How To Live A Healthier Spiritual Lifestyle

Well we are coming up on another New Year, 2013.  If you are like me you have already discussed with someone what you are going to do or change starting on Jan 1^st.  For instance, I know I need to get back in good physical condition and live an overall healthier life style. I think we all desire to be in good physical shape. We also need to be in good spiritual shape as well. Think about it this way, just as we need daily food, water and exercise to sustain us physically, we need quiet time, prayer and God’s Word to sustain us spiritually.  This year I pray we will all stay connected to God and His Word on a daily basis.  

This past year I have experienced some of the most painful circumstances I have ever had to face. I had to really stay close to God in order to navigate through these difficult times with the right perspective. What I have learned is this, the only person I can change is myself and that is done largely by the Holy Spirit who continues to transform me from the inside out. Looking back, I am grateful for what God has allowed to happen this past year because in my own limited perspective, I may have continued to stay in the valley of despair in order to remain in my comfort zone. It is amazing how a comfort zone can be painful in its own right and exactly the wrong place to be. I now more than ever strive to live on the mountain top of Christ's victory where no matter what happens, I am persuaded that God can do the impossible, and where I believe He has the power to keep His promises. From that mountain top I can see things I may have never been able to see if I just remained in a place where my sight and perspective were limited. I now know that I need a Godly eternal perspective in order to live abundantly in a fallen world. The Good news is that with a Godly perspective I get to experience God's blessings. This happens because I am choosing to trust God and live set apart to Him as opposed to being sucked into living life based on my own wisdom and strength, which unfortunately is my natural tendency. 

This one Bible verse below has really helped me with my limited perspective issue. I have spent time picking it apart as it relates to my life. I hope by sharing what is in my heart based on this verse will help others when they face similar circumstances.

Romans 12:2 NIV  :

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

One of the greatest struggles I have is the temptation to focus on worldly matters while excluding God from my thoughts. I tend to center my thoughts around myself in comparison to the physical world around me. This makes it hard for me to see the “Big Picture”. When I see life through my own eyes and depend on my own wisdom apart from God, the struggles seem insurmountable. This overwhelming feeling then causes the breakdown of my God centered mentality, creating a victim centered reality, which affects my relationships with others and tends to draw me into isolation.  That is why it is vitally important for me to understand that being caught up in the pattern of this world leads to the breakdown of my Christ centered heart. Once I begin to digress back into my old patterns I am temporally trapped in a self made prison for a time until I realize, through the conviction and discernment from the Holy Spirit, that once again I have ventured back to that place where there is separation between God and myself. It is at this point I need to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. It’s time to read God’s Word, pray and listen to the promptings of

the Holy Spirit.

 When I am in relationship with God and filled with the Holy Spirit I experience joy regardless of my circumstances.  Knowing that God is close, understanding that God keeps His promises,  strengthens my faith in Jesus and helps me stand firm in the face of trials. I once again fully believe God has the power to do what He says He is going to do. Believing this, helps to ward off  bombarding thoughts of doubting my usefulness to God, and doubts of my salvation. To get to this place of assurance and relationship, again, I need to have some quiet time praying, reading and meditating on God’s Word.

One of the great things about communicating with God is that he cares about my thoughts, feelings and concerns. I also need to pay attention  to what God is trying to communicate to me.  I need to have an understanding of what He is trying to get me to do (His perfect will).  Because I trust God, I begin to take steps of faith even though  I may be heading way out of my comfort zone. I have found that being in God’s will is much better than battling to have life my way. God knows more about what I need than I do and His plan for my life is much better than mine. I can look back at the many years of my life I lived on my own terms and I can tell you that my life without God was a total mess.  Even though I still struggle and wrestle with day to day difficulties of living in a fallen world, I still know that God is with me and the things which used to debilitate me now challenge me to turn to God for wisdom and discernment. One of the greatest comforts I have in my life is knowing that I am not going through life alone. I have a Friend, a Father, a Teacher, a Comforter and most of all a Savior who loves me enough to pursue a relationship with me even when I don’t with Him. 

