25 Days of Christmas Scripture

What a celebration!  How was your Christmas and birthday celebration?  Are you ready for an amazing year ahead?

Thank you for joining me in our 25 days of Christmas scripture.  I encourage you to mark down some of those amazing tidbits of Word that we followed along with in the past month.  There were some pretty good verses to keep with you throughout your days.  One thing I know for sure, He loves me.  He loves me and He loves you too.  He loves you more than you can even comprehend.  Don't forget that!

I hope you enjoyed our adventure and will come back again to read some good words and please join in with your own favourites.  I pray that the Lord will bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you Today and forever. 

In January 2013 we will be back in the word and giving you some encouraging words to support you.  Blessings and love to you, Nicole

Day Twenty-Five Christmas Scripture... Happy Birthday Jesus!

The Christmas Story.  Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to our Savior!

Luke 2:1-20

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Day Twenty-Four Christmas Scripture...countdown is here!

God did a good thing in making you.  He is a mastercraft and has designed you to be unique, precious and loved.  He has given you great gifts and talents!  At Christmas time, for many it's about the gifts that we give and receive.  It's easy to get stressed about the expense, finding the perfect gift, returning gifts, and battling the shopping malls.  But what if I told you I know of 'The' Perfect gift for you?  Far better than anything you could even dream of.

His love.  It's yours!  He gives it freely to you...just like that.  It's worth more than any precious metal, silver or gold and it's yours.  Put aside earthly gifts and think of the many gifts He has given to you and has in store for you.  Doesn't that excite you and make you eager to see what the future holds?  He's going to give you amazing gifts so seek Him, Ask and Open the door to Him and He will reveal things you never thought possible.  These are the gifts that count!

Ephesians 2:4-10

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.   For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Day Twenty-Three Christmas Scripture

^{Christmas is a Time for Blessings.  I absolutely adore this scripture to be able to bless a friend or family member.  It speaks such glorious truth and has so much power.  If you are ever in need of a good word for someone to encourage, give them a hope, or show them how much our heavenly Father loves us, this is amazing.  To know how much He loves us and wants to bless us is comforting.  Pass that word and blessing on to others.  At Christmas it's easy to get swept away with grumbling or worry or arguing but take heed and catch your tongue or your heart.  This is a time for blessings.  Let his power and glory work through you.  Others will see the light in you and His love and want more of that.  They will say, "what does she have?"  Bless them today and every day!  Merry Christmas!}

Ephesians 3:14-21

 For this reason I kneel before the Father,  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.   I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Day Twenty-Two Christmas Scripture

Christmas is a time of giving thanks to the Lord for all that He has done.  Give with love and willingly.  The Lord knows your heart if you give grudgingly or with motive.  He will in turn bless you more abundantly than you could ever imagine.  It says it in His word so it is Truth!  Take your earthly mind out of the equation and look at His word. 
Isn't this a most spectacular word? 

"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."
This is like food for my soul.  It excites me and gives me great hope.  He WILL supply all of your needs according to His glory and riches.  Give thanks for His love.  What an amazing gift.  Rejoice!

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.   And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.  And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.   Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Day Twenty-One Christmas Scripture

Don't you just love holidays?  A day when you can relax and put the rest of the world out of your mind?  That is what the Lord made Sundays for.  A day of rest.  We all need those days to rejuvenate and reconnect with ourselves.  Until you fully grasp how much the Lord loves you that he set aside one whole day for you that is pretty awesome.  Can you come before the throne and say that you abided by His day of rest?  Don't experience those days of rest only on a deemed 'holiday.'   It's for your benefit so enjoy it.  This Christmas, take Jesus' birthday as a day of rest to spend time with family, enjoy the peace, love and joy that is around you and praise His name for all that He has done for you.

Hebrews 4:9-16

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.   Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Day Twenty Christmas Scripture

Christmas is a time for Peace.  Peace within and Peace around you.  What do you do to find peace? 

Come to the Lord with your prayers and petitions and He will give you peace.  A time of year when there is supposed to be such great joy and peace, has turned into a stressful, chaotic time that we 'wish' away.  We worry about our finances, who is going to bring what for dinner, who is coming for dinner, what to buy your parent's and making sure the house is clean.  Add to that the regular 'stresses' of every day life and you have a whole ball of worry and anxiety.  Come before the Lord, talk to Him, give your worries and anxieties over to the Lord and let Him do the work.  Remember the true joy of Christmas.

Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.  Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Day Nineteen Christmas Scripture

We trust in our Lord and will rejoice the day of His coming to save us.  Are you ready?  Come before the Lord today, get on your hands and knees and ask Him to live within you and your heart.  He will be there instantly as soon as you ask Him.  Ask, Knock and Seek -the door will be opened to you. It's that simple.  Accept Him into your heart today, please.

Isaiah 25:6-9

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. 

On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.  In that day they will say,

“Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

Day Eighteen Christmas Scripture

We all need some time alone.  Young or old, that is how we develop a stronger relationship with God.  Time alone gives us good prayer time, a time to sit with yourself or sit and listen.  Sometimes we are so busy complaining or questioning God that we forget to stop and listen.  Sit in peacefulness each day over the holiday season and spend time in solitude with your Heavenly Father. 

Your relationship with God is what will get your family through the holiday season.  If it is a strong one that relies on Him for strength, love, hope, peace and self-control then He will get you through anything.  You are important too.  Things will come and go in your life over the holidays but one thing remains, His love for you so foster that relationship and nurture it.  Peace be with you.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

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 the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you 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.

Day Seventeen Christmas Scripture

 

 Today I wanted to talk about Love.  It's one of those words that can be 'over used' and desensitizes us from the true meaning.  We love that food, we love doing that thing, we love that color and on and on.  Love is Jesus.  He is Love.  We celebrate His birth on Christmas day.  Our Father sent His only son to die on the cross so that we would have eternal life.  That is Love.  I have a difficult time getting my head wrapped around how much Love that really is. 

The least we can do to show our thanks to God is to Love others.  We are to love our neighbours as He loves us.  I pray to you all that as you go about the Holiday Season you have a few moments even to stop and think about how much our Heavenly Father truly loves us and how special you are.  That is abundant love.  Share with others His love for you through your actions, words and time.  Merry Christmas!

 

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.  May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.   May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Day Fifteen Christmas Scripture

^{Some days you just need an uplifting scripture to get you going.  I love reading Psalms and all of the treasures and gifts the Lord gives us in it.  It makes me want to stand up and sing the scripture.  Enjoy your reading today and give thanks to the Lord for He is good!}
 

Psalm 118:19-29

Open for me the gates of the righteous;
    I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord
    through which the righteous may enter. 

I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
    you have become my salvation.

The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.

Lord, save us!
    Lord, grant us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you.  The Lord is God,
    and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
    up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will praise you;
    you are my God, and I will exalt you.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

Day Fourteen Christmas Scripture

Today is the day the Lord has made.  Get in the word and live the word.  His word is living proof and should be reflected in your daily lives.  I often have to catch myself in different situations and ask what would the Lord do or say?  How should I act in this situation?  I find that catching myself gives me a few extra seconds to hit the reset button and act according to His word.  I don't always do the right thing but the more we try, the easier it will get.  

Psalms 119:9   How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

Day Thirteen Christmas Scripture

We are moving right along.  Can you believe it's been 13 days already?  Wow!  Christmas celebrations will be here before you know it.

This is the perfect time to shed the old and start fresh with new forgiveness, compassion and humility.  Is there someone that you have been holding a grudge against or feel you need to apologize for something?  Or is there someone that has apologized to you that you have not forgiven totally in your heart?  If we eagerly want our Father's forgiveness, how can we expect His when we can't even forgive our neighbour for something they have done?  The best thing you can do for yourself as we near the end of 2012 is find forgiveness in your heart.  As the following scripture reads, "let the message of Christ dwell in you richly."  Sing to the Lord with gratitude!

Colossians 3:12-17
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. 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 message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.   And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Day Twelve Christmas Scripture

Along with the good of Christmas also comes the stresses.  Do you feel at the end of the day that you have completely rushed through everything just to be done?  I feel that way some days and feel terrible about doing that.  We are only given one today and can't get a do-over day. 

Don't forget your purpose through this season.  It's supposed to be a time of peace, joy, remembrance and celebration.  Through the commercialism of Christmas we have lost sight of the joy this time of year brings and the true meaning.

