I AM – Devotional Style Short Stories – “The Intercessor”

The Intercessor

It’s been a fun day for a mother and her grown daughter. They’ve spent the first part of the day wandering through the shops at the Mall and as they sit on a bench laughing the daughter states, “I’m hungry! Let’s go to the Food Court and get some lunch.”

They place their orders at the Chic Filet counter and carry their trays and packages to an empty table the daughter has pointed out. Bowing their heads in prayer they ask the Lord to bless their food and thank Him for a day spent together.

A Man sits near by and is listening. He’s pleased.

“Mom, I had the weirdest dream last night.” The daughter states after taking a drink of her ice tea.

“Oh? What was it?”

“It’s really kind of scary. It was so vivid, like I was really there!” The daughter answers.

“Well, what is it?”

“There’s a court room and God is the Judge and Jesus and Satan are there. Satan is throwing out all these accusations against me!” She takes a bite of her sandwich and after chewing she continues. “I was sitting in the area where people sit to watch the proceedings. I was the only one there.”

The Man listens closely.

“The devil kept making all these accusations against me! It was horrible! And Jesus just stood there listening. He didn’t say anything! Nothing!”

“Did you expect Him to?” the mother asks.

“Well, I guess so. I mean Satan was really getting wound up!”

The Man chuckles, coughs, and takes a drink of His drink when the two women realize He’s listening.

“So what happened?” The mother asks leaning closer over the table.

“Well finally, finally, Jesus speaks up!”

“What’d He say?” The mother excitedly asks.

“I don’t know! He must have been talking in Arabic, Hebrew, or something, because I couldn’t understand a word He was saying, and then the Judge raised His gavel and……

I woke up!” she almost yells in exasperation.

The Man bursts out laughing and stands. He walks over to their table and says, “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation.”

The two women look up at Him with questioning expressions.

“And who might you be?” The mother asks a little perturbed at His boldness.

“I am the I Am.” He turns His attention to the daughter. “What you were being shown in the dream is how I intercede for My children. You were observing the accuser, the intercessor, and the Judge….”

The daughter abruptly interrupts. “It was my trial and I didn’t get to defend myself?”

“I am your defense against the enemy!” The Man responds firmly.

“Praise God!” The mother shouts, throwing her hands in the air. “My daughter needs to be defended.” She laughs and then states, “I love you child but you do some pretty crazy things at times.”

The Man walks away when the two women begin reminiscing about some of the daughter’s pranks and laughing.

***

Romans 8:34 – “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

***

It is sad to hear someone state, “God never did anything for me!” How wrong they are! God is at work all the time whether we realize it or not. We all sin and He is our advocate and continually intercedes to the Father on our behalf. Satan is the accuser and is the father of lies. He will convince us not only to commit sin but then tell us it’s okay. Once we do the sin he’ll laugh and tell us how horrible of a person we are.  Jesus defends us against the accusations and lies of the enemy. If you have Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior and “mess up,” which we all do, Jesus takes that sin to the Father when you’ve asked forgiveness and the gavel is slammed down with a loud, “Not guilty!”

Did you notice the non-nonchalant attitude of the women with the Creator of the world standing there? What would you do if the Great I Am walked over to your table?

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A Prophetic Vision of Heaven’s Courtroom: the Grace of Christ is With us Yet a Short Time

HOSEA 4:6 PROJECT

Friday –
December the 28th, 2018
Hebraic Year 5779

“Son of Man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me” (Ezekiel 3:17).


–     The role of a watchman is to warn and teach.
“…But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the Shofar, so that the people are warned; and then the sword comes and takes any one of them, I will hold the watchman responsible for the deaths” (Ezekiel 33:6).

Some of you may know of Maurice Sklar, some may not.  He is a Messianic world renowned classical violinist and frequently performs in Israel as well as the nations.  The prophetic visions and words he releases are not very frequent but when he does release them I think it important to listen, they are stunning in clarity and detail and rarely need interpretation, they are plain before you.  There is little doubt on the timeline of eternity.  May you draw close to the Lord in prayer, and Thanksgiving, upon reading this unique vision. ~LJR

A Vision of the Courtroom of Heaven

By Maurice Sklar

I had a vision/prophetic experience as I was eating lunch recently. Suddenly a portal opened in the spirit realm and my angel said to me, “You are summoned to come to the Courtroom of Heaven. You are to record the case being tried now, so that God’s people will know the lateness of the hour. You must warn them so that the Bride may awaken and take heed! The time is short!”

