Activated Magazine Online - English Text Reference 2005-12 issue

Activated Magazine 2005 / 12

(Traditional Chinese Act Christmas 2003 mag—text mostly from Christmas 2002 issue & some Reflecitons)

CHANGE YOUR LIFE. CHANGE YOUR WORLD.
PRINCEOF PEACE
A perfect world is coming
True Christmas Gifts
A Chinese song “Silent Night”
Through a Child’s Eyes
Real Love through special spiritual eyes

page 2
This is Activated magazine volume 2 Christmas special issue. If you are interested in receiving more issues or ordering some of our inspiring and strengthening Bible-based publications, please write, phone or e-mail us today! Thank you!

(address of various Activated desk around the world)

(credits)

Golden Sunrise Production
(address)
e-mail: info@goldensp.com
Website：www.goldensp.com
PO Account：19610600
Name of Account：Golden Sunrise Production

Unless indicated otherwise, all
Scripture quotations in Activated! are
from the Chinese Union Bible, Chinese Living Bible,
Modern Chinese Bible & new Chinese Bible.

personally speaking
Christmas has a way of bringing out the best in
people. It’s one time of the year when we look upward
in search of peace and hope, inward for the resources
to love and give freely, and outward in reconciliation.
At Christmastime, most of the world shares a brief but
blessed moment of peace.
But what about this year? With numerous armed
conflicts around the world, peace agreements being
broken almost before they are brokered, and the
growing specter of international terrorism, is there any
reason to believe that peace will ever come?
When we look at the world situation, there’s very
little reason to hope. But when we look to the Prince of
Peace, Jesus, there’s every reason to hope—and every
reason to pass that hope on to others.
What can you do to help bring peace on earth?
You’re just one person, after all, and have very little
influence—or do you? You may not command an army
or sit at the negotiating table where peace treaties
and disarmament plans are forged, but you can change
situations through your prayers and you can influence
everyone you come in contact with through your attitude
and actions. A song that was popular some years
ago put it like this: “If everyone lit just one little candle,
what a bright world this would be!” You may not be a
light to the whole world, but you can light your part of
the world. We all can.
From all of us at Activated, may God bless you and
yours with His perfect peace, and may He make you a
blessing to others this Christmas season and always.
Xu Ling
For the Activated Family

Page 3 (testimony from Taiwan)

True Christmas Gifts
by Saskia

I’ve been in Taiwan doing missionary work for about 3 years. Every Christmas we’d go to different institutions, sharing the love & joy of Christmas with the people there. We’ve been trying different ways & methods to cheer people up, by giving the needy people donated goods, doing clown shows, or singing Christmas carols, passing out Christmas posters, etc. And each year I would try to learn the song Christmas song “Silent Night” in Chinese. Due to the shortness of time, I didn’t really learn it until the 3rd Christmas.
After the show at one of the Taipei hospital the 3rd year, I was waiting downstairs with the equipment while others went up the wards meeting & singing to the patients. I felt that I’ve done my best, yet, in my heart, I wondered if I made much difference by learning that song in Chinese.
And just then I saw him. He was an old man, probably in his late seventies. He smiled and I smiled back. Then he motioned for me to sit beside him.
“Thank you…for coming here” the man said slowly. I responded by asking him if he enjoyed the show.
“I did not see your show, but I heard about what you did here.” The man said. “I think it’s wonderful that you would come to my country to do all this.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t get to hear our songs.” I said. And then trying to make conversation I remarked, “I came here last year too”.
“And you may come the next as well”, the old man said, with what seemed to be a twinkle in his eye, “But I will not be here”.
I felt foolish when I realized that he wasn’t talking about the hospital. He didn’t expect to live to see next Christmas.
“If you like”, I stammered awkwardly, “I can sing you a song now. I’m only one person and I don’t know many songs, but…”
A look of satisfaction came to rest on the wrinkled face. He sighed.
“There is one song I would like to hear”, he said.
I cringed at the thought of having to meet a specific request. I would hate to disappoint him. And then my eyes came to rest on the piece of paper he was holding in his hands. It was the gospel tract I had given him when I first sat down. On the front was an illustration of a wrapped present with ribbons and the words Christmas Gifts for You. Its author was Jesus.
And then I understood. All those toys and the laughs, tears and encouragement we shared with others along the way—all of that was never ours to give in the first place. We were just the messengers for Jesus. One way or the other, He is the One brings to each heart the gift they most needed. We just had to be willing to be His hands and feet, His eyes, His ears and His mouth. Suddenly I knew it was going to be okay, and I smiled even before he uttered his next words.
“Please”, he said, “Sing, Silent Night”.

