For me, Christmas is about receiving a gift that I didn’t deserve. God, in His Perfect Love for us, took the form of a human, even though he was still fully divine in nature.
Jesus, God’s Son, experienced all the trials we had to go through, as humans. At the same time He willingly made the ultimate sacrifice of his earthly body and was raised as a Triumphant Victor over death and sin.
For me, Christmas is not about a material “wish list,” but it’s about being grateful for the most amazing gift I will ever receive and didn’t deserve. The gift of Jesus Christ.
I truly believe the reason why so many say they have lost the “Christmas Spirit,” is because they have lost touch with the origin of the purpose of Christmas for the World. The Joyous Grace-filled Gift of Eternal Life.
Isaiah 9:6
New International Version (NIV)
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Please enjoy today’s worship video from The Saddlebrook Worship Team.
May God richly bless you and keep you, in His AMAZING LOVE.
Today, I said, “I Do” to my best friend, my heart-song and my soul mate. We have laughed and cried, in both joy and pain. We have learned about each other. We have grown with each other and we continue to do so. No matter what, we have remained a Team. We are rooted and grounded in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The first year of our marriage I read the book, “The Power of a Praying Wife.” Stormy O’Martian is an amazing writer. I recommend this book to every married couple and to those who are engaged to be married. I recommend reading it more than once throughout your marriage. Her husband also wrote a version for husbands entitled, “The Power of a Praying Husband.”
Being married to my husband has brought a joy and a peace to my life that is unexplainable. My heart beats with his and my breath is intertwined with his.
I prayed for this type of love. When I was single and God began to prepare me for a husband, I was so afraid of the thought of getting married. The only reason for my fear is that I was so content being under the shadow and covering of God. The love that I received from God was complete and whole and I didn’t want any part of it to diminish. So, I told God, that the only way I would get married is if the one he picked for me made me feel like He made me feel. A feeling of peace, love, and tranquility.
God not only gave me all those things in Anthony, but he gave me so much more. I’m so blessed to say that I am his and he is mine, by the power and decree of God.
Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart.
I Love You
Marcia Davis
I know that many of us may be facing battles, trials and tribulations this morning, or in this season of our lives. I bring a word of encouragement from the word of God.
Isaiah 40:31
New King James Version (NKJV)
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Stand Up! Brush yourself off and stop letting the enemy run around in your mind, will and emotions. The God we serve knows what is best. Do you believe? Well, it’s time to show YOURSELF APPROVED. Get your shouting clothes on and get ready to walk into your season of joy.
Remember, every great harvest requires a process. First, the ground must be broken and turned. Second it has to be plowed. Third the seeds have to be planted. Fourth, THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PLANTED SEEDS TO GROW!
I know that waiting is not fun, but it is part of the process. If the harvest is uprooted to soon it will not be fully developed. So REJOICE, WAIT, AND GROW. Trust that the Creator of the seed knows best what the seed needs to be a GREAT, FULLY MATURED, HARVEST. AMEN.
Ok, READY, SET, GROW…
I love you with an Everlasting Love. Rev. Marcia
Enjoy this encouraging song from Kirk Franklin and The Georgia Mass Choir entitled, “Joy.” (Yes, Kirk really can sing, LOL).
There is a strategy to battle, in the bible. In the ways of God, worship must be lifted up to set the atmosphere. Why is worship so important? Worship sets a standard that says, “There is nothing in my power that I can do alone. I worship God because of what I have seen God do; what I have heard God say and for who God is alone.” Worship tells everything and everyone around me, both seen and unseen, that there is One greater than I.
Judges 20:17-18
New International Version (NIV)
17 Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle.
18 The Israelites went up to Bethel[a] and inquired of God. They said, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Benjamites?”
The Lord replied, “Judah shall go first.”
Joshua 6:1-5
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
6 Meanwhile, the people of Jericho had been locking the gates in their town wall because they were afraid of the Israelites. No one could go out or come in.
2-3 The Lord said to Joshua:
With my help, you and your army will defeat the king of Jericho and his army, and you will capture the town. Here is how to do it: March slowly around Jericho once a day for six days. 4 Take along the sacred chest and have seven priests walk in front of it, carrying trumpets.
But on the seventh day, march slowly around the town seven times while the priests blow their trumpets. 5 Then the priests will blast on their trumpets, and everyone else will shout. The wall will fall down, and your soldiers can go straight in from every side.
For me, when facing a battle, praising God not only comes first, to set the atmosphere, but it also comes in the middle to give me continued strength, and praise comes at the end to give God glory for victory.
May everyday you wake up be a reason to praise the Lord. I love you with an Everlasting and Amazing Love.
For the last few weeks, when I go to sleep, I have been deep in spiritual warfare in my dreams. In my dreams, I have been in active battle using the word of God, my authority in Christ and knowledge of the enemies schemes and tactics. I wake up tired but very alert.
Spiritual warfare is not a cliche or a game, as some people may think. In the last 30 years the warfare has been real, but in the last ten years especially.
