From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Mr. David O'Reilly" <doreilly@prodigy.com>; "Christina" <wilsonc@vcss.k12.ca.us>; "Craig & Jenny Thompson" <yody9@aol.com>; "Hedy Wainor" <wfamily@ma.ultranet.com>; "Jennifer Stallings" <daveandjennstallings@juno.com>; "Jesse & Debbie Schwartz" <djndjsch@juno.com>; "Cindy Picha" <pichac@u.arizona.edu>; "Rosemary Otterson" <weeps4none@juno.com>; "Tracey O'Reilly" <Dahlgliev@prodigy.net>; "Jeff & Jennifer O'Reilly" <jeffiner@juno.com>; "Andy Norcutt" <penguin@best1.net>; "Richard & Karen Menzie" <rkmenzi@gte.net>; "Leslie McNeill" <102421.3011@compuserve.com>; "Jim McIntire" <jjkamm@vcnet.com>; "Todd & Lori Lyche" <tlyche@vcnet.com>; "Martin & Barbara Lexutt" <BnMLexutt@aol.com>; "Diane Hudson" <lotamus@utech.net>; "Charlie & Phyllis Greene" <greenehouse72@juno.com>; "Ann Lynn Graham" <algraham@bmtc.net>; "Sieg Enke" <hseee@juno.com>; "Shannon Enke" <Dolphin151@juno.com>; "Jonathan Enke" <VOLLYBAL11@aol.com>; "Ella Enke" <Omaopa4@juno.com>; "Bekka Enke" <wiket1@juno.com>; "Dona Bryant" <trave777@ior.com>; "Gerry Nelson" <ghaircut@juno.com>; "Ted & Laura Enke" <telabele@juno.com>; "Jody Copeland" <jodyamc@juno.com>
Subject: Greetings
Date: Sunday, December 14, 1997 9:36 AM

December seems the time of year when we reflect on all the things that have
happened in our lives.  We seems to concentrate on the good things and slip
over the not so good.  But if we think about the "not so good" honestly, we
find treasure.  How can that be?  Are not those the times that we were
pressed into Christ?  Are they not the experiences that gave us a greater
knowledge of Him?  Did He not strengthen us to "walk through the valley of
the shadow of death" with Him?  Do we not adore and worship Him all the
more because of them?  These truly then are precious gifts from our
wonderful Lord.  Truly they are more precious than any gift you will find
under the tree; they are life changing gifts sent from heaven above. 

Let us then join with the Apostle Paul, as near the end of his life he
writes in Philippians, of his desire to know Christ in an even greater
measure: 

"...But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to
what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward
call of God in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:13b -14    (Read Phil 3:1 - 16
to get the heartfelt desire of Paul's heart.)

May God bless you this day in a very special way.