Merry Christmas Beloved!

Merry Christmas! Such precious words. Such a miracle message. Such a joy and delight. Christmas. How very blessed we are to be able to celebrate a holiday with the One who has given us life and breath and opportunities.  This babe in a manger is no fictitious childhood story that must eventually be outgrown and put away.  His glory does not tarnish. His value does not lessen. He remains the same yesterday, today and forever.  While much about the holidays celebrated is so much pomp and circumstance, storybook adventures and wives’ tales, this message is eternal. This King of Kings is faithful and true.

You may be thinking as you rise early this morning that you left something out of your plans. You forgot a gift, you didn’t remember the cranberries, you don’t have enough cola or punch.  You may be wishing you could undo an error, repair a rejection, restore a friendship or regain a trust.  You may be missing a loved one, longing for a kind touch or wishing you could do things differently.  You might wonder if it will ever be perfect, if the gifts will fit or if anyone will care.  Right about now you may be coming face to face with the fact that you’re not perfect, people aren’t perfect and life is not perfect.

Look beyond all that. Look once more at the manger, the cross, the tomb and the sky. The Light of the World has arrived! The Savior of the nations has been here! The tomb where all your mistakes, mishaps and missteps have been laid to rest is empty! And the sky, where your hope of glory awaits is full of promise, full of mercy, full of grace. Keep watching the horizon, keep searching for His return for He is coming again!

Oh beloved, Jesus is the reason for the season to be sure. But it’s more than that!  He’s the reason you live and move and have your being. You are no accident, this day is not an error and your life is no mistake. You are waking up to the most wonderful day of your year. You are alive and you are capable of taking in His Truth and living out His purpose.  Rejoice in all you are In Him! He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Prince of your peace, the Counselor with all your answers and the Majestic One Who is praying for you day and night at the Father’s Right Hand.

Quickly, before others get up and the day gets covered in wrapping paper, ribbons and too much food. Slip into the Father’s waiting arms and read His book of love! Every wonderful Truth is your gift from Him to you.  He is everything He says He is. He does everything He says He will do. Open all the gifts, don’t leave one unopened. Rest in His care, delight in His presence, grow in His grace, feast on His manna and walk in His anointing.

Merry Christmas beloved of God. True happiness is found in Him. Overcoming life is met in Him. Purpose and victory, honor and commitment are abounding through Him. He loves you and He’s for you and those gifts cannot be taken from you  all the days of your life.

Colossians 2:9-10 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Ephesians 1:6-8  So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.  He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

1 Corinthians 1:7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Habakkuk 3:18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and He is eternal life.

Go Ahead and Give Yourself a Gift!

Gift giving to the ones you love and care about is probably the most fun part of Christmas for me. I participated this year in another ornament swap with other Arkansas women bloggers. The administrator of the site takes all the participants’ names and addresses and gives them out randomly to us all.  The catch is that the ornament has to be hand-made. As I went to my recipient’s website to look at her tastes I discovered she has an entire page for crafting! That means she knows how to craft and seems to be quite good at it.  I had to laugh as she will be getting something made by a lady who is excited about it, but maybe not quite as crafty as she is.

As I was perusing Pinterest looking for an ornament idea, I came across a quote that stood out to me.  “If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete”.   We are lovers of gift giving. 

We generally spend a lot of time making sure everyone is happy with their gift. Often in the shuffle we leave ourselves out. This is not only at Christmas, but all through the year. We give and give and give. And that’s good. It’s just part of us. But at the end of the season we are often worn out and done in. We’ve given it our all and there’s nothing left for us.

God began to speak to my heart: You can give yourself gifts too.  In fact I AM the greatest gift giver ever and I have incredibly wonderful gifts that you can appropriate for yourself.  You need gifts and you can enjoy them not just at Christmas, but the whole year through. Give yourself a gift or two or three. But these gifts are special in that you have to give them to yourself with the same gusto you have when you give to others. You have to do it. I have appropriated the gifts but you must allow yourself to receive them and enjoy them. If you do, you will find that your gift giving is more complete. Write your own name on your to do list, for I have written your name on My heart and My hand.

