Leviticus 18:22 “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman, that is detestable.”

Leviticus 20:13 “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

Romans 1:26-28 “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their woman exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.
27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.”

Jude 1:7 “In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”

Mark 10:6-9 “But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

Our world has gone to hell in a handbasket! The things that used to be wrong are now shoved down our throats daily, and people try to convince us they are right, and if we disagree, we are haters. The things God clearly states in His word that are wrong and lead to death, are made to be right. However, just because people say it is right, does not make it so!

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

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Scripture is clear about how God feels about homosexuality, being gay, lesbian, etc. He hates it and clearly states it leads to death. Today we can find churches that teach and preach that homosexuality, transgender, etc. is perfectly fine. That God loves you and accepts you just as you are; that you can live any way you want and still go to heaven. Wrong! Men and women who do and say these evil things are bound for hell unless they repent and are born again. All these people are deceived and think they are wise. They believe they have been given a better understanding than those who do not swallow this garbage. They are trying to convince people that it is good and right, and if you do not fall in line with their agenda and affirm them, you are a hater.

Isaiah 5:20-21 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolators nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

YOU CANNOT GO TO HEAVEN LIVING A LIFE OF SIN! Am I saying that a Christian never sins, we are human, of course, we do. We all fall short. However, it is not a lifestyle. As a born-again believer when you sin, the Holy Spirit lets you know, so you can repent, turn away, and understand that your behavior was wrong and displeasing to God. There is a very clear difference between a lifestyle and an occasional mess-up.

People, Jesus is coming, and we need to make sure that we are living fully surrendered to God. We need to preach, teach, and tell others that Jesus is the only way. Those who twist God’s plan for marriage and sex will not get by with it. They may seem to be sailing through life now, but one day either by death, or when Jesus returns they will stand before God and be judged, and their judgment will be death, the lake of fire, for ALL ETERNITY! They will be very aware of their torment and NEVER be able to escape it!

We need to pray for those who are on the wrong path, we need to tell them Jesus is the answer. We need to pray for our nation which is so immoral and ungodly. We need to pray for our leaders. Jesus is coming back for his bride. Will you be ready?

We can love people and hate their sins at the same time. Those whose minds have been twisted by perversion, lust for the wrong sex, those who desire to try and live a different gender; we can be nice to them. We cannot affirm what they are doing. It is wrong, it is against God and His holy word. No matter how hard men try to be women or women try to be men, they are not. Their blood tells the story. God created two sexes, Male and Female. All these other genders come from the hearts of evil men and women, who desire to live apart from God. God won’t affirm them, no matter who they get to tell them otherwise.

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female, he created them.”

Lord, I ask you to heal our nation. Call its people and its leaders back to you, to repentance. Open wicked eyes to see your truths. Please save those who lost, who are running down the path to hell, blindly believing that they are okay. Lord, protect our children from the perversion that permeates everything nowadays. Lord, forgive us. Oh, how we need you back in schools, back in government, and back in our homes where it all starts. Forgive us for removing you from everything to satisfy our sinful desires and lusts. For those of us who are born-again, we cry;
‘COME LORD JESUS, COME!’ Get us out of this wicked unholy place that is not our home! In your Holy name, Jesus, amen.

Let us send up a mighty cry to heaven and pray that God will heal the hearts of evil men and heal our land!

James 1:2 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 3:10 “I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

Psalm 119:71 “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”

1 Peter 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

All of the above verses have to do with suffering or trials that we face in varying degrees as we travel this earthen sod. We have not been promised an easy road, each one of us has been given or will be given different types of suffering and trials as we await our meeting with the Lord, face to face. And, since it is God’s idea that we have these various times, He knows we need them to make us look and act like him, to conform us to his image, and have all the sharp edges of humanity rubbed away.

I make homemade sourdough bread, and every time I knead my bread I am excited thinking about how my bread will turn out, getting a hot fresh piece when it comes out of my Dutch Oven. The reason we need to knead bread is that it brings the dough together, develops the strands of gluten, and creates a stronger dough. And as we face trials, tribulations, failures, heartache, etc., it develops us. Somehow they change us and make us more like him. Some people seem to breeze through their trials, and their sufferings, and others seem to barely hang on. As Christians, we are not left to face these things alone. As the Lord is kneading us through these trials and sufferings, as we feel the pull and tug, the push and shove of life, we can lean into the Lord through the Holy Spirit and prayer. When we do somehow we receive what we need for that moment in time.

