Christmas Is About Love

David and I were reading our Daily Devotions this morning and I was touched about their explanation of the true meaning of Christmas.  I want to share that with you today.

Christmas is not about what we find under the tree.  It’s about giving.  God came down the stair of heaven with a baby in His arms.  It’s His gift of love given to us out of His heart of love.

I intend to focus on that during this season.  God gave of Himself because He loves us.  I think it would be good for us to think of what we have to give to others this holiday season.  If we have peace, we can give it.  If we have joy, we can give it.  If we have a listening ear, we can offer it to someone who needs to talk.  If we have wisdom or encouragement, we can share it.  If we have a smile (and who doesn’t??), we can show it.

Let’s spend this next two weeks sharing what we have—from a heart that loves!

God bless you,

Karol

My thoughts today are taken from the Daily Devotional entitled, “Love Talk—A Devotional For Couples by Les and Leslie Parrott.

Day 178  I AM Right Now

John 11:25  The Message (MSG)

“I am, right now, Resurrection and Life…. Do you believe this?"

Perhaps you have an area of your life where things seem stagnant----where there seems to be no way out or no hope of change?

Mary and Martha were experiencing that.  Lazarus had been dead for four days.  Pretty “hopeless,” wouldn’t you say?

When Lazarus became sick, Mary and Martha called for Jesus to come quickly.  Jesus was very strategic in the timing of his journey to go to them. 

John 11:6   (NIV1984)

Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

AAAAAHHHHH!!  “Jesus, what are You thinking??  Where are You when I need You??”  Have you ever felt like that??  “God, what is the delay?”

Jesus did not hurry because He already knew how this was going to play out.  He had consulted with God and He had the confidence of what to do in the timing He was to do it.

Let’s go back and look again:

John 11:4 (NIV1984)

When he heard this,(that Lazarus was sick) Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

No need to rush!  In fact the timing of this miracle was going to confirm that this was God’s doing.  In the meantime, Lazarus died.  What could get more “hopeless” than that?

Upon arriving in Bethany, Jesus said to Martha, “Your brother will rise again.”  (Verse 23)

Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  (Verse 24)

Jesus replied, “I AM the resurrection….” And I am right here now!  The Message Bible says:   “You don’t have to wait for the End.  I AM right now, Resurrection and Life.”

When you call to God, He sends LIFE into your situation.  He wants you to trust that what He is saying is true.

Will you look to Jesus today and invite Him into your stagnant, dead circumstance??  Will you believe that when you pray, the great “I AM” is on the way to help you??  See Him walk in the door of your home and say, “I AM right now.”

GPS  (Directions for our journey)

Take a piece of card stock (even a recipe card will do) and write on it:

            John 11: 25 MSG

          I AM right now!!

Put it in your Bible so you can see it as you begin your daily “meeting with God.”  The life of God is in your midst, answering your call.

Prayer Focus:

Father, thank You for hearing my prayer and coming to me.  Thank You that You are here right now, bringing new life into my situation, and Father, I will be quick to give You all the glory for it!  Amen!

Day 175 and 176

God said, “I AM who I AM,” (Exodus 3:14)  Tell them “I AM” is on the scene!  Okay, that’s a Karol Horken paraphrase, but you get the picture.  God is here and He wants to manifest Himself in our lives in the following ways: 

(Spend time with Him, worshipping Him that He is each of these things to you!!  EnJOY!

I AM your Shepherd.

            I watch over you.

            I go get you when you get off track.

            I bring you back.

            I hold you next to my heart to comfort you.

            I take care of you and soothe you.

            I meet all your needs.

I AM your Savior.

            I rescue you.

            I bring you into the fold.

            I go get you in your hard place.

            I save you from death and destruction.

I AM your peace.

            I calm the seas for you.

            I make straight your paths.

            I speak to you.

            I give you rest.

I AM there for you.

            I listen to you.

            I answer you.

            I comfort you.

            I provide for you.

I AM your healer.

            I made you and I know how to fix you.

            I heal your hurting heart.

            I heal your relationships.

            I heal your trauma.

            I heal your emotions.

            I heal your body.

God bless your day!  Feel free to comment if you have been blessed by this series on “I AM God.”

 Day 173     I AM Your Victory

Exodus 17:15-16 (NIV)

Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.

He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the LORD, the LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

God fights my battles for me and always causes me to be a winner .

As long as Moses’ arms were up, he was winning.  God always wants us to be involved in the process.  That’s why He created us with a free will.  He wants us to come to Him and put our faith in Him.

2 Corinthians 2:14   (NKJV)

 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

Wow!  Did you see that??  He “ALWAYS” causes us to triumph!  If you will notice in the previous verse, Paul had no peace.  In the midst of Paul’s unrest He knew that God would bring him through to victory.  What a wonderful promise that is!!

