nutellaGabriella

Easter > Christmas

The emphasis on shopping and gifts is what gives Christmas it’s spirited fuel, but the true meaning, Jesus Christ’s birth into this world is forgotten or ignored by many.
But his birth would be just any other common birthday if it were not for what followed later in his life; the events that would make Him the Son of God rather than just a common man.

He was arrested, falsely accused, found guilty while sinless, beaten, bruised, and crucified so that the prophecies would be fulfilled,

“He was despised and rejected — a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins!But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins — that he was suffering their punishment?”

Don’t forget the true meaning of Easter, the reason we live and love- Jesus was raised from the dead. He lives so we can live freely and abundantly.

The holiday that ties it all together : life, love, hope, faith, and freedom. Through Christs death and resurrection, in Jesus’ name, we are.

How Far Away Are You?

” you are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself Is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, he said to him, “you are not far from the kingdom of God.”

There are days when I feel that the weight of all my sins create such a wide gap between me and God. I hate days like today when I feel completely empty and so far away from the one person in this universe that loves me unconditionally. Unfortunately, it’s soo easy to get caught up in this life’s busyness and to forget the one person in this universe who wants a relationship with you, who died, literally, to have it.

That feeling inside of you that says, “no. I’m not worthy of praying today, I sinned too much, God would never hear a prayer from someone like me, I’m so far.” those thoughts are LIES!

We can NEVER be too far from Gods love, peace, and grace. The bible says that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.

But we, can separate ourselves when we forget where our focus should truly be in…and I knownext focus should just be getting a boyfriend or going to NYU.those things fade…

Although God knows that those are the desires of my heart and he promises to fulfill them, WE have a huge role to play in this too..we have to surrender. Give everything over to him so that he can lead us. It’s the hardest yet best decision we can ever make!

We are never too far from Gods grace.
Its just waiting for us to take that stand of faith.