Story of the Birth of Jesus

The Christmas Story of the Birth of Jesus

The Christmas Story of the Birth of Jesus

Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 1:26-38.

The Conception of Jesus Foretold

Mary, a virgin, was living in Galilee of Nazareth and was engaged to be married to Joseph, a Jewish carpenter. An angel visited her and explained to her that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. She would carry and give birth to this child and she would name him Jesus.

At first Mary was afraid and troubled by the angel's words. Being a virgin, Mary questioned the angel, "How will this be?" The angel explained that the child would be God's own Son and, therefore, "nothing is impossible with God." Humbled and in awe, Mary believed the angel of the Lord and rejoiced in God her Savior.
Surely Mary reflected with wonder on the words found in Isaiah 7:14 foretelling this event, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." 

The Birth of Jesus:

While Mary was still engaged to Joseph, she miraculously became pregnant through the Holy Spirit, as foretold to her by the angel. When Mary told Joseph she was pregnant, he had every right to feel disgraced. He knew the child was not his own, and Mary's apparent unfaithfulness carried a grave social stigma. Joseph not only had the right to divorce Mary, under Jewish law she could be put to death by stoning.

Although Joseph's initial reaction was to break the engagement, the appropriate thing for a righteous man to do, he treated Mary with extreme kindness. He did not want to cause her further shame, so he decided to act quietly. But God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to verify Mary's story and reassure him that his marriage to her was God's will. The angel explained that the child within Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit, that his name would be Jesus and that he was the Messiah, God with us.

When Joseph woke from his dream, he willingly obeyed God and took Mary home to be his wife, in spite of the public humiliation he would face. Perhaps this noble quality is one of the reasons God chose him to be the Messiah's earthly father.
Joseph too must have wondered in awe as he remembered the words found in Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." 

At that time, Caesar Augustus decreed that a census be taken, and every person in the entire Roman world had to go to his own town to register. Joseph, being of the line of David, was required to go to Bethlehem to register with Mary. While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus. Probably due to the census, the inn was too crowded, and Mary gave birth in a crude stable. She wrapped the baby in cloths and placed him in a manger.

The Shepherd's Worship the Savior:

Out in the fields, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds who were tending their flocks of sheep by night. The angel announced that the Savior had been born in the town of David. Suddenly a great host of heavenly beings appeared with the angels and began singing praises to God. As the angelic beings departed, the shepherds decided to travel to Bethlehem and see the Christ-child.

There they found Mary, Joseph and the baby, in the stable. After their visit, they began to spread the word about this amazing child and everything the angel had said about him. They went on their way still praising and glorifying God. But Mary kept quiet, treasuring their words and pondering them in her heart. It must have been beyond her ability to grasp, that sleeping in her arms—the tender child she had just borne—was the Savior of the world.

Let us pray, Dear God, Bless this day, a day which is filled with Love and joy and peace. The day that you gave to us all the greatest gift to all mankind. The birth of your Son, Jesus Christ. A child of hope, a child of love, a child of peace and a child who would grow to be the Greatest Man to ever walk this earth. Thank you Father for this day as we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ. I pray Lord that we all learn today that we not only celebrate his birth on this one occasion yearly but that we celebrate his  Love for us daily. I pray that all mankind who may be lost may receive him this day and always. In your sweet name we pray. Amen...

In the Still of the Quiet

      To have received that dreadful phone call in the middle of the night, had been a fear I had been living with my many many years, but to have received the message that I got two days after Thanksgiving was not at all what I expected. Star my baby sister had been rushed to a nearby hospital to the Trauma Unit who was on standby. A brain scan showed my sister had a very severe life threatening infection called Meningitis. Test were sent to the lab to find out which type it was and in the mean time they had to remove a section of her skull and place a drain tube in her brain to try to remove the fluid which had thickened terribly, it seemed the infection had been there for a couple of months and had went misdiagnosed even though she had been hospitalized the previous month. The doctors had diagnosed her with a severe sinus infection.If it had been caught then it would have been more treatable and her chances for survival would have been extremely good. Now she was diagnosed with Bacterial Meningitis, she had slipped into a coma and the fluid was not draining off the brain for it was to thick and it had now produced blood clots. Her blood pressure kept jumping to high and when they gave her med's to get it down then the blood pressure would go to low, they just couldn't get her stable. Everytime I would go in to visit I would talk to her and while I was in there she would blink her eyes. Everyone thought it was just me seeing what I wanted to see, but I knew what I saw was real. My daughter even saw it.

