FROM MY HEART
By Mildred Mills

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

Christmas is here once again, time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Saviour!
Things have changed around our house as far as how we celebrate Christmas. The kids are all grown up now and have married and moved away. The “Grands” are growing up and some are married and have their own little families, so we celebrate differently these days. Yes, we miss the good ole days when the kids were all home and our house was a busy, fun filled time at Christmas, but we have our memories.
Seasons change, our circumstances change from day to day, and things are not the same as they were years ago but we still celebrate the birth of our Saviour. And as we celebrate Jesus’ birth we give thanks to Him for our Salvation that He made possible. We give thanks for the Salvation of each of our children and we are thankful for our “Grands,” each one of them, and their little families. God has been and still is so good to this family and we thank Him for His goodness to us all. Yes, the seasons change and our circumstances change but we are reminded and thankful to know that God never changes! “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Heb. 13:8). “For I am the Lord, I change not.” (Mal. 3:6).
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! And remember, Jesus is the reason for the Christmas Season.
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FROM MY HEART By Mildred Mills

COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS

When you think it can’t get worse, cheer up, count your blessings and be thankful because things could get worse! We whine and carry on about things that are so small compared to the problems of others. If you look at your glass as “half empty” be thankful it is not completely empty and pray that God will fill it. We want the lawn to grow but then we whine because it has to be mowed so often. Stop whining and be thankful you have the health and strength to push the lawn mower. Remember, our strength comes from the Lord. If you are sick and tired of washing dirty dishes, stop for a minute and thank God for the food that made the dishes dirty in the first place. You are tired of making the beds every morning, well be thankful you have a nice, comfortable bed to sleep on, you could be on a park bench or side walk, or maybe in a filthy alley somewhere—but for the Grace of God. Don’t be easily offended by loved ones that give you advise, be thankful you have someone that cares enough to be concerned about you. We need to be reminded of God’s goodness, of where He brought us from and where we would be today without Him. “Be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name.” So if you really believe you have been dealt a lemon in life, just throw some sugar on it and make yourself some lemonade, sit back under the shade tree, and count your blessings. Don’t worry about all those leaves that will be falling soon because it could get worse, THE TREE COULD FALL!

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY! COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS! BE HAPPY!

FROM MY HEART By Mildred Mills HE IS NEAR! Jesus is always near and listening to hear the lost sinner call on Him, asking for forgiveness of sin and trusting His finished work on the Cross for Salvation. He is near and no matter where you are He will hear you when you call upon Him. Maybe you are sick and in a hospital room, maybe you are in a prison cell, or maybe you are in your home or car, it doesn’t matter, Jesus is near! If you are in a bad situation and feel like you have no one to talk to, remember, Jesus is Near! Tell Him you need a friend, and He will be that friend. Tell Him you need help and He will be your help. Jesus Christ is all you need! Jesus is near! “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His Temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears.” (Psa. 18:6). When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, He longs to hear from us, He waits for His children to tell Him our troubles. He wants to give us the desires of our heart, so talk to Him and walk with Him. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.”(1Pet. 5:7). If you have a problem that seems to be hopeless to solve, just remember that all things are possible with the Lord. There is nothing too big for God and He has the answers to any problem we might have, Talk to Him, read His Word, trust Him and then watch Him work things out for your good! God is good and loves His children, just trust Him today. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” (Prov 3:5-6). Wherever you might be, shine for Jesus! Brighten the corner where you are and always remember “Jesus is near to comfort and cheer, just when we need Him most..” <><><><><><><><><><><><>

              FROM MY HEART
                By Mildred Mills
   WORKING ON AN AA—AGAIN!

Every now and then I have to work on that AA—That would be Attitude Adjustment for me. It all starts when I begin to whine and ask “why” when certain things happen in life instead of giving thanks to our Heavenly Father for all His Blessings. The whining begins and the attitude shows up. I ask why certain things happen and as always my Teacher, The Holy Spirit simply says, “Just go to God’s Word! The answers are in The Book.” I whine some more and tell my Teacher, “But you just don’t understand,” and my Teacher once again says. “Just go to The Book and you will find the answers.” “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.” (Jer. 33:3). The truth is I knew all along where the answers were and who to call on even before I started the whining, but the old attitude was right there waiting to take up it’s abode. When we are down hearted, worried, upset and just plain tired, we find it easier just to step over the Holy Spirit and allow life to make us hateful, hurtful and just mean spirited, knowing all the time that the answers to our problems are found in The Book—God’s Word. When things don’t go our way and disappointments come (and they will come in this life) just remember to go to the Book, God’s Word, and listen carefully to our Teacher, the Holy Spirit and before you know it the smile, the sweet Spirit and our very countenance will reflect once again that we belong to Him, He is in control and not one thing can happen unless He allows it. No need to worry and fret about anything that comes along in this life. I’m sure I will be working on my AA off  and on until I get to Heaven but I know where all the answers are. They are in The Book—God’s Word and I must listen carefully to my Teacher, The Holy Spirit and talk daily with my Saviour about anything that troubles me in this life.Now,that’s what it takes to achieve an AA—and I’m working on it!!!