What are these gifts you say? Oh precious one, give yourself the gift of rest. That’s right. It’s okay to rest in fact it’s best for your body, soul and mind if you get plenty of rest.  It’s not spiritual to stay frazzled and worn out.  Rest in God’s promises, rest in His assurance that He will make things right and good for you even if everything is not done. Give yourself the gift of peace. It’s there for you as God gave it all. Remember He said, “Peace I give to you.” Peace is harmony in the midst of turmoil and reconciliation in the midst of imperfection. We need that peace don’t we? Then there’s contentment. I can give myself contentment? What a gift! That is a satisfaction that brings serenity to our hearts. As you give yourself that gift you will find you can relax and let things be more fun than duty.  There are more gifts. As you spend time with the Lord and look into your own heart you will find your most needed presents and give them to yourself liberally without holding back. Joy, blessings, honor and more.

Oh beloved, the greatest gift you can give yourself is to love yourself as God loves you! I know, it’s almost unimaginable, but it’s your gift, hand made by the Father. He delights in you allowing the love of His heart to flow over your entire life – your heart, your mind and your spirit. This love gift you give yourself allows you to be all God intends you to be. The gift will take you farther than your wildest imagination because it allows you to take all the gifts God has for you. As you take time to learn all about the gift of love and you let yourself be loved by God, you will find that all the momentary distractions, nuisances and weariness will melt away.  

This love of God, beloved, is the gift that will keep on giving long after the lights are down, the tree is thrown out, the wrapping paper is discarded and Christmas is gone. Once you experience letting yourself receive God’s love you will never want to live without it again.  His love is extravagant. His love will make your heart soar. His love is like a mirror that reflects your true beauty in Christ.

What wondrous gifts the Giver of Life has prepared for those who love Him.  Whatever you do and wherever you go, open the word daily and read all about the gifts you can give yourself. Then take your gift of love with you and see how it changes everything from your feelings of worth to your perspective on life. Rejoice in the gifts and remember that God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can enjoy giving yourself every good and perfect Gift He has for you.

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.

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

Psalm 62:5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him  (NIV)

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

Go Ahead! Pick Every Ornament from the Lord's Tree!

Our littlest granddaughter loves to pick ornaments from our tree. She will stand and look and fidget and talk and then plop one has been taken in her sweet little hands. Of course this gets a rash of no no’s and don’t do that’s! To which she responds in her baby talk “but I want that!” Sometimes we miss the picking and find an ornament in the kitchen floor or behind a chair later when she’s gone. Just like all children, she loves the shiny baubles and unusual delights hanging. We have lots of lights on our tree as well so all the ornaments shine.

While we like our trees to be merry and bright representations of Christmas in our hearts, we really like the tree to stay full of the things we put on its boughs. Imagine people coming into our homes and going to the tree to pick an ornament and take it with them. Why we’d have nothing left. Our tree would be bare. The things we cherish the most would be gone.

Jesus is the Light and Savior of the world. He came and filled the tree of our lives full of wonderful things. Priceless treasures we can’t hope to have in our own meager means. Each facet of His life holds wonder and awe. From the cross to the grave to heaven – He made the choice to give Himself away so that we could have it all. And now He daily presents those things to us as ornaments hang on the tree.

But the difference is, He says go ahead pick. Choose each ornament. Take it home with you. Live with it. Display it. Shine it. Wear it. But not just on your sweater, wear it in y our heart. Everything God has for us is an object of the heart, for our good and for His glory. It shines, oh how it shines – each and every gifted ornament that’s supposed to be worn by a believer.

What do we see on the tree of life that Jesus has decorated so beautifully? We see Salvation – choose it first, for unless you have that, the other ornaments won’t even budge from the limbs. Choose reconciliation. That’s one of the most beautiful ornaments of the Christian – for it reconciles us to God and it reconciles us with others. Sanctification is another lovely jewel – we must pick it for that’s our key to becoming heavenly minded. Then there are the other wonders of the life in Christ: love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and more. There is mercy and forgiveness and righteousness as well! There is purpose – and oh how we all long to live a life of purpose.

No child of God ever has to live in want of any of the beautiful things God has. Even when life around you seems sorrowful, weary or lackluster, the ornaments of the Christian life will warm your heart and keep your mind on Him no matter what.

Oh beloved, go ahead! Run and pick every ornament God has from His tree of life! It’s all yours for the taking. No holding back. No waiting in line. No wondering if you’ll be scolded. Everything is freely given and never runs out.   Open up God’s book of love and see what all He has waiting for you, just for the taking to the heart that belongs fully to Him. While sorrow, sadness and pain can be a huge part of the holiday season, Christ is the reason for Christmas and Christmas can be enjoyed fully with awe and wonder as we look to the One Who loves us unconditionally and watches over us with uninterrupted care.

Jesus desires that your arms and heart are full of His wonder and His joy as you live in the light of His Word.

