🔔 Christmas Bell's are Ringing 🔔

 Ding Dong 🔔 Ding Dong 🔔 Christmas Bell's are ringing 

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"There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky! There's a mother's deep prayer

and a baby's low cry! And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,

for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

First stanza from the hymn
~ There's a song in the air ~

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One cannot help but sing with a joyful heart this Christmas season

when we are reminded of God's love as we prepare 

in celebration of His Son, our Savior and Lord.

I pray there is a song in your heart because you know of the Savior,
 our gracious King, our long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free.

He is the Hope of all the earth and Joy of every longing heart.

☆**♡♡**☆

It was a silent night, a holy night, when all was calm and all was bright.

Picture this beauty...

In the manger of Bethlehem which cradles our gracious King,

lies a Holy Infant, so tender and mild, sleeping in heavenly peace while

surrounded by Shepherds who traveled afar

and angels singing sweetly over the plains...
Glory to the newborn King!
God, give us ears to hear the song of angels from afar,
and let them speak to us of hope and faith and love.
Nestled in His cradle is our Savior and our King!

Behold Him, adore Him, worship Him, Christ the newborn King!

☆**♡♡**☆

"For we have seen His star in the East
and have come to worship Him."
~ Matthew 2:2 ~
All men can behold the Christmas star and come to a humble place
of His birth to gather on bended knee at the side of His manger bed.
God, in sending a Savior into the world,
opened salvation to all the world.
Jesus was born for all!
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
which is Christ the Lord."
~ Luke 2:11 ~
Jesus came to offer the free gift of Gods love to all
to everyone ~ to you.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son into he world to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him might be saved."
~ John 3:16-17 ~

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"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."
~ Luke 2:14 ~
Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection took place so we can possess peace
amid the storms of life.
In our times of doubt, He reassures of His presence in our lives;
and in our times of distrust, He encourages us to lean on Him
and experience His power and strength.
When the troubles of life threaten our spiritual well-being,
He comes to still the storms and bring true and lasting peace.
This time of year it seems as if you run into people more often than not
who are struggling in some way or another.
Extend to them compassion and share the good news of the love of God.
Tell them of the babe born in a stable on that first Christmas long ago;
and the beauty and promise of that silent, holy night.

God's blessings to you!
~ Debbie ~
♡

Calvary's Cross ~

Jesus, our Sacrificial Lamb, our Savior, our God, our Redeemer ~

He laid down His life as our sacrificial lamb to pay for our sins. 

When He rose from the dead three days later, 

He gave victory over eternal separation from God (death)

to all who put their faith and trust in Him. 

New found faith brings us into a personal relationship with God, 
through all that Jesus has done and continues to do. 

John the Baptist introduced Jesus, saying,

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

(John 1:29)

The penalty God imposed on sin is both just and loving, 

for God Himself,  in the person of the Son, paid that penalty

for all who will accept Him as their Substitute.

God the Son, clothed in human form, shed  His blood for man's sin,

therefore, satisfying every demand of holy justice.

And through that precious blood, God showed Himself to be both

"Just and justifier of him which believeth in Jesus"

(Romans 3:26)

"We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches of His grace"

(Ephesians 1:7)

"You were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, 

from your vain manner of life... but with the precious blood of Christ,

as a Lamb without blemish and without spot"

(1 Peter 1:18-19)

Apart from Jesus Christ,  all people are separated from God. 

Sins rebellion forged a gulf between God and man

that is humanly impassable.

Yet, Christ's blood built the bridge from God to man. 
"Now in Christ Jesus, you who formerly were far off
have been brought near by the blood of Christ"
(Ephesians 2:13)
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that, 
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood,
we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him"
(Romans 5:8-9)
Human sin produces a pollution of the heart that can only
be cleansed by God's grace.  And that grace proves itself
in the power of Christ's sacrifice.
"The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, 
cleanses from all sin"
(1 John 1:7)
The Bible emphasizes Christ's blood because only in His sacrifice 
can we find forgiveness, cleansing, reconciliation, salvation and glory!

♡♡♡

Do you know the Savior, who's blood was shed upon Calvary' cross?

Thinking of you, dear friends,
and wishing you the blessings of God's grace,
the peace of His promise and the joy of His love. 

Be Gracious!
~ Debbie ~

By Grace Through Faith

Easter... Is my favorite Holiday celebration

because of what Christ did for me personally;

He suffered and endured the shame of the cross

when it should have been me on that cross.

"Christ, being found in fashion as a man, he

humbled himself and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross."  (Philippians 2:8)

He came to prove His love towards me,

in that while I was a sinner, He died for me,

so that I might live a victorious life through Him.

I cannot help but think about the free gift 

that we have through Jesus Christ our Lord,

 as we celebrate Resurrection Sunday.

 Ephesians 2: 1-10 is such a beautiful reminder

of God's divine formula for rescuing His people from their sin.

God's rich Mercy (verse 4 a) "But God who is rich in mercy."
Romans 10:12&13 are beautiful verses showing God's mercy to ALL

who call upon His name. 

"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek;

for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord

shall be saved." 

 God forgives all our iniquities

and heals all our diseases. (Psalm 103:3) 

He removes the barrier that separates people from Himself

by canceling the debt of sin (all our iniquities) so that anyone

can enjoy a loving relationship with Him.

God's love removes a persons sins as though they never existed. (Psalm 103:12)

Oh my! That should cause us to bow down on our knees

to the Lord and lift His name on high and thank Him

for the work He has done for us

as we trust Him in His unfailing love. 

God's great Love (verse 4 b) "For his great love, wherewith he loved us."

John 3:16-17 are verses we quote so often, and are filled 

with the wonderful truth of salvation.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,

but have eternal life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world,

but that the world through Him might be saved." 

******

God's Grace (verse 5) "Even when we were dead in sins, 
hath quickened us together with Christ,
by grace are ye saved."
Paul expresses his thanksgiving to God 
for his salvation through the grace of God in 1 Timothy 1:14&15
"And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith
and love which is in Christ Jesus.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world 
to save sinners, of whom I am chief."  

Mercy, love, and grace combined together produce a free Gift. (verses 8&9)
"For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
Not of works lest any man should boast."   
Romans 6:23 ties in so well with these two verses,
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  
Eternal life is a grace, a gift received through Faith. (verse8) 
"So faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." 
Have you trusted in the marvelous grace of Jesus
and received His free Gift of salvation? 

******

"Why Should He Die 
For Such As I" 

In everything both great and small
we see the hand of God in all,
and in the miracles of Spring
when everywhere and everything
His handiwork is all around
and every lovely sight and sound
proclaims the God of earth and sky
I ask myself "Just who am I"
that God should send His only Son
that my salvation would be won
upon a cross by a sinless man
to bring fulfillment to God's plan-
For Jesus suffered, bled and died
that sinners might be sanctified,
and to grant God's children such as I
Eternal life in that Home on High.
~ Helen Steiner Rice ~ 

Great is the Lord and most worthy of our praises.
Our Precious Heavenly Father,
thank you for the gift of salvation
through Your Son Jesus Christ,
who willingly suffered and died
so that we may have life.
Amen.

Hallelujah
Christ is Risen!
~ Debbie ~