       On Sunday the 28th of November and Star's 43rd birthday she was taken for a Brain Scan. The doctor's told my Mom there was basically no brain activity and gave my sister a five percent chance for survival. Thirty minutes after receiving that news I walked into her room in the Surgical Critical Care Unit, leaned down and said Star do you still want to go home with me? Just as I said it she opened her eyes wide open and looked right at me, I squealed with excitement and sent my daughter to get our Mom. I turned around and there was about fifteen doctors and nurses standing outside the window looking in awe at what was happening.Mom saw it and was very happy yet the nurse tried to say it was just reflex;however every time I went in she would open them at the sound of my voice, and if she couldn't open them she would blink them. I continued to pray and tell my Mom she would be alright. I was in fear not only for my sister but for our Mother as well. Mom's health was not good and she had high blood pressure as well as severe anxiety which could cause her severe problems.
     On Monday morning we awoke after a few hours of rest, I wouldn't say sleep for my Mother was talking in her sleep all night long. She thought she was at home and the other people in the waiting area with other family who was also patients,Mom thought they were in her house and she was going to run them out. My stepfather had to wake her and then try to get her to get her bearings so that she could sleep peacefully but it was almost impossible. They Critical Care Unit called for my Mother a couple of hours later and she not only didn't know where she was, but she had no recollection of what had happened to my sister or why she was at the hospital. My aunt Brenda was with her so she was able to talk my Mother back into reality before they went into the room. I was down stairs sleeping with the girls, my daughter Rachel and Star's daughter Jessica. Security woke us and we returned upstairs just as my Mom came out. Stars eyes had swollen and the infection was now draining from them as well as her right ear. The neuro surgeon had been called in but he was in surgery so an ear nose and throat specialist came. He said it was actually a good thing that this was happening because it was actually releasing some of the pressure off of Star's brain. Apparently there was also an abcess the size of a golf ball. The drain tube still wasn't working, so anything that wasn't hurtful to her was a good sign. This reassured me even more that God was at work within my sister. It was hard I believe for everyone to comprehend just how very severe Star's condition really was. I didn't wont to leave her and mom but I had to get Rachel back home for school before she fell behind in her studies. We told Star we were leaving blew her kisses from across the room and left around three that afternoon, headed back for South Carolina but I promised my sister I would return as soon as I possibly could.
         As my daughter and I drove through the Smoky Mountains it began to pour down rain, it was getting dusky dark and the wind was blowing, with this the temperature began to drop. As we exited onto interstate 26 headed toward home, we decided to stop for a bite to eat. We went to Long John Silvers, we didn't have one of them in our town so it was actually pretty good for fast food. We took the exit ramp back onto the interstate and just as we did the engine stalled. It seemed the engine coolant system had failed. Here we were on the side of the interstate freezing rain and my daughter had just rolled the window down for some fresh air because I smoke. When the engine stalled we lost all power which meant the windows were no longer functioning. I immediately began calling 911 on my daughters cell phone. The first call went out at 610p.m. The 911 operator ask where we were, all we could tell her was the geographical location because due to the hysteria we couldn't remember the number of the exit we had taken to eat. They were dispatching someone out immediately. Thirty minutes past and we were beginning to become very frantic. Cars and semi trucks were passing us at very fast speeds, we had no emergency lights and my car being silver was hard to see with the rain pouring down. I could just invision someone hitting us at any moment. We made another frantic call to the 911 operator who once again dispatched us through to the Highway Patrol and once again we gave them the information and explained to them we were freezing and had no power, no lights and no heat.We were crying as the traffic continued to fly past, I had my daughter put her seat belt back on just in case we were to get hit by the ongoing traffic. Our car had became soaked with the rain blowing in, the seats were soaked and my daughter and I had left for Tennessee without coats because we had forgotten just how cold it gets back home so we had nothing to keep us warm except the sweaters we were wearing. To make a long story short we were finally rescued, taken to a motel where we were stranded for three days until the car could be repaired. If you are ever broken down on the interstate do not think for one second that the North Carolina Highway Patrol will go out of their way to help you. This was the second time in ten years we have broken down in that state and the second time we were basically forgotten. It was a local Asheville Police officer who came to our rescue an hour and a half later while the Highway Patrol argued as to whose jurisdiction we were in. I thought their job was to protect and serve but we came to find out quickly that is not the truth. That night my daughter and I joined together in prayer to our God Almighty for his protection and he brought forth a band of angels who help us get through. We were towed off the interstate to a auto shop where the young man who worked there tried to fix the car, he then drove us to a motel and the next day the car was taken to a shop.God broke a network of good samaritans to our rescue and we were on our way home.
      As we were traveling the interstate once again we called Tennessee to check on my sister and was given miraculous news. My sweet sweet sister had began to open her eyes for the nurses and my Mother and then to everyone's surprise she moved her legs. My Mother was beside herself and it was all I could do to hold back the tears but I sure did shout Glory to God and Hallelujiah  a bunch. There is no doubt in my mind that my sister will recover for her time is not over. God did not bring this illness upon her. She was struck by evil forces and now God is working to restore her body and mind so that she may continue on with her earthly mission set forth for her to achieve on the Lord's behalf. What has happened to her is and will be something that my family will never forget. It will be something that shall make my sister stronger and braver than ever. I know that this is just the beginning of many miraculous days ahead for her as she fights to recover. Darkness has cast evil down upon my family for many years, it has tried to break my family through terrorizing the things we love the most but we shall continue this treacherous  journey on earth becomes he is with us and he will protect us and we shall rise up against all evil in Jesus name. We know that we are not alone for Christ is with us always. Amen...                                        

