Taking a short Break

I am taking a short break from the Blog and will start writing devotions again on January 1st I hope everyone is having a great time during the Holidays and that you are all looking forward to a great 2010 and all that God has planned for you and for Anchor Baptist Church

God Bless You All

Jeff

Merry Christmas

You Are Invited

Luke 2:4-8
Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
6While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Joseph and Mary were invited, the shepherds were invited, the wise men were invited, to witness the story of God becoming flesh. Becoming one of us so that He could show us how much He loved us. Not by just being born but by giving His life so that we could have life.

You Are Invited

to Anchor Baptist Church

Tonight Thursday December 24th

at 6:00pm

to celebrate the Birth of Christ

We will have a candle light service that includes Christmas songs, The Christmas Story, and The Lord's Supper.

300 Futch Creek Rd in the

Porters Neck area off Highway 17

( The service will last about 35 minutes. For Information call 547-0404)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA

12 Days of Christmas

Check this out turn up the speakers and enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kYEK-pxs_A&feature=channel

Smart Young Man

Matthew 6:19-21
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

One day , the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked. "Oh yeah, " said the son. "So , tell me , what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them." The boy's father was speechless..

Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74CNUExD4I8&feature=fvw

Thanks to J.R. Hatcher for sharing this article with me

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Oh I know Christmas is not about Santa it's all about Jesus but I love the picture and it reminds me that we all need to be careful during the Holidays. People, including Santa, are driving recklessly and not using very good judgement. So have a great Christmas and let's make sure we are all here in 2010 to see what God is going to do in our lives.

Judges 13:4 "Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink...

In 2008 over 37,000 people died on our highways 37% of those were from drunk drivers. North Carolina ranks 5th in the nation in drunk driving fatalities. So even though this is a funny picture this is no laughing matter. It is not enough that we take care of ourselves this Christmas Season but if you see someone who has had too much to drink at a party DO NOT LET THEM DRIVE. Oh they might be a little mad but at least they will be alive. Please be very careful. Click the link below and watch and then share it with every teenager you know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZsla5HGoFE

Do You Know What I Know?

Luke 2:15

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."

God has made this story known to us just as the angels made it known to the Shepherds. He has made it known through His Word and also through our personal experience with Christ. Now we, like the Shepherds, must make it known to the world. This is the best time of the year to share the story of Christ. People are thinking about it and if they do not attend Church any other time they will go at Christmas. Invite everyone you know and share this life changing and Eternity altering truth with someone Today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYGAd4pd2vg

Don't Let Them be Alone

Matthew 25:35-40 (New American Standard Bible)
35'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
38'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

I believe that says it all. During the Christmas season take time to visit someone who is sick or lonely. If you don't know someone call the local nursing home and ask if they have someone with no family to visit them. You will be surprised to find how many are alone on Christmas day. It will be your greatest Christmas blessing to visit them. This video takes 39 seconds to watch but will bless your heart for days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkKRypB6me0

Don't be Fooled

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

A lady thought this would be a great gag. She used this as her Christmas decorations. A staged scene of a man hanging from a house with the fallen ladder. Well, it backfired and there were so many 911 calls that the police made her take it down. People even drove up in her yard to try and rescue the poor guy. One man hurt himself trying to put the ladder back up. Just remember Christmas is about Christ. All the other stuff is fun and it is great to get together with family, open presents, drink hot chocolate, sing Christmas songs. Nothing is wrong with any of that as long as we keep our priorities in order. We invite you to our Christmas Eve service at 6:00pm at Anchor Baptist Church, 300 Futch Creek Rd. in the Porters Neck area off of Highway 17. We will have a Candle light service and observe the Lord's Supper. I hope you and your family can come and join us for this very special Christmas tradition that reminds us of the real reason to celebrate Christmas. Click on the link and enjoy a great Christmas Classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFirYXLoP5Q&feature=related

Talk About Hard to Buy For.

Matthew 2:11

After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

We all struggle trying to find that perfect gift. It is so hard but what do you get for the Lamb of God, Redeemer of mankind, Creator of the Universe, Savior and Lord, after all it is His birthday. I know what not to get...gold, frankincense, and myrrh. He already has those. Oh I know they are great gifts and you can give some frankincense to others on your Christmas list but not to Jesus. You know what He wants, He wants YOU. He wants more of your time. He wants to spend more time with you this year. He wants to share his plan for your life, to give you direction and peace for 2010. He wants you to allow Him to make your life more of what it was intended to be. To help you with your relationships, job, finances. To start good habits and put aside bad ones. Why not give Him what He wants, after all He did give His life for you.

If this video does not bring a tear to your eyes you are a much stronger person than me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fKI50MhzVM

Christmas Wish for You

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

This a picture of the State Room at the White House decorated for Christmas. Amazing what a few million dollars can do for a room. Many are making out a wish list for Christmas. Folks are decorating and shopping. It is hard to buy something for everyone especially in this economy. But here is my Christmas wish and prayer for you. Where you ask? I checked the mail no card, no packages have arrived. Well, you are looking in the wrong place. Look at the passage again. I am praying that each one of you will have Peace in your hearts this Christmas and that we are all thankful for the blessings of God. The only way to find this peace is to find Christ. If you already have Him then share Him with others this Christmas season.

Carol and I always have trouble deciding how to decorate our house for Christmas so this year we have done something a little different. Click on the link and see our Christmas lights It was a lot of work but worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCmNJJ49sxU&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh+div-1r-1-HM

How Do You LIke Me KNow?

Galatians 6:7-8

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that naturewill reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

What a great picture of what appears to be a very happy couple. The picture we have of Tiger and family today is not nearly as appealing. It was not long ago I heard many people say, " I would love to have his life." I don't think I have heard that phrase this last week at all. The verse above speaks for itself. Sin will always be found out. If not by the media certainly by God. This is not a tabloid devotional meant to bash Tiger and his actions. Obviously they were wrong, very wrong and have led to a lot of heartache and pain. These are some of the consequences of sin. Everyone has an opinion of what Tiger ought to do. Get a really good lawyer, pay everyone off including his wife, go on Oprah and apologize, redo the prenuptial agreement, just go back to playing golf. What Tiger really needs is God. He needs to give his life to God, to ask for forgiveness, to know that God still loves him and can do something with this messed up life he is now living. Don't get me wrong there are going to be serious consequences, his actions were reckless and hurt the people he says he loves a great deal. But, according to the Bible he can ask for and receive forgiveness and God can help him put his life back together. I know everyone is talking about Tiger and his family and these women but how many of us , especially Christians, are praying for him, and them? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Be sure to watch and listen to the video. Click on the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRScqMewlD0

He Came to Die so You May Live

Warning:

This video may change your life. The reality of it changed mine years ago. It is graphic but so is life day to day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiKx6MGUfqA

Sailing and Other Spiritual Lessons

Colossians 3:2

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

It has been said that you can not control the wind but you can set the sails. As human beings we can not control all the events that blow our way but we can decide how we will respond to them. As Christians we are encouraged to set our minds on things above and not on earthly things. Well, that is a little hard to do sometimes but you can develope a "mindset". Try to see things from God's perspective and not through your limited vision. A perfect example is David and Goliath. From a human perspective Goliath looked very frightening indeed, but David saw him through God's eayes and he did not look so big then. Whatever you are facing try to set your mind on a heavenly perspective. Consider God's vantage point and then ask Him to help you deal with the day to day Giants