We rarely receive that added grace and mercy, that help beforehand, it comes as we pass through the waters, as we cry out to the Lord, as we move closer to hear his still small voice. He never said we would like it, or enjoy it, He just said He would not leave us to handle it all alone, He would be and is faithful to see us through.

There have been many times I have walked through deep hurt, disappointment, trials, and suffering. Times when I wanted to cry “enough!” and did, but God…

Did he get angry with me, was he disappointed in me, no. He tenderly called me closer, held me tighter, refilled my empty tank, and encouraged me to press on toward the mark. See, I want to look and act like my Lord and Savior, but I cannot unless he “kneads” the sinful, earthly things out of me. I am so thankful He has not left me as He found me, dying and on my way to hell. He has called me by name, He has promised I will see him one day, He has said he would take me through this dry and weary land, and bring me out on the other side, looking like him, victorious, and alive forevermore!

So, if you are suffering or going through a difficult time, remember it comes from the Sovereign hand of God. It will not last one moment longer than is needed. He will carry you and give you strength, help, and direction through the Holy Spirit, and He is faithful, never leaving you or forsaking you!

Maybe if dough could talk it would say: “Hey stop, I am not enjoying this part!” But just like us, bread needs kneading so that it can be the best bread ever!

Psalm 77:11-12 “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”

Many are the trials and tribulations that we face in this life. Often it seems that if it were not for the hard days, and too much bad news we would not have any days at all. Time seems to slow down when you are in the eye of the storm; your mind cannot seem to settle, and you grow weary, wondering? “Has God heard my cries for mercy, “Has he forgotten how to be merciful?” Does He even hear my prayers? Why won’t he deliver me now?

Does that sound familiar to anyone? I too have experienced those times when God seemed far away? Has God somehow closed his ears and missed the cries for help, relief, mercy” Why oh why won’t he do something! I cry out Lord, I need you!

Then my mind goes to his word, I recall what the bible says about God, and I remember all the times He has performed miracles and rescued me. I remember those times when all seemed hopeless, and then the God of hope stepped in, and almost without me knowing how, the answer was there, the crisis over, my heart at peace.

God is faithful to His children. There are those times when he seems distant because we have sin in our lives, something we are doing that needs God’s correction and discipline, and His correction is birthed from his love for us, as is his discipline. He is still right there. We feel a shifting, a distance out of guilt or shame; and at these times the devil loves to make us feel crummy, to hinder our approaching the throne of mercy and talking to our loving Lord about it. If you feel afraid or shame when approaching God, remember it is not coming from God, but from the enemy of your soul.

David was feeling like God had forgotten his people, that God had somehow forgotten how to be merciful, but he too remembered all that God had done, the mighty deeds, the miracles, the answered cries for help and mercy, and David was strengthened, and his faith made stronger.

God does not change; we read these words in Malachi 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
If God had no mercy we would know it! It is His love and mercy that took him to the cross where he suffered a brutal death. It is that same love and mercy that makes him stay close. We need to remember that God does not come too soon or too late. 2 Peter 3:8-10 says: “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

The bottom line, God’s timing is not your timing. He is faithful in all his ways and he tells us that he will supply all our needs, and if he said it, it
is the truth! Matthew 6:26 says: “Behold the fowls of the air they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” God has heard, God does see your problem, your hurt, your fear, and your need, and He will answer. He cares more for you than words can say. He is trustworthy and true. So, when you are feeling like He has not heard, does not care, is far away…Think Back! Let your mind remember, let your eyes read in His word, His promises, and let your faith rest in your good, good Fath

Psalm 103:1-“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins, and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems
your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who
satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.”

The Lord is great, and great are His deeds! We need to praise him daily as we remember all He has done for us. In the text above we have been given several reasons to praise Him. He forgives ALL our sins, not just the little ones, or the seen ones, but all of them, even the secret ones no one else sees, and even the hidden ones we do not see ourselves. He forgives our past, present and future sins when we repent and come to him. He is our healer. Some may argue that he does not heal everyone, and that is true, He does not always grant physical healing to those who are sick, often it’s spiritual healing taking place, which is far more important to God than just healing the body.

