Season's Greetings!

Our friend, the Founder and Senior Pastor of the Recovery Christian Center, Rev. Dr. Christobal Miguel Kimmenez, PhD, thoughtfully sent us the following holiday message and we'd like to share this gift with you.

While this cherished Christmas story is one we all know well and a favorite among Christians, it also offers a broader meaning and we believe that Rev. Kimmenez' message of peace, hope and love is a universal one.

Christmas 2012 from Recovery Christian Center

8"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them." Luke 2:8-20 NLT

This is the real reason for the season. The King of Kings and The Lords of Lords left his Throne in heaven and came into the world born in a manger, wrapped in rags to a poor mother and stepfather so that we might be redeemed.

The best way we can celebrate it is by showing ourselves as examples of "Peace on earth and goodwill towards men." We should not forget that the true Spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Christ and the best way we can get in the spirit is by sharing the unconditional love He shows us.

- Rev. Christobal Miguel Kimmenez, PhD

As we all struggle with the challenges of our times and momentarily bear witness to the darker sides of human nature, where pain and suffering are inflicted onto our neighbor resulting in unimaginable tragedies, let us receive this message into our hearts and vow to make a difference.

"The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines." -- Charles Kuralt

Military Family Network encourages you to show "goodwill towards men" by reaching out in friendship, by comforting the sick, by visiting the lonely, by feeding and clothing the poor, by praying for those in need of our prayers or by doing something for others that resonates in your soul.

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." --Philo

May you be blessed with kindness, compassion, forgiveness, peace and love from those around you and may you offer the same in return.

Wishing you the joys of the season and a very Merry Christmas!

Megan, Luis and The MFN Team

Department of Defense pays for memberships to Sittercity As a reminder, the Department of Defense pays for memberships to Sittercity for Army, Marine, Navy, and Air Force families, including active duty, Reserve, and Guard.
Read more at: MFN News

Veterans & Military Spouses National Virtual Career Fairs Join us for the upcoming Service member, Veterans & Military Spouses National Virtual Career Fairs (VCF) conducted by Milicruit. These two VCF events will include military friendly employers that represent thousands of available opportunities.
Read more at: MFN News

President Obama at Prayer Vigil for Connecticut Shooting VictimsPresident Obama at Prayer Vigil for Connecticut Shooting Victims: "Newtown, You Are Not Alone"
View video at: MFN News

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Monthly Premium e-Payment Deadline Looming for TRICARE Reserve Select and Retired ReserveWith the new year quickly approaching, TRICARE beneficiaries covered by TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) or TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) must switch to electronic premium payments by Dec. 31.
Read this: Here

Do you have a question for TRICARE. Do you need their Contact information? Try this contact page. It gives you all the options.

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VA, SSA and IRS Cut Red Tape for Veterans and Survivors. The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today it is cutting red tape for Veterans by eliminating the need for them to complete an annual Eligibility Verification Report (EVR). Read more a MFN News

Report Reveals Further Reduction in Veterans Homelessness. The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that a new national report shows that homelessness among Veterans has been reduced by approximately 7 percent between January 2011 and January 2012. Read more at MFN News

Please visit your local Veteran Administration

It is only possible for our National Guard and Reserve members to perform at their best with the support of loved ones, friends, neighbors and, particularly, employers. Thousands of employers across the nation employ National Guard and Reserve members, fully aware that at any moment they may be called to serve. And when this happens, both the employee and employer face challenges. We are grateful for the many employers who remain patriotically steadfast in support of their military employees, both financially and emotionally, going well beyond the law. Supportive employers allow service members to perform their duties while alleviating concerns about their jobs and loved ones back home.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, invites nominations for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for outstanding support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. National Guard and Reserve members and their families are eligible, and encouraged, to nominate their employers now through January 21st, 2013 at FreedomAward.mil. Freedom Award recipients support their Guard and Reserve employees and their families in important ways, both large and small. Past recipients have provided differential pay during deployments, continued insurance benefits and sent comfort items in care packages. Some of the most valued assistance has been the support extended to deployed service members’ families. When one National Guard member was deployed, his employer filled his seat at his sons’ sports games. After another service member’s family hit hard times during a deployment, his employer stacked gifts under the family’s Christmas tree. And during the deployment of a single father, his employer sent his daughters off to school each morning with a wake up phone call. These seemingly small acts have a significant impact on the lives of National Guard and Reserve members and their families. The 2013 recipients will be announced by early summer and honored at the 17th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony in Washington, D.C. early next fall. Past recipients of the Freedom Award have met with the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense. Click here to submit a nominationl.

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