Christmas for Sale!!!

         It's that time of the year again; We are no longer shocked to hear Christmas carols in September, or to see lanterns, plastic trees and glitter balls being sold in the stores even before the Halloween ghosts and pumpkins appear. We have songs about the birth of a Savior and light of the World playing alongside advertising jingles telling you to buy gifts and Christmas ham. We have Santa Claus, symbol of goodwill and generosity. Traditionally, it is a time spent with family, friends, and loved- ones. Relatives who are scattered all over tend to get together at Christmas. But Christmas is also a shared experience in that it is a major yearly event in the lives of millions of other people around the world. We may celebrate in different ways, and with different personal habits and traditions. But this time of year, and this common experience, connects us with others. It connects us as a nation and as a world. The true spirit of Christmas is togetherness with humanity, then it has meaning for all of us, and can never be superficial.

A millennium Notes that really inspired me!

What Really Counts

By Queena N. Lee-chua

The bustle of December is now upon us, and it is tempting to focus more on the festivities rather than the Savior behind the season. To help us go into a reflective vein. 

• To realize the value of ten years, ask a newly separated couple.
• To realize the value of four years, ask two, now single, high school, sweethearts.
• To realize the value of one year, ask a student who failed a final exam.
• To realize the value of nine months, ask a mother who gave birth to a still- born.
• To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who give birth to a premature baby.
• To realize the value of one week, ask the editor of a weekly news magazine.
• To realize the value of one hour, ask a lover who are waiting to meet.
• To realize the value of one minute, ask someone who missed the plane.
• To realize the value of one second, ask someone who survived an accident.
• To realize the value of one millisecond, ask someone who got silver in the Olympics.

Happy Thoughts

" Joy is a deep sense of contentment, hope and gratitude all bundled up together"

Zoe,15

GOD                                 FAMILY                           LOVE- ONES

FRIENDS             ACHIEVEMENTS                         MONEY

      It had been a great day. I had made it out of the house without a major blowup with my mom. My room was filled with things I loved- pictures of my family, notes from my friends. I was surrounded with reminders from my love-ones. And I smiled as I laid my head back down on the pillow. I love it. This things gave me great joy. Most precious to me was my time with the Lord. I was so grateful to know that my life was right with God, that I was his child, that my sins had been forgiven, and that my destination was heaven. I'm happy because things were going my way. And I realized that happiness is dependent upon what's happening around you, the behavior of others, and the events or circumstances surrounding your life. But life is fickle and people are undependable. There is no such thing as a perfect life! What happens when I fights with my mom, fails to achieve something, and totally ignored by my friends and love-ones. Still happy? Nope. Happiness is not the beautiful quality that the Holy Spirit brings into our lives. He brings something much deeper, much longer lasting, much more fulfilling. He brings joy. I had discovered this secret key to joy.

I am a Joy Builders!

-Contentment

-gratefulness

-Generosity

-Forgiveness

-Encouragement

-Excitement

-Delight

-Peace

-Flexibility

-Calmness

-God- focus

-Confidence

-Friendliness

Random Acts of Joy

I can do a lot more than just jump for joy. I can put a smile on my face and someone else's, today!

-tell someone about Christ

-smile at a stranger

-take a friend out to lunch

-look through family photo albums

worship the Lord! it will absolutely lighten my heart

-Get outside

-learn to laugh at myself

-everytime I get blessed, I write it down and put it in a special jar then when I need to be encouraged, pull a blessing out to read.