I was escorted by two angels to a seat on the left side, down front, of the Supreme Courtroom. There were many hundreds of angels and saints already seated before the Bench. I was surprised how much it looked like our Supreme courtroom in America, except it was much larger. It looked more like a giant arena with thousands of seats ascending up as far as I could see. There were five big leather “lawyer-like” chairs with wings on each side in the front row. They reminded me very much of the kind of chairs my father always sat in behind his desk at his law firm years ago. There were gold-embossed cards on them that said, “Recorder” on all five of these chairs. I must have been the first to arrive, and I was ushered into the one closest to the Bench. I sat down and sunk into this really comfortable chair and was handed a pen and a small scroll. I was curious as I looked at it, for it looked really old-fashioned. The pen was a feather quill with an old fashioned nib like a fountain pen at the bottom to write with. The “pad” was a scroll that was made out of parchment. It would open automatically as you wrote upon it when you got to the bottom of the page. It was kind of like an iPad that looked like a small Torah scroll at the same time. The angel showed me how it worked, it was extremely easy to hold and write on. When I would start to write, it would write whatever I thought of in perfect calligraphy script as fast as I thought it! The nib seemed to just fly over the parchment with ease in my hand. It would write whatever the angel put into my mind from what I saw and heard to record, and then would describe perfectly any other information the Holy Spirit deemed important in an instant as it happened. It was the easiest thing I ever written, it seemed to do all the work without my thinking or trying. I think this must be heaven’s way of court/legal stenography! Most amazing of all, I was writing in Hebrew, and I hardly know the language at all! But, somehow, I understood and thought in fluent Hebrew during this vision. I cannot offer any explanation for this at all.

The angel said, “You are one of five prophet Recorders that have been summoned from the earth to chronicle and witness this trial soon to begin. Just let the pen flow over the parchment and it will be a witness to the proceedings. Then, you will sign it when it is finished, and it will be added to the Eternal Ledger of Legal Proceedings.”

Soon, the other four recorders were seated and shown how to write as I was. I recognized one of them as a current prophet on earth. He was the only other from the Western world. I cannot speak of whom it was at this time and the other three of them were not known to me. We were all different races from different regions of the earth. One was a Chinese woman of great age, who just glowed with the wisdom and love of God. We were dressed in black robes, with red border sashes on the sides and the sleeves. The other prophet/recorder was a lady from Africa who had a headdress that wrapped around her head which flashed rays of light whenever she moved. She spoke and wrote in French, I believe. The fifth was a man from South America. I was given a yarmulka of golden color. It had twelve ruby stones around it. (God called me to wear a yarmulka whenever I minister on earth, so I wasn’t surprised that I had one to wear here). When the angel put it on my head I could feel the weight of it like it was made out of actual metal/gold, even though if felt soft to the touch – like silk.

Everyone finally assembled and a great and beautiful Angel who presided over the courtroom named “Justice” stood up. She seemed to tower over us and was about 20 feet tall! Then angels appeared with long trumpets on either side of the courtroom and sounded a fanfare that ended with a blast. The Angel Justice then shouted with a very loud, but soprano, Voice: “ALL RISE! The Honorable Ancient of Days, The Judge of all Creation, The King of the Ages, The Most High LORD Almighty is Present and PRESIDING!!”

We all stood up exactly at the same time in unison. Then the most awesome sound of praise and worship filled the atmosphere as we all began to praise His Glorious Majesty together. I have never experienced such a sense of awe as the Fear of the LORD filled the Court! It was only then that I could just make out who was seated behind the Holy Bar. There were not nine judges, but twelve. God the Father sat in the middle with six of the Supreme Court Judges on both sides of Him. I somehow knew He was the final deciding vote in every decision. After our praises finished, the Angel Justice, who I now saw was a Lady and not a male Angel, shouted: “Be Seated! The High Court is now is session. She was standing just in front of His Throne. She had a golden gavel and struck a giant crystalline base with it . There was a great thunderclap and lightning flashed out from the gavel base and flew across the room in all directions.

