"Shortcuts"

Dear LCM Family and Friends,

We are living in a world that is not in line with God’s will. This is why our country and nation are suffering.

Christmas is no exception for many. For example, many will go out and try to buy our children a bunch of gifts we cannot afford when we know there are other things more important; like rent, food, and utilities that need to be paid. Instead of getting a few nice things, many of us try to do much more than we can afford to do. Then, we want to take shortcuts on the things that are still there staring at us after all the festivities.

Well, shortcuts don’t work sometimes

...most times, when we neglect to take care of our ‘business,’ so-to-speak, a shortcut will come back to ‘bite’ us. The Bible tells us to be cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:6-7), but the same scripture also tells us not to give “under compulsion,” or “grudgingly.” In other words, when we do to satisfy our flesh and for the love and approval of others, we end up doing more than we can and then we are upset and regretting what we gave because we took a shortcut on something else.

It is my prayer this Christmas that we all will look to have a joyous, blessed, and family-filled time; that we will not put ourselves in a jam to please others; that we will be good stewards with what God has blessed us with; and that we will remember that Jesus is the true meaning of the season!

Remember: the best gift ever given to mankind….the best gift we can ever receive is the salvation that Jesus Christ provided for us when He died on that Cross at Calvary!

And, He did not take any shortcuts! -Maurice