Saskia is a full time Family volunteer in Taiwan.

Page 4-6
Light looked down and beheld Darkness.
“Thither will I go,” said Light.
Peace looked down and beheld War.
“Thither will I go,” said Peace.
Love looked down and beheld Hatred.
“Thither will I go,” said Love.
So came Light and shone.
So came Peace and gave rest.
So came Love and brought Life.
--Laurence Housman
the prince of peace
Event after event has left the
world questioning, “Why all the
pain and strife? Why the slaughter
of the innocents? Why troubles
and sorrows?” It is getting darker
and colder all the time. The sun is
setting, the darkness is falling, and
the world is looking for some ray of
hope.
That hope is here.
Two thousand years ago, over
the town of Bethlehem, a new star
shone and an angel of God pro-
claimed to a group of shepherds,
“Behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day in
the city of David a Savior, who is
Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11).
On that special night, God gave
us the greatest gift anyone could
give—His Son, Jesus. Though Jesus
came into the world as a tiny baby,
He brought with Him all of God’s
wonderful gifts. As He grew older,
He unwrapped these gifts for us, one
by one, as He taught us how to love
God and each other. Then, when
Jesus died for us, He gave us the
greatest gift of all—the promise of
eternal life in Heaven when our time
on Earth is done.
Jesus wants to bring His peace to
the hearts of all men everywhere. He
sees the misery and grief and pain
of the heavy-hearted. He sees the
weak and the weary. He sees those
who struggle with fear—fear of the
past, and fear of the future. He sees
the persecuted and war-torn, those
who have been robbed of hope and
a chance to live in peace.
He hears our cries and reaches
out to us in love. He offers us a way
out, an escape route from our inner
conflicts, fears, and sense of hopelessness.
“Let not your heart be troubled,”
He tells us. “You believe in God,
believe also in Me” (John 14:1).
“Peace I leave with you, My peace
I give to you; not as the world gives
do I give to you” ( John 14:27). “In
the world you will have tribulation;
but be of good cheer, I have over-come
the world” (John 16:33).
If you will reach out your hand
to Him now, He will lead you
through the darkness and into the
light. Jesus came into this world to
offer you life and love and peace
that know no boundaries. These
gifts are not limited by race or religious
background or color or creed.
They are for now and forever.
He wants to be with you always,
through every disappointment and
every hardship. He wants to protect
you from harm. He wants to be a
light when darkness surrounds you.
No matter how dismal the conditions,
He will always be there to pull
you through.
He will always be by your side,
always ready to answer your questions,
always ready to guide and
instruct, always ready to comfort
and encourage.
Even when there is trouble on
every side, you won’t need to worry
or fear. If you have His love in your
heart, no matter what happens, He
will take care of you. No matter how
dark the night, His light will shine
for you.
Jesus will be your closest and
dearest friend. You will be able to
talk to Him anywhere, anytime, and
He will answer. He will speak to your
heart and guide you through the
storms of life.
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will
not only give you peace in your
heart here and now, but when this
life is over, He will bring you to
His haven of rest. In His heavenly
Kingdom there will be no more
oppression or war or poverty or pain
or sickness or suffering or sorrow
or death, but only peace and plenty
for all. There evil and darkness dare
not go!
Jesus is reaching out to you now.
Won’t you take His love?
: :
If you have not yet personally
received Jesus’ gift of eternal love
and life, you can do so now by praying
the following prayer:
Dear Jesus, I want to receive Your
gift of love—love to relieve my inner
longings, and love to brighten the
lives of others and help them find
true happiness. Please forgive me
for my sins, Jesus, and come into my
heart as my Lord and Savior. Please
fill me with Your Holy Spirit and
help me to be a living example of
Your love to others, so they, too, will
want to open their hearts to You and
receive Your love. Amen. •
You will be
able to
talk to Him
anywhere,
anytime, and
He will answer.