It was only then that I could see the Judges behind the bench. The only Person I could not see the Face of was the Father, but I could see the Throne He sat upon and the outline of His face. He seemed to be clothed in a white blinding light as well. He had a black robe on but had every color of the rainbow flashing out of it. If He moved even slightly, lightning bolts would fly all over the room out of His head, His hands and His feet.

The other Judges to the Father’s right hand were Enoch, Father Abraham, Moses the Lawgiver, David the King, Elijah the Prophet, and Daniel. On the Father’s left hand were John the Baptist, Peter, James, John, Andrew, and Paul the Apostle. I do not know whether these were the permanent Judges of the Supreme Court of Heaven or not, but these were the ones seated for this case. They all were also dressed in these black iridescent judge robes There were stunning crowns of glory on each of their heads, and they were holding gold scepters in their right hands. The Father in the middle on the Throne of Judgment held the biggest scepter and had many crowns suspended over His head that shot lightnings out of them in every direction. I could not look upon them or His face because it was so bright it was like looking into the noonday sun. I was given one glimpse at Him when He first came into the Courtroom. There was a rainbow that would appear that encircled Him above and below that I saw a few times during this vision. I could not endure looking at Him for more than a split second before I had to avert my eyes for the white blazing brightness was too intense. All the judges behind the Great Bar were emanating great light that was also nearly blinding. That is the closest I can describe them now.

Then the Case was read before all present by Lady Justice the Angel:
She spoke: This is (the summary) of the case brought before the Supreme Court of Heaven today:

“The Timing of the Final Judgments of the Day of the LORD must be decided. The Accuser satan is prosecuting, declaring that the time of Adam’s lease is over and he must be allowed to take ownership of the earth for a time, and times, and a half of time, as it is written in the Holy Scriptures.

“Representing the Holy Defense is the LORD Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah the Lamb of God.” At this, Yeshua Himself stood up at the Defense table as the Advocate General of the Bride of Messiah on earth, He was representing the Holy Saints of God still alive in their bodies on earth. When He stood up at the left table, everyone bowed and worshiped, accept those at the prosecution table to the right. There was a very handsome man who just sat stone-faced with several other princes at the prosecution table. They did not move. The head “man” sneered when they worshiped Yeshua.

“Representing the agenda of the fallen lucifer, now called satan, is himself, the Accuser, liar and deceiver, – Ha satan.” At this, the handsome prince with the evil smirk stood up. No one moved. There was silence in the courtroom for about a minute. Then, Lady Justice spoke again, “You may sit down now.” Finally, he did so, with another sneering grunt. I marveled that he seemed human and actually very attractive to look at, although there was no heavenly light in him or around him.

“The prosecution may proceed,” Lady Justice proclaimed.
At that, this ‘man’ stood up. He was robed in a black suit that had a long cape of crimson red that followed behind him. He had gold epaulets on his shoulders that were built into his cape. He was very articulate and extremely haughty. I got sick to my stomach, as he spoke. He walked back and forth in front of the court room in long strides with his nose in the air. It reminded me of a painting of what Napoleon looked like, except this ‘man’ was much taller than Napoleon. He began his long diatribe of accusation against fallen man. He seemed to know the Bible very well. Starting from Adam and Eve, he began accusing God of failing mankind in every generation. He started with the stipulation, “Adam was given exactly 6,000 years to rule the earth. He gave that lease to me and I own it. I have a right to rule over every man, woman, and child who are MINE by Adam’s free choice. The time is up. I now demand, to be given to me the government of Mankind through whom you call the Son of Perdition. I call him, My Son of Man. I have the scriptural right to take control of the earth for seven years. GIVE IT TO ME NOW!”

Then he sat down. Again, for about a minute or so, there was complete silence.
Lady Justice then spoke again, “the Defense may proceed.”

Yeshua then arose from the Defense table. He wore a white robe with blue trim and red sleeves with a bottom border and neck border of red. He wore a small diadem of solid diamonds as a crown. Once again, when he stood up, everyone bowed their heads before Him in worship, except those at the prosecution table.

