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.

Open the Gifts of God - Straight from the Father's Heart

At our grandson Blake’s birthday party Sunday, we all had a great time. There was a big crowd of family to friends.  Everyone had so much fun. Everything Blake got was something he really liked. As he was putting some of his toys on the kitchen cabinet before they went out to play he looked at me and asked if we had gotten him a certain gift. I replied yes that’s what Popaw and I got him.  He was tickled because as he said “I’ve always wanted one of those”.  

Later that afternoon he was over at our house with another gift, washable markers and an Iron Man spiral notebook to write and draw in. He looked at me and asked if that was from us too. I told him it was. He responded, “This too? I like it.”

Although he got many different gifts, he was appreciative of each one.  Not only that, he was amazed that his grandparents had gotten him more than one gift that he really liked!  

God speaks to my heart. Aren’t we like that?  We accept the gift of salvation and we’re so appreciative to God for His mercy and grace. It’s just the gift we all are asking for. We all want to be forgiven and have a new start. But there’s more! He doesn’t just give us the security of heaven. He gives us the security of every single day of our lives! Not one thing happens that God is unaware of or unprepared for. No matter how things look in the natural, in the spiritual realm you have the gift of full security in Him.

And there’s even more. He gives us grace to help in time of need. He tore the veil and gave us an open door to contact Him 24/7 in prayer. There’s the gift of strength for the weary, rest for the worried, peace for the storm tossed and hope for the hopeless. He gives each of us various gifts for the body of Christ, all of which are very important. Your gift is outstanding and just for you!  He gives us all a basket full, running over and over of fruit, so that our lives will be healthy in Kingdom living as we share His fruit with others. 

He even gives the right friends at the right time for the right help just when we need them. Each friend is also a gift from God.  He gives us a sound mind! So that we can rightly know what God is saying in His Word, every single one of us! He gives us peace - not the kind the world gives, which is false peace – but the kind that will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

There are so many gifts that belong to the child of God that it’s like your birthday every day! You are His most favored child and as such He desires you to know Truth in the inner recesses of your heart so that you can call upon that Truth when things look bad, times turn rough or life hands you significant turmoil, trouble or pain.  

There’s more and more and more and each time you open another gift, you are blessed and surprised! This too, Lord? This surprise of blessings gives you a thankful heart and a mouth full of praise. And the gifts flow on from the Father to the Son to you His child and then on to others.

Oh beloved, reach into the Birthday bag of blessings, the Word of God! It’s all yours by reason of being Born Again! The promises to set you free, the promises to help you bless others and the promises to get you to heaven – are all there! Keep reaching in and pulling those gifts out. Keep showing them to others and sharing His bountiful ways with everyone you meet. 

Praise the Lord and thank Him this morning for He is Your Exceedingly Abundant God! He’s the Father of Lights who gives no shadows or mystery or doubt. His Faithfulness to you is Great! His Mercies are new to you each and every day!  Why? Because He loves you and He’s for you and that’s the greatest gift you’ll ever receive!

John 14:27 I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

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

1 Corinthians 12:11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

2 Corinthians 5:18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him.

1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

2 Peter 1:2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  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.

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

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.