This is the way that Jesus recommended that we pray: Matthew 6:9-14

Our Father in heaven, help us to honor Your name.

Come and set up Your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey You, as You are obeyed in heaven.

Give us our food for today.

Forgive us for doing wrong, (our sins)

as we forgive others.

Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil.

If you forgive others for their wrong doings they do to you, Your Father in heaven will forgive you.

But if you don’t forgive others, Your Father will not forgive your sins.

This is a very important prerequisite for the gift of forgiveness of our sins isn’t it?

If we obey this command and we receive that amazing gift of forgiveness, God really forgives our sins. Scripture says when He forgives our sins, that they are removed as far as east is from the west. He has no remembrance of what we did. Isaiah 43:25 “But I wipe away your sins because of Who I am. And so I will forget the wrongs that you have done.”

Hebrews 13:12 “Jesus Himself suffered outside the city gate so that His blood make people holy.”

Hebrews 10:17″ Then I will forget about their sins and no longer remember their evil deeds.”

Psalms 103:12 ” How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west.

Here are other scriptures to look up:

Jeremiah 31: 34, Acts 3;19,1 John 1:7-9, Micah 7:19, John 3:16, 1John 1:9, Romans 11:29, Jeremiah 31:31-34

There are others. Jesus promises to forgive our sins, which is a major burden He bore on the cross, scripture demonstrates clearly that He does; then why are so many people wallowing in pain because of those same sins? I have seen myself that it’s as if those sins never happened to God, once we repent and surrender all things that obstruct God’s will in our lives. He forgives us completely. Our slate is wiped clean. People in the world have a hard time forgetting what you did, you clearly have to forgive all of that. The people who condemn you, gossip about you, who may even devise evil plans against you, sometimes we have to learn to forgive daily different events that are consequences of our sins. These may make it difficult to forgive yourself, which is also a very important part of our surrender to God. Receive the gift of forgiveness freely, God does not even remember what you did once you totally repent of your sin and forgive anyone else who may have hurt you regarding that sin.

If you have never received Jesus as Lord and savior of your life, asked Him to cleanse you of all sin, and have faith that he died for those sins, rose again so that you have a new lease on life. If you believe what He did for you is true, then you will have eternal life, just like Jesus.

It will be the most important thing you have ever done.

Forgive yourself!

Isaiah 65:17 reads: “See I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered nor will they come to mind.” Today, many people are tormented by things that come to their minds. ‘God’s word does not return to Him null and void’…this word is an exciting one, refreshing and liberates those who truly embrace this promise with hope.

2 Peter 3:13 reads: “But in keeping with His promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells.

We are embarking on a new year, let us let go of what we cannot change, laying all those things at the feet of Jesus. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us so that we would be set free, and have eternal life.

Revelations 21:5 reads: “Then the one sitting on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new. Write down what I have said. My words are true and can be trusted.'” I encourage people to read Revelation 21:1-8. It again describes what the new, Holy City will be like…”Where He will wipe away every tear, no more death, no more mourning or pain, for the old things have passed away…”.

It is so refreshing to think that we have this hope to fix our eyes on, isn’t it? What is even more refreshing, He keeps track of all our sorrows, Psalm 56:8 reads: “Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll-are they not in Your record?” Such an intimate love, our Father has for us, so if you have ever felt your world falling apart, and you think that you are alone weeping, not so- He is keeping track of every tear, realizing that one verse as truth, changed the way I think about loneliness. He sees you weeping, but the day will come when there will be no more tears, what a wonderful day that will be!

If you have never asked Jesus to be Lord of your life, start your new year off with all the promises of the righteous! Jesus came to earth as a man, willingly sacrificed Himself for all of our sins, He died for us so we would never have to die. He lives today- ever living to intercede for all of us. He rose again to grant us eternal life just as He has. Ask Him today to come into your life, change your heart, lay down all that bothers you, and ask His Holy Spirit to come into your life also so that you have an ongoing guide through His living word and power to walk in His will, and to keep standing righteous before Him.

