GLORIOUS

The greeting given by most people at the beginning of another year is, "Happy New Year!"

Some may say, "Have a blessed New Year!" I greet you on this New Year's Eve with this greeting, "Have a glorious New Year!" You truly are My praise and My glory. Paul gave this exhortation to husbands, "Husbands, love your wives just as I have loved you and gave Myself for you that I might sanctify and cleanse you with the washing of water by the word, that I might present you to Myself a "glorious" bride not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that My body (the church) should be holy and without blemish."

The word, "glorious," in this passage means "splendid and gorgeous." You glorify Me when you allow My splendor and My beauty to shine forth from you. I pray this blessing over you as you begin a new year: May the light of My glory shine through you this year and may you daily allow My light to so shine through you that men may see your good works and glorify My Father in heaven. By the way, you are already gorgeous in My eyes.

EPHESIANS 5:25-27; MATTHEW 5:16

RECEIPT

A receipt is a written acknowledgement of a purchase. When you go to take back some of your Christmas gifts to the store, the first question asked by the salesperson usually is, "Do you have your receipt?" If you are returning a Christmas gift, you probably do not have proof of the purchase.

When I died for your sins, I purchased eternal life for you and total forgiveness for your sins - past, present, and future. This was My gift to you . I purchased this gift for you with My own blood. The receipt you received as proof of My gift to you is My Holy Spirit. On the day you received Me as your Lord and Savior, My Holy Spirit wrote this on your heart, "Eternal, extravagant love." My love for you is eternal and extravagant. Father gave this love gift to the whole world when I died on the tree for the sins of the world. However, so many have not received this wonderful gift. I am so thankful that you received Me as Lord, and I know that you will never seek to exchange this gift or return it.

JOHN 3:16

RACING

This is the time of year when people are racing to the malls to purchase material things for half price. Everyone likes a bargain. I have a bargain and the price of that bargain is free. However, it is free because I freely gave Myself and shed My blood to purchase this free gift for you. Of course the free gift is My righteousness. The free gift also is My Word. My Word is a bargain because My Word will change your heart and the way you live.

When you receive My Word into your heart and allow Me to give you the strength to obey My Word, you will have blessings, upon blessings, upon blessings. All those Who hear My Word, recieve My Word, and obey My Word will live a blessed life.

Instead of racing to the mall during this after Christmas season, consider racing to the bargain that will change your life. You can purchase this bargain at most stores, but hopefully you already have it sitting near your bedside. What use is there to have a bargain if you do not use it. This year make it your goal to read, meditate, memorize, speak, pray, and do My Word . If you fulfill this goal, you will never want to exchange or take back this free gift.

PSALM 119

FAITHFUL

You live in a world where loyalty and faithfulness is not displayed in marriages or business.

On that fateful day when I died to forgive your sins, only the disciple I loved and My mother and Mary were with me. All the rest of My followers left Me because they were afraid.

Fear will always rob you of faithfulness to Me. People become unfaithful because they fear intimacy. They are afraid of deep, committed relationships because they fear that they will become vulnerable. They resist giving themselves fully to another person because they fear rejection.

You can be faithful to Me always because when you come close to Me, I will come close to you.

You can be yourself around Me. I do not judge you nor do I ever condemn you. You can give yourself fully to Me without any fear that I will ever reject you. I love you with an everlasting love. You can trust Me. Come to Me today with all your cares and allow Me to embrace you with My love.

MATTHEW 11:28-30

PRESENTS/PRESENCE

I know you can think back to the many Christmas mornings when your heart was pounding with expectation as you ran to see the presents under the tree. The thrill of that moment was exhilerating. Once you opened the presents, you could not wait to start using them or wearing them.

This is a morning when many gather around the Christmas tree and open presents. All who are gathered cannot wait to see what someone has given them. However, few take time to recognize My presence with them. I long for those gathered to look up for just one moment to thank Me for the greatest gift I gave them over 2,000 years ago. I died on a tree to give them presents that are eternal - eternal life, forgiveness of sins, righteousness, love, peace, and joy.

This Christmas morning, take time to recognize My presence with you and also to thank Me for those eternal presents I have given you.

JOHN 3:16-17

GLORY

The message the angels gave at My birth was, "Glory to God in the Highest and on earth, peace, good will toward's men!" What a night the shepherds had when My heavenly hosts surrounded them and made this announcement. I denied My Kingly glory to come to earth so that you can receive My glory. I am your hope of glory and now I dwell in you.

This is a time of the year when many are sad instead of joyful. Some have lost loved ones and will experience their first Christmas without their loved one. Others are lonely and have no one to be with them on Christmas Day. Pray for those who are sad, and when possible share the glad tidings of great joy that they too can experience My glory with them and in them.

LUKE 2:13-14; COLOSSIANS 1:27

HEAVENLY GIFTS

Everyone is so busy with their shopping for others and it is great and thoughtful to give gifts to others. When I was born the wise men from the east gave me some precious gifts. You can give me those precious gifts today even though you may have no money to purchase them.

What are those gifts? The wisemen gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold is the basis of all wealth. Gold represents your time, talents and possessions - all that causes you to make money in this world. This is a gift you can give Me. You can give Me your time, talents, and possessions.

When you give Me this kind of gold, I will cause you to prosper.

Myrrh was used to embalm the dead when I lived on Earth. Myrrh represents death. You can give Me the gift of myrrh today when you die to yourself and live for Me. Your body daily given to Me as a living sacrifice is one of the most precious gifts you can give Me.

Frankincense was poured on to the fire when sacrifices were made in the early days of the tabernacle and temple. Frankincense made those sacrifices have a sweet smell and My Father loved to smell those sacrifices. The altar of incense in the tabernacle represents your prayers that ascend to Me daily. You can give Me the gift of frankincense today when you offer your prayers to Me. What a joy it is for Me to hear your worship, thanksgiving and petitions to Me when you pray.

Thank You for offering these gifts to Me today. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive, but when you give these gifts to Me, you will receive a blessed life in Me.

MATTHEW 2:11