Prophetic Word for Christmastime 2011 & 2012

Lord, help us to grasp the depths of Your love, help us to rest in Your divine purposes, help us to find our life and purpose at all times in You alone.

Note: on the morning of Friday, December 16, 2011 the Lord said, “Stay with me awhile….”  Well I have had the habit since 1997 of always spending time with Him in the morning, so I wasn’t sure what He meant….of course I would stay with Him awhile.  But I thought perhaps He wanted to teach me something special or say something to me He wanted to make sure was not missed.  So I sat down with laptop in hand and I answered, “And so, here I am, Lord!  I am listening.  What do you want to say?”  The following message began to flow through my hands and the keyboard into a computer file.  I believe this message is for more than just me and so I humbly offer it to all those who could be led to find it.  And He whispered to my heart:

Christmas is about My birth.  It is a season of love.  Even the secular world notices the difference and tries to join in for My love is in the atmosphere.  It permeates everything and is always there to see and sense for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Christmas is about My love – none other.  Celebrate it!  Rejoice that I was born! Nothing will ever match the gift of My love for I AM.  I am Sovereign.  I am Supreme.  I am Most High.  Yet I love you.  Nothing will ever match the gift of My love for My love manifested in sacrifice and My love manifests in mercy.  Greater love hath no man than to lay down His life for His friends.

I call you friends because You know who I am.  Will you join Me? Will you join Me in the more I have for you?  You cling to what you can see and fear what you cannot. You fear what might be. You fear a lack which you are sure will bring certain disaster.  You fear My adversary who is less than I AM for You fear the attacks which may come.  Why?  Why do you fear that from which I already promise to save and rescue you?

There will be difficulties, there will be battles, there will be times which are harder than others (there have always been seasons of abundance and harvest).  But why do you fear these?  I have already promised to rescue you from them all.

I know the advresary’s schemes and I know I have already won.  I am Victor and Conqueror. There is no other.  I promise to use all things for good in light of eternity and I do.  Why do you worry about that which you cannot control? Why do you worry about that which I already plan to use and am using in the lives of more than what you can see for an eternal outcome.

Do you not yet understand?  I love them all. I love them ALL.  – ALL of you!  You fear death because you do not want to live without those you love.  I do not fear anything for I am LORD, but daily I live without many of you, whom I already love with an everlasting, infinite, unconditional love.  I want all of you – all of them – with Me for eternity!  My heart aches for love of even one who has not yet seen My Way.  I suffer grief for those who live in death and have not found LIFE!

And yet, I do not force anyone. There is to be no coercion, no conversion using fear or threats or taunts as its device, for declared faith born of these methods is no faith at all.  I am looking for each person – one by one by one – to turn and see Me, to recognize I am real, and choose to bow to Me for who I am, that we can be in communion with one another.

How I long to be in you magnified even as I invite you to be in Me.  How I long for us to be together forever, living as one, united in purpose , My love pouring into you and through you so that you are in Me and My love loving others by My power even as the others dwell in My love and are pouring My love out on you.  How I long for the longing to come to an end.  Hope deferred makes a heart sick.  I hope for you. I long for you.  I am waiting.

And this is the invitation to you this Christmas.  Will you embrace the more I have for you? Will you serve where I need you? Will you remain sometimes in dark places which are not your choice but Mine because eternity is at stake for some in your midst? You may not even know who they are but I do?  Will you let Me steer your life? Will you give it to Me completely as Jesus did? Will you be truly Mine as I am truly yours that we can partner for Kingdom growth for eternity?

There are many lies which have gone forth for the deceiver desires to discourage My people to quit.  Do not quit!  The only  way you will lose what I have promised you is if you allow yourself to become discouraged and quit!  One of the ways discouragement sets in is to fall prey to the false teaching that size and visibility of what you are doing matters.  It does not matter!  Do you not remember that I saw the widow with her “mite” offering!  She gave all she had.  Give all you have to Me – give it back to Me – for I gave it to you to see if you would declare it your own, or offer it back for me to use (using you with it) as I saw fit.

Size and visibility of the work I give you to do is not a measure of its success.  Number of hearts touched with My love and truth is not a measure of its success. Obedience because you love Me and desire to honor Me is the only measure of your success as a citizen in My eternal kingdom.  (And never forget, your citizenship in this eternal kingdom has already begun.  Once I became your Lord, physical death no longer was an issue, but merely a door from here into the intimacy of My eternal presence.)

I am using you.  I want to use you more. But you must be wiling to learn (looking to learn) and lay down the world’s way.  When will you learn that worry and fear are not from Me and distract you from the true work – to walk out the ordinary of every day in the peace, love and freedom which is My gift to you.