Happy New Year! This decision is the best decision you will ever make for your life, and a wonderful direction to walk into the new year! He makes all things new!!

“That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel came down to them from of the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who He is, because you will find Him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.” Luke 2:8-12

This is one of my favorite verses in the word that proclaims about Jesus! A savior has been born for us! Our King humbled himself to come to earth as a child, just like each one of us. He knew every aspect of human pain as He was a man also and saw so deeply into our needs, we were lost without a savior. “God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten son, that whosever believes in Him, will not perish, but will have everlasting life.” John 3:16

This is a solid reason to accept Him as your Lord and savior. We were all lost in sin, until He came.

This is a second chance for each one of us. He lived the life that we could not live and stepped under the burden of all humanity’s sin, and died instead of us. He died, then rose again so that if we believe in Him, we are forgiven and set free from the pain of death, in fact we will live again, just as He does right now! He is a living, risen savior! This coming Christmas, remember the real reason that “This Child Is Born”, accept Him as your savior today!

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

You were made by God, every one of us were created by God for a purpose. God had our life plans developed from the foundations of the earth. He sees the whole picture, where we, as mere men can only see what He allows us to see.

Many people are so gifted naturally yet they allow man to discourage them away from what their natural, God created path was meant to lead them to.

Galatians 6:4-5 Reads: ” Do your own work well, then you will have something to be proud of. But don’t compare yourself with others. We must carry our own load.”

2 Corinthians 10:12 Reads: “We don’t dare compare ourselves with those who think so much of themselves. We don’t brag about something we don’t have a right to brag about. We only brag about the work God has sent us to do, and you are a part of that work.”

Phil. 4:11 Reads: “I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have.”

Phil.2:3 Reads: “Don’t be jealous or proud but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves.”

Romans 6:12 Reads: “God has also given each of us different gifts to use. If we can prophesy, we should do it according to the amount of faith we have.”

Romans 12:2 Reads: “Don’t be like the people of this world but let God change the way you think.”

The world pushes competition in every area of our lives, so we are always exposed to these attitudes all around us. God tells us not to be like the world! He also teaches us through scriptures the way we should think, think to edify each other, not ourselves. He tells us the importance to constantly change the way we think, which I wrote about in my book “Choose Well: The Choices That We make Affect Our Destinies”.Our thoughts should lift up our faith and our abilities to love each other as this is what God wants us to do. We need to fill our hearts with His word, building up our faith, so that all those gifts that He has graciously given us will come flowing out from us with faith, and power to affect the world for Christ.

If you do not know who Jesus is -He was born on earth as a man, John 3:16 “God so loved the people of this world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him, shall never perish, but will have everlasting life!” God’s plan for our redemption was to sacrifice His very own Son, so that we may have a second chance to receive eternal life. He took upon Himself all of our sins, died, then rose again so we may live again too. Ask Him to come into your heart and forgive all of your sins, and fill you with His power, and presence the Holy Spirit, so that you are set free from comparing yourself to the things of this world. WE need to compare ourselves to the likeness of Him, and Him only!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 Tells us: “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Everyone blooms in the spring,

It’s time every new growth begins flowering.

What was thought to be dead-

Now bursts to life instead-

At this time of new beginnings,

Seems like all things around us are winning.

That tiny jade shoot has now grown to a tree-

Every flower planted budding best it can be.

Yes, you will make it says the flower to the tree.

Time to mature and reach for the sky-

This green season births the corn and the firefly.

Now trees make rainbows in the woods-

Chill in the air, breaks out the hoods,

Watch those squirrels pack the nuts away,

Farmers fill their barns with last cut of hay.

Snow is creeping into our nights,

This time of rest will be alright.

Some waited all year to see the snow fall,

While others may never see snow at all.

What season are you in today?

New beginnings, or does maturity make your day?

Or maybe it’s a season of rest-

With God each season will be our best.

Jesus is the reason for every season!

Ask Him into your heart today!

By Margaret Marie