The Best Gifts
So many people are in need at Christmas, wanting love, feeling lonely, needing comfort and assurance that they matter. So many others are giving gifts at Christmas, hurrying here and there to buy things, to find the perfect present, to not be caught short having forgotten someone. ?But does all that material gift-giving really make a difference? Of course it can be a help, but think of those I mentioned who are lonely, the ones who are hoping for a little company, a little friendship, someone they can connect with. What would they appreciate most?
Why don't you give yourself this Christmas? Why don't you give of your time to talk to someone, to invite them into your home for a bit or to visit them in theirs? Why don't you see what you can do to make a difference in someone else's life? If they're interested and ready for it, why don't you tell them about Jesus, and how He can warm every corner of their heart? They'll be glad you did, and so will Jesus! In fact, that's the very best gift you can give to Jesus on His birthday, because He wants nothing more than for others to know Him and His Father's love.
And if you don't have Jesus in your life yourself, why not ask Him into your heart this Christmas? That would be the best Christmas gift you'd ever receive! He's there for us all, and He wants to make your Christmas--and your life--truly beautiful, filled with love from Him--His special gift to you.
Merry Christmas! --David Brandt Berg

Page 7
Jesus Gave Himself
Jesus temporarily renounced the rights of His citizenship in Heaven and became a citizen of this world. Though He was rich, for our sakes He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich. He not only adapted Himself to our bodily form, but also conformed to the human ways of life, custom, language, dress and living, that He might understand and love us better and communicate with us on the lowly level of our own human understanding. He did it that He might reach us with His love, prove to us His compassion and concern, and help us understand His message in simple, childlike terms that we could grasp.
--David Brandt Berg
feeding reading
WHY GOD SENT JESUS INTO THE WORLD
To show us what God is like:
2 Corinthians 4:4
Colossians 1:13,15
Hebrews 1:3
So we can know and understand God:
John 8:19
John 12:45
John 14:7–9
To make a way for us to be forgiven
for our sins, be reconciled to God, and
have eternal life:
John 3:16
John 1:29
John 10:10
Romans 5:8
Ephesians 2:4–7
1 John 4:8–10

A PRAYER
FOR CHRISTMAS
MORNING
By Henry Van Dyke 1

The day of joy returns, Father in Heaven,
and crowns another year with peace and good
will.
Help us rightly to remember the birth of
Jesus, that we may share in the song of the
angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the
worship of the wise men.
Close the doors of hate and open the doors
of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good
desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil, by the blessing that
Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with
clean hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy
to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening
bring us to our bed with grateful thoughts, for-giving
and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. •
1 From A Treasury of Christmas Stories

Page 8-9
"Wise Men from the East"