I am not promising you or those you love life everlasting on earth. Why would I do that, when I know the more I have in store for you beyond this life!

But do not wish a single day of your life here away.  Not a single one.  You should be blessed to be here and to be used by Me for I have given each of these days to you. They were written in My book before you were born.  When it is hard and when it is easy, live in an attitude of gratefulness and blessing and persevere…stay the course. The eternal life of many is at stake.  You will not always know who they are.

Do not preach at anyone unless I tell you to speak. Let your abiding in Me in all things and the difference this makes be your greatest message. When you are in Me and I in You, then My Spirit is upon you and what I have you do will have greater effect than what You can see or know in the natural, for My Spirit will go forth in My supernatural supreme Way to accomplish that for which I sent Him!

Remember the one called to go pray over Saul.  He did not consider himself as a disciple anything special (he was not even one of the apostles), but I knew how I was going to use him.  He feared for his earthly life, but should not have for I knew the plans I had for him and if it was time for him to come home to me, then why did he fear it?  But he did overcome that human fear enough to obey.  He could not know that My power, My Spirit, My plan were already at work.  He could not know what I had already done in Saul’s heart to cause him to fall to the ground as dead upon hearing My voice along the road to Damascus.  All this disciple had to do was obey and go pray over Saul and Saul was healed, not by My invisible power suddenly manifesting in the atmosphere, but by My power at work through the obedience of an outstretched hand where it didn’t make sense. And Saul became Paul.  This scared disciple, who considered himself as nothing, could have never known that in this one act of obedience to seemingly risk his life to go and pray over Saul, I was setting the stage for billions around the world through the generations to receive My gift of eternal life for they would come to a knowledge of Me through what Paul would write by My Spirit.  The salvations of millions of individuals continues today – enabled by the obedience of one…

Small acts of obedience, often in hidden places.  The willingness to be My love and mercy to the world, where perhaps none see but Me.  The willingness to be unseen and without recognition from the world, but so loved and appreciates in My sight.  For whom are you doing your “ministry” now? Certainly it is for Me. But is it also for you that you might feel valued?  You are already valued infinitely.  I cannot possiblity love you more than I already do.

So, as Christmas passes and I usher in the next year, press into Me. Seek My Kingdom first.  I will teach you about Myself in a way that strengthens you.  My Spirit will magnify in you so that others see Me in new and saving ways.  Simply do the work I lay before you and rejoice in it, for it is blessing and eternal in nature. And if I have given you  a promise of something that is to come, know that I have not forgotten. That too will come, but do not despise or wish away today.  Where you are is God-ordained.  I use every attack of the enemy for ultimate good.  Never fear what cannot truly hurt you for you are already Mine.  I have made My promises to you and I will keep them.  Fear Me and nothing else and let Me change your life perspective and set you free.

That is My gift to you this Christmas, the freedom which comes from truly grasping who you are in Me and opening your eyes to the work which is already before you and the place where you already are.  Do you trust Me? Then set envy aside and rejoice in every day.  I love you. That is fact.  You can live in the truth of that fact or question it. The degree of My peace which you receive is your choice. An infinite amount awaits you.  I am waiting like the prodigal father with My arms open wide. There is a feast awaiting you.  Will you come into the inheritance which I prepared for you since before the world began – living as citizens of My kingdom now, understanding what I value and rejoicing in the peace, love and freedom it brings with it which is beyond human understanding?  You are invited.  How My heart longs for you to be at My banqueting table.

I love you.  I love you. I love you. That never changes.  I sent My Son.  I am still waitig for you to turn and receive the fullness of what I have for you. Will you let Me teach you?  Seek, like the wise men and I will share My heart (all wisdom and knowledge wrapped in My love) with you.

Humbly written out as “heard” spoken to my heart December 16, 2011~ Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2011

Here is a link to the final song on the Christmas Worship CD, “You Came To Set Us Free”  http://www.youtube.com/user/ascendinworship#p/u/1/CJemQQSTcyk .  May it bless you, showering you with the joy of the Truth of Christmas and the wonder of what He has done!  You will also find a link for “Carol of the Bells” there from Christmas Worship as our family’s Christmas card to you.

Please consider acquiring CHRISTMAS WORSHIP for your own  music collection. Jesus wants to be worshipped at all times.   Will you consider worshipping with me?