1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV1984)

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

God gives us so many things and one of those things is victory!!  Aren’t you so glad about that, and aren’t you so glad that you don’t have to do it yourself—because you can’t anyway!!

GPS  (Directions)

Today I am only going to give you one scripture to wrap around your heart.  Meditate on His love and His strength in these His words to you:

            Romans 8: 31-39

Prayer Focus:

Thank our wonderful Jesus for loving us enough to die for us and now to pray for us so that can conquer every problem that comes into our lives.

Day 173    I AM Your Sanctifier

Exodus 31:13b   (NIV1984)

….. so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

It is Jesus who sets us apart as holy.  God is instructing the people to set aside a time to rest (a Sabbath) in order to remember Jesus and keep Him alive in our thoughts and in our lives and to teach our families to do the same.

The Bible says in…..

Hebrews 13:12  (NIV1984)

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood.

When I think of how Jesus suffered on the cross and shed His precious blood for me ---that in all my sin, I might be sanctified (washed) clean --it makes me want to live for Him.  He gave His all for me.  I want to give my all for Him!

When the devil accuses us by bringing up our sin, Jesus walks into the “courtroom” with us and says to God, “This is Karol.  She accepted Me as her Savior so she is one of Ours.”  God looks at the devil, slams the gavel down and says, “Game over!!”  I like that picture!!

You might say, “Is that really true?” 

Yes, that is how it is.  Jesus did all the suffering for you.  All He is asking You to do is stay close to Him and follow His ways.  If you stray from Him, He will come and get you and bring you back under His covering of sanctification. 

That was always God’s plan.  He knew we were going to mess up and that we would need a Savior.  In His love for us, He provided His own Son to suffer in our place.  How could we not live our lives wholly and purposefully for Him??

GPS  (Directions)

Reinforce God’s finished work of sanctification in the following scriptures.  When you receive Christ as Your Savior, You stand with Him in the courtroom of heaven.  Jesus is at your side, explaining to God that You are one of the family!!

·         I Peter 1:2

·         I Corinthians 1:30

·         Ephesians 5:26

Prayer Focus:

Father, help me to stay away from the contamination of this world so that I can fully walk in all that Jesus did for me.

Day 172   I AM Your Refuge

Deuteronomy 33:27   (NIV1984)

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.   He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, ‘Destroy him!’

Get a picture  of this—God picks you up as if you were a child and holds you in His arms as your enemies come after you to destroy you.  God shouts to His angels, “Destroy them!!”

Now I don’t know about you but that makes me feel safe and secure.  That’s my “Dad.”  Strong, powerful, protective and bold—and He cares for me!

There is safety in God . The Bible says:

Psalm 46:1 (NIV1984)

 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Ever been in trouble?  I think we all have.  This truth says that God is “ever present.”  He is in our airspace.  He is right there.  (See Day 164)  He is with us when trouble comes.  And as long as we live on this earth, we will have trouble.

God covers us with His great big arms and He says, “Leave him….leave her…alone!”  That makes me feel safe.

GPS  (Directions)

Take some time in each one of these personal words from God”

·         Psalms 59:16

·         II Samuel 22: 2-4

·         Psalms 9:9

Prayer Focus:

Sing praises to our wonderful God who is always there for us-- always protecting and keeping us safe from our enemies.

Day 171    I AM Your Redeemer

Psalm 111:9 (NIV1984)

 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.

God is our Redeemer because He provided redemption for us.  Redemption means “recovery by payment.”  Jesus is our payment.  Our debt has been paid.  He paid off our debt.  We get a fresh start—a second chance!  How wonderful is that!!

Isaiah 59:20 (NIV1984)

 “The Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”
declares the LORD.

When we come to Jesus with our sins, He forgives us and wipes the slate clean.  I used to teach our children that concept using one of those little slates with the cellophane covering and the plastic stylus.  We can ask forgiveness when we sin, and God lifts the cellophane and the incident is removed.  Gone forever!  Never to be seen again!!

And here is the wonderful aspect of God’s character of Redeemer:

Jeremiah 50:34   (NIV1984)

Yet their Redeemer is strong;
the LORD Almighty is his name.
He will vigorously defend their cause
so that he may bring rest to their land,
but unrest to those who live in Babylon.

I am so glad that God is defending my cause, aren’t you??  Can you imagine---God Almighty defending your cause??  He forgives us and He defends us!  That’s our wonderful God!!

GPS  (Directions)

Let God confirm His character to you through these scriptures:

·         Psalms 130:8

·         Proverbs 23:11

·         Isaiah 41:14

Prayer Focus:

Thank your wonderful God for giving you a second chance—over and over again!