When we come to Him in repentance and receive His gift of salvation, He then also redeems us from the pit- or death. Our physical bodies will die, but our spiritual selves live on either in Heaven or hell. For believers the moment we die we are face to face with Jesus, living eternally with him. No more sin, sadness, sickness, worries, tears, etc., the list could go on and on. He crowns us with love and compassion and satisfies our desires with good things. I don’t know about you, but more love and compassion are always on the menu for me. I am so thankful for God’s love that does not waiver or stop when I am not at my best. I am so thankful for all the good things in my life, that have been given by His Sovereign hand. Often, good does not look or feel good for us at the time, but we can look back many times and see how gracious and good it was. And we will for sure see it in heaven.

He renews us daily and gives us righteousness and justice every day. Even on our worst days, we can be thankful that we are saved, and that we do not have to manufacture some kind of righteousness of our own, if we did it would fall far short of God’s righteousness; which he freely gives to us; and we receive God’s justice, which flows from His holiness to us.

Because of God’s goodness, mercy, compassion, and love, we never receive the due punishment for our sins. Jesus took every sin with him when he died on the cross. Our names should have been up there, and they were; written on His heart. Even though you and I were not there literally, we were in His mind and heart that day.

Friends, we have so much to thank God for. So, today rather than finding fault with someone or something, bow your head and thank God for who He is and all that He has done for us. We do not bring anything with us except our sins and the stench of our rotten selves, none of it good; and in return, we are made new, clean, fresh, and a sweet aroma to God as He sees us through the blood of Jesus.

So, I say THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Matthew 6:22-23 The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.” 23 “But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness.

In today’s world with smartphones and TVs, very explicit ads and billboards, and just the things we see as we drive down the street; these can all be things we ought not to look at. Our eyes are a gift from the Creator, to enjoy the beauty of His creation and to accomplish things in this life in a much easier way. We all too often take our vision for granted. But our physical eyes can lead us down the wrong path. When we choose to focus our eyes on ungodly things, it causes a domino effect inside of us and puts a distance between us and our Savior. The things we choose to look at affect us more than we think. We may find ourselves revisiting something that we should never have looked at in the first place, and now with all the devices, it makes it that much easier to do it, after all, who sees us? Well, I can tell you, God’s all-seeing eye is with you as you place your gaze on those things that are not good for your mind or soul.

As children we sing the song: “Oh, be careful little eyes what you see, Oh, be careful little ears what you hear, Oh be careful little feet where you go. For the Father up above is looking down in love, Oh be careful little one what you do. This is very good advice that we need to carry into our adult lives. Men struggle more with the visual than women do, as a rule, so as a Christian man, he needs to be vigilant to keep his eyes away from those things that cause him to lust and fill his mind with imagery not fit for a man of God. A woman also needs to be vigilant, maybe we do not struggle with images of the opposite sex, but we can find ourselves fixated on a female comparing ourselves and feeling like we fall short. And when we watch movies or TV, shouldn’t we be aware of the content, and flee from anything that would not be appropriate?

None of these things are good for us. Every time we let an image in our mind in a lustful way we are giving a little bit more of ourselves away. It is too easy to justify our behaviors and think that God understands and just winks at our sins. If you never feel convicted over something you are doing or looking at, you need to check your relationship with Jesus!

We also need to keep our Spiritual eyes fixed on Jesus at all times. The enemy prowls around like a lion seeking who he may devour. News flash! The enemy of your soul knows your weaknesses better than you do, and he is waiting for a moment when he can pounce! No, he cannot steal your salvation, but he can hinder your walk with Jesus and leave you walking around feeling less than and full of guilt.

I would caution parents to be vigilant in making sure they have done everything in their power to make sure their child does not access unclean, filthy things on their devices. I wonder if most parents just assume that their kids won’t. There are children as young as 8 that are hooked on pornography. Does that not worry anyone?

Our pastor said yesterday that as Christians we need to “NEVER TRUST OUR FLESH!” Wow, what excellent advice. Our flesh wants those things contrary to the Spirit, and the more we indulge in looking or doing immoral, ungodly things the easier it gets, and eventually, our conscience is silenced. All of this brakes my heart and is preventable if only we remembered that God is always watching, we are hurting ourselves and those we love.