Be Thankful "Always"

   The holiday season is upon us and tomorrow millions of people will stand up and give toast of their thankfulness for many different things in life. Some will give thanks for family, friends, good health, good jobs,etc, while others will give thanks for getting their custom built Escalade or projection screen television to whoever won the football game the night before. The sad part of it all is that we should be thankful for all of this each and everyday that we live. Some of us just can't give thanks at all or some will say what do I have to be thankful for, I lost my job, my husband/wife left me. As bad as it may seem at that moment, there is still plenty of reason to be thankful. God does not sit and watch as bad things happen to us and laugh. Do you not think it to hurts him that he has to watch his children suffer, but due to the free will put into our way of living, there will be circumstances and situations in which comes grief and sadness, but the Lord is there with you to comfort you, to make you stronger, to help you in healing. Yes we have much to be thankful for, from the ability to take our next breath, to the promise of knowing that as children of God and believers of Jesus Christ the one who gave his life so that we would someday have eternal life with he and the Father in the Kingdom of Heaven. This in itself is more than plenty to be thankful for. Let Us Pray.
       Dear Lord thank you for this glorious day, thank you for your love, for the abundant blessings given to each of us Lord. Thank you for all that you have given to us, each and everyone of us who have chosen to accept you as our Savior, to be given eternal life in Heaven with you Lord. We are so very Blessed.Lord we take this holiday season to pray Lord that others may be comforted as we have been. That the lost shall seek and find you Father. That the sick shall be made well again, that the hungry shall be fed and the homeless shall find shelter.I pray for all of the children of this world Lord, that they be kept safe in your loving arms, that all that is evil be bound and kept away from these little innocents. I pray that they know only happiness and love dear Lord. Please help us all daily that we continue to walk the path in which you have laid out for us Lord. In Jesus name we ask of these things. Amen...