Knowing this and believing that our Holy God is the source of all truth, transforms my heart and my mind to a place where I can truly celebrate life now, awaiting with great anticipation the celebration of eternal life with God in Heaven.  So let’s celebrate the New Year by spending time in relationship with God every day. Let’s give Him a gift of our time and a  part of every area of our life. This way we can continue to grow in our faith 

and get in great spiritual shape for the new year.

Have a Great and Blessed New Year

Just Sayin………………..Dave          

                                       

Goals For The New Year

As we begin the final approach to 2013 I have taken some time to reflect on the impact God has had

on my life to date.  I am amazed on how He continually wants to develop a Christ-like attitude in me so that

I can have a positive impact on my family, friends, Church family, co-workers and those who I may

meet for the first time. As I reflect on this past year I am grateful for all He has done in my personal life, family life and ministry. I realized that no matter how difficult my circumstances became, God was much

bigger than any those circumstances and was able to put the difficulties I experienced

in the proper perspective. God is always working through all circumstances to serve His purpose in this 

world. Whether it is for me personally or through me in order to impact others, God has a plan that I am a honored to be a part of. However, I am not always aware of the greater purpose behind His plan until I have the opportunity to reflect back on it, and even then, I may not totally understand it. But it is good to look back and see where I was, where I am now, and what an awesome God we have.

One thing I am continually trying to embrace is this promise from God:

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been

called according to his purpose.

I realize that even when I suffer, feel beat up, mess up, and let down by others, God is still is weaving

an incredible tapestry that brings Him Glory, honor and praise. I have been  given the high privilege to be a part of His plan even if it means I endure some difficulty and pain.  

So with this in mind I can have the confidence to trust God even though my circumstances may tempt me

to doubt that He is still in control.  Since faith and trust in God are areas I can always improve upon,

I have decided to examine some goals for myself for 2013 that will require me to lean on God quite heavily. These areas include all relationships, ministry and personal spiritual growth.

Ministry and support of the Church:

·         To let God lead me in ministry.

·        To love & serve God with excellence.

·         To play a role in Church unity

·        Take initiative in strengthening relationships with others

·        To continue to develop my own spiritual gifts and talents.

·        To encourage others

·        To continue to seek good counsel  

·         To give my time, talent, gifts, financial support and other resources in support of the Church's mission.

Relationship with God & Spiritual Growth:

·        To praise God for all He has done and will do.

·        To develop and grow deeper in my relationship with God, desiring for God's 

       continual refinement and sanctification.

·        To develop a regular quiet time with God.

·        To continually seek God’s direction in every area of my life.

·        To be obedient to God’s Word.

·        To repent from any sin in my life.

·        To put God first and balance family and ministry time through His direction.

·        To read and study the Bible as part of my daily spiritual nourishment.

·        To openly live a life as a Christian without fear.

·        To have continued faith in Jesus and act on that faith.

·        To encourage others in their walk with God.

·        To learn from my mistakes and errors in judgment.

·        To remind myself that I can’t do things in my own strength.

·        To ask the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts and actions.

·        To always remember that my good works will not save me or tip the scales in my favor.

·        To be reminded that even with a greater knowledge of the Bible, and the continued growth in the area

     of my spiritual maturity, I am no more righteous than anyone else and I still desperately need a Savior.

·        To trust God to provide the strength, help and desire I need to continually revisit all the above areas.

Relationship with family and others:

·        To reconcile any broken relationships.

·        To have a forgiving heart.

·        To strive to love and serve others with a Christ-like heart and attitude.

·        To share my faith whenever I can and do it with respect

·        To connect with those who don’t have a relationship with Christ and offer hope.

·        To invite someone to Church on a regular basis.

·        To love, serve and minister to my family.

·        To be the spiritual leader of my family.

