Merry Christmas 2016!

I love staring at this picture that I recently took of a gorgeous Christmas tree!

All I can think of when I look at this picture is how our Heavenly Father is the giver of good gifts! I’m not talking about gifts that you can wrap up and tie a bow around. Those are great and it’s a joy to give and receive those kinds of presents.

But I’m talking about how God gives us desires and meets those desires.

I’m referring to those gifts that He freely gives us such as the gifts of His love, presence, favor, grace, and His peace that passes understanding.

I’m thinking about those spiritual gifts that He gives to His children.

And I mean the ultimate gift that God gave us on the first Christmas when He sent His one and only Son to earth to redeem us. Yes, the gift of Immanuel, God with us! Jesus, the Messiah. The Lamb of God. The Prince of Peace. The King of kings and the Lord of Lords!

Jesus is the unspeakable gift that we treasure at Christmas. It’s His birthday that we get to celebrate!

“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.” (John 3:16-17)

I pray that you have already accepted that gift of salvation through Jesus Christ! Receiving forgiveness of your sins through the blood of Jesus and eternal life with God in Heaven is better than any gift you’ll ever find under your Christmas tree.

If you haven’t yet asked Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior, I pray you will do so even now and discover the true meaning of Christmas!  You can accept the gift of Jesus by opening up your heart and saying a simple prayer such as:

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the Cross for my sins. I turn from my wicked ways and receive your love and forgiveness. I ask you to come into my heart and to be my Lord and Savior. Help me to live for you all the days of my life. It’s in Your name I pray, Amen.

The Bible says all of Heaven rejoices when even one sinner repents of his sins. If you said this prayer and meant it, then there’s a party going on in Heaven right now for YOU! How awesome is that?

I hope you will prayerfully find a Bible-based church in your area. It’s time to go and meet your brothers and sisters in Christ and grow with them. It’s also great to start reading the Bible and to keep praying, or talking to God, on a daily basis.

You can learn more about some next steps here.

Inviting Jesus into your life is the best decision you’ll ever make! I’d love to know if you said, “Yes!” to Jesus. Please leave a comment below.

Have a blessed and Merry Christmas!

“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.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

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For more encouragement, read my books Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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