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him."
And, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (The Bible, Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 KJV.)
* * *
The feast of the Epiphany occurs on the evening of January 6, the twelfth day after Christmas, and is celebrated by the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches. Referred to in Latin countries as "Three Kings' Day," it is a far older holiday than Christmas and is known to have been observed earlier than AD 194. 1 Its name means "appearance" or "manifestation," and it celebrates the day when Jesus was revealed as the Son of God to the wise men, or magi. When the magi adored the infant Jesus and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, it was taken as a sign, because they were Gentiles, that Jesus was sent as the Savior of all men everywhere, not only the Jews. Epiphany celebrates this manifestation.
Many traditions have grown up around the three wise men. The first, who brought gold to the Christ child, is believed by many to have been Caspar, King of Tarsus. The second, who brought frankincense, is thought to have been Melchoir, King of Arabia. The third, who brought myrrh, is supposed to have been Balthazar, King of Sheba.
Back in their own countries it is said that the wise men resigned their high offices, gave all their riches to the poor, and went about preaching of the things they had seen.
Years later, when St. Thomas was traveling in India, he is reported to have found the three wise men, still together and still telling their wonderful story. St. Thomas baptized and ordained them as Christian priests. Eventually all were martyred for their Christian faith, and buried together.
Is all this true? It's impossible to know. The first record of these men after the Gospel account was on a mosaic in a sixth-century church in Ravenna, Italy. But their adoration of the Christ child as the Savior of mankind, His birth having been revealed to them by their study of the stars, remains one of the proofs of His mission and divinity. (1Microsoft?Encarta?Encyclopedia 2001)
* * *
THE 3 KINGS
Over the desert,
Led by the star,
Traveled three holy
Kings from afar.
Weary and long the
Way was for them,
Yet, with God's help, they
Finally found Him.
And when they found Jesus,
Lovely God-Child,
With Mary and Joseph
Saintly and kind,
The three kingly wise men
Humbly adored
Their heavenly King,
Savior and Lord.
Then their most precious
Gifts they unfold:
Myrrh and frankincense,
Purest of gold,
Offering all to
Jesus, the Baby whose love
Brought Him down to earth
From Heaven above.
--Michael J. Urbonas
WHAT GOD DID
Can you remember a time when you
were a child and you wanted something
so badly that it seemed that special some-thing
would never come?—And then when
it finally did come, it wasn’t what you had
expected at all, but something far better?
That’s what our heavenly Father did with
Christmas.
Since the beginning of time, people
had longed for a special something to make
their lives truly happy and complete. Who
would have ever thought that all of that
would come in the form of a tiny baby born
in a barn in some faraway land? But that’s
exactly what happened.
God looked at every human heart He had
created and every heart to come, and He
knew just what they needed. So He took a
part of His own heart and fashioned the perfect
answer. Then He sent the answer into
the world. And He called the answer Jesus.
—Keith Phillips

page 10
gifts of love (edited)
A successful young attorney said, "The greatest gift I ever received was a gift I got one Christmas when my dad gave me a small box. Inside was a note saying, 'Son, this year I will give you 365 hours--an hour every day after dinner. It's yours. We'll talk about what you want to talk about, we'll go where you want to go, play what you want to play. It will be your hour!'"
"My dad not only kept his promise," the attorney went on, "but every year he renewed it. That was the greatest gift I ever received. I am the result of his time."

CHRISTMAS KISSES (edited)
Some time ago, a friend of mine scolded his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper, because money was tight then.
Then, on Christmas morning the little girl brought the gift wrapped in gold wrapping paper to her father and said, "This is for you, Daddy."
He was embarrassed at first, but his aggravation flared again when he found that the box was empty. "Isn’t there supposed to be something inside of it when you give someone a present?" he lectured her.
The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy!"
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged her forgiveness. My friend told me that he kept that gold box for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

It’s not what we give, but what we
share, for the gift without the giver is
bare! •

page 11
Through a Child's Eyes
Author unknown
       We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, ”Hi, there!” He pounded his fat baby hands on the highchair tray. His eyes were wide with excitement and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin. He wriggled and giggled with merriment.
       I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man with a tattered rag of a coat, dirty, greasy, and worn. His pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.
       His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. “Hi there, baby! Hi there, big boy! I see ya, buster,” the man said to Erik.
       My husband and I exchanged looks, What do we do?
       Erik continued to laugh and answer, “Hi, hi there!? Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.
       Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, “Do ya know patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo!” Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence, all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his comments.
       We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik, I prayed.
       As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's ”pick me up” position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man's.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby expressed their love. Erik in an act of total trust, tenderness, and submission lay his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor gently, so gently, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms for a moment, and then his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, “You take care of this baby.”
Somehow I managed, “I will,” from a throat that contained a stone.
       He pried Erik from his chest, unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, ”God bless you, ma'am. You've given me my Christmas gift.” I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.
       With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, “My God, my God, forgive me.” I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment, a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.
       I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, ”Are you willing to share your son for a moment?” --when He shared His for all eternity. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, “To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children.”