I always remember the story of Mary and Martha and how Mary stayed to sit at the Lord's feet listening to him.  Martha was completely distracted about what was going on around her that she got frustrated and forgot the goodness that was around her in that moment. 

Sit at His feet today and listen.  You don't even have to speak, just listen with your heart and He will talk to you.  Do not rush off, you only get this opportunity today once so enjoy it.  You are in the presence of our Lord Almighty, do not rush through it.


Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.   She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.   But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Day Eleven Christmas Scripture

On our 25 days of Christmas scripture adventure, we are half way there and it's been an exciting journey.  Have you been enjoying your readings?  What time of day is your favorite time to get in the word?  Mine is in the morning.  I do my prayer time before I even get out of bed.  Once my feet hit the floor, the devil better watch out because I'm on a mission. 

Day 11 of our Christmas scriptures is celebrating Christmas to reconnect with people.  I find it a tough time to balance keeping in touch with friends and family if they do not have email or check it regularly.  I enjoy email for those times when you just want to say hi, send a word of encouragement or check in on someone with a scripture.  But it is also nice to hear someone's voice on the other end of the phone and actually have a conversation. 

I have also noticed a big decline in sending Christmas cards.  What a fundamental tradition of Christmas by sending a card to bring cheer and blessings for the year to come.  I am happy to say this year was a celebratory year for sending cards with over 140 cards sent to friends, family members and clients.  Even if it makes one person smile or reconnects with someone that I do not have the fortune of speaking with regularly throughout the year, then my mission has been accomplished.  I encourage you this Christmas to reconnect; you won't be disappointed!  God bless!

John 15:1-11

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.   You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.   If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.   If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.   If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.   I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Day Ten Christmas Scripture

Today is the day the Lord has made, I will REJOICE!  Rejoice and sing loudly to the Lord for He is good.  Christmas is a time for singing, standing up, arms held high, and hearts receiving.  Praising and singing is an awesome way to show your love to the Lord for all the good He has done in your life.  At this time of year, reflect on all the good you have in your life.  Praise be to God the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!  Celebrate with your family singing carols of Christmas.

 

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Day Nine Christmas Scripture

Happy Sunday and it's day nine of our 25 days of Christmas scripture.  Today I'm leaving it open to you.  What is your favorite scripture?  What comes to mind when you are with joy, disappointment, peace or needing breakthrough?
Come today before His presence with thanksgiving and speak a scripture that is dear and true to you.  If you do not have one, get in the word and find one.  The Lord wants to move in your life, ask...seek..and the door will be opened to you.  He loves you and is waiting for you to seek Him.  Pray and wait with open ears, hearts and spirit and He will do amazing things.

Here is one of mine:

It's a word of encouragement, stability and peace.

Stop over to my Etsy store and you can purchase this wall part printable in any color of your choice.

Be blessed today and please enjoy this day of rest.

Day Eight Christmas Scripture

Christmas is a day of promise.  A day of renewal and restoration.  We are all one in Christ.  How amazing is that promise.  We will all inherit the kingdom of God if we diligently seek the Lord, do his word and commit our lives to doing His good work.  What an awesome promise.

Galatians 3:23:4-7
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.  So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.  Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Day Seven Christmas Scripture

Do you ever fear that the sun will not come up or morning will not come.  Has it ever yet?  It's one of those things that we can see and for some reason because it always happens we do not question it or fear it.  So God's love is the same way, just as the rain falls, the sun comes up, morning arises and dusk falls...so does his Love...it's faithful.  He will not fail you, He loves you.  He is love.  Sink in to this good word today.  Press in and find all of the wonderful treasures of faithfulness in this scripture.  You won't be disappointed.


Isaiah 55:6-11
Seek the Lord while he may be found;  call on him while he is near. 
Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

As you go about your travels in the next few days, remember all of the points we focused on this week, greetings, visiting, faith, sharing, and making memories.  You only get this Christmas time once so make the most of it.  Get connected to God and find peace, joy and love this holiday season.  God bless.