A few years ago, the Lord whispered to my heart that He wanted to be worshipped at Christmas and He showed me how many of the songs we sing beautifully tell the story of His birth and why He came, but very few actually worship Him during this festive season.  As a result in December 2009 I was in the studio beginning to record CHRISTMAS WORSHIP, which includes 7 new, original Christmas worship songs, which the Lord had me compose specifically for this project.   It can be purchased at www.holyspiritpress.org or amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Worship-Elizabeth-Fulgaro/dp/B004D9931G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320069144&sr=8-2  or  itunes or CDbaby.com  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/elizabethfulgaro3.  Music clips can be heard at the CD Baby or amazon.com links.  May God receive the honor and worship He is due this Christmas season and throughout the coming year.

Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist.  She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way. 

For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org  Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org   Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.

 

 

Tags: God desires to use us, God grieves until we are all with Him, God has not forgotten, God loves us, God misses us, God uses us where we are, Great Commission in new year, Jesus saves

His Gift is Eternal Life

Your Light reveals the Way back to the Father & eternity in Your presence. We delight to be adopted children of God - not because we have earned it but because You were born, lived, died and rose again all for love of us. We are grateful! Thank You, Lord for Christmas!

by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2011    www.holyspiritpress.org    www.eaglesnestfoundation.org

Blessed 4th day of Christmas!  Today, it is tradition in some parts to remember the 4 Gospels. 

Note: There have been fewer posts to this blog the past few weeks – not because there is nothing worth writing, but because the Lord has led me to be focused on home and famiily.  I PRAY this has been a blessed time for you with your family as well and if you are away from those you love (and who love you), that He has surrounded you with His love in a way you could feel and with His love flowing through others so you could mutually bless one another.  There will be two special posts today.  The first, here below is a devotion I wrote Sunday, December 4th with a link to a song to bless you on youtube from the Christmas Worship CD and the second is a prophetic word the Lord gave me Christmas week, which will be posted separately. 

May He be ever glorifed through us ~ every single moment of every day, that others might see Him, until He comes again in glory.

May He bless each of you with an ever-deepening understanding of the fullness of who He is.  May He cause you to be at rest in Him in all circumstances in 2012 and bless you with an never-ending flow of His love, which fills  you with His abundance and bubbles over and into all He puts in your path for good eternal consequences.

~ Elizabeth

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it….⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.  ¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.    (John 1:105,9-14 NIV)

Christmas is a time to celebrate because since Jesus was born, He could live showing us God the Father and the Way, He could die as the perfect obedient sacrifice for our sins and He rose again, completing the work of creating the bridge for all who would follow from here to eternity.

It is not about a baby whose birth into poverty has been romanticized, but about the entry of God into physical life on earth (while remaining fully God and fully human).  It is about the remembrance that He lived, then died for us and by His resurrection. He created the bridge for all who would follow from here to an eternity reunited with the Father to live in the forever-fellowship with Him for which we were created.  He ushers us into the all encompassing love of the Father,  Son and Holy Spirit which is beyond understanding, and that which sustains us and give us life.

Life is His gift. Indeed, He has given us this greatest gift of all.  Without Him there is no life - now and especially not for eternity.  And He has blessed us with good work for every day He ordains for us to remain in this physical life.   He has placed before us the work of the Great Commission.

Words seem to be inadequate to express the magnitude of God’s gift to us which began to be fulfilled in visible form at Christmas.  Or at some point along the way we must have trivialized God’s gift of salvation (taking it for granted) or we would not take it so lightly.

Perhaps we have forgotten how it was before Jesus and how it remains without acknowledgement that He is Savior and choosing to lay down our lives to follow Him as Lord.

Death was the end.  Physical death was followed by an eternity outside God’s presence.  He is life, so death led to death.  There was no hope.  There could be no expectation of reunion with God, for none of us could accomplish that which was required of us – perfection in thought word and deed to the will of the Father in all things.

Now through His obedience to the will of the Father from birth into less than ideal circumstances, to death (though innocent) on the cross, Jesus has conquered death for all of us.  He has broken its hold over our futures.  He extends to us the gift of eternal Life for in Him is Life and His Life is the light of men…..  Thanks be to God!  All praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ!  Merry Blessed Christmas!

END

Here is a link to the final song on the Christmas Worship CD, “You Came To Set Us Free”  http://www.youtube.com/user/ascendinworship#p/u/1/CJemQQSTcyk .  May it bless you, showering you with the joy of the Truth of Christmas and the wonder of what He has done! 

Please consider acquiring CHRISTMAS WORSHIP for your own  music collection. Jesus wants to be worshipped at all times.   Will you consider worshipping with me?