When will we stand up and be the men and women of God that we are called to be? His word says: “Be ye holy, for I Am Holy.” 1 Peter 1:16
Being holy in part means being separated from this world and all it offers. We don’t have to look for sin, it is usually parading around in front of us; what we need to do is choose to look the other way, to discipline our bodies and minds to say no, not today Satan!

So, in closing why don’t you kneel in repentance and ask the Lord for His forgiveness? You cannot undo what has been done, but you can choose not to do it again. Ask him to fill you fresh and new with his Holy Spirit. Ask for strength to say no to sin. Read His word and let it start filling you once again with His light, and the darkness that has settled in will dissipate before you know it. And if you have hurt someone, be sincere in saying you are sorry. But above all choose Holiness, because we do not know the day or the hour of His return; and we need to be ready, with full lamps.

I want to live my life each day pleasing to the Lord. I want to hear him say to me as I lay down for the night, “well-done child.” I want the favor of God upon me, so I do everything I can to keep my eyes free from things they ought not to see, my ears away from ungodly talk, and my feet pointed toward the cross and away from those things that might cause me to stumble. No, I am far from perfect, but I do treasure a close relationship with the Lord, and I want nothing to hinder my walk.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

The spirit, soul, and body are talking about all of us, every aspect of who we are. Paul wrote this as a way of saying that we must be completely led by the spirit in every way and every day. Our devotion to Jesus must not be just a one-day-a-week thing. We are to live and serve him daily, obeying his word and his commandments. We don’t get a day off with God. We may want to take one. We may want to have a little time sat aside to indulge in sin or visit the thought of it, after all, haven’t we
been forgiven for every sin, past, present, and future?

Jesus Christ must be Lord of all of us, not just those parts we want to reserve for religious things, or religious activities. We need to actively walk out our faith daily, fully surrendered to Jesus. We need to remember that at any moment he could return or we could be called home. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Today is the day we have to get it right, or at least make every effort to get it right!

Jesus can keep us when we actively surrender our bodies, minds, and souls to him. When He alone is the reason we wake up, the reason we do anything we do, knowing that the all-seeing God, truly does see it all, even our intent. Are we going to get it all right all the time? No. Is every intent of our hearts pure? No. We don’t even know our true hearts, the word tells us our hearts are deceptive above all else!

How then do we go about this daily living, this daily surrendering? We read God’s word and pray, then we pray, and read God’s word. His word is life, it is the truth! He tells us everything we need to live right in this world. He tells us that our flesh desires those things of this world that will rob us of our peace, our joy, and our intimacy with God. His word tells us those things we are commanded to do. If we study his word, seek him through prayer, surrender our wants for him, and let the Holy Spirit guide us, we may just get it right more times than not.

Jesus can keep us, He is the one who calls us, saves us, fills us, and keeps us. Not one the Father has given him will ever be lost. But we can make our journey through this earth much easier by being fully surrendered in every aspect of our lives. Remembering that we are never alone, He is with us every second of every day.

Surrender your control to Jesus. Let him come in like the mighty rushing wind he is; let him speak peace to your soul. Ask forgiveness for anything that the Holy Spirit brings to mind, knowing He is faithful to forgive. Then if there is some sin that you find yourself either flirting with or actively doing, stop! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you turn away. Here’s the thing, we become what we think about, look at, and actively participate in.

All sin is wrong, and to God sin is sin, whether it be you stilling gum out of someone’s purse or killing someone. God hates sin. But some sins rot your mind and fill your heart with things that are hard to forget and revisit you. The enemy prowls about roaring like a lion, looking for whom he may devour. He isn’t a lion, but he wants you. He may not be able to steal your soul, but he can steal your peace and your intimacy with Jesus. He can saddle up between you and God and cloud your mind.

Remember that sin starts in your head, moves to your heart, and given enough time will become what you do, you will act upon it. We are born sinners; it is only when we are born-again, fully surrendered that we can have that daily walk. Stay close to the Lord, let him have every day; let him show you how to walk, and talk in all your ways.

