Jesus is the Greatest Gift!

 Not all of my presents are under the tree. Some are still in the store. I am reminded of the old shows where the boy is peering through the Christmas store window at the red wagon. Others are hidden in strategic locations, waiting for wrapping and bows. I’ll admit I’m a Christmas junky. Nothing does my heart better than sitting in the early morning watching the Christmas tree. I love presents! The more the merrier! They don’t have to be expensive. It’s the surprise I enjoy the most. I love the look of wonder on my grandchildren’s faces as they open each package. I especially relish Danny opening his packages. Finding just the right gift for the love of my life is important to me. His response makes me so happy! Gifts are a wonderful expression of love.

God is the best gift Giver ever! As we peer into the window of the Word we are filled with delight at all the splendid gifts available to us who are believers! Jesus, God’s very best gift to us, is the greatest gift ever given. Because of this incredibly gracious and merciful gift, nothing we could warrant on our own, we have more incredible gifts.  Whatever your need, God has gifted it to you through His Son, The Savior of the World.

I know every day doesn’t feel like Christmas.  There are hurts and anxieties and troubles and arguments and oh so much more. There may be more month at the end of the money. There are uncertainties in this world. Things and people you may have counted on may be no longer available.  If we focus on those things, we won’t be able to receive gifts that we need from the Lord. Everything you and I need, dear hearts, is found in Him.

Oh beloved, snuggle up with the Lord! Feel the warmth of the fire of His love! Feel the comfort of His beautiful blanket of care! Drink freely of the cup of His anointing and let it wash over you. His Word says you are lovely. His Word says you are worthy. His Word says you are justified freely.  His gift of Salvation makes you totally justified. His gift of the Holy Spirit sets you apart for Him and the gift of His Word will help you live a life without regrets and full of His wisdom. And the gift of Heaven promises you eternal life in His Magnificent presence! Oh how He loves you! Oh how He’s for you! Oh what a Savior!

Romans 5:15-17 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.  And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.  For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (NAS)

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

 

 

Looking for Sweet Fellowship? Break Open the Word with Friends!

We spent the entire week-end fellowshipping with old friends, new friends and family.  It was a very hectic week-end but a very blessed one.  A new friend from another country blessed us with his like-minded presence. Our pastor and his wife joined us and our guest for a meal and more fellowship, praise and worship and camaraderie.  Church was awesome and we topped it all off with a family birthday party for one of our grandsons. 

Yesterday, as we were wrapping up the week-end, words from the Apostle’s Creed came to mind. “The fellowship of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting”.  Truly this is the essence of the Christian life.  We partake of these blessings of God and we dispense them as well.  To enjoy our walk with the Lord should be a given. Fellowship with like-minded believers, sharing the Word, speaking the Word into others’ lives and worshipping together is such a wondrous thing. To walk in forgiveness gives us new life. To look forward to heaven where our earthly bodies will be resurrected to everlasting life is our hope for the future.   Truly the Christian life contains everything we need for our spiritual and physical life.

Oh beloved, I want to encourage you this morning! Seek out like-minded believers and fellowship with them. There is no sweeter fellowship than to break open the Bread of Life together.  Watch out for those who want to speak discouragement, dissention or put you in your place. Your place is at God’s banquet table!  Always remember, that repentance is an act of the heart and it brings closer fellowship to God!  Even when things are hard or you don’t hear anything positive in your life you can hold on to the fact that this life is not our home! All who have turned from their own way and accepted Christ will be resurrected to walk in heaven with our Lord forever!  You are loved, you are provided for and you have Good News to share with others!  And that’s truly all that really matters.

1 John 1:7  But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Romans 4:7 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.

Acts 26:18  to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Me.

1 Peter 1:3 NAS Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.