If it had not been the Lord who was on our side” I don’t know if I would be writing this Christmas greeting to our friends and loved ones.

Those words David wrote in Psalm 124 describes our amazing year. Serious health crises for our sons Gary and Jaron, and for Les and me. I was first with three infections at once while vacationing in Florida. Les for some reason we haven’t discovered passed out and fell as we walked in the mall and injured his shoulder. Praise the Lord faith and works gave us all victory and we’re doing fine, but Gary and Jaron’s problems gave us quite a scare. Thank God He answers prayer!

We praise the Lord for our children and grandchildren who didn’t have any major trouble. We have a new great-granddaughter, Emilia Sue Brownell, a precious gift born to Justin and Kimberly.

The Lord who is on our side is Jehovah Jireh, our provider; Jehovah NIssi, His banner over us is love; and Jehovah Rapha, our healer. He also is our Comforter, and I’ve known His comfort this year as I lost the last of my four sisters, Joan.

The Lord is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Now I turn my eyes toward Christmas, which also is full of testimonies. If you’re wondering, the boy in the photo is our great-grandson, Stone Salazar son of Gabe and Melissa. Melissa is Gary and Janice’s daughter. Isn’t Stone cute? Now a Christmas question and recipe for Mexican fruit cake.

Was the Babe in the manger the Messiah?

If this were a court case, you might hear from a bunch of shepherds who all saw angels in the sky on a cold dark night saying, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign unto you: You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” Luke 2:12). They found him!

Then we hear from Simeon, who believed he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Christ, and when Mary and Joseph brought the child to the temple for the Jewish blessing, Simeon knew this child would bring Salvation to him, the Jews, but also to Gentiles” (Luke 2:32).

Joseph and Mary marveled at things spoken of Him (Luke 2:33). Mary and Joseph would be the most persuasive witnesses to put on the witness stand because they knew the child was born of a virgin, as Old Testament prophets had testified (Isaiah 7:14). Isaiah lived about 700 B.C. The record of fulfillment is written in Matthew 1:18-23).

Many other prophets could testify about what God revealed to them hundreds of years in advance about Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection and they recorded it in God’s Word. According to Josh McDowell, author of Evidence that Demands a Verdict [1]the Bible absolutely confirms Jesus’ credentials as the Son of God and Messiah who came to give eternal life and redemption from sin.

“”The apostles throughout the New Testament appealed to two areas of the life of Jesus of Nazareth to establish his Messiahship,” McDowell wrote. “One was the resurrection and the other was fulfilled Messianic prophecy. The Old Testament, written over a 1,000-year period, contains several hundred references to the coming Messiah. All of these were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and they establish a solid confirmation of His credentials as the Messiah.”

In the same way people today testify about what God does in their lives in answer to prayer. They don’t usually testify in court, but I interviewed many of them and wrote their true stories for The Pentecostal Evangel.

Many of these stories are in my new book, What Prayer Can Do. Get it at http://ow.ly/9CEI30h4IdL

It’s available now as an e-book and the paperback should be released soon.

My other four inspiring non-fiction books and three novels also are available on Amazon and a few other sites and if ordered now should be delivered by Christmas. All but two come in paper and e-book format.

https://www.amazon.com/author/adabrownell

Note: I do have a chapter in the dreams book that’s also on that page, but I don’t know where the Yoga book came from L

WHAT PRAYER CAN DO SUMMARY

Pray. God answers.

Ennis Surratt, known as the “meanest man in town,” changed in a moment. John Feliciano, blinded in an industrial accident, sees instantly. Marjorie Eager’s family escapes death when God stops a forest fire. A mother prays on her deathbed for her sons to meet her in heaven, and years later God grabs Gary Hilgers out of sin and turns him around. More amazing chapters originally published in The Pentecostal Evangel, enough for every week of the year, with three bonuses.

This book is about what happens when God intervenes—what is called in court and church as “testimonies.”

Part One: Prayer Results in Miracles

Part Two: Prayer Brings People to God

Part Three: Prayer Helps with Victorious Living

Part Four: Prayer Changes Marriages; Families

Part Five: Prayer Makes an Eternal Difference

Jesus came, so have a joyous Christmas!

L.C. and Ada Brownell

RECIPE: QUICK AND EASY MEXICAN FRUITCAKE

2 cups flour2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons soda2 eggs

½ teaspoon salt1 cup walnuts

20-ounce can crushed pineapple with juice

Mix together and bake at 350 degrees F. for 30-40 minutes in ungreased 20x13 pan. Works well if you mix in half the nuts and sprinkle remainder on top before baking. Good with cream cheese frosting.