S'more Love

I couldn't resist sharing something sweet with you!  I designed these tags and favors for a dear client.  The front of the tag says Sending you... S'more love (perfectly adorable) and then on the back, it's a perfect spot to put a great scripture about love or faith or peace...whatever you feel led to write.  What's great about the word s'more is that you can use it to pretty much any saying.

Sending you...S'more Faith
Sending you...S'more Hope
Sending you...S'more Joy

Perfect wedding favor, Christmas favour, birthday favor, baby shower favor or anytime of event gift.  Keep up the good fight of Faith my friends!

Day Six Christmas Scripture

Hope.  Yes, today's message is about Hope.  On our Sixth day of Christmas scripture we look at John 14:1-6.  Amazing passage about knowing without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord loves you and cares for you.  He has prepared a special place just for you.  It invokes so much emotion when reading this scripture.  I have everything from peace, excitement, joy, hope and strength to keep moving forward.  He is the way.  He is the only way.  If you want to go to Heaven, you have to seek the Father first. 

As you go about your day, remember how special you are to the Lord.  Don't get down and discouraged because that is what the devil wants to steal your joy.  Do not be dismayed for the Lord is on your side and gives you a hope and a future.  Spread the joy of hope, peace and love today and always!

John 14: 1-6

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

Day Five Christmas Scripture

Christmas is a time for visiting.  For sharing laughter, stories and encouragement for the year ahead.  Read this wonderful verse selected just for you today.  I pray the love of the Lord will be present in all of your visits and discussions this holiday season.  You never know how your words will effect someone else for years to come. 


Romans 15: 1-7
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.  Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.  For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”  For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.


I hope you are enjoying your readings as we journey through the wonderful word of the Lord.  I pray it is a blessing to you.

Day Four Christmas Scripture

This is a good one!  I get so excited to share the word of the Lord and all it's fascination and glory.  Dig deep into this one!  Today focus on Charity.  When was the last time you gave selflessly?  Giving without expectation of receiving something back?  But did you know but giving to others freely, the Lord is so abundantly blessed by that and will reward you in His own way?  That is the joy of giving unconditionally. 
It's hard in these economic times to give freely all the time but know without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord sees it and knows your heart.  He will provide and give you the provision to provide for others if you are diligent in it.  Go forth this Christmas season and see where you can be a blessing.  Ask the Lord to show you with your own eyes or hear it with your ears where you can be a blessing to others today.  God bless you.

Matthew 25:31-40

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.   All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.   He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.   For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?   When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?   When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Day 3 Christmas Scripture...Greetings

Day 3 of our 25 days of Christmas scripture focuses on Greetings.  How many people will you greet this Christmas season and what is the message people will come away with from that greeting? 

When we stop and think about how we present ourselves to others we hope they will see the fruits of the spirit in us.  Will they come away from that discussion seeing the Lord's good work through you?  How can we show others the Love of the Lord in what we do and say?  Don't forget to greet others with love, peace and laughter this Christmas season.  Get in the word daily and speak the word freely to others. 

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.   In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!   But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?   As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.   Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.  His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Day 2 Christmas Scripture

A Time for Memories- Read Luke 1:68-79

Join with me in a 25 day Christmas scripture celebration of God's word. It will inspire, bless you and give you some peace through the days ahead. Enjoy.


When doing my scripture reading for today, I began by trying to find a few verses that captured my heart. Well, I had do to a whole lot of verses because it's truly a powerful verse.

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn[a] of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”


 He will guide our feet into the path of peace. Powerful words and He means it. How awesome is that coming from our Father that we can know without a shadow of a doubt that He will Guide our feet into the path of peace. Awesome! Going back to the beginning of the verses, we must remember our covenant that brought us to where we are today. Our faith and His mercy has brought us to salvation. He rescued us from the pits of despair and is working through you right now.


Go forth today celebrating and serving the Lord with courage, righteousness and joy!

Day 1 Christmas Scripture

The Gift of Sharing- John 3:16 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. Each day I think about the love that God has for us is astounding to me. It's unbelievable because it's bigger than our earthly minds can believe. But it is true and it brings us to a greater appreciation and truth for what He did for us. In return, we are asked to love one another, and love our Lord. How awesome is our God? As we kick off our 25 days of Scripture. Join with me and read John 3:1-21 and dig in deep to what the word is telling us today about Sharing. We have an awesome God!