Why celebrate Christmas?

God the Father has a purpose for every person ever born, He created each of us individually and He alone knows our hearts desires, our thoughts, our fears and our future. 

We are created for more than this, we are created for an eternal loving God, who wants to be with us.

We can’t get to the Father though unless we come through Christ.

God the Son came because the Father sent Him for this purpose:

““This is my servant; I strengthen him, this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations. He will not cry out or shout or make his voice heard in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick; he will faithfully bring justice. He will not grow weak or be discouraged until he has established justice on earth. The coasts and islands will wait for his instruction.” This is what God, the Lord, says — who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it — “I am the Lord. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those sitting in darkness from the prison house. I am the Lord. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.””

Isaiah 42:1-9 CSB

The purpose of Christmas is not too just celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, the purpose is to celebrate that God loves us so much, that He sent His one and only Son to mankind to save us from our sins, from the beginning God had a purpose for everything and everyone, He desires to have a relationship with you and I.

Let us desire too have a relationship with Him through Christ Jesus, God is love, and He wants to give that love too you.

God’s gift of love is freely given, if you haven’t received it yet, why not? 

Why would you turn down the greatest gift of all?

This Christmas receive the love of God, ask Him and He will give too you freely.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will 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. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. “ John 3:16-18 CSB

Walk into the light, no run into the light!

Have you ever watched a sunrise over the horizon?  Did you notice how the darkness of night retreats when the light appears? 

It's magical, breathtaking and is a reminder that darkness has no place in our lives, We may be overcome for a moment by the darkness , but it must flee in the presence of the Lord. 

The Lord reigns over all the earth, everything is subject to His will and way, darkness only exist because of the absence of His light, this absence is because of our sin, or our choices, the light is always there it is us that like the rotation of the earth that has moved, we can choose to walk in darkness or we can choose to walk in the light.

I have come out of the darkness and by God's grace will never return. 

How about you are your days dark? Are they filled with emptiness, fear, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, anger, bitterness, depression or addictions, come out of the darkness into the presence of my Lord, Jesus Christ and see what happens when He reigns.

“The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coasts and islands be glad. Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Fire goes before Him and burns up His foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord — at the presence of the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim His righteousness; all the peoples see His glory. All who serve carved images, those who boast in idols, will be put to shame. All the gods must worship Him. Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments, Lord. For You, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; You are exalted above all the gods. You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of His godly ones; He rescues them from the power of the wicked. Light dawns for the righteous, gladness for the upright in heart. Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous ones, and praise His holy name.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭97:1-12‬ ‭HCSB‬

“I will exalt You, Lord, because You have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me. Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. Lord, You brought me up from Sheol; You spared me from among those going down to the Pit. Sing to Yahweh, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name. For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor, a lifetime. Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning. When I was secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” Lord, when You showed Your favor, You made me stand like a strong mountain; when You hid Your face, I was terrified. Lord, I called to You; I sought favor from my Lord: “What gain is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your truth? Lord, listen and be gracious to me; Lord, be my helper.” You turned my lament into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, so that I can sing to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30:1-12‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.

The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him.

But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-5, 9-10, 12-13‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

My glimpse of heaven

I woke from the most realistic dream I have ever had, I had been in the presence of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.

I had walked the streets of heaven , took in it's majestic scenery , pure beauty and grace. The sky's were pristine, the air so pure, the warmth embracing, the light intense, the homes were a collection of triumphant architecture that words can hardly describe.

There were people everywhere, seas of faces that were completely filled will joy, peace and love. Every nationality that I had ever heard of and so many I had not were there, I understood their words as they praised the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and I was amazed. As far and wide as our little universe is I could see multitudes of my brothers and sisters, my heart was overwhelmed. 

It seemed as if only a moment had passed and I made my way to the throne room, I could not get close enough to Jesus, but yet I lay at His feet, I reached out grabbed His feet and could not let go , I laid and rejoiced, praised His name and wept, wept with deep sorrow for who I was and the things I have done, but wept also with great joy for the things He has done for me and the grace He has given me.