·        To love my wife like Christ loved the Church and in marriage strive for a one flesh relationship

·        To have more family time and date my wife on a  regular basis

Prayer:

·        To pray specifically and continuously.

·        To pray for my wife, children, extended family and friends.

·        To pray with my wife and children daily.

·        To pray with others when prompted and not wait till a later time.

·        To pray for my Church, ministry leaders and staff.

·        To pray for our country and leaders.

·        To pray for our troops.

·        To pray for missionaries who serve around the world.

·        To pray for those who are persecuted for their faith in Christ.

·        To pray for our enemies.

Since I am human with a sin nature I am pretty sure that I will always be a work in progress and won’t be able achieve any of my 2013 goals perfectly. What I can expect from myself is to acknowledge that I need God’s help and direction for all the goals I have set out to meet. I also need God’s help to remind each day that life is not about me and that my greater purpose is to love Him and others while fulfilling His desire that I become more like Jesus. 

In closing, I really love God's Word. These passages below speak volumes about God’s desire to give me direction, peace and strength through His amazing grace, great love and compassion.  When I need help to live a life that honors God, who better than to lean on Jesus for all the wisdom, direction and strength needed to be a good and faithful servant.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

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."

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Mark 10:27 NIV
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

Philippians 4:13 NLT

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 1:6 NIV

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.

I'm praying that this new year will be continually filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and with an even greater sense of purpose in all things. That I would see all circumstances and difficulties through God's eyes and with an eternal perspective that sheds light on His good plan for His people. That the Holy Spirit will guide my family and my Church community.  And with even greater challenges ahead, and goals to be met, to always love God and to love others, always being grateful for my new life, my awesome wife, sons and family, and most of all grateful for my relationship with my great and awesome God.   

Have a blessed and awesome New Year!

Just Sayin………..Dave

Our Greatest Treasure

Matthew 6:19-21 NIV

Treasures in Heaven

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

  

What do you Treasure?

What do we treasure most in life? Our stuff, our families, our money, our God? I think it is important

that we ask ourselves this question and take an honest look to see if our priorities are in the right place.  

Treasures are things we value so let's begin to evaluate where we spend most of our time, where we us our money, resources, gifts and talents. Most of all where are we investing our heart? As followers of Jesus, our priority scale of the things we value should have our relationship with God at the top of the list.  We owe God our lives, He is our creator, our Lord and Savior, and deserves to be our number one priority. 

Let’s take a look at what the Bible says our attitude should be toward the most important 

things we consider to be our priorities.

1. God

Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Mark 12:30 NIV 
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and 

with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:13 NIV

Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.

Hebrews 11:6 NIV  

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must 

believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

2. Family & Friends

Galatians 5:14 NIV
The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Romans 12:9-10 NIV

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in 

brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:14 - 20 NIV

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine 

to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:    "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Timothy 5:8 NASB

 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

3. Ministry

Philippians 1:6 AMP

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Romans 12:11 NIV

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Romans 12:12-13 NIV

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Hebrews 13:17 NIV 
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

1 Peter 3:15 NIV 
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Romans 12:2 New International Version 1984

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version 1984  

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Matthew 28:18-20 New International Version 1984

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

4. Job

Colossians 3:23 NIV 
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men

Here are some things that reflect the heart of a follower of Jesus. They are the

treasures followers should value, and therefore want to maintain in daily life.

• Spending time with God in prayer and studying His Word

• Having a desire to be obedient to God – striving to live a holy life

• Helping others

• Giving our time, talent, gifts and resources to our Church

• Sharing the Gospel, our personal story of faith

• Worshiping God daily by the way we live our lives – being Christ-like

For followers of Jesus, Treasure should not be the material stuff we own or the amount of money we have

in the bank. Treasure should be what we hold dear to our hearts as a result of God’s incredible provision and grace. If our treasure is just the value of our financial assets, what we own, or our status in life, God will certainly slip to second place or even further down the priority list. The Bible teaches that we cannot serve two masters.

