Sunday Service: The True Meaning Of Christmas

The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father,) full of grace and truth. – John 1:14

 

Yesterday morning was fourth week advent at my church and the service was beautiful as usual. The elders of the church spoke in narration of Jesus. We viewed screen projections of the circumstances and holiness of Jesus’s birth before and after he came into the world. All of us members were soothed with the calm melodies of the hymns of song.

Our pastor gave a beautiful benediction about the love of God and the true meaning of Christmas.

Indeed, the greatest gift of all to the entire world was the most loving and unselfish act of Jesus coming to die for our sins so that we would no longer be separated from father God and have eternal life forever in his presence.

There is no higher love than what God passionately came and displayed for us.

I took some lovely photos with my smartphone of the Christmas tree and Nativity scene set up at my pleasant church home.

 

 

A God Who Answers Our Prayers

And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. -1 John 3:22

I was the target of other people’s witchcraft from a very early age.

As I always had a strong mind there were things my envious and jealous adversaries just couldn’t get me to falsely accept, such as the negative and deceitful thoughts they attempted to place inside my head.

During my teenage years, when trying to manipulate my mind didn’t produce their desired results, they’d try to manipulate my emotions.

One day I just had gotten completely tired as the feelings my adversaries were transmitting through Satanic measures were overwhelmingly annoying. So, I called out to Jesus and expressed my vexation. The Lord responded to me by taking away those demonic influenced interruptions and those particular manipulative feelings never came back again.

I noticed in my early adulthood that God was granting me most of the things I asked him for. The things I didn’t receive, I didn’t need because he only gives us what is best for us.

I also noticed that nothing was too small for God in my requests. Things I may have wanted since childhood he gave to me during my latter years he sets his own perfect time to provide certain things for our benefit.

The Lord gave me things to help me and to make life a little bit more comfortable, expressing his goodness in a fallen world.

I was very strong in prayer and when I look back on how God never ceased at answering me, I realize that I must have developed a close and solid relationship with him. I use to talk to him all of the time.

All of us in Christ need to get into the habit of regularly and continuously talking to God. Not just for things that we may desire but for our vital need for him in our lives.

Talk to him about everything. Share all thoughts (even though God already knows everything about us and what is happening in our lives), concerns and activities. Ask for his direction and help in all things, and never forget to acknowledge how thankful you are for all that he does and continues to do.

In everything we reference to the Lord let it come from sincerity. If you have any doubts and/or fears let him know specifically. Be upfront and ask for his help.

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You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. -John 14:13

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. -Matthew 7:7

 

My Roots

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. -Proverbs 22:6 

I was definitely raised in a household and among certain family members who included God as first and foremost or as a great source of their belief and foundation.

Yes, my mother grew up in the church. She introduced me to God and I always believed in his sovereignty.

I was well aware that Jesus came into the world to save our souls from the consequences of sin, sacrificed himself on the cross, was buried in a tomb and rose back to life on the third day after his physical death.

My life in the beginning was rooted in God and I was led to him at an early age with the desire to know and adhere to him.

Along down the line I had gotten angry with God through my misunderstanding and misinterpretation of him and I no longer wanted to associate myself with him.

Nevertheless, the Lord didn’t give up on me and he never left my side, steady walking beside me when I thought I had walked away.

God didn’t let me out of his grasp as I was holding on to the belief I found in what I considered a kinder, loving and faithful source of “love and light”.

God was that true love and light the entire time, yet he had to get me away from venerating the false idea of what was superior to him in character and to the legitimate origin of my providence.

I never considered anything totally above The Lord in heaven (I never denied he was the creator of all things), but I believed the alternative I had come to know was more powerful as far as having my best interest and welfare.

I am so glad God didn’t let me stay in the deception of the enemy (Satan) through my anger and disappointment in him due to my false perceptions and what I had to go through in life (unwanted tribulations and trauma).

Not trusting God comes from not knowing who he truly is. I believed the lies of the devil in regard to the Lord being evil and sick- yet I wasn’t on the side of the devil either.

Nevertheless, having me doubt God’s good character was the only way that Satan could try to encourage me to reject God.

I know for sure Jesus words are true, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me“. -John 10:28

I am so grateful to the Lord for lovingly guiding me back to the truth within him and showing me that he is my one and only source of everything.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” -John 10:27-30

 

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And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Roman’s 8:38-39

 

Amazing Love

Everyone has their own genuine experience of true love or lack thereof.

The love I received began in the womb.

My mother loved me while she carried me within her belly, and adored me completely once I was born.

As a very young child I remember the deep, intense unconditional love I felt for my mother also.

Even though it was evident and always within her actions my mother expressed to me that she loved me “madly”.

My mother gave me nothing but pure honest love all throughout my life and everyone around us knew and could see how much affection she had for me.