Meaning of Life{ Is There Life without God?}

     When one attempts to live without God, the answer to morality, hope, and meaning send one back into his own world to visualize his own personal factor. Is there, isn't there, if there is then why the pain and suffering? If it is so easy for the existence then why must we be faced with the heartache, grief, humiliation and sorrow, if it could all truly be a perfect world with God in it! You see that is the problem in this vast growing, over populated universe. God is not in the picture. Living without God in our lives leaves us to carry oneself by our own bootstrap, in a world where cultures now freely intermix with each other one would think that progress is actually being made:however this is far from the truth. It seems the closer we believe to be becoming in uniting as a world of cultural freedom we are actually becoming prisoners of our own society. Everyone is still just as judgmental if not worse than the previous years, it's still the same what will people think, what will people say,, will the children suffer. Wake up America! This is the United States of America, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. Take a moment to look at the world through God's eyes. What do you think he may see. I don't think he looks at you as the white man, him as the black man, the yellow, the red. God sees us as we are, "His Children" Created in his image. When he molded us into human form he gave us this body so that we could function on this earthly planet. Skin color to acclimate to different regions, to give us a slight difference so that we wouldn't all be the same. How boring would it be to look at the same face day in and day out for hundreds of years. God did it all right and we "MAN" kind of screwed it all up by choosing" Life Without God in It." It was only for a moment, but look at the devastation that one moment in making the wrong decision. The tree of life, the fruit of knowledge, the truth, the light, the way. What it created was a world of sin, shame, humiliation and the start of hatred in a once sin free world all was taken in the blink of an eye.
     Can man live without God? Of course he can, in a physical sense. Can he live without God in a reasonable way? The answer to that is No! because such a person is compelled to deny a moral law, to abandon hope, to forfeit meaning, and to risk no recovery if he is wrong. Life just offers to much evidence to the contrary.
     Outside of Jesus Christ there is no hope, no meaning, there is no law. You and you alone are the determiner and definer of the essentials of life. As written by: Ravi Zacharias,You and you alone are the architect of your own moral law; you and you alone, craft meaning for your own life; you, and you alone risk everything you have on the basis of a hope you envisage. As a cynic once said," We are all in this together, ALONE." You have made life's greatest decision, taken the greatest gamble, and answered the question of our time---if you choose to live without God. So in a very powerful way thousands of years later, The Word of the Lord keeps Spreading and Growing.Today is your choice, Choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior! Amen

When You Feel You've Lost Your Way

      When you feel like you've lost your way and the road in which you travel seems so long. Don't give up for God is with you every step of the way.There are many times in which we feel that we are not living up to God's expectations. We feel we are not attending church enough, praying enough, saying the right things or treating people with respect and in a godly manner. Often we feel we are letting God down because we are not treating our own families whole heartedly. Instead of being loving, we are ridiculing, instead of being there to support we are being judgmental. We get so caught up in the now and our own wants and needs that we forget about the ones who truly need us the most. Our spouses, our children, our neighbors and our friends. We don't stop to think that we may just be the problem, maybe we are the one's who truly are not living up to God's expectations by loving one another unconditionally just as our Father in Heaven loves you and I. Sometimes we stumble and fall, sometimes we do get caught up in the world and all that is in it but remember, God is there, he will lift you up out of the realms of the now, he will put our feet back on the straight and narrow. All we have to do is go to him in prayer and ask for his guidance and yes my dear friend he will be there in your greatest hour of need. Amen...

The Armor of God

    From the book of Ephesians 6-10:20 it is written, Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty powers. Put on your full armor of God so thaat you can take your stand again st the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not of flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand, Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kids of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
      We must stand up against that which is evil. We must watch continuously and be on guard because evil forces are among us daily, waiting for us to let our guard down so that they can invade our lives, our homes, our family. Hold dear the Love of God, it will be with you until the end. When all else has past away with the old heaven and the old earth. We, the true believers and followers of Christ shall be protected throughout all eternity.Let us pray.
    Dear God, thank you for this day, for friends and family. Thank you for good health, for continuous teaching Lord of that which is true and just. Lord help us all, each and everyone of us daily that we continually keep ourselves fitted in our armor of righteousness. Let us be safe from that which is evil by finding protection in your loving care. Sheild us that we may be strong and guarded against that which is of sin and dark forces. We ask for this in Jesus name,Amen..

