Merry Christmas! Hello, Dear Friend!   Well, as you know, it's time for My Birthday again. Last year, they had a really big party for me and it seems like they will again this year.  After all, they've been shopping and preparing for it for months now, and there have been announcements and advertisements, almost every day, about how soon it's coming!   They really do go overboard about it.  But, it's nice to know that, at least on one day of the year, some people are thinking about me, a little.      You know, it's been many years now since they first started celebrating My Birthday.  Back then, they seemed to realize and appreciate how much fun it is for the little children.  Just the same, it seems that most folks are missing the point of it all.         Like last year, for example, when My Birthday came around, they threw a big party.  But, can you believe it? I wasn't even invited!  Imagine!  The guest of honor, and they forgot all about me?    Here, they had begun preparing for the festivities months in advance.  But, when the big day came, I was left out in the cold!  Well, it happened so many times in recent years, I wasn't even surprised.  Even though I wasn't invited, I thought I'd just quietly slip in anyway. So, I came in and stood off to the side.    Everyone was drinking, laughing, and having a grand time when, all of a sudden, in came this fat fellow in a bright red suit, wearing a phony white beard and shouting, "Ho Ho Ho!".   He looked like he had more than enough to drink.   When he collapsed into a big armchair, all the little children went running over to him, excitedly yelling, "Santa!  Santa!".  I mean, you'd have thought he was the guest of honor and the whole holiday was just for him.     Finally, I just had to leave.  I walked out the door.  It was no surprise that no one even noticed that I had gone. As I walked down the street afterward, I felt about as lonely and forlorn as a stray dog.  I could not remember the last time I'd felt that low.  Maybe you don't think I cry??    The little manger scene, you put in the corner of your living room, is really touching!  It's good that people commemorate my birthday like that.    Did you know that, nowadays, in some countries, the authorities won't even allow manger scenes to be placed in parks, streets, or public place anymore!  Not to mention their schools!  I'm not talking about Communist countries!  I'm talking about the good, old USA.  Imagine What could be more innocent than a manger scene to remind people of my birthday?  Yet, it is banned! They've actually passed laws against it and made it illegal!  What's this world coming to?       Another thing that amazes me is how, on My Birthday, instead of giving me presents, most people give gifts to  each other!  And to top it all off, it's usually all kinds of stuff they don't even need!    Let me ask you, wouldn't you find it odd if when your birthday came along, all your friends decided to celebrate it by giving each other presents and never gave you a thing? Someone once told me, "Well, it's because you're not around like other people are.  So, how can we give you a present??. You know my answer to that one, "Then give gifts of food and clothing to the poor.  Help those who need it. Go visit the lonely!  Any gift you give to your needy fellow man, I'll count as if you gave it to me personally! (See Matthew 25:34-40)"   It reminds me of what happened recently to a friend of mine, a sweet elderly fellow.  He's from the poorer side of town, and he's been trying unsuccessfully for years to join the church. It was a very exclusive church, for the proper kind of folks, and they just did not think he was good enough to be a member.  I found him, one day, sitting by the church steps, with his head, on his hands, I asked him what was wrong.  He told me about it.  I put my arm around his shoulder and told him I knew just how he felt.  I've been wanting to enter that same church for twenty years and they've never let me in either!     Well, there is an end even to my patience.  So, I'm going to let you in on a secret.  Now, this is something I've been planning on doing for quite sometime.  I'll have my own party!  How about that?  It's going to be the most fantastic feast you could possibly imagine!  It might not happen this year.  But, I'm sending out the invitations now.  I know you'll want to come. There is going to be room for billions, for everyone who wants to come!  Some really famous old timers and celebrities are going to be there and I'll reserve you a seat of honor right with them! (Mat. 8:11)     So, hold on to your hat because, when everything is ready, I'm going to spring it as a big surprise!  Many people are going to be left out in the cold because they did not answer my invitation. Let me know, right away, if you'd like to come.  I'll reserve you a place and write your name, in Large Golden Letters, in My Great Big Guest Book!    Much Love, Jesus Author Unknown Written By Country Lady 12/25/03 Song Playing Is:A Closer Walk With Thee