He said, (in summary) “As the true Son of Man, I have taken the death penalty for every generation of fallen man, including those in this harvest generation. I also stripped satan of his authority over the Church of the Living God. His gates can no longer prevail against her. Through the intercession of My Holy Bride on earth, the overcoming Church of the Living God, there has been granted a pause by this Court to allow for the fullness of the harvest to come in, during the last hearing on this matter in 2015 – three years ago in earth’s time. For I spoke on earth, as it is written, ‘This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, and then the end shall come.’ I, by the authority of the prayers and intercession of the Bride, documented here in this scroll…” He handed the scroll to the Father, and another copy of it to satan’s prosecution table… “I petition the Court for another measure of time for the end time church to finish and fulfill the promise to My people, as it is written, “that NONE should perish, but all, (who are truly Mine) have the opportunity to hear the good news of the Gospel and to be saved from perdition.”

As he was speaking, satan – the handsome ‘man’ lawyer was busy reading the scroll feverishly to see if there truly was enough intercession to stop his immediate seizing of the earth and for the tribulation to begin. He was consulting his other diabolical “lawyers” about it . Foul language was coming out of his mouth along with hissing and, accusing his right hand “man”, saying, “You told me that we had destroyed the prayers of the church. The great awakening had been thwarted!!##***!@&*!!”

“Yeshua continued, “As you can see, my faithful Bridal remnant has kept the faith, enduring the evil, and continue to overcome. The blood of the martyrs has proven their faithfulness. Look at China. Look at the Middle East, look at Africa, look at Indonesia, look at South America, look at the islands of the sea, and look at My persecuted Bride in all nations. Even America has held, though all of hell has been thrown against her. The facts speak for themselves. I have the authority to request for another extension of time. The Defense petitions the Court for another extension of time in the Grace that I purchased by My blood on the cross. Also, I petition the Court to look into the scrolls of the hidden counsels written before the foundations of the earth regarding the Mysteries of the Harvest of the end of days. These, satan has no knowledge of – as they were never shown to him. It is written there, as well as in the hidden revelation of scripture, that the Tribulation beginning the Kingdom Age must begin only after ALL of My Bride that are ordained to Eternal Life are saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. This information can also be found in the scroll given by My hands to the Court for eternal record. The evidence written in this scroll fully confirms and documents our Holy and Righteous claim.” Though millions shall come to me and be saved in the Tribulation to come, My Holy Bride must all be prepared now!

Then there came a time of silence. Nobody moved. The Judges on the bench were studying the scroll. Somehow it had multiplied into 13 scrolls. All of the Judges, (including the Father), read through the scroll. I got to get one glance at the writing. It was written in red! It was written in the blood of Yeshua! I was told that by the chronicling angel that was helping me to write .Amazingly, as I wrote about this, the ink coming out of my pen became blood red as well for the duration of the description of it. Then, it turned back to black ink again.

After some deliberation, there was a vote. Every judge voted in favor of the saints to extend another time period of grace. I cannot disclose how long it is at this time.

Finally, the Father, the Great Judge of all the earth, spoke. He said:
“On the basis of the evidence presented by the Defense, I decree that the prosecution has failed to bring a closing to the final days of Grace on earth. An extension of time has been granted to the saints of the overcoming Bridal remnant Church.

“Nevertheless, the birthing pains and judgments on the earth will not be stopped. Ha-satan has the authority to rule over the tares of the earth-the wicked in darkness, by their willing consent according to the tenets of free will given to Adam’s race at the beginning of creation. Both the tares and the wheat have grown up and are now ready to be harvested. Therefore, the birth pangs of judgment shall increase. Those that will abide with Me in the secret place, I will provide for and protect. Those that do not are in more and more peril with each passing day. Though I have granted this, the final Day of the LORD has indeed come, and the prosecution is correct. The time of Grace upon the earth is nearly over. Warn my children: This is the midnight hour! Watch and Pray that you can stand in the evil day and overcome! I am answering the prayers of My Kingdom coming to earth. It shall come first in the fire of My Holy judgments! But is shall also come in the Great Awakening that I have promised of revival and outpouring. The Time of My Wrath is soon to engulf the earth! But, in it I will remember Mercy. Many millions of souls shall be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth.”

