In the Christmas Spirit: A Celebration of Love

Posted on December 7, 2024 by yolandaberry

“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” Isaiah 9:6

What does it mean to be in the Christmas spirit? I often think of a child-like wonder and awe of the anticipation and curiosity of unwrapping Christmas gifts. It’s the warm feeling of giving to others and the special moments of sharing love, laughter and joy.

Although we do not know the exact date that Jesus was born, some Christians do not desire to celebrate Christmas anymore. It’s considered a pagan holiday with the rise of commercialism and consumerism with the representation of Christmas trees, snowman, reindeers and Santa Claus instead of honoring the true meaning of the birth of Jesus.

The pagan Santa Claus is even being sexualized as a sex symbol as they re-invent the image of Santa and transform him into the Hot New Target Santa.

Christ is also being taken out of the word “Christmas” or being replaced by Happy Holidays. Unfortunately, there is controversy around the whole celebration of Christmas.

As the world grows darker, I feel it’s important to keep this tradition alive even though we do not know the real date that Jesus was born. If you notice, Halloween extends from late August to October. The new acclaimed featured movie “Wicked” opened during the Thanksgiving holiday season which has introduced witchcraft and sorcery into the masses as they flock to the theatres. It grossed $114 million nationally and fifty million internationally totaling $164 million in revenue.

This attraction will also extend into the Christmas season as little girls dream of the “Wicked” dolls under the Christmas tree. This movie will continue to gross more dollars in revenue as people head to the movies during the holiday season.

Not to mention, Taylor Swift seems to have collaborated in her efforts to dress as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and highlight the yellow brick road and Emerald City which will only produce more hype around the movie.

There is an agenda to captivate the minds of the innocent youth and introduce them to witchcraft and sorcery just like Harry Potter, Charm, and the Lord of the Rings, just to name a few.

There seems to be another spirit being introduced to the Christmas season and it’s not the Holy Spirit. Slow and gradual change is happening right before our eyes, yet many are so blinded that they don’t realize it.

When you celebrate wickedness, portals are opened to the demonic realm. Nothing good comes out of evil. Evil is evil. Light cannot stand where evil dwells. Many people may believe that watching a movie is harmless, but minds and hearts are heavily influenced by what we consume on a regular basis. As a Christian, we must protect our eye, ear, and mouth gates. Our lifestyle must match what we confess to be as a Christian. We cannot have one foot in the world and the other quoting scriptures on social media. Our heart, mind and actions should align with God.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. Psalm 119:105

Unfortunately, this is not a typical Christmas message, but we are not living in a typical world. The world is changing quickly, and we must be aware of the changes that have taken place. As we enter this holiday season, let us hold onto the traditions of Christmas. We do not have to participate in overspending or exhaustion but enjoy the simplicity, love, and beauty that Christmas brings.

May the peace of God be with you this Christmas season!

In the Bible, light is a symbol of goodness, holiness, knowledge, wisdom, grace, hope, and God’s revelation. God is the source of all light and life, and created light to dispel the darkness and chaos on earth. excerpt here

Related Bible Verses

Matt 1:23

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). NIV “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)

Luke 2:13-14

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests'”

Psalm 98:4-6

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.⁵Sing to the Lord with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, ⁶With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.

John 8:12

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”.

1 John 1:5

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”.

From the Crucifixion to Resurrection: The Journey of Christ through Tribulation to Victory

Posted on March 27, 2024 by yolandaberry

The story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ has evoked much emotion, contemplation, and reverence in the lives of the believer worldwide. This occurrence of sacrifice, love and forgiveness is the cornerstone of our faith. It’s a timeless event that transcends every aspect of our past, present and future which offers lessons in every area of our lives.

The crucifixion of Jesus reflects the betrayal, suffering and ultimate sacrifice. From the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’s disciples, who sold Jesus’s life in exchange for money to the religious authorities which led to his arrest to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who ultimately sentence him to death in replacement of releasing Barabbas, a murderer and criminal, as well as the crowds who turned on him at a moment’s notice. The crucifixion was a brutal form of execution for the worst criminals.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:5

Jesus was forced to carry his cross along the roadside while he was mocked, beaten and scourged leading to being nailed to the Cross to suffer for the remission of our sins.