Matthew 6:24 NIV 
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Take some time this week to answer these questions to get an honest perspective on where your heart is at.

• What do you treasure?
• What is your number one priority?
• Who or What is the object of your faith?
• Who or What do you trust most to guide your life?

God created us to have a personal relationship with Him. This relationship is guaranteed everlasting and is more precious than any earthly treasure. 

So this Christmas think about more than just the gifts you will be giving and getting. Think about the gift you have already received from our Heavenly Father. You see, Christmas is more than just a Holiday, it represents real hope through the Birth of Jesus Christ our Lord. God sent Jesus to rescue us from our sin, our blindness and captivity  tied to this broken and fallen world.  With Jesus as our main focus, we can celebrate all else that the Christmas Holiday brings our way with the right perspective.

Remember this: Our God loves us and is trustworthy to always keep His promises. 

John 3:16-17 NIV

"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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Challenge: let us all consider God our greatest treasure, and our greatest priority.

Just Sayin……………..Dave

Eternity, Purpose and the Nature Of God

Who is God?

This is a very good question that many people are still struggling with and still trying to 

get a handle on. Essentially, God (The Father) is the Creator of all things and the Author and planner of salvation. Jesus (The Son) is the one designated by God to carry out the plan of salvation and is the bridge that reconciles us back to God. Once we are saved by belief in Jesus' atoning work on the Cross, our sin no longer imprisons us, we are forgiven and receive the free gift of eternal life. We also receive the Holy Spirit who indwells in us and is the change agent that transforms us into the likeness of Christ a person and helps us live a life set apart to God. The evidence of the Holy Spirit in ones life is the proof that we are saved representing the sign and seal of our salvation.

Godhead passages:

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 New Living Translation  

 It is God (The Father) who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He (Christ) has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Matthew 3:16-17 New International Version 

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he (Jesus) saw the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven (God , The Father) said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

.Known as the Godhead or Trinity, (The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) these

3 persons are distinct, divine and Holy. Three personalities yet one God - one God in three persons.

So even though the relationship between the three persons of the Godhead can be somewhat difficult to understand and explain, we can still relate to others God's incredible love and provision for our eternity. 

So what is our purpose in relationship to God's plan? (Ministry, Relationship and the Gospel):

The Bible tells us that followers of Jesus need to be prepared to tells others about Him. The reason is so that others can know it is possible to have an everlasting relationship with a loving God.  There are those who don’t know or refuse to believe in that there is a God who wants to be in a loving personal relationship with them. As followers of Jesus we can help others to see that Christianity is more than a religion, it is a joyful relationship with the creator of the universe that will last forever.

Preparation is an important part of ministry. This verse says it all:

1 Peter 3:15 NIV

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect 

Here is another verse why God's word is so important when it comes to ministry:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version 1984  

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

A Deeper understanding of God through the knowledge of God's Word can help us help others know why He is worthy of giving our lives to. Ultimately our goal is to surrender our desires for His and obediently follow His principles. 

So in light of eternity why is eternity so important? We are told we will all either spend forever with God or forever separated from Him. 

1 John 5:11-12 New Living Translation

And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

With eternity staring us in the face, we need to go a bit deeper when it comes to understanding time and the role of the Godhead. 

God Is Eternal/Everlasting:

God’s nature is without beginning and without end, free from what we understand as time. Man understands

Time as a value that can be measured and understood as precise measured moments moving into the future.

Or, Time can be categorized as events that have taken place in the past at precise moments that have been

recorded in the historical record. God however, dwells in eternity. Eternity is not just an extended amount of

time with no end, but rather Eternity is existence above and apart from time. God is the creator of Time. Time has no control over God and He does not have to work within the structure of time unless He so desires. The Bible records that God created time and the universe as we know it. God must have existed before the moment of the creation of Time in order for us to get a grasp at the His appearance at the

beginning of Time.