Only the Good Die Young?

    This past week for me has been very overwhelming. I came home after going home to Tennessee to attend the burial of my dear sweet cousin Ricky who past away at the age of fifty two. We were the two feathers in the wind, always up to some new adventure, taking off and going on binges of camping, fishing, swimming whatever felt good at the time. He was my protector when the bigger boys picked on me and even into our adult years he was still there when I needed him. We were probably the two closet as far as cousins go. Mom and Dad had always watched him when he was little and loved him like he was their own. So it was just normal that he treat me like his little sister. I had spoken to him shortly before his death and there was something told me that he wasn't well. The week he dies, he was on my mind alot, looking back now it was as though he was calling out to me as we did so many times before. It was as though we could just telepathically connect when one of us needed the other, only this time I didn't call and I don't know why but a couple of days later the phone call came telling me he was gone.Ricky was fifty two years old.
   I returned home on Saturday August 21st and received the news two days later that me dear sweet friend Ralph Bailiff Jr. had passed away during a bike race due to an enlarged heart. This was so very unbelievable. Ralph was forty eight years old, in good shape, loved life and was always into sports. He really loved cycling it made him feel free and as a part of the wind. All of this was just so quick so unexpected, way to sudden. We take for granted everyday the precious gift of life. Here where two men very close in age, one athletic and in good health, the other on a daily regimen of pain killers for an accident from years passed and both past quickly. One from an abdominal blood clot, the other his heart. It all comes down to this.
    Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God, trust also in me.In my Fathers house are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.I will come back and take you with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.I am the way and the truth and the life. So no matter what age we may be whether it be 20, 50, 80 when our time is up and we have done what has been written of us then we shall be  silenced with that of our last breath, so that we may join our Lord and Savior who is patiently awaiting our arrival in the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us pray.
    Dear Lord, we come to you on this day and pray for those who are dealing with the loss of our dear friend, father, son and grandson. Help everyone Lord that they may make it through this time of loss and that they will be comforted by your divine grace Lord. I must pray for the children who have lost their father all to soon. Help them in their time of healing so that they may rejoice in their fathers life and that they may keep his memory alive by continuing to remember him in thought, prayer, photos, friends from the past. God love them and help them through this sad time. Amen.

The Rules of Holy Living

    Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, put your mind on things above not on earthly things. When Christ appears, you shall also appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever longs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality,impurity,lust,evil desires and greed, which is adolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You use to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourself of all these things, anger,rage, malice,slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self withits practices and have put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of the creator.Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive each other for past grievances you may have against one another.Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on LOVE, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your heart to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.Amen...[Colossians 3-1:10]
    There is no greater feeling than that of feeling you are doing things to please Christ. It brings such a feeling of completeness, of self worth, of accomplishment in knowing that you have possibly helped in bringing another life closer to Christ through you efforts to spread the word of God. Being Holy isn't just about accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior it is about living life in a positive way, a spiritual way, to live in peace and harmony and to do all things through the love of Christ. We must let the old life die and the new life live with Christ lead us through in all that we do and say. Let us pray.
   Our father in Heaven, thank you for this day, thank you for saving me through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Help me now Lord that I continuously follow the rules for Holy living, that I let go of the things of this earthly life and live for that which is through the power of the Holy Spirit. In all I do Lord I pray for your continued guidance in leading me that I may spread the word of God throughout the world, that I may continued to reach people everywhere so that they to may know the joy of being a Christian. Lod for all who are lost, I pray that they are found and they too can share with me and others the joy of accepting Christ into their lives. I pray for the wisdom and knowledge from you Lord that I may tell the story of you in a way that even the hardest heart shall open to listen and hear the story of Jesus Christ in the hopes that they may be saved. In Jesus name we pray and ask of these. Amen....