Matthew 6:21

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Everyone enjoys a treasure hunt, or at least most do. Studying the clues and running around trying to find them. The Bible talks about treasures, but they aren’t the kind most chase after. When you take a long look at your life, your actions, and the things you pursue, what is it that motivates you? What things are you trying to gain more of? Is it money, fame, bigger houses, better cars, or a more amazing job? Do you seek to gain as much wealth and things in this life as you can?

As children of God, we are to pursue those things that please God. We are to be about our Father’s business. When we became born-again believers in Jesus Christ, the things we do in His name, for His sake, to please Him have been and continue to be deposited in heaven. God keeps a record of those things. They matter to him. Do they make us more saved, absolutely not! Works will not and cannot save you. It is by grace alone, in faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. He is our redeemer and Savior, and there is no other way! However, God does want us to work for him, he does have things he wants us to pursue here on earth for Him.

The only way we can know what God wants us to pursue is by reading His word, praying, and asking for the Holy Spirit to enlighten us and guide us to those things, maybe those people. God is not interested in whether you are wealthy, or have the latest this or that; all those things are gifts He gives, according to His will and purpose. But those things are never meant to distract us from the work of the Lord.

God looks at each of us, He knows our make-up and He has designed specific things for us to do while we wait for His return or to meet him in death. He knows our motives behind what we do, we cannot hide from God. But knowing that what we do does matter in heavenly places, and knowing that we will one day stand before a Holy God shouldn’t we desire above all else to do those things which he calls us to with all our might? Shouldn’t our desires here on earth as we wait to be to deposit treasures in heaven?

Whatever you chase will be what your heart locks onto. The bobbles and goodies of this world can certainly distract us from the true work of God, and the enemy can even trick us into believing that those things are what God wants us to have. We need to be very careful about what we set our sights on. The Lord has requirements for us.

Micah 6:8 “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil”

God sees it all, nothing is ever hidden from him. We need to truly seek Him making sure to look deep inside our hearts to see if what we are doing is in line with His will for us. We can all do nice things, but it isn’t just about being nice, it is the motive behind it.

For me pleasing the Lord while I trod the soil of the earth is more important to me than anything. I want to be vigilant to walk where he leads, to do those things I feel he has called me to. I want to guard my eyes, my ears, my heart, and my soul. I want to prayerfully seek Him, asking: “Lord, what would you have me do?” And I want to do it with all I have knowing that I am pleasing God. I don’t always get it right, but I sure try!

Yes, we need money, a place to live, etc…, and God will supply those things; just remember you will take none of it with you. And when you stand before Him, I dare say you won’t be bragging about the size of your bank account, the size of your home, or the many things you have accumulated. Nope, it will just be you and Him, everything open to Him, the ALL-SEEING, ALL-KNOWING God will open your vault and peer in, what will He find?

Oh Lord, Help us to stop being selfish, to stop acting like this world is our final destination. Help us to desire those things that please you, and to do them; knowing that it pleases you, and the treasures we store up are eternal. Help us to travel lightly knowing this is not our home!

John 15:12 “Love each other as I have loved you.”

Let’s face it sometimes it is hard to love someone, let alone as Christ loved us. At first glance, this verse seems straight- forward, “love as I have loved you.” Jesus’s love for us is deep, intimate, all-consuming, perfect, unconditional, and sacrificial. His love never loses its fire, never fails us, it surrounds us constantly. His love is faithful, long-suffering, forgiving, giving, and protective. There is nothing to compare to it. The greatest love story between two people can never compare to it.We long to be loved by someone here on this earth in a way that mirrors that kind of love.

We fall in love, and we promise to love unconditionally, to give ourselves to one another, to be faithful, and so on. But all too often fall short in our efforts. Loving someone is work. At first, it is all-consuming, exciting, fresh, and new, and we are laser-focused on winning that person’s heart, it seems effortless, but all too often once that heart has been won, and as time goes by, it is not held and protected as it should be. People are moody, distracted, and selfish. So many times there may be good intentions with bad follow-through. Keeping love alive in a marriage is work, and it takes two to do it. It takes relationship, realness, communication, openness, tenderness, and intimacy. We need to invest in the one God gave us, we need to consider their needs above our own.

Jesus would not have told us to love as He loves if it wasn’t possible. But how? I think first we need to read God’s word so that we are intimately acquainted with Him. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to give us the power and wisdom to know how to love, and we need to pray and seek Him when we first start our journey together, and throughout the years we spend together. Jesus must be the head of your relationship.