Romans 6:23b …the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption…

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

Read the Best Christmas Catalog Ever!!!!!

Our Christmas tree only has one package beneath it. I have a few more things bought but haven’t had time to wrap them. I still have some shopping to do. While I love buying presents and the look on loved ones’ faces when they open the presents, it does take a lot of time and planning to get everyone something they really want.

By the time you get my age you know that people don’t always get exactly what they want for Christmas every single year. That’s okay. Because by the time you’re my age you also know that the most important gifts are not the packages under the tree. 

It’s a wonderful thing to realize that Jesus paid for everything we will ever need. And we can have the best Christmas ever no matter what. He lived and died and rose again to secure the most wonderful gifts for us. Yes, He made a way for us to live eternally in heaven but oh there’s so much more.

Reach under the tree and see what all is there for you.  There’s all the joy you will ever need, enough to get you through the saddest moments, that abiding joy is yours. Then there’s the peace that passes all understanding – it will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. There’s a full package of the love of God and. Keep looking and unwrap every gift from God – don’t leave a thing unopened for you need all the gifts God has for you to make it in this world, to excel as a believer and to triumph over anything the enemy throws at you. Every blessing God has is yours – every promise God spoke is for you. It’s as though you can buy anything in the store and keep it forever – straight from the storehouse of God’s Word!

Oh beloved, run to God's Word and read it, for it contains more promises of gifts from the Giver of Life than any Christmas catalog ever designed.  And don’t let your heart worry over what might not be, but instead concentrate on the gifts of God that belong to you in Christ Jesus. See how wonderfully blessed you are? Look beyond the temporal to the eternal and rejoice that Christ is indeed Lord of Christmas and Lord of all.  He loves you and He’s for you and that’s a gift no one can take from you no matter what. 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the FREE GIFT of God is eternal life.

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.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 119:111 I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart.

Surprise! God's Gifts are Yours!

I have been given a bag of fall blooming bulbs. I am so excited to plant them. We got them in the ground quickly so they might bloom in a few weeks.  With this change in the weather they might just make it. If not, they will definitely bloom next fall.

They’re known as surprise lilies.  I think because they just multiply and come up anywhere in the grass. You don’t see a thing, no leaves first. Suddenly they’re blooming on a long stem. Old home places can be found by seeing them suddenly appear in deserted property. Even if the old house itself is gone, the surprises still bloom each and every year.  They multiply and multiply and what a showy sight.

The person who gifted these to me had no idea that they are my absolute most favorite ever flowers! I had no idea that someone was going to gift me with such a prized gift! And yet there, right in the middle of an ordinary day, comes the gift! I relish the idea of planting each and every one. I relish the thought that next fall for sure they’ll surprise me with their beautiful show.

God speaks to my heart: God’s precious gifts are all for me, all for you, all for us. Many times though we don’t even know that they are available. We catch a glimpse here and there and we’re surprised!

Surprised at the grace God bestows on us. For we surely would wipe ourselves off the face of the earth and yet God speaks softly and says come back beloved. Surely we know our misbehavior, our failings, our sins. We know our imperfections and we concentrate on each and every one. Yet He speaks love songs into our hearts.

Surprised at the mercy from the Throne Room. We were destined to die, to shrivel up like a bulb left out of the ground and yet Mercy comes dancing into our presence and says oh beloved, I AM granting you clemency, your debt has been canceled, your sorrow is covered by My sympathy.

Surprised by His love! I am, aren’t you? We are a works oriented people. We are demanding and we think God is too. We believe that the only way He could love us is if we perform! But we can’t – performance breeds pride. And we could never perform enough. Just as the bulb pops out of the ground grandly showing its beauty – God’s love pops out of the soil of our disappointment, discontentment and our failures to blow us away with His love for He IS love!

We don’t always like surprises do we? Sometimes we have lived with the depression, the condemnation, the rejection, the religious activity so long that we blink our eyes in disbelief? What is God doing we ask? He’s messing with my life! He’s changing the order of things – my order of things. I was comfortable and now God has gone and surprised me!  It might not have been good but at least it was normal.

Oh beloved, surprise! God loves you! God has given you grace, mercy and peace! They’re growing just beneath the soil of your heart right now and if you will let Him they’ll pop up and surprise you with joy! Take the entire gift of God’s wonderfulness and enjoy the view from His love. Look into His Word of Surprising Wonderful presents – and see what’s there. And then take it in, plant it in the soil of your heart and watch as God blooms and blooms and blooms. Rejoice as God surprises you with His abundance in your lack.  He’ll keep surprising you that even in hardships, God has a plan. He always seeks to love us and make us more like Him in all we encounter.