A few years ago, the Lord whispered to my heart that He wanted to be worshipped at Christmas and He showed me how many of the songs we sing beautifully tell the story of His birth and why He came, but very few actually worship Him during this festive season.  As a result in December 2009 I was in the studio beginning to record CHRISTMAS WORSHIP, which includes 7 new, original Christmas worship songs, which the Lord had me compose specifically for this project.   It can be purchased at www.holyspiritpress.org or amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Worship-Elizabeth-Fulgaro/dp/B004D9931G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320069144&sr=8-2  or  itunes or CDbaby.com  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/elizabethfulgaro3.  Music clips can be heard at the CD Baby or amazon.com links.  May God receive the honor and worship He is due this Christmas season and throughout the coming year.

Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist.  She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way. 

For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org  Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org   Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Tags: Christ in Christmas, eternal life through Jesus, for God so loved the world, gift of salvation, Jesus at Christmas

For the Joy Set Before Him

Jesus, it was not easy for You! You left heaven's throne to become a vulnerable baby to show us the way back home and open the gates of heaven through sacrifice. Lord God, guide us in Your way of sacrificial love for Your glory

by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro  (c) 2011       www.holyspiritpress.org      www.eaglesnestfoundation.org  

Note: a lot of Scripture today, be encouraged to receive the blessing of reading it all.  Let HIM take us to heaven to earth, then back again.  May it encourage us on both hard days and easier days with truth of His incomprehensible love and way in all things.  There is a prayer at the end.  Merry Christ-mas!  ~ Elizabeth

¹ After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” ² At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. ³ And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne…  ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal……⁶ Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spiritsof God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. ⁸ And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. ⁹And they sang a new song, saying:

   “You are worthy to take the scroll    and to open its seals, because you were slain,    and with your blood you purchased for God    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. ¹⁰ You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,    and they will reignon the earth.”

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹²In a loud voice they were saying:

   “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength    and honor and glory and praise!”

¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

   “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb    be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

  (Rev. 4:1-4,5-6; 6:6-13)

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:4-7)

How many of us willingly go into spiritually dark and hard places, in order that others might come to know our God as Savior and Lord – that His Kingdom might be grown and He receive the glory He is due?

So often our focus is on praying for God’s favor that He might bless us in ways that we perceive as blessing.  We ask for it to be easy; we don’t understand and don’t like it when the answer is hard.

Jesus as baby in the manger was doing the hard thing.  He left the throne room where He was adored in heaven to become man and simultaneously God who was born into unsterile surroundings as a completely vulnerable baby who had to trust on His human parents to care for Him.  No longer recognized or honored as God except perhaps by His parents, He grew up as if invisible and forgotten, to be misunderstood, mocked, scorned, tortured and give up His life.  His mission physically in this state lasted 33 years.

 ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5 NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  (John 3:16-17 NIV)

¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  (John 15:13 NIV)

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Matt 28:18-20 NIV)

 ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”  (Luke 24:46-49)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”  (Matt 5:14 NIV)

 ²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  (Matt. 16:24 NIV)

³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matt. 10:38-39)

Certainly angels stood watch over baby Jesus at every turn, guarding Him (just as they certainly do with us, for we are God’s beloved).  But His was no easy path.  Jesus’ life was a blessed life because He was in the will of the Father. Thus He had the reward of being in the Father as the Father was in Him (a reward offered to each of us).  He was blessed and He was God’s blessing.  However, the reality of His daily earthly life from beginning to end was not what most of us would consider blessing.

Perhaps we need to reconsider our own attitudes.  Once we come to faith, we need to remember, we are no longer our own, but here on assignment.  We were ransomed (set free from the captivity and hopelessness of a life without Him) at a price.  That price is our lives.  He is Savior.  He is Lord and the only One with a plan.  He ascended into heaven, but sent His Spirit to teach us and guide us in all things.

The great commission is now ours to walk out – for such a time as this – in our generation (just as it was for those in the generations who have gone before.)   And just as those in every generation going back to the apostles could not walk out His work with their own wisdom, neither can we.  It is God’s plan, not ours.  Even Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing.  We need His wisdom and direction, too.  And so we turn to His Spirit.  Jesus promised  to send us out, but admonished us not to go forward until we were clothed with His Spirit from on high.  (In other words, don’t go forward without My Spirit to lead you!)

We need to pick up our cross and follow Him – for the joy set before us, even (or perhaps especially) when the path with which He “blesses” us takes us into the dark places where we would rather not be.