We need to guard our hearts as we walk this sinful earth. Our world is filled with lots of eye candy, and lots of distractions. There are so many things that can pull and tug at us. This world seems to be more and more self-serving and less and less sacrificial. In all of our relationships, we need to let love guide us. We are told in His word that, “Love never fails.”

On this earth, people will hurt us, use us, and maybe even leave us, but Jesus never will. His word tells us that He is faithful to the end. As His children, we can never lose His love. His love is what nailed Him to the cross, His love conquered death, hell, and the grave. His love will one day bring him back again. People will let you down, they will hurt you, and maybe even break your heart, but God never will. We may not always understand His ways, but we can trust that He means all of it for our good, and His glory.

We need to look at those in our lives that God has given us and be sure that we are loving them with all we have, the very best we can. Agape love…That is what we get, and that is what we need to give; “as He has loved us.

Take a love test. Look deep into your heart and soul and make sure you are loving God first, and then take a long look at those in your life, whether it be your spouse, another family member, or friends, and see if your love is self-serving or selfless. Loving as Christ loves us is a daily work, and the way we can do it best is by looking at His perfect love and imitating it here on earth. To be like Him…that should be our goal.

Luke 2:9-14 “And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for be”hold, I bring you tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” 11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
12 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace and goodwill toward all men!”

Can you imagine what those shepherds must have seen and felt as this announcement was made to them? Of all people lowly shepherds, just doing what they always did, trying to keep their sheep safe and lead them where they needed to go. What must “the glory of the Lord which shined around them look like?” I do not think I can think of a bright enough light that would encompass what they saw. And then, a multitude of heavenly hosts. Was the entire sky full so that nothing else could be seen, and how did it sound? I try to picture it in my mind, and I know I fall so short in capturing this special event.

Jesus, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords had left His throne and traveled through space and time, to come rest inside a virgin girl. A humble girl just going about her humble life, and then everything changed! She would forever carry the stigma attached to being with child before she was properly wed. Do you ever wonder why He chose to do things the way He did?

When I look at Christmas and I think of the events I am reminded that God is not looking for perfect people of high standing. He didn’t choose to make the birth of His son a huge event full of pageantry, in a castle where the high and mighty lived. No, He chose the lowly road, with ordinary folks doing ordinary things. So, that means that we have hope. No one is too far down the totem pole to receive God’s mercy and grace. And no one is so high and mighty that God’s love cannot penetrate their hearts and save them. It said to all men…

But when I look further into Christmas, the birth of Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world, I see a cross. It is facing the manger, a foreshadowing of what was to come. This sweet infant babe, who had given up His throne, and left all of heaven’s glory behind, would one day bleed and die on a cross for you and me. His blood would be shed so that you and I can be cleansed for our unrighteousness and sin.

Had Jesus never come, and had He never died where would we be? Look at your life and try to imagine it had Jesus not chosen to save you. Look at the times when it felt hopeless, but God. Look at the moments that brought you to your knees, but God. Look at the wretch you were, but God. When He left the throne room of heaven to come and save His children, those the Father had given him, He knew the cost. He also saw the cross and was fully aware of all that He would suffer, yet He came anyway. Those who were there in that moment and all of us who throughout these past decades; He came for you.

So, as you look at that manger seen and you read the story of His birth, “What do you see?” Isn’t it amazing, isn’t it wonderful, isn’t it extraordinary to think that He who hung the stars, He who created all things would come just for you?”

For me, it makes Christmas even sweeter, that babe in the manger even more precious. Those events shook the world, and that of Mary, just for me. What greater love is there? Oh, how I love Him, Oh, how I thank Him, Oh, how I praise Him!”

What else do I see? He will come again, not as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger, but as a conquering King! He will come and make all things new, and those who have not yet died in Christ will go to meet him in the air, our faith will be made sight!

I don’t know what your Christmas looks like, whether you have a family to celebrate with, or you are alone. You may have gifts and you may not, but whatever it looks like, try to look at it through the eyes of heaven, and see that He knows, He is there, and He loves you.

Jesus is still reaching out, and He is still saving souls, until you draw your last breath there is hope, won’t you ask Him into your heart today? He is waiting.

May you have a blessed and joy filled Christmas!