One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in still another village where He worked in a carpenter’s shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He traveled and preached.
He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He did not go to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled more than two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He did none of the things man usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.
He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a stake between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only property He had on earth, his coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Two Thousand years have come and gone and today He remains the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind’s progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the fleets that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of men on this planet so much as that One Solitary Life.
~Dr. James Allen Francis, originally published 1928
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A Special Message From Donna Krech
This time of year is one of my absolute favorites. I love the lights, the music, the joy shared between family and friends. Sure, I love the gifts, but I must tell you… I love GIVING them far more than receiving them. I have so much fun picking out something I know someone wants, and even more fun watching the person open the gift.
Perhaps I just love to give or perhaps this is the result of a relationship I have with The Gift Giver. For it was over 2000 years ago when the most precious gift ever given to mankind was shared. One Solitary Life says it best and says it based on fact. ‘All the armies that ever marched, all the fleets that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of men on this planet so much as that One Solitary Life.’
This Gift is the reason I can speak life into others. He is what allows me to pull out the best in those who come into my life. He is why I have peace and the only way I comprehend real joy. My relationship with Him is how I cope with the pressures of owning and building businesses, beating cancers and raising a family (both by birth and by marriage).
Today, in the limited amount of space I have to write, my prayer is that you’ll consider accepting this gift into your life. That truly is all it takes you know. Just say, “Yes. I do believe this One Solitary was a Life-Changing gift that is, in fact, the Savior of all mankind. I want the peace and joy that Donna refers to here, to believe that He was born, He died, rose again and can give me everlasting life.” It’s that easy. Be blessed, dear one reading this. Be blessed beyond your wildest dreams. ~Donna
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Greetings from Zig.
Although we are saddened by the loss of our dear friend Zig Ziglar, Heaven rejoices. Below you will see his words live on with special Christmas greeting we are happy to share with you!
Most of you will be reading this a few days before December 25, the day celebrated by Christians as Christ’s birthday. Thanks to an elderly black lady who spent the July 4, 1972, weekend in our home, I committed my life to Christ and every facet of my life was radically changed for the better. I became a “new creature” and quickly learned that God’s possibles are infinitely greater than man’s permissibles.
As I studied Biblical principles and started teaching them, my career exploded. When I accepted Christ as my Lord, I received my “BA”– that’s “Born Again.” As a born-again Christian I became a joint heir with Christ to the Kingdom of God and truly fell in love with my wife of over 28 years. Loving her through Christ really taught me what love was all about. As a born-again Christian I wanted to share my faith with others and make decisions that reflected that faith. In that process I received my second degree, the “DD”-that’s “Disturbing the Devil.” Yes, Satan is the devil, and he is the author of lies. When people see the joy in my life (and it’s more evident all the time), Satan doesn’t like that, and when I call him a liar and tell people about the Bible, that, too, disturbs the devil. When I am privileged to bring someone to a saving knowledge of Christ, that disturbs him even more.
As I continued in my Christian walk, I received my “Ph.D.,” which means that I am “Past Having Doubt.” Our pastor teaches that when we believe God can do it, that’s little faith. When we believe that God will do it, that’s big faith. When we believe it’s a done deal, that is perfect faith.
Christmas is the celebration of the birth that had the most impact of any birth since the history of mankind. When the Babe in Bethlehem was born, it was announced that He was the Savior of the world. When He made the supreme sacrifice on the cross, He simply said, “It is finished,” because when He arose three days later He had triumphed over the grave. Christianity is not a “religion.” It is a relationship with Christ as Lord. All “religions” require that you work your way to Heaven with your good deeds. In Christianity, we believe our way into Heaven. The Bible clearly says that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from death, we will be saved. Christmas is extraordinarily special to me and all born again believers.
Merry Christmas to all! ~Zig Ziglar
