James 4:4-10 (The Message)
4-6 You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and His way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”
7-10 So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and He’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

​Who is God?  He is the fountain of life, the only source of existence and power and goodness, and throughout the universe there is nothing good but what God works.  God had created the sun, and the moon, and the starts, and the flowers, and the trees, and the grass; and are they not all absolutely surrendered to God?  Do they not allow God to work in them just what He pleases?  When God clothes the lily with its beauty, is it not yielded up, surrendered, given over to God as He works in its beauty?  And God's redeemed children, oh, can you think that God can work His work if there is only half or a part of them surrendered?  God cannot do it.

God is life, and love, and blessing, and power, and infinite beauty, and God delights to communicate Himself to every child who is prepared to receive Him; but, this one lack of absolute surrender is just the thing that hinders God.  And now He comes, and as God, He claims it.  

You know in daily life what absolute surrender is.  You know that everything has to be given up to its special, definite object and service.    I have a pen that is absolutely surrendered to the one work of writing, and that pen must be absolutely surrendered to my hand if I am to write properly with it.  If another holds it partly, I cannot write properly.    Do you expect that in your immortal being, in the divine nature that you have received by regeneration, God can work His work, every day and every hour, unless you are entirely given up to Him?  God cannot. 

Every one of us is a temple of God, in which God will dwell and work mightily on one condition: absolute surrender to Him.  It is with our free will that He has given us, that we do this.  God claims it, God is worthy of it, and without it, God cannot work His blessed work in us.  
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From the Olive Tree One Year Daily Devotional. 
Adapted from "Absolute Surrender and Other Addresses" by Andrew Murray.  

Merry Christmas from our Rocky Mountain CTN family to yours.  May you experience Peace and Joy from  our Savior- Jesus Christ. 

*All Times are MST

Saturday, December 21st:
6:30pm- Superbook's The First Christmas- This is a great family animated Christmas special.  
7pm- David Jeremiah Christmas Special - “Make the Season Bright”
This   television, Broadway special include talents of  The Voice    winner, Jordan Smith and  The Voice, season 11, Michael Sanchez along with artist Sheila Walsh and many other talented guests.  

Sunday, December 22nd:
5:30pm- Hillsong Christmas Carol Spectacular
6:30pm- Superbook's The Promise of A Child 
8:30pm- Phil Driscoll Christmas 

 Tuesday, December 24th:
4pm- Phil Driscoll Christmas 2
4:30pm- Superbook's The First Christmas
5pm- Superbook's The Promise of A Child 
7pm- The Navy Band Christmas
8:30pm- David Jeremiah Christmas Special- "Make the Season Bright"
 
Wednesday, December 25th:
1pm-2:30pm- Fireplace with Christmas Music 
3pm- Movie: The Perfect Gift- 
A spoiled schoolgirl, her overworked executive mother, and a disillusioned young minister each receives an uplifting message about friendship, commitment, and the truest meaning of Christmas from a friendly, but mysterious drifter.
4:30pm- David Jeremiah Christmas Special- "Make the Season Bright"
7pm- Musical Christmas Special 
8:30pm- Superbook's The Promise of A Child 

A Lit All White Christmas with Ty Morris and H.O.W.
​Location: The Walnut Room
3131 Walnut Street  Denver, CO 80205
​Tickets: $15
Saturday, December 21st @ 7pm
Visit the   Eventbrite Website  for more information or to purchase tickets ​

Are you still looking for  a wonderful Christmas event to go to?
There's still time to get your tickets for   "The Heart Of Christmas"

The Heart of Christmas Musical Stage Production
​Location: The Auditorium @ Charis Bible College
800 Gospel Truth Way  Woodland Park, CO 80863
Friday, December 13th thru Sunday, December 15th
Visit the website for more information or to purchase tickets: 
https://www.heartofchristmas.org/
​
The Heart of Christmas, a musical, transports you back through time, as one family discovers how the simple act of receiving a gift can change their lives forever.  The beautiful story is interwoven with classic Christmas carols and seasonal songs and will let families experience the true heart of Christmas. ​

God is worthy of our trust.
But did you know that trusting God is actually two-fold?
We must trust that His wisdom is best and live accordingly, and we must constantly pursue removing all the distracting idols keeping us from wholehearted devotion. Trusting God must involve both our actions and our devotion.
The Lord longs for a heart wholly fixed on Him. And that means He wants more than just our right actions.
Yes, right actions are important. But they must stem from right devotion. A heart fully devoted to God produces right actions, not out of a legalistic stance or a moral obligation, but rather because God is the One our hearts worship, adore, and follow.
Today, let’s declare God as trustworthy—the One who is the ultimate Provider, Healer, Restorer, Sustainer, and Holder of the best plans for our life.
Let’s live for Him because we love Him.

-Lysa  TerKeurst