Saints, don’t be afraid to learn about what spiral warfare is all about. Guard your body, including your mind, ears and eyes against how the enemy may plant seeds to be harvested at an opportune time.
As you pray and intercede for others, DONT FORGET TO PRAY AND COVER YOURSELF.
I will be talking about spiritual warfare for the next few weeks, due to the urgency in my spirit.
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
John 8:32
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Revelations 12:11
“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
Today’s worship video is actually not a song. It is a video to encourage and wake up the spiritual warrior in you from Eric Lundy.
I love you enough, not to give you just a nice sweet song. Sometimes, we have to be SHAKEN out of our Christian complacency.
Today’s message comes directly from God’s Holy Word. Please be sure to watch the amazing worship video at the end.
Be blessed and have a great day.
Rev. Marcia Davis
Hebrews 9
New International Version
Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle
1Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.5Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
The Blood of Christ
11But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,a he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtainingbeternal redemption. 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,c so that we may serve the living God!
15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
I pray this morning finds you in good health with a heart of thanksgiving and joy.
This morning, the Holy Spirit put on my heart the importance of the race we each have been given to run. We are not all starting from the exact same place or at the exact same time. Our goal of this race is to cross the finish line.
There may be hurdles along the way. There may be several hills to climb. The race for some is very short and for others it is longer.
So we must never compare our race to anyone else’s. We are only accountable for how we ran our race. For the race is not given to the swift or the strong, but to those that endure until the end. Ecclesiastes 9:11
I encourage you today, don’t give up. Even if you are tired and feel like quitting, hold on. Call out to God. Call a spiritually mature friend or mentor like your pastor or minister, or a close friend that you know is strong in the faith. Ask for prayer and guidance. Say the Lord’s Prayer and sing your favorite Christian or Gospel song. Just don’t quit and don’t give up. Help is just a prayer away.
Be blessed and know that I love you with an Everlasting and Amazing Love.
Rev. Marcia Davis
Allow today’s worship video to encourage you and give you strength.
Every day, even when having computer issues, should be a day to rejoice. LOL
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.
HAPPY FRIDAY, EVERYONE!!!
Yes, there were challenges this week, but God.
Yes, there was sadness this week, but God.
Yes, there were attacks this week, but God.
2 Corinthians 2:12-17
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
12 When I went to Troas to preach the good news about Christ, I found that the Lord had already prepared the way. 13 But I was worried when I didn’t find my friend Titus there. So I left the other followers and went on to Macedonia.
14 I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume. 15-16 In fact, God thinks of us as a perfume that brings Christ to everyone. For people who are being saved, this perfume has a sweet smell and leads them to a better life. But for people who are lost, it has a bad smell and leads them to a horrible death.
No one really has what it takes to do this work. 17 A lot of people try to get rich from preaching God’s message. But we are God’s sincere messengers, and by the power of Christ we speak our message with God as our witness.
GOD ALWAYS MAKES A WAY, ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.
Now, Rejoice and know that as long as you are walking in the will and authority of God, everything will work out the way God designed.
In different scholarly articles and journals, El Shaddai’s translation has been debated. The meaning has been said to be one of the following:
God Almighty
Breast of God
God of the Mountains
However, no matter what translation is used, God is STILL God. One of the first solos I ever sang was Amy Grant’s “El Shaddai.” I sang it for a Woman’s Tea at the Lutheran Church I grew up in – in Decatur, Georgia.
My mom and dad and I had just moved to Atlanta from Nashville/Antioch, Tennessee. I was terrified to sing in front of anyone by myself. I grew up singing, but it was always in an ensemble or choir. I loved to harmonize with other voices.
This one Saturday, it was just me and El Shaddai. My heart was beating out of my chest and my mouth was dry. However, when I closed my eyes and imagined that I was singing directly to God, the words and sound came.
Ever since that day, I have walked into my calling as a worshipper and minister. I preached my first sermon a couple of years later. Looking back, on this Throw Back Thursday, I stand in a position of gratefulness and humbleness that God would continue to use me.
Thank You, God, for using my imperfection to share the Redeeming message of your Love made Flesh. Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel…
19 My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place 20 by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.
21 We have a great high priest who is in charge of God’s house. 22 So let’s come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let’s keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. 23 We must hold tightly to the hope that we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us. 24 We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. 25 Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.
Have you ever passed by a complete stranger and felt the power of God on them? As children of God, there is an internal Light that radiates from us. When two or more of us are gathered together the power of the Light of God is even more intense. What an amazing feeling to worship, praise, teach and learn with our fellow brothers and sisters from all over the globe. By the time the assembling of believers has come to an end, each person feels more energized and renewed.
Enjoy the worship video for today and watch what happens when the Lights of God begin to shine. It will be impossible for you not to go into a deeper worship.
I truly do Love you with an AMAZING LOVE. Rev. Marcia Davis
Sacred Journey Devotionals - Where Christianity and Metaphysics Meet 