A SEASON TO BE JOYFUL

Isaiah 9:6-8New International Version (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 greatness 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.

REJOICE AND BE GLAD FOR 

ALL YOUR NEEDS ARE MET IN THE NEW BORN KING!

THE PARADOX OF LIFE

Ecclesiastes 12:8
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"
(Vanity of vanities, said the preacher; all is vanity.)

George Carlin, a comedian of the 70's and 80's wrote this piece so eloquent and appropriate for our times.
This is a master piece.  If you have not read it take the time to read it now.  If you have read it take time to read it again! 


A Message by George Carlin: 

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. 

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. 

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. 

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. 

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. 

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete... 

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. 

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. 

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. An embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. 

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. 

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. 

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: "

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. "

Psalm 39:5-6
You have made my days a mere hand-breadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.

Psalm 89:47
Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all humanity!

Psalm 62:9
Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.
Psalm 89:47
Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all humanity!
Psalm 144:4
They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE IS WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY!     ALL OTHER THINGS ARE SECONDARY!

HEAVEN OR HELL?

THERE IS NO EXCUSE NOT TO KNOW CHRIST JESUS!

                                            

HE IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!

In the book of Luke 2:10-11, we read that while some shepherds were watching their flock by night, angel of the Lord appeared to them to proclaim the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ to them. 

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11King James Version (KJV)

Why were they not to fear but to rejoice? Jesus himself provided the answer in Luke 4:18-19.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV)

The good news and the reason for his coming into this world were summarized by him in six areas:

• To preach the gospel to the poor.
•  To heal the brokenhearted
•  To proclaim liberty to the captives
•  Recovery of sight to the blind
•  To set at liberty those who are oppressed
•  To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

The gospel is that he came to reconcile us back to the Father by dying to forgive us of our sins. He paid the price that we should have paid for disobeying our maker. We were as filthy rags before him but through Jesus, we are now counted worthy as his children. 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of all our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9King James Version (KJV)

If you are discouraged in spirit and in life, Jesus came to heal your wounds and to give you hope and a new life. He came to mend our broken heart. He came to give us a hope and a future. He came to restore us to the Father.

"…23and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." I Peter 2:23-24

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."       Isaiah 53:5

He came to snatch us from the hands of Satan. So that we would no longer serve him but to live unto righteousness. We have a victories life in Christ Jesus. We are set free from the bondage of sins and eternal condemnation. We are no longer slaves to our fleshly desires such as drunkeness, selfishness, gossips, hatred, pornography, homosexuality, lesbianism, greed, fornication, adultery, and all other sexual immorality. 

When Jesus sets you free, you are free indeed!

John 8:36 (NIV):  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

If you are tormented by evil spirits, I want you to know that Jesus has the power to let you loose right now. You are no longer under the oppression of the evil one. He came to cast out the demons in your life so that you can live a victorious life. He opened the prison doors to let you walk out and have life full of joy. The pain and suffering of this world is nothing if you focus on the joy and crown that the faithful would receive in heaven. 

Physically, he came to heal the sick, the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf, the epileptic, and even raised the death. No matter your state or condition, Jesus Christ has the solution. He is the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings. The author of life! As you read this message, may this season be unique to you. May you experience healing and an uncommon favor and blessing from the Lord. This day is the acceptable year of the Lord. A day for you to embrace and to live righteously before him. May this day be the starting point of victory.

HAPPY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

BLESS THE LORD FOR ALL HIS BENEFITS

Psalm 103:1-5 (NIV)

1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, 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.

When you consider everything that has happened to you this year, there is every justification to give praise and thanks to Him from the depth of our hearts. In the midst of all the chaos and atrocities in the world, the Lord has kept you safe under His umbrella and you have not been consumed by the evil one. David was right when he said, "Yea though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me, thy rod and staff, they comfort me. Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of my enemies." He had every cause to bless and praise the Lord from his inner being. How grateful are you today for all that the Lord has done for you? David did not pay lip service but he genuinely went down on his knees to list the things that he was grateful for. He reminded himself not to be ungrateful to the Lord by elaborating all the blessing in Psalm 103. 

God deserves our praise everyday of our lives. We are still alive even though we breath in densely polluted air. We are still alive though we drink infested and unclean water. We have been delivered from many accidents and stray bullets. All the arrows that were thrown at us were diverted into the sea by the Lord. The list is numerous and endless! It is therefore you attitude of praise welling from our heart that can truly express your love for Him. Let others know what God has done for you by telling them of it. If somebody does some thing good for you, you cannot sit on it. You will declare it to many people. This is exactly what David did. Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

As you celebrate this Christmas, give praise to God for giving us His ONLY begotten son, Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world that He gave us His ONLY begotten Son. That whosoever believeth in Him should have everlasting life. (John 3:16)" Through Him, we have the forgiveness of sins and healing through His blood that was shed on Cavalry Cross. We should be most grateful for this. This is the essence of Christmas: That Christ, the Savior of the world, was  born to bring salvation and redemption to this sinful world. May this be your reason for this season! 

BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL 

AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME 

BLESS HIS HOLY NAME.

RELAX AND ENJOY THE SEASON

This is a season to stop, relax, recollect, ponder and take stock of the year's activities,

 Both failures and successes.

 A season to climb to higher grounds and to leave behind the past.

 A season with a reason yet abused and misused because of lack of knowledge. 

It is a time to tap into your God-given strength through the birth of the giver of life, 

the Lord Jesus Christ, the new born king! 

He came into the world to take away all our, shame, sorrows and sins, 

and to restore us back to the rightful place that God has purposed for our lives. 

You were made to be a powerful and resourceful person. 

Tap into your inner self and allow God to empower you and renew your energy for greater things in the coming days.

 May this season bring you joy as the new born baby brought 

JOY INTO THE WORLD! 

MAY THE PEACE OF GOD BE WITH YOU THROUGHOUT THIS SEASON!

 MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME THROUGH. 

RELAX and LET NOT your HEART be TROUBLED!