Then the Angel, Lady Justice, came forward and was blindfolded. She raised a large, old fashioned scale in her hands above her head. Into one of the bowls a presiding angel poured a black sand-like powder from a brass urn. This tipped the scale to all the way at the bottom as far as it could descend. This represented the accumulated sin and rebellion of all of mankind, as well as the failures of the church in this generation. Into the other bowl, a presiding angel dressed in a golden robe poured a white sand-like powder from a porcelain white urn that represented the prayers and intercession and obedience of the overcoming church in generations past as well as the Bridal company of our generation. (This is what allows for evil to be restrained.) I was really alarmed, because it looked so small at first compared to the amount of black powder in the other bowl. But, the angel kept pouring, and suddenly the Holy justice scale began to balance out. Then it was even. As we all watched, the scale suddenly shifted. The white bowl went down and the black bowl came up! Then there were mighty shouts of Praise and Victory in the Courtroom!

Then, the Father raised His golden scepter in His left hand, and slammed his Gavel down accompanied by thunderclaps and lightning flashing everywhere with bursts of rainbow colors shooting through the courtroom, and said, “The time of Grace shall be extended as petitioned by the Bride of Messiah for a little longer. ________ more (length of time) has been granted to finish the final harvest in the age of Grace.”

(Note: I have condensed what was spoken in the trial into this brief summary. I am forbidden to share any more…though much more was spoken. You can (eventually) go to the Library of Legal Proceedings in Heaven to access the entire transcript. Of course, you will probably have to wait for this access to when you arrive there, unless granted by the LORD through revelation by the Holy Spirit. Amen.)

Then, I was told to sign the recording scroll I had written. (The other four prophet recorders also signed their scrolls. I noticed that their scrolls were written in different earthly languages. The most visible was in Chinese.)

Then, the vision ended and I immediately went to my computer and typed what I saw and heard.
Dearly Beloved Bride of Messiah, we must labor now while it is light! Soon it will be night, where we cannot labor in the Harvest Fields of the earth any longer.
People get ready! Jesus is coming!!

Dr. Maurice H. Sklar

www.mauricesklar.com  |  (646) 255-5600  |  info@mauricesklar.com

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LYLE J. RAPACKI, Ph.D. is an Intelligence and Threat Assessment Specialist who has provided intelligence briefings and consultations to selected members of the Arizona State Legislature on Border Security, Deviant Movement Groups, and threats to State sovereignty from May 2010 thru April of 2018.  Dr. Rapacki’s reports, briefings and consultations have enlarged to include elected and law enforcement officials across the country.  Lyle believes he is now being directed to sound the Shofar of Warning to the Remnant Church of the challenges and threats directed ahead.  He is the author of the successful Amazon Kindle booklet: “Our Forefathers truly Appealed to Heaven” $5 Kindle.

I AM – Devotional Style Short Stories – “The Manifestation”

The day is over cast, no sun has shown through as the young man speeds down the road. Traffic has been light on this Sunday morning. He’s not worried about being  late for church. He grew up in church but his buddies has convinced him, “You don’t need some fantasy God anymore.” He’s rushing to the lake to meet them for some fishing.

Entering a small country town he slows for a child on a bicycle and then romps on the gas pedal as soon as he passes the little boy. He quickly glances to his right as he speeds through the intersection and before knowing what has hit him his car careen’s, flips, and rolls several times slamming into a telephone pole. His body is lifted up, out, and through the heavy glass of the windshield as it shatters, leaving him cut from head to foot.

Lying in a pool of blood he’s barely conscious of a Stranger coming to his aid. The Stranger kneels beside him and tends gently to some of his wounds. The young man glides in and out of consciousness and isn’t aware of the scream of the ambulance siren.

In the hospital the doctors and nurses tend to him. His surgery is considered a success and upon regaining consciousness he’s told, “If it hadn’t been for the Man at the scene you wouldn’t be here now.”

“What Man?” the boy asks.

“We were told a Man saved your life and suddenly disappeared. The driver of the other car didn’t make it.”

The young man lies quietly for a long time trying to remember and suddenly a picture of a Man kneeling beside him, tending his wounds and praying over him plays out in his mind.

He searches his mind trying hard to remember more when the words, “A drunk driver hit you. I’m here to save you. I am the I Am and you will be fine. Go back to church and sin no more,” fill his mind.

Tears flood the young man’s eyes and he whispers quietly, “Yes, Lord.”

