Brownsboro F.U.M.C.
by The Elliots

A group of prospectors set out from Bannock, Montana (then capital of the state), in search of gold. They went through many hardships and several of their little company died enroute. Finally they were overtaken by the Indians who took their good horses, leaving them with only a few limping old ponies. Then they threatened them, telling them to get back to Bannock and stay there, for if they overtook them again, they would murder the lot of them. Defeated, discouraged, and downhearted, the prospectors sought to make their way back to the capital city. On one occasion as they tethered out the limping ponies on a creekside, one of the men casually picked up a little stone from the creek bed. He called to his buddy for a hammer and upon cracking the rock, he said, "It looks as though there may be gold here."

The two of them panned gold the rest of the afternoon and managed to realize twelve dollar's worth. The entire little company panned gold the next day in the same creek and realized fifty dollars, a great sum in those days. They said to one another, "We have struck it!" They made their way back to Bannock and vowed not to breathe a word concerning this gold strike. They secretively set about reequipping themselves with supplies for another prospecting trip. But when they got ready to go back, three hundred men followed them. Who had told on them? No one! Their beaming faces betrayed the secret!

If we have been captivated with Him, whom having not seen we love, we should be unable to conceal the treasure: beaming faces should betray the secret! Remember Matthew 2:10, "...and the Angel said unto them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." How can our faces not give us away as to the joy in our hearts because of His love for us and especially at this time of year? The New Testament mentions joy in our relationship with the Lord over sixty-two times. Joy is a Christmas word and that word should be alive in our hearts. Do you have TREASURE?

Have a very merry Christ-filled Christmas. Do not forget your church Sunday!

--Bro. Ernest