The Birth of Christ...

Volume 2.5

Welcome to Life is for Living 2009. We are excited about the Life is for Living blog and hope you are too! We believe that the Lord created each human being with a purpose, a destiny, and a future. As this year comes to a close, and you begin to look forward to next year, look upward to God for His guidance and His will for your life. This holiday season place your faith in the Lord and put your life in His hands. He is there and He will not fail you or let you down. The Lord Jesus Christ loves you and has a special plan and purpose for your life. When you go throughout your day and walk out the busyness of your life try to remember to stop, thank Him for His many blessings, and enjoy His beautiful creation! Remember that “Life is for Living!”

Daily Bread- Luke 2:1-20 NAS;

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. It is filled with holiday cheer, family gatherings, and presents under the tree. Christmas is also a special time to remember the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; and it is a time to give Him thanks for His many blessings in our lives, and for His birth, death, and resurrection. The Bible says in Philippians 2:7 NLT; “Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form.” Jesus Christ chose to give Himself as a living sacrifice. He chose to come to earth, be born a man; take on the sins of mankind and die on the cross that all may receive salvation and live in His divine hope and glory. It is God’s heart that each and every person be reconciled to Him through the acceptance of His Son Jesus Christ. It is only in this acceptance that you can be forgiven of your sins and be made right before your Creator.

When Christ died on the cross and rose again, He had you in mind. God loves all people. He knows each person by name. He has the very hairs on your head numbered. And He knows the specific plan and purpose that He has destined for your life. Just as Jesus Christ had a purpose and a destiny on earth, He has given you a specific purpose in life also. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV says; “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.”

Because of Christ’ birth, death, and resurrection you have been given hope and a future. It does not matter who you are, what you have done, or what you may believe about yourself. God loves you; and He desires for you to know Him as your Heavenly Father and as your Savior. He is reaching out to you in this very moment. Reach out and take His hand. Allow Him access to your heart and to your life. He will not fail you or let you down. He will stand with you through every trial and be there through every dark moment. He truly is The Hope of Glory!

If you would like to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior; or if you would like to rededicate your life to the Lord, please pray this prayer aloud to Him;

Dear Lord Jesus,

I give You my life and I give You my heart. I ask that You would forgive me of my sins and wash me clean with Your blood. I dedicate my life to You; and I ask You to be my personal Lord and Savior. I commit from this day forward to serve You and to live for You; and I ask that You would reveal Your plan and purpose for my life. I ask that You by Your power and presence would touch my life and reveal Yourself to me in a greater way. I thank You for this and for Your many blessings. I thank You for Your birth; and for Your death and resurrection. I thank You that from this day forward my life will never be the same again.

In Jesus Mighty Name I Pray,

Amen

Date Idea of the Month- This time of year many people send out their greeting cards filled with holiday cheer and well wishes to others. This month, take time to write a special greeting for your spouse or loved one. Make a card or purchase a card just for them. Write a little something special in it to show your love and appreciation. When you’re done writing your card, take a moment together to exchange them. This is a loving and kind way to show you care, and are thinking about the one you love!

Family Time Idea of the Month- Christmas is coming soon! This month, take time out to spend with your family. Go ice skating at the ice rink or skate on the local pond. Go sledding, skiing, or snowboarding. After your fun in the snow or on the ice, go home and bake Christmas cookies with your family. Everyone should take part in this fun! Mom, Dad, and children! Everyone pitch in and bake these delicious treats. The holidays are a time for fun, family, caring, and sharing. This is the most wonderful time of the year!

Movie Must See- “The Passion of the Christ”

“The Passion of the Christ” is the story of Jesus Christ; His last twelve hours on earth and His death and resurrection. This is an amazing film filled with hope, inspiration, and truth. The truth of Christ’ love for all mankind; and the truth of His crucifixion and resurrection. The true message of this story is; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” John 3:16 NAS. This film is starring Jim Caviezel and was directed by Mel Gibson. It is rated R. Please Note: This film is a depiction of Christ’ death. Due to this, the film may be too graphic for children.







Music Must Hear- Andrea Bocelli

“My Christmas” by Opera singer Andrea Bocelli is a beautiful holiday album filled with all of the classics we know and love. “Jingle Bells,” “Santa Clause is Coming to Town,” “White Christmas,” and “The Lord’s Prayer” are just a few of the tracks on this amazing album. Bocelli also performed several duets on this album with artists including; Natalie Cole, Reba McEntire, and the Muppets. It is a must hear!







Bible Verse of the Month- “The angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God'” Luke 1:35 NAS.

Final Thought- Look upward today for your future and purpose in life! Remember that the Lord is with you. He is familiar with your sufferings and every trial that you are walking through during this time of your life. This holiday season remember to give thanks for the greatest gift of all; the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. May you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Trust in the Lord...