***

John 14:21 – “He who has My commands and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

***

It is such joy to walk past a Sunday school room filled with children and hear them singing, “Jesus loves me this I know…” Their little hearts are full and we can be proud of God-fearing parents that introduce their little ones to God’s great love. As these same children mature and enter public schools those same children are influenced by peers, teachers, and administrators into non-belief. Prayer, Bibles, and anything relating to Christian beliefs are now banned from schools. Children are being indoctrinated into non-Christian values. The worlds values! It is sad and discouraging to watch as our society turns back to the evil ways of the world leaving those generations behind us to flounder with no Godly boundaries, morals, or Godly hope. As adults it is our responsibility, not only to our children, but to God, to teach our children about Jesus Christ and His saving grace. Without it we will see the future generations decline into a Hellenistic world.

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I AM- Devotional Style Short Stories -“We’ve Been Warned”

We’ve Been Warned

The wind is blowing moving the leaves on the tree branches as though God is blowing a big breath across the land. A Man walks across heavens field and looking around announces, “I am coming. Look up all ye that believe.”

The sound of horse’s hooves echo across the sky and thunder rolls vibrating all that is in its path. The blast of a trumpet resounds drowning out the clap of thunder as streaks of lightning streak down from the heavens.

Gasps are heard throughout the cities. People stop and look up. “What’s happening?” is whispered as others scream in terror. “It is He!” someone shouts and tries to hide behind the corner of a building. Others have fallen to their knees and “Praise be to God Almighty” is heard from reverent voices.

“I am coming” echoes off the mountains, the buildings, the clouds above.

Suddenly people are dropping like flies, graves are flying open, and others are being lifted bodily toward the sky. Thousands, millions, are gathered like swarms of locusts marching toward their heavenly home. Others lie dead, their flesh rotting like stale meat.

“I am coming,” the Man, the Great I Am shouts as His horse tramples the clouds and the sun turns to darkness. Screams, cursing, tormented souls fall silent and an eerie silence fills the land.

The Man steps off His steed and looks about, looking across the devastation of bodies. Tears fill His eyes. He looks heavenward and tells His Father, “I am so sorry, Father. I warned them.”

~~~~

1Thes. 4:16-17 – “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

~~~~

I don’t know about anyone else but I definitely do not want to be left behind when the Lord Jesus calls His church home. Scriptures are filled with warnings about unbelief, as well as encouragement to seek Christ for His gift of salvation. We have only two choices as to where we will spend eternity. The Lord will not force us to choose heaven with Him nor does He send anyone to hell! That choice is strictly of our own volition.  We choose before that last breath as to whether we will join those who are dead in Christ when they rise from their graves at the trumpets sound or whether we will be left behind to suffer the great tribulation. Choose wisely. Eternity is a very long time.

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The Best Christmas Gift Ever

By Greg Holt

Christmas isn’t about partying, eating, and all the decorations

Christmas, everyone knows of it, but how many know about it? Christmas to many is all about eating, drinking, partying, time off from work, indoor and outdoor light displays, and of course giving gifts. While spending time with family and friends, eating a good meal, (probably eating to much!) and all those cool lights and decorations are just fine, Christmas isn’t about partying, eating, and all the decorations.

Christmas is a seriously over-commercialized event in which the true meaning of Christmas is easily lost. This writer will say that this is done by design; it has a purpose and an end goal.

The goal of Christmas in this day and age is to divert the focus of everyone from Christ – to self. Christmas is by design all about fun, let’s eat, let’s party, let’s buy this and that, let’s outdo everyone else with our light displays etc. Anything to get people to move away from celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, which is what Christmas is supposed to be about.

The commercialization of Christmas is nothing short of disgusting, Christmas items are going up in stores even before Thanksgiving! People tend to spend a lot of money at Christmas, $100s per person is not uncommon. Racking up HUGE credit card bills is also very common. Retailers stand to make a fortune at Christmas time, and they want your focus on spending your money in their store – not on worshiping Jesus Christ.

While as I said gifts etc. are fine, the real gift that matters is the gift of life, brought about by the birth of Jesus Christ.

It is in a way strange to think that even more important then the birth of Christ – was His death. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is what gave each one of us our very lives. To sin is to die, Christ came and paid that price for us that we may have life and have it abundantly. Salvation is a gift, it cannot be earned by anyone ever, and this gift to us was paid for in Christ’s own blood.

