The Magi Visit The Messiah

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:  “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV) 

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:26-38 (NIV) 

The Lord Bless You

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make His face shine on you 

and be gracious to you; the Lord turn 

His face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) 

Embrace every blessing God has for you.

He wants to see you blessed. He wants to

promote you, love you, take care of you, 

and prosper you. 

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit, 
Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV) 

I pray that from His glorious, 

unlimited resources He will 

empower you with inner

strength through His Spirit.

Ephesians 3:16 

Jesus Is Alive

He has not forgotten you. Your breakthrough

is coming. Miracles are about to happen! Great,

great harvest is coming up. 

More Than Conquerors

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Asit is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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 the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-39 (NIV)

Present Suffering and Future Glory

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8:18-30 (NIV)

God is All-Powerful

    Give God a place to prove His power in your

    life. It's gonna be amazing. Trust His timing.

    He works so wonderfully well. 

The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You  watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!  Psalm 139:1-18 (NLT) 

God knows. He knows. Whatever 

you face, don't forget every hardship

he has already brought you through.

Keep going. Best things are just ahead. 

More Than Conquerors

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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 the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

The Sweetest Name Of All

Jesus, your Name, it's the sweetest.

I wanna say, You truly are the best! 

His Word will accomplish everything

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and  achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

Isaiah 55:8- 13 (NIV)

God wants to accomplish great things through you.
Do not doubt. His ability knows no impossibility.

Blessings for Obedience

1 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 

2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: 

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

7 The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

8 The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

9 The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. 

10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. 

11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.

12 The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.

13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 

14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14(NIV)

Looking up to You

Lord, my life, it's You who own 

To me your ways you have shown

In your promises I'm holding on

I put my hope in you alone

The Lord Is Robed In Majesty

The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the Lord on high is mighty. Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days. Psalm 93:1-5 (NIV)

Win Your Dreams

Don't waste them... 

Your dreams are worth fighting for! 

It doesn't matter if everything is not perfect or nothing seems perfect, right now and then, you can start right away to move forward towards that future you have pictured in your heart to follow. No one can stop you but you. God has already sown that seed in your heart - to thrive, and to follow through. Tap into it, and you will discover the greatness He has instored for you. The enemy has been defeated. Now, let heaven invade your dreams. Don't stay down. Get back up and GO. Trust the Dream Giver! With Him on your side, it's going be amazing!! Trials, hurdles may be present, but those are nothing once you get there. Be open to Him and to the things that He wants you to learn. Cling to Him, and He will guide you along the best pathway for your life. You are worth it. 

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)

The Lord Almighty has sworn, Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.
Isaiah 14:24 (NIV)

God, our God, blesses us

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. The  land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him. Psalm 67:1-7 (NIV) 

His love assures me

And when you hold my hand 

I know, I can be as bold as I can

No matter what comes my way

Lord, do I need to worry?

I better say: Let nothing break us apart

Hold me close also to your heart

Give it all to Jesus

When we truly need a rest, The Lord is more than willing to provide it for us. 

He understands. That's why He says, come and I will give you rest. He won't 

say to you, "Go away!". Today, give it all to Jesus! Don't walk downhearted 

along the way. Be happy. Be free.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:36 

My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. 

Exodus 33:14

Let All Things Praise The Lord

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Psalms 150:1-6 

Broken Hearts Can Become Brand New

Do you know why?

It's because broken hearts don't stay broken forever. 

God heals!!! Hallelujah! He can turn our sorrows into

joy. Pure joy!

The Year of the Lord's Favour

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. "For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and  make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and  their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.” I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come upand a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. Isaiah 61:1-11 (NIV)  

You're A Star To Me

    I wonder why stars are so faaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

    Then a thought came to me- You, you're a star to me

    I may not need to look up there, 

    Because You, you're a star so near.

    S-h-a-r-e a hug, s~h~a~r~e your love. 

   

Salt and Light

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16 

He's My Shepherd

The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

He leads me beside quiet waters, 

He refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in  the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:1-6 (NIV) 

You have a future

     For I know the plans I have for you,

    declares the Lord, “plans to prosper 

    you and not to harm you, plans to give 

    you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11 

    His mercy is so abundant. It follows you

    every day. Your best days are just ahead.

Smile

    This is the day that the Lord

     has made; let us rejoice and 

     be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

     

Your Name Is Beautiful

    From the rising of the sun to the place where

    it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

    Psalm 113:13 

I Am For You - Jesus

Keep loving.

Endurance has been worn by the hearts of those who are willing to step out and serve more for the best of others and for the glory of God. It's a generous spirit that is willing to love and care for others because you know that God is there and He will take care of you in return. It's God's delight to bless us, and Jesus has been given to us, the blessing of all blessings. Jesus, the Greatest Blessing has endured to the end because He's for you. He knows that there's going to be pain. Jesus knows he is going to suffer. He has lashes. He has been bruised but He endures; all because He's for you. Jesus loves you.
He wants us to love each other just as He has loved us. The Bible is telling us that without love we are nothing. According to 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, if I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Do you like a life without love, with less love or a life so filled with love? There is no fear in love. Love drives away fears. Love completes us in Jesus. It helps us to endure up to the end. Wouldn't it be nice if we love each other? 1 John 4:7-8 in the Scripture says, dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Loving others and being loved by others are beautiful gifts from God. Don't let fear stop you to give away your love. It may be the only thing that those who around you need the most, and you are more capable to love. So go on, give it away and be a blessing to them. The Greatest Blessing is in you. He's for you. As you do what He has told you, you'll be blessed even more.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:11-12 (NIV)

Praise is beautiful

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
Psalms 150:1-6 (NIV)

Tune In

    Keep your heart open to the new things God

    may do. What's in His heart, He put into your

    heart also. 

You are precious in His eyes

    God has not lost sight of

    you for one moment. He

    cares about you. Fear not! 

    I will instruct you and teach 

    you in the way you should go;

    I will counsel you with my loving 

    eye on you.

    Psalms 32:8 (NIV) 

Blessing through faith

     God's desire is to bless you. Break the cycle

     of UNBELIEF. Take FAITH onboard. Let the

     beauty of His promises fill your heart with joy. 

     " 'If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is 

      possible for one who believes.” 

      Mark 9:23 (NIV) 

Be happy!

You

    

Have faith in God

Embrace Him More

Be grateful!

    Gratefulness keeps us focused on God. 

Keep smilin!

Don't give up!

    Don't give up! Let God be the source of your strength. 😊 

Smile! Be happy!

     Have faith! God acts when we pray.

     Believe! Receive! 

Just wait | Take a rest | Have faith | He is able

If God has given you a promise, WAIT for IT; 

it will happen. If you feel it's difficult to hold on,

take a rest; breathe, laugh, and smile. These are 

simple expressions that you trust Him. Don't give

up on Him. He always delivers. Think it's too late,

no; it's not! He's always on time. 

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV)