December 2019 – She Believes 3

She Believes 3 Devotion December 31, 2019

How Is Your Vision?

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLV)
¹⁸“Do not remember the things that have happened before. Do not think about the things of the past. ¹⁹See, I will do a new thing. It will begin happening now. Will you not know about it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLV)
¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.
Proverbs 16:3 (TPT)
³Before you do anything, put your trust totally in God and not in yourself.^[a]
Then every plan you make will succeed.

It is said that, when you have 20/20 vision, you have perfect vision. My question for you as we enter the year 2020 is: How is your vision? Have you prayed and consulted with God, before randomly setting the goals that you want to achieve this year? Are you crystal clear on your purpose for this New Year? And most importantly, is your vision for the year correctly, and precisely aligned with God’s vision and purpose for your life.

Only by spending time with Him, will you know what His vision for your future is. As you draw closer to Him, bit by bit, He will begin to unfold His plan for your life. It is only through spending time with Him that you will know, if your vision for your future, aligns with His vision for your future.

She Believes 3 Devotion December 23, 2019

He is the Real Gift!

Originally posted Dec. 2016

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

Just a few days ago I was visiting with a lady who was very close to full-blown panic mode because she had not yet decorated her home for Christmas.

I was happy and skipping through life virtually carefree until I spoke with her. All of a sudden, I started to feel a little stress creeping in because I began to think at least your tree is out of the box. My tree was still in the box and very much unassembled.

Of course, I didn’t share that with her. Things started to rush through my head, such as, where are the Christmas lights and what box are the decorations in? You see we moved in the last year, and there are still boxes stored away, and let’s just say I’m glad I am not the one who will have to look for the lights.

I am sharing this story with you today because it became quite clear to me that I was starting to assume her stress and anxiety. Ladies during this season we can get so caught up in the presentation of everything that we miss the things that are really important. So let’s just breathe slowly, breathe in and breathe out. Just take a moment to slow down inside and just breathe. Now that I have your attention and you have calmed down let’s talk about what’s really important. Let’s talk about the precious souls that we will scurry past if we are not carefully watching for those who are truly in pain and hurting during this season. Who will you bless?

There are those who will have no one to share Christmas with, so why not set an extra place at the table and invite someone over to partake in a wonderful meal, and just to feel like a part of your family. Pick up an extra pair of gloves or a devotional or something that you can wrap and share with them. So that as your family gathers around the tree they will feel like they belong. Why not send a special card of encouragement or a call someone who may be struggling with their first Christmas after losing a family member. Become a Christmas Angel to a family that can’t afford to purchase toys for their little children. Volunteer at a shelter. Reach out to someone this season and give a gift of love. Not to someone who will then rush out and buy you a gift also, but to someone who is deeply in need of help.

Look for the opportunities to share Jesus with those that you come in contact with. You are their link to hope, as you share the true story of Christmas and remind them why Jesus came you are giving them hope. Hope gives them a reason to keep living and to keep trying here on earth, and most importantly you are sharing the eternal hope they have in Christ for a life with Him eternally.

It doesn’t matter how much is under the tree, what matters is that we see a glimpse of Jesus this season and that others see a glimpse of Him too because He is the real Gift!

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

She Believes 3 Devotion December 12, 2019

The Gift Giving Season

The Gift-Giving Season

Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
²³For the wages of sin is death, but the ^[a]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:16 (NKJV)
¹⁶For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)
⁷So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of ^[a]necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

1 John 3:16-18 (NKJV)
¹⁶By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? ¹⁸My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Acts 20:35 (NKJV)
³⁵I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Hebrews 13:16 (NKJV)
¹⁶But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Christmas is a joyous time of year when we celebrate the birth of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Just as Christ’s entrance into the world was a sacrificial expression of His love, we are to immolate His example of love in the way that we give to others. Christ gave from a place that was pure. He expected nothing in return. He gave and there were no ulterior motives. His gift was love-based, and it was the ultimate sacrifice.

Can you imagine leaving a place that is the epitome of royalty, to spend years, willingly in impoverished conditions? And just to think, He knew that there would be those who would choose to reject Him as their most precious gift.