Jesus was and is the best gift ever given to humanity. Jesus did not have to come here as a lowly human, God was in NO way obligated to come here in the flesh and save us – from our very own crimes against God (sin is basically committing a crime against God). But this is exactly what Christ Jesus, or Messiah Jesus did. So go ahead, celebrate Christmas, and celebrate the One who was born to save you and to save me.

Don’t let anyone rain on your parade for celebrating Christmas, it’s not as some wrongfully allude to, a “pagan” holiday. I will not here cover that, instead, I will direct you to an article by a friend of mine, CJ, over at, I am not Ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There is nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas and having some fun. Unfortunately, that is all Christmas is to many people.

Take some time this Christmas and celebrate the birth of the Savior. Take a few moments to be alone with the Lord and pray and give thanks to the One who saved you.

Jesus IS the reason, today, tomorrow, and forever. AMEN.

 

Since 2013, Christian news magazine The Olive Branch Report has featured the insightful writing and reporting of Greg Holt. His writing has been featured on American Prophet, Conservative Firing Line, DC Clothesline, Eagle Rising, Capitol Hill Outsider, Sons of Liberty Media, Rev. Austin Miles, and others. Greg is also the Publisher and Editor of Inspirational Christian Blogs

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Who cares about the date!?

Was it in February? Did it happen in June, or September? Maybe it happened in December, nobody except those that were there know the exact date and time.

I was born in February and only the Doctor and my mother and father know the exact time and date and yet if my birthday falls on a Wednesday this year and it is inconvenient to have a birthday party during the week, we decide to have it on the Saturday before, what difference does it make? It really doesn’t matter if the party is exactly on the day and time that I was born, now does it?

I’m not sure anyone knows the exact time and date of when Jesus was born and yet we celebrate Christmas on December 25th each year. Does it really matter? There are many who refuse to celebrate Christmas using the excuse, “He wasn’t even born December 25th!”

How sad, to hear such lame excuses for not celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior. How sad that so many miss the entire point of Christ’s birth and what/Who we are celebrating!

Christ, God, came as a baby into humanity to save us from eternal hell, to forgive us our sins, and to guarantee us a place with Him in heaven for all of eternity, and yet, “He wasn’t even born on December 25th.”

Does a date really matter? Does celebrating my birthday on Saturday, rather than Wednesday, really matter? Or are we celebrating the birth of a child, someone who is loved, cherished, and can grow to be a great man or woman of God.

Are we celebrating the birth of the King of kings and the Lord of lords or are we turning away because “He wasn’t even born December 25th?” It makes me wonder what these people are celebrating.

Christmas is about Jesus Christ! Not a Christmas tree, not Jingle Bells, and Santa Clause. It is no more about those things than Easter is about rabbits and eggs!

My prayer is that as we celebrate our Savior’s birth that we do it in humility and honor of our Lord and Savior, and that those who focus on all that is not about Him this Christmas will find the true meaning of this time of celebration.

Without Jesus Christ in the manger there is no such thing as Christmas! It’s just an empty, dirty, and stinky feed troff in a smelly old barn.

Merry Christmas and may Christ bless you even more abundantly with His love, peace, and Joy in 2019.

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Christmas Gifts

Merry Christmas

A Lawyer's Prayers

“The Star of Bethlehem” by Frederic Leighton (c. 1860), Dahesh Museum of Art (Accession No. 2013.8), NY, Source/Photographer Sotheby’s Auction House (PD-Art, Old-100)

With the last leaf fallen and fields bare, we are confronted by the Christmas season.  In truth, we can hardly avoid it.  Carols blare an invitation to spending orgies.  The Hallelujah Chorus trumpets sales.

There is arguably some precedent for this extended extravagance.  The Wise Men may have traveled as long as two years before reaching their destination.  Throughout, they followed the star.  All to bring birthday gifts.

As Christians, we know, of course, that Jesus was the gift.  The challenge for us, also, is to follow that star; to keep it in sight despite trials and distractions.  It burns brightly still, if we will only choose to see.  He is, after all, the Light of the world.

