…The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means, ‘God is with us’)  Isaiah 7:14

Today, I join my praise and worship with Christ Followers around the world, pausing and giving thanks to my Heavenly Father for sending Jesus, to ransom my life from the bondage of hopelessness,  shame, and fear.

To ransom is, to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price.

Because of Jesus, I was delivered from captivity! Before I encountered Jesus,  I was a hostage to my circumstances. Bound by the unjust things that had happened to me, and limited by my own ignorant choices. I was without hope, constrained by shame, and  enslaved to fear. Thanks be unto God, because He did not leave me in that state of darkness and confusion.  Instead, He sent Jesus, just as He had promised the Prophet Isaiah, some 700 years prior, that He would. It was the Father’s unconditional love that made a way for me to be saved, freed, delivered.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him would be saved.   (John 3:16-17)

Today,  my heart is so full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father because I know that I deserved judgment, but He CHOSE to love me instead! He CHOSE to give me the gift of Jesus – God With Me forever!  The beauty is that in all of His choices to redeem me, I too had to choose.  I had to choose to receive the gift. Though it was available to the world, it only became mine when I received Jesus, as MYgift! My Lord and my Savior.   I am so grateful for a praying mother, who prayed that my eyes would be opened, and that I would turn to God, and receive Jesus. The day I chose Jesus, it was an answer to her prayer.

My life has been changed forever. There are statistics that suggest that because of the things I have endured, my life should be totally different than it is. It is ONLY because of Jesus that I don’t look like, live like or believe like what I’ve been through. Before Jesus, hopelessness, failure and defeat were my destiny! But God said  NOT SO! My only response is to live my life for Him.  He asks me to trust Him with my life,  to believe what He has said about me, and to boldly receive His Love, Grace, Peace, Joy, and abundance!

Today, my heart is full of worship and thanksgiving. Oh What beautiful love!

GOD IS WITH US!!!

God is with me!  He is faithfully continuing the work He started in me, and as He does, I still have moments when I feel alone, or I feel afraid, or I feel defeated, and then I remember His words,

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you  (Deuteronomy 31:6)

My hope is restored because I know that I am not helpless, I know that God is with me always (Matthew 28:20)  and nothing can separate me from His love for me,

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present  nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from he love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)

What about you, have you received this love that God has given you through His Son Jesus?  Do you believe that God is with you ALWAYS?  Do you know that He will NEVER leave you? I have realized that it is much easier to accept what  I feel I deserve or what I believe I’ve earned, than it is to receive something that I know I don’t deserve.  But just because it’s more difficult, doesn’t mean it’s impossible!

My hope is that you would take some time on this day and reflect upon the love God has for you. That you would recognize His voice calling your name, calling you to receive all that He has to gift you, beginning with ransoming your life through your receiving  the gift of Jesus, as not the world’s gift, but yours personally!

May His Unending Peace Be with You,  and may you keep your HOPE ALIVE!!

Merry Christmas to You and your Family!

Sincerely,

D