THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE HOLY SPIRIT BEGINS THE PROCESS OF GROWTH BY WOOING ME TO JESUS, AND HE IS WORKING TO FINISH THE TASK.
IF JESUS CAME TO MY HOUSE TODAY FOR A VISIT, AND I TOLD HIM THAT I WANTED TO CHANGE. WHAT WOULD HE DO? HEAL ME? TEACH ME?
I CAN THINK OF MANY THINGS I WOULD WANT HIM TO DO.
BUT JESUS WENT AWAY, HE DIEDED ON THE CROSS.
BUT HE SAID HE WOULD SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT.

UNLESS I GO AWAY THE COUNSELOR WILL NOT COME TO YOU. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES HE WILL GUIDE YOU UNTO ALL TRUTH. HE WILL NOT SPEAK ON HIS OWN ONLY WHAT HE HEARS AND HE WILL TELL YOU WHAT IS YET TO COME. HE WILL BRING GLORY TO ME BY TAKING FROM WHAT IS MINE AND MAKING IT KNOWN TO YOU. ALL THAT BELONGS TO THE FATHER IS MINE. THAT IS WHY I SAID THE SPIRIT WILL TAKE FROM WHAT
IS MINE AND MAKE IT KNOWN TO YOU. JOHN 16:7. 13-15.

BISCOCHITOS - COOKIE

BISCOCHITOS, IS NEW MEXICO'S STATE COOKIE. BISCOCHITOS IS A SPANISH WORD MEANING "LITTLE COOKIE," BUT IN NEW MEXICO. THE WORD REFERS TO A SPECIFIC COOKIE SO POPULAR THAT IT WAS MADE THE STATE COOKIE IN 1989. THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF BISCOCHITOS ARE LARD, ANISE SEED, A BIT OF BRANDY, AND THE SPRINKLING OF CINNAMON AND SUGAR. BISCOCHITOS CAN BE MADE WITH BUTTER, BUT THEY DON'T TASTE THE SAME.THEY CAN BE CONFUSED WITH A BUTTER COOKIE. AT CHRISTMASTIME, BISCOCHITOS ARE A SPECIAL TREAT. ONE CAN USE COOKIE CUTTERS, BUT I THINK BISCOCHITOS FORMED BY HAND ARE MUCH PRETTIER AND SOME SAY THEY TASTE BETTER. CHRISTMAS TRADITION HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO. JUST ONE OF THEM THE "BISCOCHITOS."
NEW MEXICO IS FULL OF ENCHANTMENT, A RICH CULTURAL FEAST OF SPANISH, ANGELO, OTHERS, AND PUEBLO TRADITIONS.

Christmas Offering - Casting Crowns

Hillsong - Open my Eyes

ANGER USED "DEFENSIVELY"

THERE ARE WAYS TO USE ANGER DEFENSIVELY. USING ANGER TO DEFEND AND PROTECT MYSELF IS UNHEALTHY. IT CAN BECOME A METHOD OF RESPONSE TO WRONGLY COPE WITH PAIN. IT CAN BE USED TO DOMINATE OR CONTROL OTHERS.

ANGER CAUSES THE HEART TO HARDEN IF THE ANGER IS NOT RESOLVED. OR ONE CAN BECOME COMBATIVE OR DEFENSIVE. IT CAN ACT LIKE A DRUG . WHEN ONE BECOMES ANGRY, ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO FEEL THE PAIN THAT PROMPTED THE ANGER, BUT ONE WON'T FEEL ANY GOOD FEELINGS EITHER. TAKEN TO EXTREME, ANGER EMPOWERS ONE TO CHANGE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THREATENED ONE TO BEGIN WITH.

MANIPULATION "GUILT"

LOVE DOES NOT MANIPULATE. LOVE TELLS THE TRUTH. SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO MANIPULATING BY MAKING OTHERS FEEL GUILTY, THEY CAN'T RECOGNIZE LOVE WHEN THEY SEE ONE STOP MANIPULATING WHEN ONE COMES RIGHT OUT AND STATE WHAT IT IS ONE WANTS. MANIPULATION PLAYS ON GUILT. IF ONE CAN MAKE SOMEONE FEEL GUILTY, ONE CAN GET THEM TO DO WHAT ONE WANTS. IT'S HARDLY THE WAY TO GO, IT'S WRONG.

LOVE SAYS: ONES UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO ME WHATSOEVER.

LOVE SHOULD BE WITHOUT STRINGS ATTACHED.

ONE'S RELATIONSHIP DESERVES TRUTHFULNESS AND LOVE. ONE DESERVES THE RESPECT AND HAPPINESS THAT RELATIONSHIPS SHOULD BRING.