Flu-vid
By: Tim Irving – Evangelism Team 
This is not a typical Motivation Monday, but because this my 246th consecutive MotMons, I didn’t want to break the flow. Last Sunday night Patty came down with Fluvid – the next strain. (she likes to rename things and it’s very apropos) and by Wednesday she shared it with me and by new year’s day we were both half dead! I have never had such an all encompassing virus. Vicious headache, neck ache, back aches, eye aches, muscle aches, bones ache, chest pains, dry cough, sore throat, fevers, chills, sweats, and the worst complete exhaustion. If you stand up for a minute you have to lie down for an hour. It’s killing me sitting here typing this. I would not wish this on anyone. So this is meant to give you motivation to pray. Pray for protection for family and friends. Pray for any you know with medical conditions that they don’t get it Pray for those who have it. Pray for the Lord to give wisdom to the researchers that they may totally find a cure for this thing, but as in everything pray Thy will be done. We both have been vaccinated which is a good thing. Your have to do what you feel is right, but trust me, you don’t want this! Take precautions, be safe, and have a happy new year.
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
It’s still “tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la lah!” Yet sometime we get so caught up in doing for the season, we can’t tell our fa’s from our la’s! I know the economy needs the revenue the season produces, but commercialism is taking over more every year, and the season isn’t about the economy or commercialism. It’s about the birth of the Savior for all mankind, the beginning of the end of the rift between God and man, it’s about God reaching down to us, giving us the ultimate gift, not about us giving each other presents. God chose for Him to be born to a simple family of a carpenter and his young wife. He was born in a simple stable. He was worshipped by simple shepherds. Notice a pattern here? Christmas shouldn’t be complex or frustrating or frazzling. It should simply be a time to rejoice with loved ones over the greatest gift ever given. Slow down, pace yourself, both in what you do in and out of the church, reflect on simpler times, share and if you are able, be generous with those in need. Give each other gifts, but don’t make that the overwhelming priority. This is the most special time of the year! Enjoy it, enjoy each other, and thank God, that because of His gracious gift, His Son, you are able to have the Spirit of Christmas in your heart all year long!
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
It’s almost Thanksgiving! How can that be? Didn’t we just celebrate Easter a few weeks ago? The world seems to be spinning faster as the mind spins slower. Anyway, it’s that time of year to give thanks, or for some, to make a big show of it, but every day of the year is a time to give thanks. Every time you open your eyes to a new day, in the land of the free, in a safe home, with food in the fridge, is a time to give thanks. Every day you’re able to sit, stand, walk, drive a car, is a time to give thanks. Every meal you are fortunate to eat, is a time to give thanks. I’ve had people question me for saying grace at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Well, I’ m just as thankful for breakfast as I am for lunch as I am for dinner. Can we ever truly thank God enough for all He has done for us? What did Paul say in 1 Thessalonians 5:18? ” … In EVERYTHING give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Giving thanks keeps us humble and humility is in short order these days. Give thanks, realizing and admitting all of God’s blessings in your life. I can’t imagine not having His hand upon my life. Don’t make Thanksgiving just a yearly holiday. Okay, maybe you can only take all your relatives a whole day once a year, but every day should be a day of thanksgiving. Maybe every day isn’t perfect, maybe there are health issues, financial issues, but if your heart is in His hands, He will see you through them. Enjoy the holiday with Aunt Mabel and cousin Itt, sharing love and large quantities of food, and then for the next 364 days, with a grateful heart, give thanks!