This is a song the Lord gave me on December 5, 2003. This is what I wrote that day:
Lord, even though there are so many traditions that make people celebrate Christmas in different ways, there is only one, true meaning of Christmas - when You came to save all mankind from the wrath of the Father. You did this out of love for us.
Thank You Lord for Your unfailing love. Matthew 1:23 - “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a Son and they shall call Him ‘Immanuel’, which is translated ‘God with us’.”
Long ago in a lowly manger A Son was born, He was the Redeemer His Name was to be Immanuel God with us, until today
Jesus, Who sets us free from sins Son of God, Who came to Bethlehem Crucified but He rose again His Spirit dwells within…until He returns…
Do we celebrate Christmas because it's a tradition or others expect us to? But Christmas is about Jesus...We must speak of Jesus, love Jesus, sing unto Jesus...
Lord, with Your strength, help us to worship You in Spirit and in Truth. Help me to keep my eyes on You and help me to be a loving and compassionate witness of Your love and grace to others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Please visit Spiritual Sundays to read more about how God is working in so many of His children's lives. Thank you to sisters Charlotte and Ginger for hosting this special place. Merry Christmas to all of you and remember the "reason" why Jesus came.
The middle-aged inmate walked in, clutching his stomach. Prior to his arrival, the unit called and said that he was having trouble breathing. But the unit where he came from was far from the Infirmary. If he made it all the way down to the Clinic with steady gait, all of us knew, he wasn’t having trouble breathing at all.
He sat there, appearing like he was sobbing. But when he thought no one was there [he didn’t know we were observing him], he sat calmly on the bench and watched the tv, hoisted up in a corner of one of the walls.
The charge nurse summoned him to come to the big glass window.
“What’s wrong?”, she asked.
“Ma’am, I’m having a severe stomach pain,” he replied with his eyes closed.
“Open your eyes!” yelled the charge nurse. To which he opened his eyes immediately.
He didn’t know, right there, we already knew that he wasn’t in pain. Because if he was not able to open his eyes, then, he was truly having a big discomfort. We noticed, too that his complaint changed from having shortness of breath to stomach pain then. He had a history of heroin abuse.
“I am looking at you,” he uttered. But his eyelids kept opening and closing.
“Just open your eyes so you can see! There is no bright light that can hurt your vision,” commanded the charge nurse.
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means God with us.” ~ Matthew 1:23 [NIV]
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” ~ John 3:16,17 [NIV]
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~ John 14:6 [NIV]
“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” ~ Hebrews 12:2 [AMP]
When Moses had a meeting with God inside a tent, God told him that he wouldn’t be able to look at His face and live [Exodus 33:20]. So, same with us. None of us are able to see God, first, because sins separate us from Him and that none of our own efforts can restore that broken relationship we have with Him. Man’s religions can not make us go to heaven and be with God. God knows we are hurting but we are walking in this life’s journey with eyes closed. And that’s what He did…He gave the Best Gift to mankind so we can be saved. God’s love came down to earth. This is the reason we must rejoice, not only on Christmas Day but in every day of our lives.
This Christmas, open your eyes so you can see that Gift! God sent His Son Jesus as the Light that we are able to look at. If only we open our eyes and focus on Jesus. Focus on the reason why he came here to live with men. Focus on his ways to be our example of how to be and who to be, not anyone else on earth. Focus on his death on the cross. Focus on his resurrection.
Yes, we are that reason why God sent Jesus...Because He loves us all.
I was barely approaching the Master Control area of the prison when I noticed that the door was already open before I even had set my feet near the metal door. I knew that by the time I parked, whoever was watching from all the cameras in the jail’s perimeter could recognize the staff.
Still, with the darkness of the night, it would still be hard to identify people’s faces as they entered the prison walls.
So, we must show our ID’s in order for them to recognize us at a glance. I always had my ID badge clipped to my scrub uniform, always in plain sight.
One time, I remember that I had a co-worker who, despite wearing a scrubs outfit, needed to summon someone from the Clinic to identify him and made sure that he was one of the medical staff, before he could be let in. He was upset but there was no reason for him to do so. “A rule is a rule” that everyone needed to comply to.
How awesome it is that we also have ID’s in Christ! That when we invite Him into our hearts, we become new creations. [2 Corinthians 5:17]. I am feeling ecstatic reading some of them today:
[Life Application Bible]:
“We are justified.” - Romans 3:24
“No condemnation awaits us.” - Romans 8:1
“We are set free from the law of sin and death.” - Romans 8:2
“We are sanctified [made holy] in Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 1:2
“We are pure and holy in Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 1:30
“We will be made alive at the resurrection.” - 1 Corinthians 15:22
“We are made right with God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21
“We are one in Christ with all other believers.” - Galatians 3:28
“We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” - Ephesians 1:3
“We are holy and without fault.” - Ephesians 1:4
“We are adopted as God’s children.” - Ephesians 1:5,6
“We are marked as belonging to God by the Holy Spirit.” - Ephesians 1:13
“We have been raised up to sit with Christ in the heavenly realms.” - Ephesians 2:6
“We share in the promise through Christ.” - Ephesians 3:6
“We can come with freedom and confidence into God’s presence.” - Ephesians 3:12
“We are set free from our sinful nature.” - Colossians 2:11
“We will have eternal glory.” - 2 Timothy 2:10
Those are only a few….There are many more....Thanks be to Jesus.
Lord, thank You for today. Thank You for another day in my life. Help me not wander afar from Your side. I know that You never let go of my hand. But it’s me who has that tendency to let go of Yours. Hold me ever tighter Oh Lord. I want to look only on Your face, the way You look at me with love always.
I have received Your gift of grace long time ago. Help me share that with others who are walking beside me. Please make them hear Your voice. Please help them make You see. Help us not be distracted with the things this world offers. Because they do not last. It’s You Who give those gifts that are not temporary.
With so many bumps on this road we are walking on, You are always quick to lend us a helping hand. You pick us up when we fall. You nurse our bruises and wounds. You mend our broken hearts. You wipe away our tears. You hug us and comfort us when we are hurting.
Today, I want to thank You Lord. I want to say “I love You with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with all my mind.” Because no one else deserves that but You. Thank You Lord for loving me [us] first. Thank You for coming here to make the Father’s love known. Thank You for the hope that You bring, the restoration and the healing. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.
