Humble Mary

 Here is a poem I wrote that appeared in inspireafire. com. It is about the mother of Jesus.

https://inspireafire.com/humble-mary/

Discovering the True Meaning of Christmas

           

As a child on Christmas morn, my heart raced in anticipation of unwrapping the

presents lying beneath our family’s Christmas tree. My brother and I awoke early and called my parents to commence with the festivities. In addition to the allure of presents, my mind raced with the magical cheer of the holidays. At church, the minister spoke of the Christ-child born in a manger. But the story did not grip me. It did not change my life, not until the Holy Spirit wrestled with my stubborn heart. When I was eighteen attending a gospel concert, the true meaning of Christmas came alive for me.

 

He always existed, and always will. His life spans from eternity past and on to infinity.

He is the great I am. He is Three in One - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Since Adam’s fall at the beginning of the world, God intended for Jesus to be born into the earth. God spoke these words to the serpent (Satan), after Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit.

 

“I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring

and her offspring; he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15

 

At the proper time, Jesus came to earth. The Maker of the Universe entered the womb of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Soon Jesus was born into the earth. He was worshipped by angels, shepherds and later by kings. The infinite One took on finite flesh. He who was 100% God became 100% man as well. He lived a sinless life and then paid the price for our sin through his execution on the cross. After three days, He rose again, and now He lives to intercede for us at the right hand of God. This is the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus was born, lived, died and rose again so that we can find our hope in Him.

 

When I was a child, the true revelation of Christmas evaded me. Like trying to grasp

slippery sand, I failed to understand. The eyes of my heart were blinded to spiritual things. It takes the Holy Spirit to illuminate our hearts. Satan desires to blind us from the truth but when we turn to Jesus, the veil is lifted.

 

Have you received Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Have you done business with Jesus by repenting of your sins and receiving His pardon for them. Have you obtained His free gift of eternal life? This is an exchange where we give Jesus our faults and He gives us His eternal salvation.

Jesus said we must become like children to enter the kingdom of God. He desires that our hearts be thrilled with anticipation not for the gifts beneath a Christmas tree, but for His gift of salvation He longs to give us.

The Bible teaches that none of us can earn this gift. It has been completely paid for through the blood of Christ. “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.” Ephesians 2:8-9.

Here is a prayer for you to receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. Please pray it if you would like to join God’s family or if you know the Lord but have grown cold in your relationship with Him.

 

Dear Father God,

 

Thank you for sending Jesus to die for me and to be risen from the dead. I admit that I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness. I repent of my sins and I turn to you. I declare that You are the Lord of my life! Thank you for your free gift of salvation that I cannot earn. I thank you that I will live with you in heaven forever. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

 

Here some things to do to help you in your newfound faith:

 

l  Read the Bible Daily– it is food for the soul.

l  Pray – Talk to your Heavenly Father.  He is Your Friend and He will talk to you as well.

l  Start attending a loving, Spirit-filled church that teaches from the Bible.

l  Tell others about your newfound relationship with Jesus.

 Merry Christmas!

© Copyright 2021 by Tom Toya  

 

 

 

 

 

Door of Hope

Hosea was a prophet in the Old Testament. God commanded him to marry a prostitute named Gomer. After they married, she was unfaithful to Hosea. Her life represented the nation of Israel. Israel showed her unfaithfulness to Jehovah by running after other gods. And Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea so the Lord told Hosea to separate from the woman. Gomer experienced shame from her disobedience. The Lord told Hosea to seek her out again and to love her. This was likened to His love and commitment to Israel. But the Lord gave her a promise through Hosea, and the Lord offers that same promise to us.

The Lord said, “There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make Anchor a door of hope.” Hosea 2:15 NIV.  Here the word vineyards represents abundance and fruitfulness. The Hebrew word for Anchor means trouble. We could write the verse as, “There I will give her back her abundance and fruitfulness and make Trouble a door of hope.”

If we turn away from the Lord, we will experience lack. This is especially true spiritually. Disobedience breeds spiritual lack or thinness of soul. If we walk away from our Creator, we will experience shame. Turning away from the Lord can also affect us physically, relationally, emotionally and financially. But God is married to the backslider (Jeremiah 3:14). He loves us even if we walk away. However, He always calls us back into a vibrant relationship with Himself.