Page 12
santa said it
By Nyx Martinez

I never liked Santa Claus. My
parents had taught me from childhood
that Christmas was for Christ, and I held
that belief firmly. While other children
spent their Decembers writing “Dear
Santa” letters and clamoring for “Kodak
moment” pictures beside the man in red
at the mall, I wanted nothing to do with
the overweight, white-bearded impostor
who seemed to be taking baby Jesus’
place of honor.
But two Christmases ago, a talent
company had signed me to host a show
that would feature dancers, acrobats,
opera singers, cartoon character mascots,
and of course, their special Yuletide
guest—Santa Claus.
And so, ironically, there I was on
stage, microphone in hand, belting out
the counterfeit’s song: “He’s makin’ a list,
and checkin’ it twice, he’s gonna find out
who’s naughty or nice…”
I wish there was a way to help the
children think about Jesus in the middle of
all this, I thought as jolly Saint Nick came
bounding in.
He was carrying a big red sack of
goodies, and that gave me an idea. Per-haps
we could offer a special prize to who-ever
could answer the question: Whose
birthday are we celebrating on Christmas?
As Santa pranced around the fancily
lit stage and then stepped down
to greet the children, I waited for an
opportunity. But I never got the chance.
The stage director signaled for me to
hurry the program along and pass the
mike to Santa so he could give a special
message.
I imagined that he would captivate
the children with tales of the North Pole
and flying reindeer, but instead, this
Santa Claus hushed the children and,
with a friendly smile, said, “I want to tell
you kids something, so you will all have
to be quiet and listen.”
He sat down on the stage and the
children crowded around him, each
anxious to be the first to receive a gift
from the glittering red bag.
“We must never forget why we celebrate
Christmas,” Santa continued. “We
must never forget the real reason. It’s not
just about parties with yummy food and
presents, you know! And…” —he paused
and beamed an even bigger smile—“I
will give a special prize to whoever can
answer this question: Whose birthday
are we celebrating on Christmas?”
All the children tried to outdo each
other as they yelled, “Jesus! It’s Jesus’
birthday!”
“Yes,” answered Santa Claus, “and
you must always remember to pray and
thank Jesus for everything!” He turned to
me. “Isn’t that right?”
I smiled and nodded.
The program was perfect. The real
guest of honor was remembered after
all! Santa said it! •
Nyx
Martinez
is a
volunteer
with The
Family in
Southeast
Asia.

Page 13
when I was
in prison, you
visited me
By Roumiana
Panajot was one of the most promising
young artists in Bulgaria. Then
he was accused and convicted of
killing his best friend—a charge he
strongly denied—and sentenced
to 26 years in prison. He became
depressed and belligerent with the
prison guards, who then refused
to let him have his canvases and
paints. Some time later, a fellow
inmate gave him a piece of Family
literature, and Panajot began corresponding
with us.
When we moved to Bulgaria last
year, we felt Jesus wanted us to visit
Panajot in prison. This presented
quite a challenge, since he is in a
high-security prison where visits
are restricted, especially visits by
anyone other than members of the
prisoners’ families. We finally man-aged
to meet with Panajot for 15
minutes in a visiting room, where
we were separated by wire mesh.
He was so thankful that we had
come, as he almost never gets visits.
He thanked us profusely for all the
reading material we had sent him,
especially the Activated magazine.
Last Christmas he painted a
Christmas card for us with this message
(translated from Bulgarian):
Dear Family,
I want you to know that your
ministry of reaching the lost, your
beautiful music tapes, and the
literature you send me are helping
to heal my soul. The process of get-ting
over my anguish and despair
is slow, but what you have already
done for me has been a great help.
Until you came along, no one had
been able to so much as scratch the
surface. Bars and prison walls bind
me, but through your literature I
am free in spirit. “If the Son makes
you free, you shall be free indeed”
(John 8:36).
Thank you for all you have done
for me. I see my family in all of you,
and I am happy to have such loving
and caring brothers and sisters. I cry
as I write this, but these are tears of
joy and thankfulness to have found
people who care enough for me to
write and visit.
—Panajot
Roumiana is a volunteer
with The Family in Bulgaria.
Christmas card
painted by
Panajot