Just For Today [ Let us Pray]

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for today, though sad for a loss, it is glorious for those in passing that they may be joining you at this very hour. We must believe that everything that dies is just in sleeping safe in your arms until the day we can all be joined together as one. Lord bless us all and keep us safe from harm, sin and evil doers while we wander this earthly life for it is long and hard. There are many trials and many heartaches that we face, but just as you faced the pain and the suffering, we to shall endure that which you allow to happen with the passing of the seasons. For you put no more on us than we can bare so in all we know and all that we do not know we find in this life that we are much stronger than we ever could imagine. We share this life for you Lord, to seek others who have got came to know you so that we may share in the word of God, the glory of Jesus Christ that we shall all seek him and have eternal life. We praise your name and ask for your continued guidance. Amen...

Gotta Have Faith, the Faith ,the Faith

 Ask and it shall be given to you,seek and you will find,knock and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who ask receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door shall be opened.[Matthew 7:7] Your Father in Heaven gives good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you. The gift of getting is all in the gift of giving. It is our duty to our God to do for others through acts of kindness and true gesture, not as that of the false prophet who gives only to gain to benefit himself at the time. He shall not inherit the kingdom. You as God's children will know by the wisdom given to you from the father that which is not truly sent to be a true prophet of the Lord.
   Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.[Matthew 7:13]
   Oh dear children of God, live life like there is no tomorrow. Give of your life to God today, before it is too late. Do not let that road and the path of destruction pull you down the path of eternal damnation.Believe me when I say these words as they are written, everyone who receives Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and lives by his faith shall have a place for him, with him, in the Kingdom of Heaven.If you have not received Christ as your personal Lord and Savior let it be now, let it be today for we know not if tomorrow will come for any of us, be ready. Let us pray.
    Dear Lord, Yes I am a sinner, I have been lost on that road of destruction Lord. I am asking you to come into my life Lord Jesus, to save me from eternal damnation. I know that you died on the cross for me so that I too could have eternal life. Forgive me Lord as I graciously welcome you into my life as my personal Lord and Savior. In your name I ask of this. Amen...

Paul and Timothy [Servants of Christ Jesus]

     I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers, for all of you. I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love,if any fellowship with the spirit,if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded. Having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.Each of you should look not only to your own interest but alsoto the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.Remember God exalted him to the highest place. and gave him the name that is above every name.that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth.and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Amen and Amen....

The God of All Comfort

  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with have ourselves recieved from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed it is for yuor comfort which producus in your patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.[ 2 Corinthians 1-3:5}
  I have lived in suffering and wordly torment and I have stood firm in my belief that God will have mercy on my soul. That he shall raise me from the devastating state that has engulfed my being. He will rescue my family from the hands of the evil which has taken hold of the very child that calls out for us. All will be well for this baby, for she will be brought back into the arms of the ones who have nurtured her during her life. I praise God and ask for courage to wait for all to be said and done on behalf of this childs life.. Amen...

The Power of Prayer

The Power of Prayer!Is wonderful, is beautiful, is a miracle in the making. Our faith is strong and the power of prayer can only help things along. For why do we expect God to just continually do good in our lives if we are not willing to whisper a prayer of thanks or a prayer of need to him daily. Maybe the reason your not getting what you ask for, is because your not asking it in the proper manner.The Lord says ask for and ye shall receive, have you ask him in prayer, or did you just ask?

Father in Heaven

Who is the Father, "Christ" the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.[Matthew5:16]
We have our earthly parents, whom we love and honor, but we truly have only one Father. One who will love us unconditionally no matter what the problem may be. A Father who does not cast judgement upon us when we can't do something just as good as someone  else. Oh how he loves us! Let us pray.
Our Father who art in Heaven, how will it be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive thoughs who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen...

Never Give Up!

When it seems the world has forgotten all that you are and all that you've done for the good of others,
Don't give up!
When you feel like you have carried the weight of the world on your shoulders and nobody cares
Don't give up!
When you have loved with the greatest of passion and had your heart broken time after time
Don't give up!
You see my friend that is exactly what the evil forces that live within and around you want you to do
To give up, on life, on love, on family and friends, on all that matters, But don't give up!
Be true to yourself and true to the one who made you, and when the time is right according to his plan everything will fall into place just as he promised.
Don't give up! You have way to much to live for!!