When a person walks away from the Lord, he or she experiences darkness and trouble. But the Lord calls them home. He offers them a door of hope in exchange for their trouble.

If you examine your heart and find that your relationship with the Lord is not as it should be, turn back to the Father. He loves you, and He will treat you with compassion. Allow Him to turn your trouble into a door of hope.

Here is a prayer that will lead you back to the Lord if you’ve strayed…

Dear Father God,

I am not where I should be spiritually. I have walked away from you and I am sorry. Forgive me for my sins and make me clean. I surrender to you, and I declare that You are my Lord and Savior. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for me and thank you that He is risen. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

The Highest Praise

Don’t give gratitude

Only when you’re in the mood

Don’t give thanks and praise

Only with hands raised

 

Go about your day praising and singing

Lift up your voice, keep it ringing

 

Give thanks in every circumstance

Not for the trials that land

Give thanks in every circumstance

Don’t leave it up to chance

 

I am grateful, so grateful

Not just when the blessings flow

But also in the barren times

When I wonder where to go

 

Thank the Lord for who He is

For this is the highest praise

We Won't Bow Down

 Here is an article I wrote for inspireafire, com called We Won't Bow Down. I hope it encourages you.

https://inspireafire.com/38566-2/

 

Let's Stand

 

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-26 NIV

Jesus spoke the word of God with authority, not like the Scribes and Pharisees of his day. His clear approach turned some against him and others toward him.

Jesus said that we have a choice to obey his words or to go our own way. Our obedience or disobedience to God’s word is an indicator of how we will fair during times of adversity. If we obey the words of Jesus, we will be able to overcome when the trials come. We will be like a house with a strong foundation. We will withstand the onslaughts of the enemy and our house will remain standing.

If we choose not to obey Jesus’ words, our house (our lives) will crumble under the hurricanes of life. It’s interesting to note that both houses look the same on the outside. The foundation or lack of one is hidden from plain sight. It’s also important to realize that regardless of who we are, all of us will face storms. These are inevitable, but the man, woman or child who trusts in Jesus and obeys his word, will endure and overcome when drastic circumstances come. Our outcome to stand or fall rests solely on our decision to obey the Lord.

This does not mean that we must live perfectly to see victory. God will help those whose hearts are tender toward Him. He will enable us to live according to His word even if we stumble during the process.

Let’s choose to stand with our Lord’s words hidden in our hearts. Let’s grow roots deep down giving us the ability to endure the storms of life.

Ultimately, it is our choice whether to stand or fall. Let’s stand!

Perils into Pearls

 Here is an encouraging poem I wrote that appears in inspireafire .com today. It speaks of how God uses difficult circumstances in our lives to shape us, so that we grow in Christian character.

I hope it ministers to you...

https://inspireafire.com/perils-into-pearls/

I Remember When

 

I remember when you sought me

My heart was charcoal-
black and twisted

I knelt like a wretched man hiding in an alley

Yet your uncommon love reached down

The King of Kings knelt beside me

You could have judged me with fire

Instead, You gently lifted me up to embrace me

You clothed me in Your righteousness

You prepared a table before me

 

Then you called me to enable those around me

To bring them the message of Your unconditional love

Thank you Jesus for saving me

I will never be the same

Like Rockets

 Here is an article of mine that was recently published at inspire a fire .com. It encourages us to live on the right fuel so we can soar like rockets.  Like Rockets

Abba Father

This article first appeared in inspireafire . com. It encourages us to have an intimate relationship with God our Heavenly Father. Enjoy...

https://inspireafire.com/abba-father/ 

Pursuing God's Plans

 Here is an article I wrote for the New Year. It encourages us to seek after God's will for our lives. It first appeared in inspire a fire .com. I hope it ministers to you.

https://inspireafire.com/pursuing-gods-plans/

Delight, Abide and Seek

 Here is an article I wrote about prayer. I hope it ministers to you...

https://inspireafire.com/delight-abide-and-seek/