Bloom beloved, bloom, in the light of His love and in the light of His constant care. Let Him keep surprising you with all He is and all you are in Christ.  No matter what, God loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.

Psalm 111:2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in Him should ponder them.

Psalm 126:3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!

Psalm 40:5 O Lord my God, You have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all Your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

Psalm 84:6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.

Gifts, Presents, Perfectly Fit for You!

Although Danny’s birthday isn't for a few days, we celebrated it yesterday because all our children were off work and the grand-kids had no school. We had a great time, with lots of laughter and good food. Danny got some cool presents: a tin 22 target, a calendar, a motorcycle touring magazine and two of his favorite foods: cheese and summer sausage. 

I thought about those presents this morning as I got up and I heard God speaking. 
We live a life of faith, those who have given their hearts to Christ. We are In Christ and that is the platform on which we stand. But there’s more we need to walk the walk of faith and live out the plan God has for us. And God has a plan for each and every one of us. You included.

We all need a target. Not something to shoot at in our case, but something to shoot for. A target is an objective, a mark, a purpose. In other words we've got to aim for God’s call in our lives. It will fall into place, but we can easily get sidetracked, go on rabbit hunts, get bogged down shooting at troubles, fears, the enemy, etc. With a target, something to shoot for, we will be sighted in on God’s plan.

We all need a calendar. We need to keep up with the days of our lives. The Word says “teach us to number our days”. Without a calendar, a schedule, we will be prone to wander around and haphazardly enjoy the summer fun, not realizing that winter is closing in. We won’t be able to keep a schedule – we need to let God help plan our days so they’re not wasted. We all are prone to do what we feel like doing, but God has a purpose and He wants us to write Him in our calendar in bright red marker – no penciling Him in.

We need to know where we want to go and how we want to get there. Without a tour guide, a road map, a travel plan we can’t even begin to get anywhere. Without seeing God’s will on how He wants us to travel, how He wants us to live, where He wants us to go we just exist. But planned travel, with the Lord as our guide, now that’s living!

We won’t get anywhere without sustenance. And “man does not live by bread alone”. Without the daily ingestion of God’s Word we will starve. And starving people can’t hit their target, travel God’s path or keep their schedules. They are too weak for the trip. Starving people stagger at the hard roads they may encounter or fall off the cliffs of decisions they must make. Starving people have their eyes clouded, their stomachs in a knot and their mind confused. It won’t matter how much or how little cash is in your pocket, if you don’t take in God’s Word as your daily food, as your FAVORITE food, the other gifts you receive won’t matter. 

God has gifted you with everything you need to live for Him, be used of Him and to be blessed in your life. Every gift is found IN CHRIST. Are you ready for the trip of a lifetime? Or are you worrying about physical things like how, when, where and why? Are you penciling God in or are you red lettering Him in bold? He already knows the trials you are facing this very day. He’s not surprised by the things you didn't see ahead. His Preeminence will take you beyond the hurts, beyond the fears, beyond the confusion. God is over all – He is Supreme, Majestic, Eternal and All Powerful. Nothing you encounter can stop His plan for your life. With the right gifts, and you have them all available to you as a child of God, everything He has planned for your life is achievable. 

Oh beloved, call on the Lord today and thank Him for His provision, His gifts and His calling. You are more than existing, you can live! God will plan your days, bless your life and help you target in on His calling when you live in the light of His Word. He loves you and He’s for you and on that you can rely as you travel the life of faith!

2 Corinthians 9:15 Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]! (Amplified)

Job 23:12 I have not departed from His commands, but have treasured His words more than daily food.

Psalm 33:11 But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken.

Isaiah 48:17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I AM the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go. Amplified

God's Packages of Love Come Signed, Sealed and Delivered to Your Heart!

There are two couriers that deliver packages into our office complex. They come pretty much on a daily basis. They bring equipment, office supplies and even things that someone bought online.  Occasionally a package will come that we’re not expecting.  Sometimes I have to sign for other offices when they’re at lunch or running errands.

We sign for the things they bring, so that the couriers will be able to give proof that the package was indeed delivered to the right person. These guys are busy running all over town, all over their route and around the state to get the goods delivered quickly and to the rightful recipient.

For some of us, there have been packages delivered to us that we never asked for. Rejection. Condemnation.  Judgment. Revenge. These four packages come because someone else ordered them for us. While we can’t change how others feel, we don’t have to accept the package. It isn’t a gift worth giving and it isn’t a gift worth having. Inside of these four items comes a time bomb. It will blow without warning and we’ll be left to pick up the pieces.