Power of a Prayer (Taiwan testimony)
By Danny MacNally

We visit a juvenile delinquent hall regularly, not only to teach practical English, but to counsel the youth there. We try out best to reach the needy youth there.
One time, the authority there asked us to help counsel a young person who has some extraordinary experience. He’s very young, but because quarreling with his best friend, he ended up killing him, this event was greatly covered by newspaper & TV stations. After this incidence, he was really depressed & closed, even as we talked with him, his body was shaking all over. It’s because he couldn’t have peace, whenever he thought about what he’s done, he’d be in deep sadness & agony.
We listened to him, meanwhile prayed in our hearts how we could help him. After he shared all that was in his heart, we introduced our closest, best friend Jesus to him, to help him to understand that Jesus not only understands him & loves him, but forgives all his mistakes. Finally he was touched by the Lord’s love, overcame his fear & prayed with us sincerely to receive Jesus & His forgiveness.
After prayer he was like a new person, feeling peace inside again, at the same time feeling his best friend who is dead has forgiven him. He’s determined to start all over again & not be discouraged anymore. How wonderful & powerful is a prayer!

Danny MacNally is a Family full time volunteer in Taiwan.

Page 14-15

I’m a Happy Angel

Personal testimony of Marina (a Chinese friend)

People always ask me, “Why are you always so happy? It’s as if you don’t have any trouble or worry.” I always smile & say, “Why not?--My life is full of the sunshine of Love, Heaven has been very doting on me. I don’t have any reason to be sad.”
Earthlings are always encumbered by secular affairs, they always like to complain, always feel that life is not fair to them, that the world has given too little to them while they need to give too much. Please don’t feel this way, my friend, just to know that you are living in this world is a blessing already. We should be content with the love we get & shouldn’t demand too much. Giving your love to others & you’ll be happy. We should be strong & do our best, then God will help us to do the rest. Why don’t we be optimistic, & believe that when troubles come, there’ll be turning points as well? We should also be giving, living with a thankful heart. This way our lives will receive more blessings!
Please listen to my real life story:
I was a frail & pale life born in the deep cold of a winter, a baby that received life again on Christmas Eve. It happened in a cold, cold winter night at a village that located at the bottom of a hill. I didn’t know why my flesh mother would forsake me—a newborn baby, & put me out in the snow. I had just arrived the earth, but was facing the danger of leaving it again.
When I was almost freezed to death, my foster mom found me. I believe there’s a force in the universe that has guided her to me, because I was placed at the front gate of her garden, which was a mile from her house, my faint cry was covered by the howling of the north wind, so there’s no way she could have heard me. But mom told me she had a feeling that something was going to happen that day, finally in midnight she walked out of the garden gate. By that time, my little life was almost taken by the wind & the snow! When mom took me home, my frail little body was already turning blue!
I received life, because my mom saved me, because Heaven gave me rebirth! Later I learnt that the day of my rebirth was on 24th of December, the Eve of Jesus’ birthday!--I was destined to be His friend. I’ve only learnt about this as I grow up.
Life on the village was very rugged, but full of the scent of nature, and people there were simple & kind. I lived in such surroundings for 7 years. One day, mom asked me to go to a little store in the village to buy some bean sprouts. I went. The owners of the store were not rich, so the store was quite dim. The old lady who sold at the store was singing as she weighed her goods. I couldn’t understand what she was singing, so I asked her, “What are you singing, Madam?” She looked at me & smiled, then led me into a room inside the store, & pointed at a big picture on the wall & said, “Do you know Him? He’s Lord Jesus. He gives blessings to His believers. I’m singing praise to Him.” I was too young to understand what “praise” meant, but somehow I seemed to understand what she meant. Her house was dim, & the Person in the picture was different from those that I’ve met. He had long hair & doesn’t look like us, but His eyes are full of kindness & sweetness. The old lady started to tell me some Bible stories. She didn’t know how to read, I could only read a few words, but I got a booklet from her, & I could only recognize the word “Jesus”.
In the next ten years or more, I was busy with studies, then I moved with my parents to a city by the sea.
Time flew, then I was in university studying English as my major. Through being in touch with Western culture, some memories were quickened deep within my soul, but I didn’t know what it was.
I met the head of students at a local English learning center, he was working in the business world. His English was not good, so I started to help him to practice conversation. Then one Sunday, he gave me a New Testament, & said, “You should study this book thoroughly, & you’ll never be the same again.” So I had a chance to have conversation with Jesus, at that time I was in my second year of university.
In my third year, I met a classmate that carried a serene spirit. I felt she’s different from others, but I couldn’t tell what was so special about her. Later I learnt that she’s a devote Christian, then I understood that people who are full of love in their hearts, are really different from others. She didn’t have a lot of goals in her life, but whatever she set out to do, she could always succeed, so I believed what she said, “Believe on the Lord, He’ll be with you always to help you.” However, I was still hesitating outside the door of salvation.
After I got in a research institution, I came back to visit a teacher that I was very close to at my former school. She’s a real accomplished teacher, but didn’t go after fame nor glory. She said, “Can you imagine your teacher is talking with God throughout the day, & seeking peace from God?” It startled me, so I asked, “Can you do that?” To which she answered, “As long as you truly believe in God, you’ll have happiness & peace throughout your life!”
So I started to read the Bible everyday to understand each word. Reviewing my life in the past 29 years, I suddenly realize that the force in the universe is God’s Love to me! It’s He who had guided my mom to save me, & has been caring for me through each step of my life, giving me love without end!
I’m sharing this Love that God gives me with my dear brothers & sisters, I’ve opened my heart, talking with the Lord, telling Him my desires, troubles & everything, & ask Him to forgive my ignorance & sins, & to guide my way.
I’m a happy angel, enjoying God’s Love, sharing His Gospel & love with others, letting the Lord’s Light to warm up every corner of the world & everyone’s heart!

