Colossians 1:13 ” For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

We have been snatched from darkness into the light…from the power of Satan to the forgiveness of God.  We have been pulled from captivity to the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the redemption of His blood.

II Timothy 1:5 ” I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

Paul was a “spiritual” father to Timothy, but it was at his mother’s knee as a toddler he truly learned about Jesus. (II Timothy 3:15)  It was the consistent teaching of both his grandmother and mother that established Timothy’s firm and confident belief in Jesus Christ and His Gospel…which gives all Christian women hope for their children regardless of the family dynamics.

Mark 4: 26-29 ” He also said, ‘This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed spouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces the grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.’ “

The Kingdom of God is within the human heart, and just like the Spring soil, the seed is planted and grows.  We may not totally understand how both happen…but by faith and trust we have this assurance…that our personal relationship with Jesus will grow within us, just like the  life found inside that seed.

Romans 14: 10-12 ” You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live’, says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

We are casual to judge others.  We become judge, jury, and executioner with a glance or comment…judging others more harshly than ourselves.  But there will come a time when all our judging will cease…for the great Judgment Day will come and it will be God doing the judging.  And at that moment…all will recognize and submit to His authority alone.  For at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  (Philippians 2: 10-11)

Philippians 2: 14-16 ” Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.”

These verses aren’t asking you to go around singing all day, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…”  But they are  asking you to make a difference in the world and to not hide your faith.  When you allow the love of Jesus to shine through you…people sense it…they know there’s something different  about you…and they’re drawn to the light.

I John 2:17 ” The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

All the world’s affections and fascinations will not last…they are here but a day and then gone.  The only thing that remains…the only true thing we can base our life and faith around is the person of Jesus Christ.  For it’s by Him and Him alone that we might be saved.

Luke 11: 34-35 ” Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad. your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.”

When you look into someone’s eyes…what do you see?  If they’re lying to you and have a guilty conscience, you can usually see it.  If when you look into someone’s eyes and see evil, you realize what it is…darkness and wickedness.  But if you look into some people’s eyes…you’ll see Jesus smiling back at you.  Their eyes are shining beacons of light and truth… their only focus,  fulfilling what God made them for.

I Kings 8:27 ” But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built! “

This verse is part of King Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication for the temple he had built for the Lord.  He doubted that the Most High would live in something made by mortal men…for God’s magnificence  can’t be limited by time and space.  While the Lord may not be able to fit inside a building…you’ll find  He fits just perfectly inside your heart.

Isaiah 9:6 ” 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.”

Jesus the Messiah has come to earth for you and me this Christmas Day. He offers mercy and love, peace and comfort, salvation and eternal life in place of the pain, loss, and hopelessness that may be in your life today.  Allow Him to come into your life and change you from the inside out…taking all the negatives and transforming them into hope for the future. A Blessed Christmas to all of you!

Matthew 2: 4-5 ” When he had called together all the people’s Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea.’ they replied…”

When King Herod needed information, he went to the source.  That’s why he called in the  most intelligent and learned Jewish historians of the day…who in turn quoted the Prophet Micah as to the birth place of the Messiah.  But we also have that same source today at our disposal, for the future has been foretold to us.  And in Revelation 22:20 it is made quite plain…”Yes, I am coming soon.”