Well, Merry Christmas! This was my first Christmas as a born again. I knew it would be a blow out! It was fantastic, reading the Bible these past 11 months, and understanding now that beginning with Genesis, the Bible is preparing us for the Messiah's birth. It was always about Jesus! The Word became Man. I praise God that I understand these most eternal Words that have now changed my destiny. I am on a different course. I am growing and stretching and reaching. And obviously you can tell from my blog that I am sure the heck praising and evangelizing.
Oh Lord, thank you for coming to the earth in man-form to Bethlehem so many years ago. Thank you God, for feeling our every suffering, disappointment and temptation, in the form of Jesus. You suffered on the cross. Thank you for the Christmas story, revealed to us in completion and perfection, untouched through the ages. I have complete faith that your Holy Book is absolutely true and each chapter is a story about my life. I am living through your breathing book.
I hope that on your faith journey, you are opening your mind further and further and exposing all of those rooms in your heart to the Lord. I have a general prayer that "Oh Lord, please expose to me any hidden sins that I may have. Please unearth any items that I need to deal with". Don't be fearful of doing that. Say it with intensity. Pray with passion. Really concentrate. Pray when you are not doing anything else. Yes, pray also during the day, during your daily duties. But, I think it is important to pray boldly to Him.
Being a new born again, I knew this Christmas would be the best one I have ever had. Yes, in the past I always had my nativity scene up and said "Merry Christmas" more that "Happy Holidays". And many years I got to church, but also, many years I did not on Christmas. (sometimes our pain is too great--but any pain that comes my way now, I will truly let God shoulder it also with me. PTL)
I list at the bottom of my blog the lyrics of Christmas songs that really hit me as a born again Christian. (the term "born again", came into my heart in May of this year. I did not label myself. The Holy Spirit labeled it for me).
These lyrics are amazing, because most of them are at the end of the hymns. Many times we may not have sung them. I went through all of the Christmas songs I could think of, and found all of these, with reference to born again status and also, our earthly-dwelling, fallen angel, satan. (Yes, he resides here, please read your Bible and quit ignoring the truth. Fear God more than satan. I now am. )
Well, being a lifelong Christian, I probably did sing these hymns and glazed over the true meaning. I "had it". I knew John 3:16 by heart. I "had it covered". I didn't even search those lyrics for what they really mean, behind the curtain.
One way a friend of mine puts it: "It's like The Wizard Of Oz. You spend your life a Christian or non-believer. You are on a journey on a yellow brick road to find what you are looking for. You meet people on the way who are looking as well for "it". You get there. And find a phony. A guy pretending to be almighty, pulling strings, scaring everyone. He is behind the curtain, Mr. Oz. You are disappointed, because you found out the truth is in you. No person can do that for you. He can't put a heart in you or a brain or take you home. Humans can't do that. They can't change the insides of you."
Being filled with the Holy Ghost first begins with God choosing you. But, you MUST BE OPEN TO THIS INVITATION.
I don't know why He chose me. I am very, very happy He did. I am not arrogant by saying that I was chosen. My 19 year old son (home from college) got overdosed on my new "self" and made a snide comment on Christmas Eve about this. He said that he didn't want me to become self righteous because of my religion. It hurt a little. But I thought about it. He is still not knowing where I am coming from. I was him not that long ago. It's ok. I pray for all of my children and grandchildren to be born again, and I also pray a "blanket prayer to cover them", until they do, as a power of a parent, still rearing her children.
I love what is behind the curtain for Melissa. Forget Oz. I read my Bible and it has a heartbeat. It is alive. I see behind the curtain now. I am open to this, the seen and unseen. I want God to take me where He wants. He has revealed to me many things and I am an actress now in his dramatic play about real love. Love for a Father I want to obey. Love beyond what I ever knew. And loving me back as no man or child of mine can. I dare you to realize that there is so much more than what you have been led to believe. Read these lyrics and see that satan is real and he is having a hay day here on this planet, through your TV, radio, People magazine and unqualified church leader. That is just the beginning.
May I suggest Joyce Meyer ministries? She is so Holy Spirit driven, I have confidence in that. I will not raise her to too much of a pedestal, but she is someone I truly look up to and listen to her conferences approximately 5 times a week online. Make her your church for now if you can't get out to church or if you are in too much pain to worship with people. She moves me so much that I praise out loud watching her in my house. I put my hand in the air, cry, and say alot of "amens" out loud. I can't help it. I am born again. Come join me. Please, be open to what you are missing. The curtain and veil are mentioned many times in the Bible, in different references. Open that Book and see for yourself.
O Little Town Of Bethlehem: Verse #3: O holy child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in; be born to us today. We hear the Christmas angels, The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide in us, Our Lord Emmanuel.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman: Verse #1: God rest ye merry, gentlemen; let nothing you dismay. Remember, Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day. To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Verse #2 Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by. Born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth.
Oh Holy Night: Verse #3 Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, And in His name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus rise we, Let all within us praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord, Then ever, ever praise we; His power and glory ever more proclaim, His power and glory ever more proclaim.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel: Verse # 2 O come, thou rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny. From depths of Hell Thy people save, and give them victory o'er the grave.
As With Gladness Men Of Old: Verse # 4 Holy Jesus every day keep us in the narrow way. And when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last. Where they need no star to guide, Where no clouds Thy glory hid.
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