Dear Bros in Christ,

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Brothers in Christ, this monthly email is sent and meant to be an encouragement to all and to build up
and edify in the Lord Jesus Christ. Oikodome means "Builder". The Lord has put this on my heart to
send out a monthly Iron Man Oikodome {oy-kod-om-ay'} to build up and encourage the men who love
and follow Jesus Christ in their walk with Him.

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which
one may edify another.
Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of
you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

DECEMBER 2006
SET YOUR SIGHTS ON CHRIST

Let His birth celebration be a time of rejoicing and a time of sharing His love and His unmerited
favor with all those we are close to this Christmas.
As we seek our King Jesus Christ this season of celebration let us rejoice and worship Him with
prayers and thanksgiving. We all are able to share Christ in a more intimate way, more so, this
time of year than any other time. There is an openness a willingness if you will, in every heart
this time of year to at least listen. A time where we are able to talk about and share Christ, a time
where some family members won’t scoff at the mention of His name, a time where our witness to
our family is greater than any other time of year. You see its CHRISTMAS; it is this time of year
everyone loves! In addition, everyone loves to receive gifts. Therefore, we have the best gift to
offer that anyone could ever receive or want the greatest gift in the whole world. A gift that is
eternal and has more love than we can fully comprehend, the gift that never stops giving, nor
stops loving or blessing or having mercy on us, it is the Perfect Gift for all mankind, our
Redeemer Christ Jesus.

Bros, this is a great time to fully give thanks to our Creator, make amends, ask forgiveness from
someone whom we have wronged or give forgiveness to someone who has wronged us. Humble
ourselves heal old wounds, build new bridges, love our family the way Christ loves us with much
forgiveness and mercy with that never-ending supply of compassion, love and grace. It is so
simple and the only way to the cross. Think about that for a moment if you will. So easily we
forget that love that is so freely given us, may we extend it to all this Christmas. Show everyone
how loving Christ really is, how He can love the unloved and heal the unhealed, repair the
broken lives through forgiveness of sin. Jesus not only died for us on that cross, but before that,
He was born for us. As we are born again in Him, let us live in Him and let Him live in and
through us this Christmas. Not just maybe, but for sure He wants to touch hearts and lives in
your family this Christmas. We are weak but He is strong and He is willing but are we willing to
let Him shine through us this Christmas season?
If you have the holiday blues and feel a little light on cash, stressed out, running a little thin on
patience and hair, weary from all the crowds, feeling like you might have to take a second
mortgage to finance this years presents, feeling like you have to be in too many places at once or
you still haven’t lost the weight you gained from last years Christmas dinner’s then come and let
us all get our focus back on Jesus and put Christ back in Christmas. Let us go to Him…
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take
My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Therefore, Bros get some rest in Him this
Christmas.
When we look through the scope of our life, our sights should be on Christ and when we set our
sights on Christ, we will see the cross every time. Jesus not only died for us on that cross, also
that is where we met Him and can continue to meet Him daily, hourly every moment at the foot
of the cross. But before that He was born for us. This day a Savior is born unto us…
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and
his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of
Peace.

Christ Born of Mary

(Matt. 1:18-25)
2And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world
should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went
to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be
registered with Mary, his betrothed *wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were
there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son,
and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for
them in the inn.
Glory in the Highest
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over
their flock by night. 9 And *behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the
Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be
afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is
born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign
to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and
saying:

"Glory to God in the highest,

14
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to
15
one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord
has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying
in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made *widely known the saying which was told
them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told
them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then
the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen,
as it was told them.

Matthew's Account of the First Advent (copy and paste this link to open and hear the story
as read by Stephen Johnston)
http://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/bible/nkjv/ram/Mat-advent.ram

May the Lord use you this day to share the Good News with the ones you love and may this be the
most joyous Christmas celebration ever for you and your family. God bless you and use you
continually for His glory and honor,
Daniel Wright
Iron Man Oikodome
Proverbs 27:17

EVENTS AT YOUR CHURCH FOR MEN: If you have men’s fellowship, breakfast’s
or special men’s studies/events at your church coming up that are open and
geared for men and will build up and encourage men in their walk with Christ
please forward the event information, time date, etc. and we will post them on
the Iron Man Oikodome website.

PRAYER REQUESTS: If you have prayer, requests we will send out email prayer
requests to the men in a discreet manner that respects your privacy if you so
desire and glorifies the Lord. The main thing is to lift up your needs and bring
them before our Father. That would be an honor and a privilege.

To have your email address removed from future mailings please reply to
ironmanoikodome@earthlink.net and type "PLEASE REMOVE" in the subject box, thank
you!

To add a friend to the Iron Man Oikodome monthly devotional simply forward their email
address to this link ironmanoikodome@earthlink.net