Here is the Bible Record of the beginning of time as we know it:

Genesis 1:1 NIV

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Here is Jesus’ role in creation (Jesus is the Word):

John 1:1-5 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

The Holy Spirit plays a role in creation as well:

Genesis 1:2 NIV

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God

was hovering over the waters.

The Bible confirms that God is Eternal and is the Creator of all things:

Psalm 90:2 NIV

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Isaiah 40:28 NIV

Do you not know? Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

1 Chronicles 29:10 TNIV 

David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, "Praise be to you, LORD,

the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

Isaiah 43:15 TNIV 
I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King."

Genesis 2:2-3 NIV

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

The word “Eternity” as it relates to God contains three ideas to explore.

(1) The nature of God is without beginning or end.

(2) God is free from all the constraints of time.  

(3) God is the Creator of Time.

So in trying to describe an Eternal God we run into the problem of trying to explain how God

has always existed.  There are things we may never understand fully this side of heaven.

God's Word even tells us that we will never fully understand Him in our current state of humanity.

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

"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.

OK so we are going to need to have faith and trust in what the Bible says: God is eternal.

He has always existed but not in the way we understand time because God created time

and the physical laws that we can comprehend today.  We must imagine God existing in a

different dimension not bound to the constraints of time as we understand it.

Does this concept about a timeless God help you see how magnificent, wonderful, powerful, and

amazing God really is. Think about all the lives He has transformed. Think about all the miracles

that have been accounted to Him.  Think about His creation stemming from the smallest atom   

to the farthest reaches of our incredible universe. Think about the miracles and prophecy surrounding

the birth and life of Jesus. Think about the hope that we have because of all that God has done.

In order to help those who don’t know who the God of the Bible is, we need to explain

In layman’s terms who God is and the Good News He wants His people to know and experience.

We also need to display our enthusiasm over a God who is personal, relational and more powerful

than the universe He created.  God uses us to reach the lost. In fact, that is our mission:

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

What God has done for us:

Imagine the creator of the universe making Himself like us so we could know the depth of His love in a

way we could understand. We can grasp the concept of sacrificial love which is the most powerful way anyone could express their love to someone else. In order to defeat sin and death and reconcile God’s people back to Himself, Jesus willingly fulfilled God’s plan of Salvation by becoming the sacrifice that atoned for the sins of man.

Our sin had to be covered in order for us to be able to be in the presence of an Eternal Holy God.  God

accomplished this for us because we were unable to do this for ourselves. Because is nothing we can do

to make ourselves sinless and Holy, Jesus’ purpose was to take care of the sin problem for us.

God is a loving God:

So we have a God who existed before the beginning of the world as we know it. He has always existed and

His attributes are unchanging. One of His Greatest attributes is His love for His creation. We have a God

that loves us even though we are unable love Him to any degree of comparison.  He created us

for the reason of fellowship and for us to have the thrill of observing and enjoying all He has created.

When sin entered the world God was not done with us. He made a way for us to be restored back to Him.

John 3:16-17 NIV

"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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

We should tell others our story in order for them to get a picture of who God is:

Our story is also part of God’s story. When we tell others about God through our own story we will 

give them a picture of God's grace and love along with His many amazing attributes. 

• Holy, Sovereign, Great, Awesome, Almighty, Creator
• Loving, Gracious, Merciful, Faithful, Patient
• Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omni-benevolent, Self-Existent
• All wise, Eternal, Infinite, Immortal, Invisible, Immutable
• Transcendent, Immanent
• Alpha, Omega
• King of kings, Lord of lords 
• God who was, is, and is to come 
• The Holy Spirit, The Comforter, the Counselor
• The Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace
• The Door, the Gate, the Good Shepherd
• The Bread of Life, the Living Water
• The Way, the Truth, the Life
• Savior, LORD
• The soon and coming King
• The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

Question: How many of God attributes can you relate to your story?