Jesus is Baptized

     In Judea many people were being baptized. John the baptist traveled throughout the city baptizing those who were looking for repentance and forgiveness of their sins. While the people were being baptized, Jesus was also, and as he was praying,{ Luke-3:22}Heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the bodily form of a dove, and a voice from Heaven said,{"You are my Son whom I love, with you I am well pleased.}
     The baptism recorded was in fact the first public declaration of Jesus ministry. Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his ministry, this being of Jewish culture was a good age to begin an important task.
     How many of us still have a child living at home? They may be twenty, twenty six or maybe thirty. Do you think that maybe they just haven't received their calling from God. My son is still at home. He is twenty seven, has two children and is a recovering addict. He has lived and seen things that most people don't ever experience. When he was a very small child, around three he began to preach sermons. We had taken him to church, but this little boy sounded like a grown man preaching on Sunday morning.He continued to preach and speak the word of God until he was around ten years old.at that time the other children began to make fun of him, he stopped the ministry completely. I didn't know what to do or who to talk to about it. Everyone said it was just his way of getting attention or making people laugh but in my heart I knew God was calling my son. One year went by, two years past and now it has been 17 years and my son"s heart has grown cold. He is lost and lonely and I pray, I pray that he will find the love of God once again, that he can take the past seventeen years of life's struggles and experiences and do the work that God set out for him so long ago. My son has not yet been baptized and I know that once this happens, not only will he be baptized by the water and cleansed but he shall be baptized by the Holy Spirit.
     Do I blame myself for my son's destructive behavior? I do hold myself responsible for not raising my son in a more balanced Christian environment. I wish that I had of had the proper guidance for myself through family and friends, but I guess that is what learning is all about. I wasn't born with a silver spoon so I had to take what life had to throw my way and deal with it the best way possible always trying to keep a positive attitude, and I have raised my children the same except instead of allowing them to just lay down and give up, I continuously tell them that they can have anything they want in life, anything. All they have to do is work to make it happen. If it is being a doctor or lawyer, go to school and it will happen. If it is being a messenger of God, give your everything to him and allow him to lead you wherever he feels you are needed.Allow him to work through you, he will be your eyes, your ears and your voice.  Put your trust and your faith in him and the rest will just fall into place.Don't look for that instant miracle, it may not happen that way but please believe that it will happen{Matthew-7:8} For everyone who ask, receives;he who seeks finds;and to him who knocks the door shall be opened. As we learn to know God more as a loving Father,we learn to ask for what is good for us, and then he grants it. Let us pray.
     Dear Father, thank you for this glorious day. Thank you for family, friends, good health and for your great abundance of love. Dear Lord please help us in our efforts to know you better.,bless us Lord with more knowledge,patience, wisdom, love and understanding. Lead the way Lord, that we may continuously walk the path in which you have prepared for us. To those who are hungry, I pray that their bellies are filled. For those who are homeless, I pray that tonight they have shelter and a place to lay their bodies down which is safe. For all the little children of the world Lord, I pray they know nothing less than happiness and love found in you Lord. Protect them from this nasty, evil world of sin that wants to swallow them up. Help me to help anyone in any way I can. In Jesus name we ask of these things. Amen...

Memorial Day Prayer

Pray for today, for our men and women,
Who put their lives on the line daily,
so that you and I can live in peaceful harmony with the ones we love.
Pray that they to are kept out of harms way,
That God leads them down sin free paths.
Pray that they are guided down  the road of righteousness.
Then last but not least, pray that they to may be united with their loved one's soon,
So they to can enjoy the warmth and love, the kisses and embraces.
Pray that they to may come home safely.

