{"id":24757,"date":"2018-12-21T03:30:46","date_gmt":"2018-12-21T11:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=24757"},"modified":"2018-12-19T11:14:15","modified_gmt":"2018-12-19T19:14:15","slug":"december-21-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/12\/21\/december-21-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"December 21, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cGod saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can\u2019t take credit for this; it is a gift\u00a0<\/strong>from God.\u00a0Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.\u00a0We are God\u2019s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.\u201d <\/em>Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)<\/p>\n

A Gift For Jesus<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Preparing for Thanksgiving, I was reflecting on more\u00a0<\/strong>things to be thankful for than paper and ink in my printer. I am thankful to be a year older, hopefully wiser, and deeply grateful for each day God allows. I am profoundly thankful for Jesus and the knowledge that our family and our extended family belong to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.<\/p>\n

Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us that we have been saved through believing and trusting Christ. Even the ability to trust is a gift\u00a0<\/strong>from God, not our own doing. He gave us the gift\u00a0<\/strong>of new life in Jesus Christ.We are God\u2019s masterpiece. Insert your name: \u201c_____ is God\u2019s masterpiece.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inside each Dove dark chocolate square is a quote. Mine was, “Don’t talk about it, BE ABOUT IT.\u201d Ok, there is my gift\u00a0<\/strong>to Jesus! No, no, no, not to eat chocolate squares, although\u2026no…NO\u2014but to be about His business: doing good, helping others just like He planned for us long ago. Our mission field is right where He has planted us.<\/p>\n

What Christmas \u201cgift<\/strong>\u201d can I give to Jesus, you ask? Glad you asked! Surrender! Let Jesus be the center and LORD of our life. Stick a bow on your head and say, \u201cHere I am, Jesus, use me!\u201d\u00a0Give Jesus a birthday present: yourself<\/strong>. We are not guaranteed tomorrow or even our next breath, so there is no time like the \u201cpresent<\/strong>!\u201d\u00a0The problems and challenges will \u201ckeep a\u2019comin\u201d, but Jesus will carry you through.<\/p>\n

The last Dove chocolate square I chose said: \u201cThere is always time to love\u201d .\u00a0Tell someone each day that you love them. Those could be the last words on earth they hear from you. Now, find someone and tell them you love them. Pass it on!<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus, You gave us the very best gift, the gift of You. I will thank You for all eternity because of Your great sacrifice. Happy Birthday, Jesus\u2014we celebrate You.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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