throughout history, who had no significant purpose in life, have been given an opportunity to be used for God, such as Rahab, a prostitute, who hid God’s people from her own (Joshua 2). Down through history, God has used people to pass on a message, block communication, protect women and children, provide sustenance to God’s people, stand up for a devout cause, and so on. Everyone who has ever come to God, started with one simple act for God.

Many people do not think God would ever want them to help Him carry out an assignment, while there are others who have sought a mission to do for God. Whatever one thinks, God is willing to use anyone, who is humble. Each person who has carried out God’s will, in the smallest way, has advanced God’s mission for all humanity.

While Rahab did not necessarily live upright, she had the business sense to know when a once-in-a-lifetime offer was presented to her. She properly discerned that this opportunity would advance God’s mission, not man’s greed. And she had the good sense to seize the opportunity, understanding it would be an honor to do anything for the God, who she had long heard was Supreme.

When God asks you to do something for Him, do not make the mistake of questioning God’s judgment. Do not worry about the life you have led. Simply, give God your sincere best. Whatever God has you do, it will not be anything you are incapable of doing. You already have whatever ability or skill needed. In Rahab’s case, she had to simply keep a secret for God’s people. Sometimes God can use worldly people, simply because they know how the world operates; they know the patterns of seedy activity and street life, in order to infiltrate an area and effectively protect those who are on a mission for Christ.

Once you have worked for God, He will bless you with opportunity to leave your previous lifestyle, as He did Rahab. Once you have worked for God, and proven your loyalty, God no longer considers you an outsider; He wants you on His team for eternity, to privilege you with all the blessings of one of His own.

When God takes you by surprise, one day, and asks you to stand up for His purpose, trust God’s judgment and be glad God considers you worthy to carry out an assignment for Him.

For more info, read “How to Hear God to Prosper” by VC Edwards.

© Found Treasure Publishing 2009

Christian-secrets.com

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- A Gift for You

by VC Edwards

Wealth to Witness

A misconception of Christianity is that Christians should not desire wealth, but should only attain means to sustain themselves. This is undoubtedly a myth started and spread by people who do not want Christians to have wealth to have power and influence in the world. And unfortunately, many Christians have bought into this myth for them and their families. In biblical days, everyone who represented God, from Abraham to King Solomon, were exceedingly wealthy. And, Jesus sought people for His entourage who had their own businesses and practices—people who were not influenced by secular bosses, earning hourly wages, but people who had unlimited financial potential, and therefore were respected and influential in their time.

The love of money is the root of all evil.

1Timothy 6:10 KJV

Never let money influence you to act contrary to God’s will, but gain money to advance God’s mission, without limits. Do not use money to purchase “things” in excess for your personal use. When making and spending money, use godly discernment, the same as you must do, as a Christian, with everything in life—from relationships with people to career choices. The more money you have, the more potential you have to promote Jesus Christ.

Wealth is a factor in determining who has control, power and influence in the world. Christians necessitate wealth to influence the world for Christ. Wealth is a product of God’s blessings and when we forfeit our blessing of wealth, we relinquish our ability to spread God’s message throughout the world.

It is not a problem for Christians to be wealthy; it is a problem for Christians, of whatever means, to forget Christ and forget to minister to people for Christ. If wealth will make you turn your back on God, then you should not aspire to be wealthy. In order to do great works for Christ, it is necessary to handle money wisely. Your faith is in question if you cannot handle money responsibly for Christ.

For more info, read “How to Hear God to Prosper” by VC Edwards.

© VC Edwards 2009, All rights reserved

Found Treasure Publishing

Christian-secrets.com

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- The God Who Makes America Great

by VC Edwards

4^th of July Observance

The diversified cultural traditions of those who make up our country have clouded our historical traditions; we have grossly forgotten the God who made us great because along with varied cultures comes varied gods. As the greatest country in the world, it is crucial for every American to know and understand the God who makes us great. Jesus Christ has proven to be the true God (read “A Gift for You”) and without question, blessed America to greatness.

If you will listen diligently to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe and do all His commandments…this day, then the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth. Deuteronomy 28:1

Virtually every immigrant, who comes to America, has come to escape some form of oppression in his or her home country. Immigrants, typically, but illogically, do not let go of their “gods” when they come to America; instead, more and more American citizens, ironically, have become fascinated with foreign gods and have taken on “gods” that are prevalent in oppressed countries. And now we are experiencing dreadful, cumulative, conditions of a recession because we have neglected the God, who blessed us. Americans have called on “gods” that are nothing more than statues, have practiced forms of witchcraft originated from the darkest places in the world, and have labeled people who are subject to death as idols, while ignoring and disrespecting the true God; all of which have caused Americans to lose homes, jobs, cars, benefits, basic necessities, family connections and everything short of freedom, which could also be taken away, if America continues to worship false gods, instead of the God who blesses.

America, we found the true God to be indisputably Jesus Christ, but allowed ourselves to be fooled into entertaining other “gods.” As we celebrate our independence, in what is still the greatest country in the world, it is time to rededicate to the God, who blesses.

Start your rededication to Christ, by reading “How to Hear God to Prosper” by VC Edwards.

© VC Edwards 2009, All rights reserved.

Found Treasure Publishing

Christian-secrets.com

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- Serving Your Country

by VC Edwards

Finding favor in an “if” proposition.

Many of us have encountered a church that advocates, “IF you want to be blessed by God, you have to give money to the church.” Many people have given to a church, on this assertion, but giving money to a church does not guarantee blessings from God. If someone gives to a church, but does not honor the dictates of God, God is not obliged to bless him or her. If people give to a church, but the church does not use the monies to advance the message of Christ, no one is blessed by their giving. No one knows of all the “if” propositions that have misled people over the centuries. Countless individuals have lived with regrets because they were duped by an “if” proposition. When propositioned by mankind, “if” is typically a sales pitch that can cost you dearly, and leave you with unfulfilled promises.

However, God poses an “if” proposition that is the contrary.  God poses, ”If” you do what He says, you will be blessed—it will not cost you, but rather you will find increase.

…IF you will listen diligently to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe and do all His commandments, which I (Moses) command you this day, then the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth. Deuteronomy 28:1

God goes on to list all the blessings He will give you, ”if” you observe His commandments. (Deut. 28:1-14) Throughout history, people have left out the two-letter word from their interpretation of God’s commands, assuming God would bless them regardless of their actions. Ignoring ”if” from God’s command has left people to live miserable lives (Deut. 28:15-68). “If” is a word that poses a condition and needs to be given utmost attention when spoken by God, being He is the One who has all power to bless.

To rescue mankind, who twisted God’s offer and ended up in misery, Jesus Christ settled the greatest proposition beginning with “if,” in the history of mankind—which was, ”If” you are God, prove it. Jesus’ false accusers asked Him to prove He was God by saving Himself from the cross (Matthew 27:40). But Jesus waited until after He had been pronounced dead, to prove He was God by rising from the grave (a far greater feat). He proved, indeed, He is God and has all power to perform in any impossible situation! Jesus died for us, for going against God’s commands, and rose, giving us a new lease on life (see, “A Gift for You”). So, ”if” you have a problem, whatever it may be, look for Jesus and He will turn your problem into favor. No matter what you face in life, ”if” you put your trust in Jesus Christ, you will come out a winner!

“IF you look for Me in earnest, you will find Me when you seek Me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.” Jeremiah 29:13-14 (NLT)

For more info, read “How to Hear God to Prosper” by VC Edwards.

© VC Edwards 2009

Christian-secrets.com

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