Stores are now full of Christmas decorations, gifts, and shoppers. People are getting ready. But… as we work on our traditions to celebrate Christmas, we must prepare our hearts.

During the the next two+ weeks, let’s reflect on the enormity of Jesus’ birth, and plan to celebrate all He means to us, to the world, to eternity.

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Sing!

YouTube has many choirs and artists singing this. Find a few.

Worship!

Hope for Overcomers

Who is an Overcomer?

If you are a Christian, having received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, YOU are an overcomer!

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4–5)

Jesus Christ the Overcomer, made it possible for Christians to overcome

Take courage; I have overcome the world.  (John 16:33)

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals. (Revelation 5:5)

Promises to Overcomers

To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)

He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.  (Revelation 2:11)

To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it. (Revelation 2:17)

He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.  (Revelation 2:26)

He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5)

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. (Revelation 3:12)

He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Revelation 3:21)

Overcomers will stand on the sea of glass, have harps of God, and sing the sone of Moses and the song of the Lamb. (Revelation 15:2-4)

He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. (Revelation 21:7)

Overcomers Will Receive

Overcomers will receive all the blessings of the new creation. We will be given a white stone, giving us entry into heaven permanently, never to go out. We will be eating from the tree of life and the hidden manna. We will be clothed in white, walking with our Lord and Savior. We will sit with Christ on His throne.

Barely imaginable, but true!

FOMO

If you aren’t a Christian, you’ll miss out. Take stock. Repent. Believe in Jesus Christ, the only one who can save you from God’s wrath. (See Becoming a Child of God)

Thanksgiving Day is set apart in the US, Canada, and several other countries, some with a spiritual underpinning, some as thanks for a harvest or to recognize their culture.

Thanksgiving Day, for Christians,* is marked with gratitude for God’s many blessings.

This year, I am focusing on blessings noted in the New Testament, personalizing the blessing, and praising God specifically for those blessings.

Here are blessings Christians are told about in the first chapter of Ephesians:

God blessed [your name]* with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.  (Ephesians 1:3)

God chose [your name] in Christ before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)

By God choosing [your name], you will be holy and blameless before God. (Ephesians 1:4)

[Your name] was predestined to be adopted by God. (Ephesians 1:5)

[Your name] has been redeemed through Christ’s blood. (Ephesians 1:7)

[Your name] has been forgiven of trespasses. (Ephesians 1:7)

God’s grace has been lavished on [your name]. (Ephesians 1:8)

God made the mystery of His will known to [your name]. (Ephesians 1:9)

[Your name] has obtained an inheritance. (Ephesians 1:11)

God’s purpose is that [your name] would be to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:12)

[Your name] was sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, given as a pledge of [your name’s] inheritance. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

These enormous blessings are true, but hard to fathom. Paul prayed that we would “get it.”

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might. (Ephesians 1:18–19)

Suggestions

Read the blessings aloud, saying “I” have…

Read the blessings aloud to your Christian loved ones, using their names.

Memorize.

Remember.

Give God thanks for His many blessings

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*These blessings are ONLY for Christians, who have received Christ as Lord and Savior. (See Becoming a Child of God)

What Is A Christian To Do Now?

1. Stay Faithful
2. Pray
3. Praise God. Rejoice.
4. Mourn Sin.
5. Talk to One Another.

And Look Up.

Look Up – Christ will come again

The disciples asked Jesus what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age (Matthew 24:3; Luke 21:7).  He answered and told the disciples to be on the alert and to be ready (Matthew 24:42, 44). And to look up:

When these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:28)

We don’t see those specific signs –yet—but we do see other warnings.

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (2 Timothy 3:1–5)

Be alert! Be ready! Look up!

Look Up – Jesus Christ is our Living Hope

Christians have been born again to a living hope.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)

Christ, our living hope, enables us to:

Exult in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2)

Exult in our tribulations (Romans 5:3)

Watch expectantly (Micah 7:7)

Know our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2)

Look up to our living hope, Jesus Christ, who is the anchor of our souls.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:19–20)

Hard Times

Hard times, but

We know how we are to live,

We know Jesus Christis is with us now, and

We know Jesus Christ will be with us to the end of the age.

Rewards Are Coming!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7–8)

Rejoice!

In these dark times, what is a Christian to do?

One:    Stay faithful.

Two:    Pray.

  Pray for officials and leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

            Pray for each other

            Pray as prompted for people, the world

Three: Praise God. Rejoice.

