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 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 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.