Live in Unity

    To live in unity, as one with the siprit," The Holy Spirit.Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.Ephesians-{4:3} The Bible tells us to be humble and to love one another, to work together for the greater good of man. Instead of acting out with hatred and jealousy be there for one another through peace and love. Just as Jesus Christ was there for you and I.
    Christ was born into this world as a human, with human emotions and fears. He was lured by the temptations of evil just as you and I have been, yet he stayed true, true to the Father. Christ traveled this earth preaching the gospel to all who would hear and listened. He worked through God to show us that there was indeed a Heaven, A true God, a place where we could all join together again someday in spiritual harmony. How when it is written and we still see the works of Christ in our everyday lives can we hesitate to follow that which is good, that which is pure and true. Did Christ die on the cross so that we to could be saved and have eternal life? The answer to that is yes. Did Christ arise from the dead and then descend into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father? The answer to that is yes. I say this not only because it is written, but because I feel the work of the Holy Spirit moving within me and the closer I grow spiritually the easier my life becomes. I am happier, I am blessed, I have a spiritual connection with my Lord and Savior that is one of the peace and harmony the Bible speaks of.Let us pray.
   Dear Lord, bless this day and all who are in it. Help us oh Lord to keep the faith. When times may seem hard and sometimes to much to bare, help us Lord that we continue to know you are there, and that even through the times that may seem hard at the time, they are happening for the greater good later on. You put no more on us than we can bare. In your sweet name we pray dear Lord. Amen..

Just for Today

Just for today...

Live as though you are living your last day on earth,

Love as you have never loved before,

Let your heart be happy, not just for a little while,

But choose to let happiness be your guide.

Just for today.

The Power, The Light, The Way

   I am Jesus, I am sending you to them, to open their eyes, to turn them from the darkness to the light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.Acts-{26-17:18}.
   We are all given such a glorious gift from our Lord Jesus Christ, a chance to repent, to ask him for forgiveness of our sins. We are given the opportunity to accept him as our Savior and to know that he gave his life so that we could also have eternal life and join him as he sits at the right hand of God Almighty.We know the burden we face when we are faced with the fear that one of our loved ones has committed a terrible crime. We suffer and our hearts are broken as we plead for God to have mercy on their soul. Can you begin to imagine the pain that God feels as he patiently watches down among us daily, waiting and watching and hoping that we take that one moment to cry out to him, to accept him, to know that he gave so much more than possibly any of us could ever give, his only begotten son. To save you and I from eternal damnation. Could you give your child's life in the hopes that the world could be saved? That is a question that none of us would ever want to have to answer, isn't it? Yet, God did so without hesitation for we are also his children, made by him, in his image and he loves each of us unconditionally. We have been given free will, but we have also been given a conscience and emotions. God ask very little of us, yet the ten commandments seems to be the hardest set of rules mankind has ever had to follow. Take a look at your life, are you happy? Do you fill that your life is complete or is there something missing that you just can't seem to put your finger on. Maybe, just maybe what is missing from your life is your relationship with Christ. Let today be the start of a fresh new beginning by inviting Christ into your life. Let us pray.
   Heavenly Father, I know that you sent your only son to die on the cross and on the third day he was risen. I know that you did this Lord so that we here on earth could repent of our sins and we to could have eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins dear Lord and help me daily to walk in the path of righteousness Lord, In your name I ask of these things and pray that you be with me always. Amen...

I Give My All to You

  Today, I give my all to you Lord. Use me as you will, as your messenger, your deliverer. Let these hands provide help to those who are in need of their service, whether to prepare food for the hungry or to wipe the tears from the eyes of a weeping child. Today I chose to serve you and only you Lord. For there is no greater gift to give than my time to be used wisely for the greater good of others.

The Holy Spirit

What do you think happened? It is unexplainable, you were just sitting there, a feeling of utter hysteria fills your entire being, you began to cry uncontrollably,Do you believe in the power of the Holy Spirit?
When the power of the Almighty strikes, it is without warning, it is the most heartfelt moment in time. The feeling of utter bliss is one way to describe it. You will have a great since of happiness, a feeling of completeness, you will feel like at that very moment that God himself is standing right there with you and believe me, at that moment he is there, you have been filled with The Holy Spirit!!!

PRAY!!!

Ask for and ye shall receive. This is what God tells us. If we truly believe with all our heart that what we ask for in pray will be given from God, then it is given to you.