Love made me secure and confident. I didn’t need to go out to look for love, assurance, or acceptance from others or the outside world. My validation and self-worth came from within. I was nurtured by love in the home (my mother and family presence) and love in the spirit (God’s grace, guidance and protection).

The love I have and feel for my mother is dear and endless.

I don’t use the word love lightly because it has to genuinely come from a place of truth for me.

I never loved anything in this world the way I love my mother and dog Brandie.

In fact, they are the only two beings I truly ever loved wholeheartedly. And they carried the same utter endearment toward me. So, I indeed know what real love is and what it feels like.

Love is wonderful and beautiful. It is the best thing in life.

Our father in heaven is described to love us even more than our own parents do. He is said to love the ones who we love far more than we could ever fathom, or love them.

Isn’t this reality astounding?

I could never imagine anyone loving me above the unlimited measurement of my mother. Yet God does!

What an amazing love the Lord, our father in heaven, has for his children and all creation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sin

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” -Genesis 3:7-11

And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. -Genesis 3:17

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Sin is a reproach to God. It goes against everything that he is. God is not only love, but God is holy. God cannot tolerate anything unjust or corrupt.

When he tells us not to sin it is for our own good and not to harm us or keep us from enjoyment.

It is sometimes so hard for us to break away from certain sins of the world because we were born into error and it is natural for us to be incline to what is inherently familiar to our environment and surroundings.

In our lives we’ve done things we didn’t even recognize or think of as sin because of our innate proneness.

Whether one struggles with anger, selfishness, pride, hate, envy, jealousy, lying, stealing, gossiping and etc….

Our Lord in heaven understands our shortcomings and inability to uphold to his standards. He does not condemn us he wants to help each and every one of us who call out to him.

God knows there are things we cannot do on our own and that we need his holy spirit to enable us to be more like Christ.

Everyone is an individual with their own different set of circumstances or personal battles. No one is the same and we all have distinct ways of looking at things, and ways of feeling about things.

So, no one should go around to assume what is going on with a person, what they are going through, and/or why.

God does not want us to carry the heavy load of stress, guilt, unworthiness, depression, sadness or anything else disheartening we are to lay all of our burdens, cares and worries on him. Then we must trust in him enough to see us through.

It is not possible for us to do anything without God. Only with God are all things possible!

 

 

 

Honoring God With Our Gifts

The Lord designed me like no other and it was no mistake. He understands me when others don’t just like he does all of the other individuals he crafted and brought into existence.

All we have to do is go to him with any concern and talk with him. Seek his leading, guidance and achieve to stay in his word to always gain and maintain further understanding and deep faith.

He is there to love, protect and teach us his will and provide a wonderful eternal future for all who believe and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior.

We don’t have to answer to anyone but God he knows everything about us- not what others lie on us about, falsely perceive about us or misinterpret about us. He knows the complete truth about us to the core.

He knows us better than we know ourselves.

God knows our hearts, intentions and entire makeup. After all, he formatted and assembled us together from the beginning before we even came into being.

God has given me quite a few unique gifts I’ve recognized since childhood, and all through out my life. Many incredible accounts of events I can give honest testimony to.

God made all of us differently, none of us are exactly the same (no one can duplicate or replace you, you are one of all his prized possessions).

God intentionally designed each of us individuals for a reason.

As he created us all uniquely, he gave to us certain natural abilities, talents and gifts.

God gave us the precise talents and gifts that he viewed suitable for us as he had a specific plan for us to carry out using the gifts that he incorporated within us.

Through our distinct God-given faculties, we can tremendously reach other people in such a diverse number of ways and direct them toward our heavenly father.

What are your talents, abilities and gifts, and how is God inspiring you to use them?

Our Lord doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to anyone else or to try to measure up to anyone else. He just wants us to be sincere and work with what he enabled within us and shine that light on behalf of him in honor of him.

Without the Lord operating through us we wouldn’t be capable of doing anything.

God will be there the entire time helping and encouraging us to continue in the race.

 

 

 

Prayer

I remember in my early adulthood I was very strong in prayer and the Lord would answer me and bless me.

The Holy Spirit Speaks to us and guides us into the correct direction.

It is so important to stay in touch with God, to put him first, and include him in everything we do.

There are no special or fancy words to recite just speak to God with your heart. He knows our every need and seeks for us to talk to him as he is very concerned about our feelings and welfare.

Thank God and praise him during the day, afternoon and night for all that he does for you in your life. The Lord protects us within ways we don’t even know or realize he is so passionate within his love for us.

Let us love him back and honor him with our gratitude and that we have the privilege to utterly rely on our heavenly father and not on ourselves.

Thank you, father, that I can come to you for all of my matters and concerns, but above all I can come to you as a daughter who wants to spend quality time enjoying your company. In your precious son Jesus Christ name, Amen. –your child LaToya