A man was exploring caves by the Seashore.  In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls.  It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake.   They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him.  As he strolled along the beach, he would occasionally throw one of the clay balls out into the ocean as far as he could.  

He was lost in thought and forgot about the bag of clay balls, until he tripped and one of the clay balls fell out of the bag and cracked open on a rock ..  Inside was a beautiful, precious stone! 

Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls.  Each contained a similar treasure.  He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.   

Then it struck him.  He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves.  Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!  

It’s like that with people.  We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel.  It doesn’t look like much from the outside.  It isn’t always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.  

We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy.  But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.  

There is a treasure in each and every one of us.  If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to chip off and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth. 

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them.

We need to learn to thank God as much for a closed door as we do for a door to that opens to what we want. The reason God closes doors is because He knows there is nothing good for us on the other side.

God sometimes directs our paths through the closing and opening of doors. Once a door closes, it forces you to change your course. Another door closes, it forces you to change your course again. We receive God’s very best when we peacefully accept what we cannot change and let Him lead.We tend to judge with human eyes and resent any kind of roadblock in our plans. But God can see trouble down the road and set up a roadblock or detour accordingly. Through our lack of wisdom, we try to tear down and push aside the detour signs. Then the minute we get into trouble, we start crying, “Lord, how could You have done this to me?”

We must learn to accept that a closed door can be a blessing. If you get terminated from your job, praise God for the new opportunities that will manifest themselves. There may be a better job ahead, time to spend on another project or just  the freedom to make a needed trip. The possibilities are endless with God.

Too often we get bogged down in doubt and discouragement when we judge by outward appearance only. But we can be thankful for the many times our Father has closed doors to us to protect us from evil.

Trust Him, for in His perfect timing, He will lead you to the open door that will be more deeply satisfying than anything you could have imagined for yourself.

On September 9th, Smith Mountain Lake Community Bible Study began a 30 week study of Genesis which is a fascinating view of who our God is. Members are learning about the invisible qualities of the Creator through the stories of His people, such as Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and many more. 

The study is open to men, women and children of all backgrounds and levels of Bible knowledge. In 2010 it will be held every Wednesday from  9:30 – 11:30am. beginning January 6th and ending Wed. March 31st. You can join in at any point.

If you would like to come the study will take place at Halesford Babtist Church (2485 Lost Mountain Road, Wirtz, VA) and you can visit their website for more information www.smithmountainlakecbs.org or call  540-721-9338.

Heaven’s Gift
by Sandra A. Popp

Heaven’s gift has come to man.
Mortal fate rests
In tiny hallowed hands.
Shepherds singing, a shining star,
Angels proclaiming,
Kings bearing gifts from afar.
A scene of serene glory,
The weight of a holy hush,
The meaning of heaven’s story,
God’s first CHRISTmas gift to us.

Who would recall the power of that day,
At the time when He was led away,
Bearing a crown, a robe, and fateful wounds?
Heaven’s gift laid in a tomb.

Shall we turn from that holy day
And walk away unchanged?
Will we allow it to envelope our souls
Or let it slip slowly away?

Through plastic, tinsel, parties and gifts,
Shopping, planning, and Christmas lights lit,
Can the Lord’s simple gift be heard or seen,
Or is it lost beneath the holiday sheen?

Let us not forget that He loves us so.
He loved us too much to let us go.
He sent a plan with His sacrifice
To forgive and cleanse and give us life.

Embrace the greatest gift of all;
Don’t let your sense of true meaning wane.
The gift of heaven is yours to receive.
It was the only reason He came.

We love the presents and the lights and the anticipation. We love the good food and the family visits and the parties. And all of those are enjoyable and pleasant and should be things we look forward to.

But we should not bury our heads in the sand. Christmas may also be one of the few remaining nationally celebrated symbols of the Christian faith. Who would have ever dreamed that a simple day set aside to honor God’s coming to give this world hope,  would one day be a focal point of political strife.

I do not like the commercial end of Christmas and our family does not make a big deal of anything except spending time with people we love. But as someone who believes in the birth of God in human form, I will make it a point to say “Merry Christmas” and thus make my position clear.

If those who care about religious freedom do not intentionally choose to stand up and stand out in the little things that denote faith, we will wake up one day and wonder what happened to this nation that used to be Christian.

If you have ever made a bad decision or had regrets for things you have done then you will understand the next couple of stories.

I have a friend who called me up and told me he had found the woman of his dreams. The next thing you know they are eloping after knowing each other less than 2 months.

Everyone gave them good advice about taking it slow and being sure of their compatability and most of all whether they were walking in God’s will.  But their feelings of being in love won out.

A year later they were divorced. Today both their lives are broken and troubled. They neither one fully recovered from their devastated marriage and sought quick fixes to salve the pain (which led to worse problems in the long run.)

A neighbor lives on 8 acres or so and raises a variety of domestic animals. She takes great care of her animals and sees to their upkeep diligently. But none of us are perfect. She told me that she had recently noticed one of her chickens was sick, but with her busy schedule that week, she had put off treating her. A few days later she died due to lack of response from her owner.

No doubt you see the thread in these 2 tales. In each situation the results could have been different if the choices involved had been different.

God has given us the miraculous gift of choice. It can be both wonderful and disastrous in the resulting consequences. Most of the horrible things that happen in this life are due to some human choice. Many decisions also lead to beautiful outcomes.

It’s simple really, life is made up of opportunities to choose. Even our smallest choices have a consequence for good or evil, much farther reaching than we realize.

Galatians 6:7 says “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Too often we trick ourselves into thinking that little choices we make do not really matter. We rationalize decisions to make them acceptable to our minds and deceive ourselves into thinking there will be no consequences.