From the darkness of this event to the miraculous victory, Jesus rose from the dead after three days triumphing over sin, sickness and death. It is hope and the promise of redemption. It signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and life over death.

Through the resurrection, Jesus offers believers the hope of eternal life and the promise of redemption. It is a mirrored effect of compassion, forgiveness, and selflessness as we continue to be transformed into the character of Jesus for His glory as His message resonates with people of all faiths and backgrounds.

The power of the resurrection holds lessons for humanity. It teaches us the value of sacrifice and the importance of forgiveness and the transformative power of love. In a world plagued by division, disease, famine, war, strife, violence, and suffering, it is the power of love that conquers all.

As we take time to reflect on the resurrection of Christ, let us not dwell on the past but press on to the future with hope and faith. Let us embed the Word in our heart and let it guide us to a world of peace, justice, and compassion as we journey through life mindfully focusing and practicing the lessons Jesus provided and receiving the ultimate sacrifice through His love and eternal hope Jesus offers to us.

If you have not received Christ as your Savior and you want to ensure that you receive the gift of salvation, please take a moment and say this prayer out loud:

“Lord, Jesus, I acknowledge you as my Lord and Savior. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and was raised from the dead on the third day. I repent for my sins, poor choices, and mistakes. Come into my heart and renew my mind. Mold and shape me the way you want me to be. I open my heart to receive the Holy Spirit to guide, teach, comfort and protect me. Release me from all evil and temptation. Thank you for restoring my life. I glorify your name Jesus, who is above all names. From this day forth, I live to worship you. I praise you and rejoice to be a part of your heavenly family. I understand that I am not perfect and will make mistakes along my journey but help me to walk and lead as an example of Christ. In Jesus Name. Amen.”

Welcome to the family of Christ. He loves you, dearly. Although you may not feel any different after saying this prayer. Just know that Jesus has heard your prayer and He lives in your heart. You have been cleansed from all of your past sin nature. There is no guilt or condemnation in Christ Jesus. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Grace & Blessings,

Yolanda-

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Related Bible Passages

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

1 Corth 15:26-27

²⁵For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. ²⁶The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. ²⁷For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.

1 Corth 15:49-52

And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we^[a] shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Our Final Victory

⁵⁰Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹Behold, I tell you a ^[b]mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Corth 15:54-57

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁵“O^[a] Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Phil 3:20-21

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Isaiah 25:8

He will swallow up death forever,
And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces;
The rebuke of His people
He will take away from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken.

Phil 2:5-11

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

⁵Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ⁹Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

By His Stripes: Healing and Wholeness for the Body, Mind and Soul

Posted on September 2, 2023 by yolandaberry

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

On my way to work earlier this week, I noticed a long, rusty nail on the sidewalk. The first thing that came to mind was how painful it must have been for Jesus physically and emotionally to be nailed to the cross. I cannot even imagine the enormous pain He endured. The sacrifice that He paid for our sins was so great and overwhelming. His love is everlasting and unconditional.

I cannot imagine the people who simply do not believe in Jesus. People who choose to live on their own terms and take credit for their own success in life without giving honor and praise to God. People who acknowledge the universe but deny the creator of the universe.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:17

The world is a scary place, and it is ten times worse for those who do not take refuge in Him. It has always been unstable and full of uncertainty but in a shaken world God’s Word is unmovable and unchangeable.

Through His selfless act on the cross, healing is one of His greatest gifts to us through His love. When we call on Jesus, we call on “Jehovah-Rapha” our healer. In Hebrew, raphe means to heal, to mend, to cure and to make whole. Wholeness requires health in your body, mind, and soul.

In our culture, much of our time is dedicated to work. In the past couple of years, there’s been a shift to work, life balance and self-care but without Jesus you cannot sustain your peace, energy, or strength. We live in a physical world and our health is the top priority. Jesus came to save us from our sins, but He also came to heal us from sickness and disease and make us whole.

The Body: Embracing Physical Energy

Our temple (body) which houses our soul and spirit, our emotions and mental capacity is the vessel that we have a responsibility to care of. From our diet, to getting enough sleep to exercise and everything in-between, we must and should take care of our body with the utmost care. Our body carries us through every stage of life.