            God is sovereign AND all His ways are holy

            He makes Himself known through bad times and good times

            In wrath, He remembers mercy (Habakkuk 3:2)

            Determine to praise no matter what (Habakkuk 3:16-19)

            Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS (Philippians 4:4)

Remember God wins

Four:    Mourn sin.

God saved those who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst. (Ezekiel 9:4)

Five.     Talk to one another

            Encourage one other

These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates. (Zechariah 8:16)

Six.       Look up (coming next week)

God—Father, Son, Holy Spirit—always, ALWAYS, loves His children.*

God has infinite, eternal love for His children, those who have repented and believe in Jesus Christ; His children who have received Christ as Lord and Savior.

For us, every single thing, every event, has the loving purpose of our sovereign God.

Is it a hard day? God is working it for good.

Is it a lovely day? God is working it for good.

God has promised His children (which cannot be broken) that He will glorify us. We are promised that Christ will present us holy and blameless to the Father.

Everything is woven into fulfilling that promise. EVERYTHING.

We have every reason to rejoice. We have every reason to worship Him.

Almighty sovereign holy God is not done with the world.

Almighty sovereign holy God is not done with us.

Hallelujah!

Are you feeling what I’m feeling? Irritable? Anxious? Stressed? Discouraged? Tempted?

STOP!

Emotions stem from thinking.

The first step in stopping a negative emotion is to be conscious of what you are thinking; what you are saying to yourself. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. It takes practice.

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? (Psalm 42:5a)

Once you are aware of harmful, ungodly thinking, determine to STOP.

But you can’t just stop, you have to replace your thoughts with something God-centered.

Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.” (Psalm 42:5b)

O my God, my soul is in despair within me; Therefore I remember You… (Psalm 42:6)

See Pink Elephant

Determine to seek the things above.

Determine to set your mind on Jesus.

Determine to fill your mind with God’s Word.

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Father, HELP!

My soul has been saturated with calamities. (Psalm 88:3)

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Things are tough for many people, both with personal issues and world concerns.

As Christians, we must continue to praise God in these difficult times. Here are three examples.

Hezekiah

The Assyrians threatened Israel when Hezekiah was king, speaking to the people and delivering a letter. Hezekiah entered the house of the LORD, and spread out the letter before the LORD. Hezekiah started with praise:

O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. (Isaiah 37:16)

Then Hezekiah made his plea, and prayed his purpose:

Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God. (Isaiah 37:20)

Habakkuk

Habakkuk was a prophet in Judah when the Babylonians (Chaldeans) threatened Israel. Habakkuk knew that the LORD appointed then to judge and correct Israel and knew horrible times were coming. He resolved to praise.

Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:17–19)

A Personal Story

When I was diagnosed with a serious eye issue, I was 1200 miles from my doctors, and travel wasn’t immediately possible. I didn’t know if I would retain full vision, or if I would lose my ability to read or drive. Would I still be independent? I would wake in the middle of the night looking around to see if I could still see.

At the time, I was slowly working on the final edits of my book (When Storms Come), with the help of enlarged computer images and magnifying glasses, focusing on God’s sovereignty and His love. I determined to praise.

“Though my eyesight gets worse and I can no longer read or drive, even if I become blind and lose my independence, yet I will exult in the Lord, my Marker, my shelter from life’s storms. I will rejoice in the God of my salvation, the God of my hope. I will praise my Lord Jesus Christ who lives in me and intercedes for me with the Father. I will praise the Holy Spirit who dwells in me and guides me to all truth. God Almighty has brought me safe so far, and He will bring me home.” (When Storms Come, page 193)

As I went through those uncertain days, sometimes I was scared, but sometimes I was giddy with the joy of God’s presence and the certainty that He would be with me, even in blindness.

Now, after six eye surgeries, I see well. Thank You, Almighty God!

How about you?

Whatever your situation, you are called to praise God, to rejoice always, to give Him thanks throughout everything.

Will you resolve to praise our great God?

What is God up to?

God is sovereign over everybody and everything all the time.   

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all. (Psalm 103:19)

Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. (Psalm 115:3)

I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these. (Isaiah 45:6–7)

God has a plan and He is working His plan

… according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.  (Ephesians 1:11)

All God’s ways are holy

Your way, O God, is holy. (Psalm 77:13)

God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways higher than our ways

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9)

God works good during everything for those called according to His plan

God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

At the end, Christ reigns. He brings His children to heaven, and He judges His enemies.

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)

What are unbelievers to do?

Repent. Believe. Turn in faith to Jesus Christ. (See Becoming the Child of God)

What are Christians to do?

Stay faithful

Stand firm

Trust

Praise God

Pray

Press on

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Also see What is God up to?