If you’ve gotten one of these packages, always remember: you don’t have to sign for them, you never want to open them and you aren’t the rightful recipient.  No matter what you’ve done, no matter where you’ve been – not one of these packages comes from the Lord.

The Lord is your only courier. What He brings will astound you, bless you, protect you and cause you to grow in His knowledge and favor.  The Lord Himself is a courier of grace – God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense. He is a courier of Blessings – divine favor from God Himself.  His greatest delivery comes daily and it is perfect love – He first loved us.  There are other packages God sends that we can freely partake of as well. No fear in opening, unpacking and it is guaranteed to fit every time.  Salvation, Sanctification, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Wisdom.  The Holy Spirit Himself will deliver to you His magnificent fruit: always fresh and enjoyable, free of charge and without limits: love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

Sign for, open joyfully and use and share without concern every good and perfect gift that comes from God’s own hands. For His packages are always available, His supply never runs low and everything He sends you is sent with love. 

Oh beloved, if you’ve taken ownership of things that weren’t meant for you, throw them out! Give that package to the Lord for He knows what to do with it. He promises you daily that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, so you can refuse delivery.   The Lord Himself will never send you fear, worry, turmoil, or any of those other packages. His gifts are sealed with love, delivered with love and remain with love. God says to you this morning I AM your source of life. I AM your courier of all blessings in the heavenly places. I AM your deliverer, your redeemer and your guide. Trust Me more as you learn to discern the difference between old packages that need refusal and blessed gifts that need to be opened and enjoyed. 

God loves you and He’s for you and He wants you to accept His gifts freely and fully!

 

Numbers 6:24-26 May the Lord bless you and protect you.  May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.

James 1:17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

I John 3:1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!

1 Corinthians 2:12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

Ready for a Wonderful Gift Exchange? It's Out of This World!

We’ve already been to a couple of Christmas parties. Most of them involved bringing a gift to exchange. Sometimes during these events there’s even the opportunity to swipe someone’s present if you get a chance.  You never know what you’ll come home with, but there’s always the high hopes that you’ll like what you get.  The fellowship and the food are always great as well. With our busy lives, it’s not often that people get to sit together and just visit. Getting a gift as well makes for even more blessings!

There will be gifts to open on Christmas eve or Christmas morning as well in most homes. From the smallest child to the oldest family or friend, everyone wonders what’s in their package. Everyone gets excited as they pull out the contents and everyone oohs and ahhs over each one. Sometimes though the gift may fail to hit the mark. It could be the wrong color or not fit just right.  With most gifts, if there’s something not right the recipient can go to the store and exchange it for a better fit. Occasionally someone will even exchange a gift they received that they just don’t want for a gift that they do want or that fits their personality or size better.

Are you wondering what you’re going to get this year under the tree? Are you concerned that past disappointments make you wonder if it might be right this time? Have you dropped hints, left notes, pointed things out and still hoping someone will take your hint and purchase that much desired gift?

Maybe you’re wishing you could exchange some of the mistakes, problems, troubles, hurts, issues or more. You’ve tried to fix things. You’ve worked hard to relieve yourself of your burdens, but you just can’t seem to get past it. The enemy of your soul has tried to gift you with boxes full of failure, disappointment, and Unforgiveness.  You’re left with an empty heart as you try to stuff the junk in a box and put it in the closet of your life, hoping that bad gift will just go away.

Rejoice! This Holy Season holds more promise than you could ever believe! With the Gift of Christ in our lives, there is much to receive and much to cherish! Every gift from God is good!  He never holds back, He never takes back, He never marks you off His list! For the child of God every day is Christmas! Listen as He shows you His magnificent gift package. He exchanges everything we’ve never wanted and even tried to get rid of on our own for His magnificent gifts!

We exchange our sins for His mercy! We exchange our filthy rags for his righteousness! We exchange our self-will for His will!

Oh beloved! Run to the Greatest Present ever given and give Him your life fresh and new! He promises to withhold nothing from you! He promises to make all His wonderful gifts available to you! He promises to exchange every heartache, every pain, every hurt, every mistake and give you something wonderful instead! He holds nothing back because He loves you! He gives Himself to you because He cares for you! Now that’s worth celebrating Christmas every day!

Romans 5:15  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.

2 Corinthians 6:1  As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.

Psalm 16:12 I said to the LORD, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”

2 Peter 1:3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

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!