Daily exercise plays a crucial role in how we feel. Physical activity not only maintains our weight and flexibility, but it also releases endorphins which releases positive feelings. Finding exercise that you enjoy will help you become consistent because it’s something that you look forward to doing. Some to try would be swimming, sporting activities, dancing, or walking.

Through all the recent challenges with Covid and other diseases that are impacting the population, there is so much focus on health and wellness. Subliminally, we are absorbing toxic news and information daily that’s affecting our mental and emotional health. Depression and anxiety are at its utmost high.

Advertising agencies are consumed with promoting pharmaceutical advertisements that fill us with fear about sickness and disease like diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. The quick fix is popping medications into our system without considering the adverse effects. In some cases, eating a balanced diet, getting more rest, releasing stress by connecting to nature, and participating in physical activities will decrease health issues.

Although there are medical procedures and medications that aid and cure the body, the Word of God speaks life and abundance to our body, mind, and spirit. There’s healing power in the Word of God. We need to grasp the healing power of Jesus.

The Mind: Fostering Inner Peace

Our mind is immensely powerful, and it can shift our moods, thoughts, and perspectives. Our diets fuel our body and bring clarity to our thoughts. Certain foods can decrease the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Other foods can lower cholesterol or inflammation, maintain sugar levels or stabilize blood pressure.

You must guard your heart and mind from negative thoughts that affect our mood. Stress over a prolonged period can cause sickness and disease. We also must let go of any negative emotions that keep us bound. It is a process of letting go. Everything takes time so give yourself time to forgive and move on.

Jesus will meet you at every need. In what area do you need healing? Stand on His Word for your healing and deliverance. Use your authority to unlock the power of God.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

The Soul: Soaking in the Spirit

Lastly, our soul carries our emotions and personality traits. We must be emotionally healthy as well as physically and spiritually healthy to embrace complete wholeness. It is rooted in the heart. When there is an equilibrium or balance of the body, mind, and soul, your wholeness is in sync which means you are at your highest peak. It’s rare to maintain this balance for a long period of time because life dips and flows. It’s normal to experience highs and lows and we must learn to embrace challenges and obstacles. The natural process of life involves exploring, discovering, learning and growing.

When you do achieve a balance of aligning your physical, mental, and spiritual essence, you will feel a sense of peace within the natural realm. When you can get to a point where external factors do not shift your emotions or mental state and embrace your spiritual awareness within the natural realm, you can release stress, fear, anxiety, anger, or any other negative feeling. Prayer, worship and reading the Word on a consistent basis empowers strength, faith, direction, and wisdom.

Actively participating in social activities, engaging in creative expression such as art, writing or music, connecting with nature and giving back to community provides a sense of purpose, however our ultimate purpose in life is to honor and praise God. God designed each one of us for His purpose.

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corth 6:18-20

Self-expression is also vital to your health. It is not about numbing or bottling up your emotions but becoming authentically oriented to share your true feelings and emotions in a healthy way with others. It’s also having the freedom to be who you are and not suppressing your personality, thoughts or opinions in fear of being rejected by others. It is knowing and understanding right from wrong and having a conscious and a sound mind. All of these components lead to a life of balance and wholeness.

Salvation, Healing and Deliverance Prayer

Lord, thank you for your great sacrifice on the Cross. I repent for my sins. Thank you for washing away all sin from my life. I believe you are the Son of God and that you died and rose again on the third day. I thank you for the gift of eternal life, abundance and healing of my mind, body and spirit. Transform my heart and mind so I will seek you all the days of my life.

I ask that you touch every organ, blood cell, tissue and muscle in my body and cleanse me from all sickness and disease. I pray for your healing power to deliver me from any pain in my body and make it whole again. I bind and rebuke everything that is not according to Your will that is causing me worry and stress. I am healed from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. May I rest in your presence as your healing power flows like a river. I seal this prayer by your precious Blood. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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Additional Scriptures

It is righteous and holy to focus our minds on good not evil. It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones. Prov 3:8

⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” Matt 15:19

⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Phil 4:8-9

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹²I know how to ^[a]be abased, and I know how to ^[b]abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through ^[c]Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:11-13

Healing Scriptures for the Body

Healing for the Mind

Psalm 46:1-2

Psalm 55:22

Psalm 71:20

1 Peter 5:7

Healing for the Soul/Heart

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Category Archives: love

In the Christmas Spirit: A Celebration of Love