But we will all reap what we sow! So take advantage of the power God has given you to choose right and to choose life over death. .

But for thousands of Americans it is one of the most depressing and grievous days they will experience. For those who have lost a loved one Christmas is an intense reminder of their absence. For those who are alone or feeling unloved, all the family oriented advertising brings further pain. For a variety of reasons this season of joy can be the hardest to cope with for many.

This year be aware of the needs of others. Find someone who needs a family and invite them to be a part of yours. Take the time to visit someone who cannot get out and is feeling alone.

If you or someone you know struggles with depression, perhaps these 4 helpful hints will be of aid in making it through the holidays.

1. Remember that Christmas is supposed to be about the birth of the One who is with us every day of the year. It’s not about gifts and lights and parties, even though that is what you see all over television. To make it through the season don’t spend time where you will be forced to listen to the hype. Instead visit a church if you don’t have one. And focus on the real meaning of Christmas, and the hope He offers. 2. Stay Active

2. It is amazing how exercise can increase a positive attitude. Perhaps it’s the oxygen that gets to the brain and organs, but everyone feels better when they exercise regularly. Try getting more fresh air as well. It will enable you to think more clearly and not let emotions be your sole guide.

3. If you feel down and alone there is likely someone within your reach who feels as bad or worse. Invite them to go walking with you or to go to a movie or plan a meal together. Use the time when you could be focusing on yourself and your personal aches, to bless someone who may be struggling intensely as well.

4. Don’t be afraid of the normal grieving process if this is your first Christmas after a loss. It is natural to feel down at special times you would have ordinarily been with a loved one. You can also start new traditions for yourself this year as part of accepting this new phase of your life. And if you think you are feeling dangerously depressed, please let someone know. Don’t be ashamed to get help. We all go through hard times in life and need a helping hand.

Here are a few bits of poetry you may find as enjoyable as I did, from an author named John Clare. John lived from 1793 to 1864 and he must have loved the autumn for he tried to capture it’s magic in prose.

 Autumn by John Clare (English, 1793-1864)

 The thistle-down’s flying, though the winds are all still,
 On the green grass now lying, now mounting the hill,
 The spring from the fountain now boils like a pot;
 Through stones past the counting it bubbles red hot.

 The ground parched and cracked is like overbaked bread,
 The greensward all wracked is, bents dried up and dead.
 The fallow fields glitter like water indeed,
 And gossamers twitter, flung from weed unto weed.

 Hill tops like hot iron glitter bright in the sun,
 And the rivers we’re eying burn to gold as they run;
 Burning hot is the ground, liquid gold is the air;
 Whoever looks round sees Eternity there.

Autumn II by John Clare (English, 1793-1864)

 I love the fitful gust that shakes
   The casement all the day,
 And from the glossy elm tree takes
   The faded leaves away,
 Twirling them by the window pane
 With thousand others down the lane.

 I love to see the shaking twig
   Dance till the shut of eve,
 The sparrow on the cottage rig,
   Whose chirp would make believe
 That Spring was just now flirting by
 In Summer’s lap with flowers to lie.

 I love to see the cottage smoke
   Curl upwards through the trees,
 The pigeons nestled round the cote
   On November days like these;
 The cock upon the dunghill crowing,
 The mill sails on the heath a-going.

 The feather from the raven’s breast
   Falls on the stubble lea,
 The acorns near the old crow’s nest
   Drop pattering down the tree;
 The grunting pigs, that wait for all,
 Scramble and hurry where they fall.

AUTUMN BIRDS    by John Clare (English, 1793-1864)
 
 The wild duck startles, like a sudden thought
 And heron slow as if it might be caught
 The flopping crows on weary wing go bye
 And grey beard jackdaws noising as they flye
 The crowds of starnels wiz and hurry bye
 And darken like a cloud the evening sky
 The larks like thunder rise and suthy round
 Then drop and nestle in the stubble ground
 The wild swan hurries high and noises loud
 With neck necks peering to the evening cloud
 The weary rooks to distant woods are gone
 With length of tail the magpie winnows on
 To neighbouring tree and leaves the distant crow
 While small birds nestle in the hedge below.

Okay, so what is necessary? Being dependable, even-tempered, honest, trust-worthy and consistent are among the most important qualities anyone can have who wants to be a person of integrity.

Let’s just take the last one. To live consistently with ones words and beliefs is sort of the opposite of hypocrisy. Do a quick inventory by asking yourself:

- Do you say things that you would be appalled at hearing from your children’s mouths? – Do you use the same measure of honesty with your mate that you expect them to use with you?  
- Do you give the quality of labor at work that you would want from your employees?
- Do you say you believe in God and then take His name in vain?
- Do you go to church on Sunday and yet choose entertainment that you know you could not take Jesus to?

We stand horrified of today’s morals, the crime and the conflicted youth of our culture, but a culture is the product of it’s individuals. If you and I are not living consistently with our beliefs, then the next generation that learned from us won’t be either.

The Agape Center has around 100 staff members keeping operations running smoothly and since the ministry relies totally on donations, they are all serving on a volunteer basis. This also means your donations are appreciated: towels, sheets, canned food, clothing, household needs and money.

The Agape Center was born of a desire 4 local churches had to try and meet needs within the community. Eastlake Community Church, Covenant Fellowship, Dwelling Place and Radford Baptist Church came together in an effort to show God’s love to those in their area who are in need.

We definitely need more of these kinds of places in our communities. If you would like to know more about the ministry offered by the Agape Center, or how to contribute to the great things taking place there call 540-296-0609 or visit them at 12361 N Old Moneta Rd, Moneta, VA.