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The Perfect Gift

Unshakable Hope

Mary and our daughters, Lauren and Leah, have told me for years that I am “the most difficult person to buy Christmas gifts for.” The reason for this is because, in a sense, I am like the man who has everything – I need very little, materially, anyways.

Twenty-two years ago, before ALS invaded my body, I was easy to buy gifts for. If Mary and the girls couldn’t think of anything else, anything creative, that is, they’d just get me a necktie, golf balls, or maybe a some of my favorite snacks. But now that ALS has taken away my ability to work, golf and eat, the old default gifts are no longer an option.

Even before ALS changed our lives, and our finances, Mary and I never spent a lot of money buying each other Christmas gifts. She found a 50% off sale on men’s clothing earlier this…

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I AM – Devotional Style Short Stories -“This old House”

Climbing onto the dirty seat of the old pickup truck with its rust spots, the woman grins at her brother who sits proudly behind the steering wheel. “It’s old but it still has lots of miles on it,” he states and turns the ignition.

Driving down the country road they chat about various topics catching up on what’s been going on in their lives. Suddenly she yells, “Stop, stop the truck!” He slams on the brakes.

“What’s wrong?” He asks and slowly pulls to the side of the road.

“Look! Just look at that old house!” She points out her window at the old house sitting back from the side of the road. Its skeleton sits among brush and tall grass. Trees stand tall and green in the background.

She steps out of the truck and walks to the barbed wire fence and stands gazing in awe. He shuts the engine off and steps out and walks to her side.

“It was a rich ranchers house is what I’ve heard.” Her brother states while looking out over the weeds and grass at the shell of what must have been a magnificent home.

In his mind’s eye he’s seeing the fancy ginger along the roofs edge and the heavy Oak door, with its oval etched glass window, that is no longer there. He sees a front porch with six fluted columns and Balusters with their thick Oak railings, and curtains floating through the open windows of the second story on a breezy day.

She cocks her head slightly and asks, “Do you hear that?” Breaking into his visualization of what might have been.

“Hear what?”

“Music! There’s music coming from in that house!”

An invisible Man has stepped up beside her and gently touched her. She doesn’t feel it but suddenly images of past years dance through her mind. It’s the 1800’s and the ladies are dressed in their long fancy gowns and men in their finest, with bolo ties, big silver belt buckles, and cowboy boots.

A man strokes the strings of a violin, another strums his guitar, and yet another skillfully plays his harmonica. Hands are clapping, toes are tapping, and smiles are spread across the faces of the party goers. Laughter can be heard as it waifs up through the ceiling and out the open doors and windows.

The music changes and a waltz is played and they take their partners in their arms and are waltzing around the large living room. The elegant furniture must have been moved to make a dance floor. Only a few fancy arm chairs sit off to the side. The polished Walnut staircase winds up to a second floor and an elegantly dressed lady stands on the bottom step chatting with one of the gentlemen guests.

The sister doesn’t hear her brother telling her they need to leave. She’s so enthralled with the scene playing out in her head that she jumps when her brother punches her lightly on the shoulder. “We need to go!” He states emphatically.

“Oh!” She exclaims. Excitedly she states, “There was a party in that house…”

“What are you talking about?” he asks interrupting her while walking toward the truck.

She stands staring at the old house for a long moment and suddenly smiles. The party is still going on. To the tune she hears coming from that ancient dwelling she glances back at the old mansion. With a two-step dance step she returns to the truck and jumps in humming the tune.

Her brother looks at her quizzically.

“If you’re nice I’ll tell you what I saw and heard,” she states teasingly as he starts the old pickup and pulls back onto the road.

**

2Corinthians 1:21 – Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God.”

**

The Lord has given each Christian spiritual eyes and spiritual ears. If we are open to Him He will anoint us and allow us to see and hear as He does. Some see angels and demons, some hear His voice and others through His written word. He will speak through others to encourage His children as well as use visions and dreams and whatever He chooses to bless His children. The Lord is not limited as to how He communicates or blesses His children. It was on a drive with my brother that we saw this skeleton of a great mansion. The Lord opened my spiritual eyes and ears and blessed me with being able to enjoy the party of the past. Through His anointing the sky is the limit and we need to be open to Him so as to experience His great wonders. Never underestimate the wonders and powers of our Lord and Savior. He will show us great and mighty things, even a rancher’s party in the 1800’s.

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