A Gift Fit for a King by Christina Calvache

My sister is known to throw extravagant, legendary parties. Her creativity and ingenuity are remarkable. Every year she plans her office Christmas Party, and I’m always eager to hear all about it. This year the Christmas party is the same day as the owner of the company’s 40th birthday. While discussing options for a gift, my sister stated, “What can you give someone who has everything? He’s rich, rich, rich and in need or want for nothing”. She decided upon a Marilyn Monroe impressionist singing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President”. We believe her boss will be pleasantly surprised.

Now that the Gifting Season is upon us, I began thinking about gifts for my husband, Vinnie. We have been together for almost 20 years. We are long passed impressing each other with beautifully wrapped treasures. And we are comfortable enough with saying, “we don’t need to get each other anything this year.” But since he gave me such a beautiful Mother’s Day Present this year, I kinda want to get him something special, which made me ponder again. “What do you get someone who is in need or want for nothing?”

At the very moment I was brainstorming, I believe the Holy Spirit prompted me to think,

“What would I give Jesus for Christmas, if I could literally give him a gift?”

This was both strange to me and exciting. It was strange because I never thought of this before and exciting because it was an enigma (mystery). I had to come up with a really good answer!

Jesus has it all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 states “For everything in Heaven and Earth is Yours”. At this point, I knew the Holy Spirit was not only searching my heart, but giving me something to write about and share with you. (I have had Writer’s Block” for a while now)

What do you give a King who calls things into existence? (Ro 4:17).

You might say, “That’s easy, He wants you to give Him yourself”, after all, isn’t that what He always wants from us? But I believe for You and Me at House on the Rock Church, this year, Jesus is calling us to give something very specific.

When Eve ate the apple, she was deceived (Gen 3:13). She wasn’t blatantly defying God. She was doing something she thought would be good for her and Adam. She thought she was doing something for herself that she could justify. She probably knew there would be consequences. She probably didn’t see her actions as sinful. Yet, in God’s eyes, Eve sinned.

What deeply rooted piece of yourself do you harbor and say it is good for you? What is that “One Thing” you can justify and accept the consequences for because you may not see it as sin. Yet, in God’s eye’s, it Is sin. I believe we need to invite the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal to us what we should give.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

When the Spirit reveals that "one thing" to you, don’t let your heart be hardened or dismayed. He will help you yield towards truth. The Refiner’s fire may burn and sting, but results in a lustrous silver and Gold. To give up a piece of yourself that you’ve concealed is a Gift Fit for a King, especially if He sees it as Sin.

Don't Be a "Give Up Christian" by Idalia Ortiz

God said to me, some of us are "give up Christians". We give up on people, we give up on our families, we give up on our marriage, we give up on opportunities that God provides to witness to people, we give up the right to speak what we believe in, and sometimes we give up on God because He is taking too long to answer our prayers. 

We Christians don’t take time to think about God's promises. “He will never leave us or for sake us "(Deuteronomy 31:6). God doesn’t give up on us even when we give up on Him

(II Timothy 2:13).

We need to stop giving up - and give it all to Him. God has given us the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, He gives us strength to continue, even when we feel we need to give up. 

The message bible states, (John 14:25-27) “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught”.

God is telling us not to give up on life and we especially must not give up on Him.  Jesus is right here with us, don’t let the things of this world overtake you.  1 John 4:4 NIV “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 

Now we know that the Lord is greater than all other gods. We have the victory! Let us be the man or woman that God wants us to be in Christ Jesus.

When you’re feeling defeated and want to give up, turn to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, The one who didn’t give up on you at the cross. Don’t be a give up Christian.

The Power of Your Song!

I've come to realize the days I don't feel like singing are the days I need to sing most.

Before knowing Jesus, I "sang the songs that made the whole world sing" with Barry Manilow. Maybe you've never heard of him. But surely you've heard of another of my old favorites, Stevie Wonder and "I'll Be Loving You Always". Now, I awake hearing songs in my soul such as Hawk Nelson's  "Live Like You're Loved" and Hillsong's "So Will I". 

Jesus changed my song, just as He changed my life. He surrounds me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7). His songs confirm that all is well, even when my natural eyes only see the opposite.(ll Corinthians 5:7) There's a Bible story that clearly demonstrates the power of deliverance through songs along with prayers. The disciples were beaten and thrown into jail after delivering a young lady from a spirit of divination. They began to praise God through prayers and songs. Consequently there was an earthquake that shook the place, opening all of the jails doors and loosening every chain. Everyone was set free! (Acts 16:26)

Many of us are not inclined to pray and sing when we feel as though we're beaten by our circumstances. If we could only get our eyes off our situations and focus on the Lord, hope would rise. Worshiping the Lord, especially when we don't feel like it can produce power that delivers us and those around us from a victim mentality into victory. Be intentional about your song in good times, for those songs can be used in trying times to deliver you from depression and oppression into spiritual victory. You may even set someone else free. So what are you singing today? Are you singing at all? It's not too late for change. Sing a song unto Him who is our Song and gain strength, delivering you into a place of miracles. (Isaiah 12:2, Psalm 118:14, Exodus 15:2, Psalm 28:7) “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.” (‭‭Psalm ‭40:3‬ ‭NASB)