MAMA'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO YOU!         Maria #234       DO 2948  11/94

Dear Family,
         1. For many of us, even when we were young children in the System, Christmas was always a special time: Celebrating Jesus' birth, giving and receiving gifts, and fellowshipping with family and close friends. But when we joined the Family, Christmas took on new meaning. It became a time not only to celebrate Jesus' birth amongst ourselves, but the greatest opportunity of the year to tell the world about our precious Savior. We recognized it as an occasion where people were more willing to listen to our message of the meaning of Christmas, and were more open to hearing about the spiritual significance of the day that much of the world celebrates. Even in parts of the world where their culture does not include Christmas, people will listen, as they are eager to hear the true meaning of it.
         2. Not only have our tapes, videos and posters provided readily available gifts, but our children's performances have brought meaning to many a Christmas "party" that needed joyful entertainment. In my opinion, the Christmas songs we sing are the most beautiful there are, not only because of their appealing melodies, but most of all because their message tells of a Father of love who sent His Son of love into this world to share that love with each of us, so that we can receive Him into our hearts and have a wonderful life of love, not only now but forever!
         3. This Christmas season is indeed a very special one for us. This is the first Christmas that our beloved Dad will be cheering us on from the halls of Heaven instead of from here on Earth. This will be his happiest Christmas! (See ML #2069:19.) And it will be our happiest also! He's going to be expecting us to fulfill the vision that he has imparted to us these many years, and the vision that he reminded us of just before his Homegoing when he bequeathed to each of you a portion of the WS reserves, since he had no earthly goods to speak of, in order that you might be able to bring more men and women, boys and girls into Jesus' Kingdom.
         4. He was saddened because the Family was not being militant to fulfill the mission the Lord has given us. We had a commission, but we were not calling others to enter the Kingdom as we should have. We had the Word, but we were not witnessing it enough. We had the answer, but we were not asking them to receive Him as we should. But when you realized how you were failing the Lord and Dad, you determined in your heart to change, and he knows this now and is proud of you. Dad is eagerly waiting in anticipation to see your wonderful witnessing victories. He knows you are going to do the job. He is counting on you not to fail the Lord nor disappoint Him. He is counting on you and he knows you can do it!
         5. This Christmas the hearts that are weary and war-torn cry out for a comforter. The lives that are sin-sick and sorrowful yearn for a Savior. They seek a rescuer, they weep for a deliverer. They are overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty, filled with despair and hopelessness, laden with burdens of bitterness and guilt, imprisoned in emptiness, plagued by pain and discouragement, and beset by problems too big for them to solve. Many of them have no goals, no meaning in their lives.
         6. Jesus loves them and wants to take them in His arms. Dad loves them and wants to show them Jesus. But Jesus--and Dad--must have your help! They can't do it alone. You are their eyes that can love others, their voice that can woo others, their tears that can move others, their arms that can embrace others, their ears that can hear the cry of others.
         7. Will you do your best? Will you give until it hurts? Jesus did. He stepped outside the most wonderful place that has ever been created to come here to Earth to endure the discomfort and humiliation and mocking and pain, so that He could save us--us and them. Can you give until it hurts, like Jesus did? Will you, too, step outside the walls of your happy heavenly Home to endure the discomfort, the humbling, the weariness, sometimes even skepticism and scoffing, to try to share Jesus' love with the hungry?
         8. Not only is this year special because Dad is now able to share more personally in your activities from our wonderful Home in Heaven where he can see each of us, but it is special because I believe you will be going out more wholeheartedly than ever before, more conscious of the great responsibility that you have, and more on-fire for Jesus! You will be shining brighter than ever because you will be going in the power and spirit and might of the Lord, and of your Father David!
         9. You are going to shine brighter because the world has gotten darker, and your little candles are going to be seen and sought out by many as your rays of hope and faith penetrate the deep despair and fear. Tell them how Jesus came to Earth to love them and how He died to save them, and how He rose again to deliver them into a wonderful new world that they can experience right now on Earth, and also enjoy forever in Heaven.
         10. Proclaim that we celebrate the birthday of a living Savior, not a dead hero!--A living Savior, who was born on Earth that He might die in order to rise again to rescue us from the evil kingdom of sin and death and fear and loneliness. Go to them with love and with broken hearts. Try to feel their pain, their frustration, their despair. Try to see their darkness, their bondage and their torment. Try to imagine their sorrow, their emptiness, their insecurity! And with all your heart, reach out with love to save and heal them.
         11. As His Father sent Him, so He sends us. Be Jesus' hands, be His feet, be His eyes, be His lips. Bind up the brokenhearted; comfort those that mourn; free the captives; cast out devils; feed the hungry with food that will last them forever; raise those who are dead in trespasses and sins; heal the sick in body and spirit; cleanse the lepers, the rejected, the alienated, the ostracized; give new sight to the blind by giving them Jesus the Light; preach the Gospel to the poor; loose the bands of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free. Give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Freely ye have received, freely give. (See Mat.10:8, 11:5; Jn.20:21; Isa.58:6, 61:1,3.)
         12. As you give, you will also receive God's healing power--spiritual, physical, emotional or financial--whatever you need. Jesus, Grandpa and our other loved ones who are part of the great cloud of Heavenly witnesses about us will all be interceding for you and cheering you on and doing all they can to help you! All together we make a great team, and those up there are proud of us down here. They know we can do it--and that we are going to--with their help. And Grandpa says, "Amen!--God bless you!--I love you!--Let's go!"
         13. Yes, dear Family, let's go, and let's not stop with Christmas! Let's keep witnessing just as fervently throughout the year and make each day a witnessing celebration of Jesus' birth, His death and His resurrection which promises new life for all!
         14. My love and prayers are with you, dear Family, for a fruitful Christmas season and a wonderful new year ahead.
         Yours, Mama


Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family