It’s wonderful to know God’s special love for you, isn’t it? Marina’s story is a very good example—God has been taking care of her all along. As the Bible says, “Who can separate us from the Love of God?”(Romans 8:35)
God loves & cares for each of us. No matter where we are, who we are, His eyes are upon all of us. Even so, He sent His ONLY begotten Son—Jesus to the world to bring His love to us. Jesus came down to earth, lived like one of us, to show His love & help us to be happy & loving. Jesus’ life is the greatest love story ever told!
And you can have His Love in your heart too. Why don’t you receive His Love and pass it on to others, & turn this Christmas your best yet?

Page 16
The
Christmas tree
By Amanda White

A Christmas tree! What a beautiful sight! But what does
it mean to me? I wondered as I gazed at the Yuletide display
before me.
The evergreen tree—it symbolizes Jesus, who lives in my
heart for good. He never dies away in the winter of my difficulties,
but is always with me.
The star on the tiptop of the tree is like that unforgettable
star that lit the way to the first humble home of my Savior two
thousand years ago. It also reminds me to always look up,
that there’s always a shining star of hope, even in my darkest
nights.
The baubles and pretty decorations are the good, happy
things that fill my life with spice and delight. I don’t take time
as often as I should to thank God for all my blessings, or even
for the sad things and the hard times that have made me the
person that I am today. Life wouldn’t be life without both joy
and sadness, the good and the bad.
The colorful string of lights reminds me of the things God
does to light my way through life. “His Word is a lamp to my
feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). I never need feel
alone.
And last but not least, the presents under the Christmas
tree symbolize my gifts to Jesus. It is His birthday, after all. The
most meaningful gifts are gifts of love—time, friendship, com-pany,
giving, forgiveness, and understanding. I give Him gifts
each time I give from my heart to others.
The heart of Christmas is not in the presents we give, but
the love that we share. This is what makes Christmas.

ENGLISH TEXT FOR REFERENCE

I’m a Happy Angel