This "Christ"mas!!!

As we embark on this holiday season.. be sure to not only be thankful for family & friends, but be thankful for the gift of LIFE and the gift of Jesus who was given as the sacrifice for our sins. He wasn't forced to give His life on the cross .. but He chose to do so out of love & mercy for our souls. He knew it wouldn't be easy & could have chosen another route to take.. but He submitted to the assignment that was on His life. Jesus freely gave Himself as a ransom for our sins, He bore them all --  each & every one of them. God knew you'd lie, cheat, steal, fornicate, commit adultery, idolize others and things.. (etc.) but He still in all of His grace took the payment for you! You and I deserve the punishment He suffered. Because of GRACE, we can by faith receive the free gift of salvation! You may have heard this message before or you may be hearing this for the first time.. Christ paid a price for you that you couldn't afford.. to give you a life you couldn't achieve on your own. We need God's forgiveness and He provided that through His Son.  "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  Acts 2:21

In all that you commit to doing, don't forget to be thankful for the One who's birthday we're celebrating. Jesus sees our hearts and longs to be a great part of not only this Christmas day but our every day existence. Whether you attend a church service, a Christmas party, be with your family or your significant other... give attention to the Lover of our souls & the Giver of life -- God! Give glory & all the praise for who He is and all that He's provided for us. "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:6 If you know you have family & friends that fight and bicker with you, avoid them. Don't pick fights with one another, it only gives place to the enemy to hinder what God desires to do in our hearts. Carry throughout each day the heart of gratitude & thanksgiving. Parents, don't teach your children that santa will bring them gifts and have them deceived. Teach them that because Jesus was freely given as a gift to us for the sacrifice of our sins, you give them gifts because of the gift of giving. If you're single like me, don't try to find a date or gain thoughts and feelings of insignificance. Some of us wish we had someone special to spend the holidays with but you don't need a human to feel worthy just because you may be dateless this Christmas. Remember, NO RANDOMS!!! You deserve God's BEST, so don't go trying to fill the void and emptiness you feel with someone to make you feel good. While your Mr or Mrs Right may bump into you any day now, you don't have time to be dating random people just so you won't face loneliness. I have a fiance' but that doesn't mean I am complete with him. I need Jesus and I'm a complete mess without "Him". Too many of us try to find happiness and wholeness in a human.. but that is impossible, because they were created to be our helper not completion! You were complete when God made you -- you weren't missing human parts, so stop looking for a human to complete you! Instead of trying to hook up with an ex or somebody else's mate, plan a date with Jesus... Yes, Jesus. As a single, & even when you're married, you will need this quality time with the Lord. Spend time in worship & pouring out your heart and cares to Him. He longs to take part in your everyday life. Spend quality time in the Word and in prayer. Don't forget God around the holidays and don't ever get too busy for Him. 

(Jesus has been, is & always will be the reason for the season)

Another thing about God is that He desires to be known in and through us. Don't be ashamed of Him -- spend time in His presence, remember to share Christ with others every given opportunity. If the Lord moves upon your heart to give to the hungry, homeless or a family without much, then do so. God desires to get the glory out of your life. It's not up to us to say we don't have it or barely have it. God gives to us to be a blessing to others. Harden not your heart against what God is trying to do. Many of us pray the prayer, "Lord use me & have your way" but the moment He tries to, you disobey and choose your own way. If you're in this for yourself & what you can get out of it, then you're in for a rude awakening. God doesn't operate in self (flesh) but in Spirit & in truth! Take the attention from yourself & place it on Christ, after all it's His birthday & not ours. One of my biggest pet peeve is when I see CHRISTians take CHRIST out of CHRISTmas! I mean really? Hasn't He done enough for you by saving you from sinking sin & placing your name in the Lamb's Book of Life?? Don't EX Him out and use the title Xmas. I heard someone say to me earlier today that the X in Xmas means Jesus... I mean, like really? Where is that in the Bible?? People, stop believing what everybody and they're mama told you! Read the scriptures for yourself. The internet, the newspaper, the encyclopedia, and so many other avenues may say anything. However the devil can get his sneaky little lies in to deceive you, he will. Don't give him room to lie to you and you be so quick to believe it. He's lied to you enough and you fell for it... don't give him no place in your heart! Keep Christ in your heart and celebrate Him in every season. God has called us to Himself not to give us some happy life but to fulfill His purpose in the earth. There is joy in this walk but there is also long suffering. Each stage and level in this walk of faith is to strengthen our faith in the Lord and equip us for spreading the Gospel. The kingdom of God is for God's glory alone. Remember the reason why you are saved and how you received salvation... we can take no glory of our own in what Jesus has already done -- Ephesians 2:8-9 ... Jesus has been, is & always will be the reason for the season!

❅ Merry Christmas to you & your family!

God loves you, 

Vontrail Passmore

(Christmas 2 Years ago - Dec. 2010)