MERRY Christmas!

Teenage beauties: friends and cousins, Christmas 1998ish
L-R precious friend Allison, my niece Tamara, my Rebecca, my niece Virginia




"A MERRY heart does good like a medicine,
but a broken spirit dries the bones." (Prov. 17:22)

          "MERRY Christmas" greetings will resound countless times over the next 3 weeks. (Yep, only 23 more shopping days till Christmas!) How "MERRY" is your heart these days? 

             In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness among the people. When He saw large crowds following Him, the Lord hiked up a mountain and began to teach them that the secret of HAPPINESS, i.e. a MERRY heart, rests in your attitude - or beatitude if you will. For instance:

"HAPPY are those who are humble,

for they will inherit the earth.

HAPPY are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

HAPPY are those who are merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

HAPPY are those whose hearts are pure,

for they shall see God.

HAPPY are those who are peace-makers,

for they shall be called the children of God."

(Matt. 5:5-9)

         Henry Ward Beecher, an early American clergyman known for his support of the abolition of slavery, once said, "The strength and HAPPINESS of an individual consists of finding out the way in which God is going, and going that way too."

Dear Heavenly Father,

           I pray for my dear readers to have happy hearts and a MERRY Christmas according to Your beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5.

                                                            In Jesus' name I ask,

                                                             Amen and Amen