Then He reaches down, and said Brian welcome to your eternity, I did this all for you , I saw His beautiful face, and His eyes were so deep and resilient I became lost in them. His nailed scarred hands touched me and held me,His pierced side engulfed me, and the scars on His feet crushed me. In that moment I lost all sorrow and joy unexplainable came over me, He said you're my friend, my brother, well done my good and faithful servant come with me.

I was so mesmerized, I could not move, I didn't want to move , I wanted to lay in His presence and praise His name, my heart was delighted , my body strong and free and I didn't want to move from His feet.

Oh I rushed back to reality and awakened , my face is swollen from tears of joy, my pillow wet like I had left it in the rain and I have new strength and resolve because I have been all night in the presence of my Lord and God, Jesus Christ. 

Thank you my Lord for the glory of who you are, you have pierced my soul with you're Amazing Grace, Agape Love and Everlasting Gift of Salvation.

After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was set there in heaven. One was seated on the throne, and the One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns on their heads. Flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were in the middle and around the throne.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4:1-6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say: Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“They will no longer hunger; they will no longer thirst; the sun will no longer strike them, nor will any heat. For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; He will guide them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:16-17‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Each day its gates will never close because it will never be night there. They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:22-27‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

My glimpse of heaven

I woke from the most realistic dream I have ever had, I had been in the presence of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.

I had walked the streets of heaven , took in it's majestic scenery , pure beauty and grace. The sky's were pristine, the air so pure, the warmth embracing, the light intense, the homes were a collection of triumphant architecture that words can hardly describe.

There were people everywhere, seas of faces that were completely filled will joy, peace and love. Every nationality that I had ever heard of and so many I had not were there, I understood their words as they praised the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and I was amazed. As far and wide as our little universe is I could see multitudes of my brothers and sisters, my heart was overwhelmed. 

It seemed as if only a moment had passed and I made my way to the throne room, I could not get close enough to Jesus, but yet I lay at His feet, I reached out grabbed His feet and could not let go , I laid and rejoiced, praised His name and wept, wept with deep sorrow for who I was and the things I have done, but wept also with great joy for the things He has done for me and the grace He has given me.

Then He reaches down, and said Brian welcome to your eternity, I did this all for you , I saw His beautiful face, and His eyes were so deep and resilient I became lost in them. His nailed scarred hands touched me and held me,His pierced side engulfed me, and the scars on His feet crushed me. In that moment I lost all sorrow and joy unexplainable came over me, He said you're my friend, my brother, well done my good and faithful servant come with me.

I was so mesmerized, I could not move, I didn't want to move , I wanted to lay in His presence and praise His name, my heart was delighted , my body strong and free and I didn't want to move from His feet.

Oh I rushed back to reality and awakened , my face is swollen from tears of joy, my pillow wet like I had left it in the rain and I have new strength and resolve because I have been all night in the presence of my Lord and God, Jesus Christ. 

Thank you my Lord for the glory of who you are, you have pierced my soul with you're Amazing Grace, Agape Love and Everlasting Gift of Salvation.

After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was set there in heaven. One was seated on the throne, and the One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns on their heads. Flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were in the middle and around the throne.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4:1-6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say: Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“They will no longer hunger; they will no longer thirst; the sun will no longer strike them, nor will any heat. For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; He will guide them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7:16-17‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

“I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Each day its gates will never close because it will never be night there. They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:22-27‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Image bearer

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:1‭, ‬27 ESV

We have forgotten we were created by God, we have forgotten He created male and female in His image, we have forgotten that God loves mankind.

God has not, mankind's identity has been stolen, we are created as individuals to reflect the glory of God.

Each of us are created with a purpose.

We have devalued life so much and forgotten God that taking a life is an easy task for a godless society that we do not morn or become furious at the loss of life anymore.

Racial tensions, despising authority, murder on demand authorised from our government are things we have become immune to.

God has not. We play god and unless we turn back God the author of life, life as we know it will be over.

For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!

Romans 5:6‭, ‬10 HCSB

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Colossians 1:3‭, ‬15‭-‬18‭, ‬21‭-‬23 NKJV