So if someone asks you about God tell them through your own personal story, your life before

and after Christ.  God is always present and actively working through us to reach others with a

message of hope and salvation. The Holy Spirit will provide the right words to communicate the

Gospel through the events in your life. God brings people into our lives that can benefit from hearing

our personal God story. Don't be surprised that the people He does bring can easily relate to our stories

and are captivated by the supernatural power of God. 

This Christmas season, focus on telling others why we celebrate the birth of Jesus. That way

they will understand the joy of having the gift of eternal life, forgiveness of sin, and a personal and

loving relationship with God.   

So Who is God?

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

The Bible is very clear!

Just Sayin………..Dave

Free Holiday Gift

There is no better gift in all the world than the free gift of salvation. God has offered us forgiveness of 

sin and eternal life and the only responsibility we have is to receive it by faith. You see, this gift of salvation (Deliverance from sin and its consequences) has been given purely through God's grace stemming out of God's supernatural love for all of us. 

Ephesians 2:8 New International Version 1984  

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves
it is the gift of God—

Through Jesus we can appropriate this gift causing us to reconciled back to God, adopted into His family, and be in His presence in heaven for all eternity. Jesus made this possible through His atoning work on the cross.

We have all been at one time separated from God. Yet for those who receive His love and free gift of salvation  are now considered His friends. Here is what Jesus tells us about love and friendship:

John 15:12-14 New Living Translation 

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

You are my friends if you do what I command.

The reason why it is so important for us to know about God's free gift is the fact that sin separates us from Him, and unless this sin is covered, we will remain separated from God for all eternity. For those who reject Christ and continue on in sin will experience spiritual death.

The Bible explains it this way:

Romans 6:23 New Living Translation  
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through 
Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace

Isaiah 59:2 New Living Translation

It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.  Because of your sins, he has turned away

and will not listen anymore.

The Good News:

Jesus laid down His life for us sinners. This was part of God's plan before the beginning of the world.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, 
Christ died for us.

Mark 10:45 New International Version 1984  
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life 
as a ransom for many.”

 

Ephesians 1:4-5 NIV

For he chose us in him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love  he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

Why celebrate Christmas?

The birth of our Savior (the incarnation of the second person of the Trinity) is at the heart of each  

years Christmas celebration. This is a great opportunity for us to celebrate as well as remember

why Jesus was sent by God to come into this world. Please take the time to read Isaiah 53 to get

a fuller understanding why many people refer to Jesus as the “Suffering Servant”. Then read

Matthew 26:36-42 along with Matthew 27 which reinforces the idea that Jesus not only came to

save us but to suffer for us as well. When I think about idea of Jesus suffering I view Christmas

not only as a celebration of His birth but the recognition of Jesus’ willingness to carry out God’s

plan of salvation. He carried out God’s plan even though He was well aware of the pain He was

going to have to endure leading up to and then culminating at the Cross. To me this powerfully

enhances the meaning of Christmas to the point of an unmatched heartfelt gratitude toward Jesus.

Christmas is a special time of year and carries with it a purpose for us as well. When I see all the

Christmas lights I am reminded that Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus also tells us to be a light

to the world so others can hear about God’s wonderful plan of salvation. We are to spread Jesus' 

message of Hope to all who have “ears to hear”.  

The Bible speaks about this light:

John 8:12 NIV

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 9:4-5 NIV

As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when 

no one can work.  While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

John 12:46 NIV

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should 

stay in darkness.

Matthew 5:14-16 

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Isaiah 42:6 NIV
"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep 

you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles

Acts 13:47 NIV
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, 

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' [ Isaiah 49:6] "

Here is what we are commanded to do:

Matthew 28:18-20 New Living Translation  

 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father 
and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have 
given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Our Hope is this:

John 3:16 New International Version 1984  

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.

So even within all the activities we get involved with during this Christmas holiday, let’s always

remember to share the joy and hope that we have in Jesus. 

Let’s remember to be the light of world.

1 Peter 3:15 NIV 
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to 

everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this 

with gentleness and respect

Jesus paid the price for our free gift and for this I am forever grateful.

Just Sayin…………………..Dave