Volume 2.1

Welcome to the new Life Is For Living for 2009. We are excited about the Life Is For Living blog and hope you are too! Each month we will be posting a new Life Is For Living Blog for you to enjoy. We believe that the Lord created each human being with a purpose, a destiny, and a future. It is important to remember to trust the Lord and to put our hope in Him. As we place our faith in Jesus Christ and believe in His promises for our lives, we can have hope for the future and for a brighter tomorrow. When you go throughout your day and walk out the busyness of your life try to remember to stop, thank God for His many blessings, and enjoy God's beautiful creation! Remember that "Life Is For Living!"

Daily Bread- In today’s day and age times are very tough for many people. There are those that are losing their jobs, homes, and life savings. It can be very difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel and to keep believing for a better day. Whatever you may be facing in your life, there is good news! In Christ there is hope for a brighter tomorrow.

The Bible teaches that the Lord is a present help in a time of need (Psalm 46:1); and that no matter what circumstances you may be facing in your life, be it good or bad, God is a merciful and gracious God, ready and able to meet your needs, and willing to pull you out of every trying and painful circumstance. The Bible reveals to us that God can turn what the devil meant for evil for His good (Romans 8:28). This means that no matter what you are walking through in your life, God can turn your circumstance around and good can come from your pain, sorrow, and suffering.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) says; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” As you place your trust in Jesus Christ and lean upon Him, you can find comfort and strength knowing that your life is in His hand; and that He is present to supply all of your needs.

In Matthew 14:13-21 (NIV) the scripture says; "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, 'This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.' Jesus replied, 'They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.' 'We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,' they answered. 'Bring them here to me,' He said. And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children."

This passage of scripture displays three very important truths. One, in this passage it reveals the Lord’s willingness to take care of His people. The disciples came to Jesus suggesting that He send the people away to go get food. Jesus replied by telling the disciples that the people could stay and be fed right where they were. Jesus could have told the crowd to leave and get food for themselves; but Jesus did not do this. He provided for the people and made sure that they were well taken care of.

Second, this passage of scripture reveals the Lord’s ability to take care of His people. Jesus healed the individuals there who were sick and had ailments; in addition to feeding the individuals who were hungry and in need of food. Although there were only two fish and five loaves of bread available, it did not prevent Jesus from working a miracle and providing for a crowd of more than 5,000 individuals. He fed the people until they were full and satisfied, having some left over as well.

Third, this passage of scripture reveals the importance of believing and trusting in the Lord to supply your needs. The people in attendance that day received from God’s hand because they chose to believe and they chose to put their faith in Jesus Christ. The people could have left the meeting and gone to seek out food elsewhere. The people could have chosen not to believe that the Lord could bring forth a miracle and provide for their needs. The individuals in attendance made a decision to have faith, to wait upon the Lord, and to partake in God’s divine blessings. They received their miracle that day.

It is important in your Christian walk to remember that you have an important role to play. Your part is to have faith, to believe, and to choose to receive from the hand of your Master. When you come to the Lord with a willing spirit and an open heart, filled with faith and expectancy for your miracle, you position yourself to enter into all of the many blessings that He has in store for your life. The Bible says; “All things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) NAS

No matter what your needs may be the Lord Jesus can meet every single one of them. I encourage you to open your heart to the Lord and all of the many blessings He desires to bestow upon your life. I encourage you to seek the Lord; and to spend time praying and asking God for what you have need of. I encourage you to cry out to Him and share with Him your heart, your sufferings, your grievances, and your hopes for the future and for your life. The Lord Jesus Christ loves you more than you could ever know. He is listening and He is waiting for you today.

You can start by praying this prayer aloud to the Lord;

Lord Jesus, I ask You to forgive me of my sins and wash me clean with Your blood. Forgive me Lord for any unbelief or anger in my heart. I give You my life, my finances, my marriage, my hopes, my dreams, and my desires. I ask You to fill my heart with Your presence and Your peace; and I ask You to meet all of my needs. I ask for a miracle from heaven. I ask for You to supply all my needs financially, emotionally, physically, and mentally. I pray that You would watch over me Lord; and I pray that You would keep me and my family, and that You would be the head of my life and in the midst of my circumstance Oh Lord. I thank You that You have heard my prayer this day and that You will answer. I believe and so I receive this day. I thank You Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen. Amen. And Amen!

Date Idea of the Month- Take your spouse or loved one out for coffee. While you’re sitting and sipping coffee, tell your loved one how much they mean to you. Also, spend time talking and sharing with one another. Share about your day, your feelings, and your hopes and dreams. It’s important to make time for the one you love and to communicate with them what’s on your heart. This small gesture can really mean a great deal to your loved one!

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) NIV

Movie Must See- “Rudy”
"Rudy" is an account of the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger who had the dream of playing football at the University of Notre Dame. He grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working out of high school, but he wanted to play football and go to college. He had just a few hurdles to overcome; his grades were a little low, his athletic skills were sub-par, he was only half the size of the other players, and no one believed in him. But he had drive, spirit, and determination and set his sights upon joining the team. Despite these significant obstacles he achieved his dream and proved that we should never give up, but press on until we achieve our goals.

Music Must Hear- Crystal Lewis (Hymns) My Life
You can download this album on iTunes or purchase Crystal’s music at http://www.crystallewis.com/

Bible Verse of the Month- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) NIV