Prayer

Lord, how we delight to do Your will. Your love astounds us.  In every generation You are calling people back to Yourself and deploy those of us who know You to be Your ambassadors.  Lord God, how tempting it is to stay in the pleasant places where our faith can take us.  We ask Your forgiveness now, for any time we have complained, when You have decided to use us in dark places.  Lord God, forgive us for not embracing the opportunity to be Your Light.  Lord, You knew what the Father was asking You, when He asked You to descend and be born of Mary and adopted by Joseph.  We do not always understand.  We are Your children and Your ways remain above ours.  Lord God, we commit our lives again to You today during this season which reminds us of Your birth, life, death and resurrection.  Had You not come, we would never have seen Your Light and we never would have found our way home to You.  Lord God, we bow prostrate before You and say, have Your way. You have ransomed us from death.  There is only life now for us from here to eternity.  Use us Your way as part of Your Kingdom army, that more would know You are God.  Guide us with Your Spirit that we might follow You on Your holy highway home and lead others behind us because You lead us.  We look to You.  We know You will not disappoint us. Thank You for Your gift of life!  We adore You! In Jesus’ name, Amen

END

Please consider giving the gift of CHRISTMAS WORSHIP this Christmas. Christmas is coming.  A few years ago, the Lord whispered to my heart that He wanted to be worshipped at Christmas and He showed me how many of the songs we sing beautifully tell the story of His birth and why He came, but very few actually worship Him during this festive season.  As a result in December 2009 I was in the studio beginning to record CHRISTMAS WORSHIP, which includes 7 new, original Christmas worship songs, which the Lord had me compose specifically for this project.   It can be purchased at www.holyspiritpress.org or amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Worship-Elizabeth-Fulgaro/dp/B004D9931G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320069144&sr=8-2  or  itunes or CDbaby.com  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/elizabethfulgaro3.  Music clips can be heard at the CD Baby or amazon.com links.  May God receive the honor and worship He is due this Christmas season.

Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist.  She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way. 

For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org  Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org   Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Tags: advent devotion, Advent prayer, Christ in Christmas, for God so loved the world, gift of salvation, John 3:16, Light of the world, preparing hearts for Christmas, unconditional unending love of Jesus

O Come, O Come Emmanuel!

O precious Emmanuel. You are God with us. You came, rose and sent Your Spirit. We bow to You. We thank You for the gift of eternal life and give You own own lives to be used for Your glory!

by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro         www.holyspiritpress.org       www.eaglesnestfoundation.org  

Why do we sing, ”O come, o come, Emmanuel”?  What are we saying?  The lyrics begin, “O come, o come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, who mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appears.”

Emmanuel came.  He ransomed Israel.  Those who follow Him are captive no longer.  We have been set free and not just here during our physical lives.  Jesus did so much more.  By His death and resurrection He set us free from eternal death and opened the gate to eternal life reunified with the Father to live in the fellowship with God for which we were created.  We are no longer in exile.  He was born.  He lived.  He gave up His life voluntarily out of love for us.  He rose and ascended.  He sent His Spirit.

JESUS!  We celebrate JESUS!  This is what Christmas celebrates – that we have been set free, we are no longer our own.  There is no more exile.   We have been re-commissioned as ambassadors here.  His Spirit was released to lead us.  We have purpose; we have destiny; we have no worries for He cares for us providing enough to get us back home.  This is His gift to all who will believe, bow and follow.

What blessed cause to remember and celebrate!!!  Jesus was born.  God came down from heaven and gave us this most superior gift of all. There is nothing greater. We were unworthy.  We cannot reciprocate, except to acknowledge Him now and give Him our lives to do with as He wishes for the rest of our earthly days.

When we cry out, “O come Emmanuel”, we remember His gift to us.  Heaven came down to earth.  We worship Him.  He inhabits our praise and we ascend spiritually to Him in heaven. We enter His Dwelling Place.  We are strengthened by His Spirit.  We look to the work He has given us here, lift our hands to His sovereign will and march on – ever thankful.

When we sing, “O come, o come Emmanuel”, our eyes are lifted to our King and the promised future reunion.  Life is still hard here.  This remains earth, not heaven.  We are on assignment.  But we know who He is, what He did, what He does and can never forget.  We bow in reverential worshipful awe and long for the day when He will call us home.  Christmas, we celebrate what Jesus has done and we sing, “O come, o come Emmanuel” – Lord Jesus, come again.

JOHN  3:16-18 (NIV)

 ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son

END

Please consider giving the gift of CHRISTMAS WORSHIP this Christmas. Christmas is coming.  A few years ago, the Lord whispered to my heart that He wanted to be worshipped at Christmas and He showed me how many of the songs we sing beautifully tell the story of His birth and why He came, but very few actually worship Him during this festive season.  As a result in December 2009 I was in the studio beginning to record CHRISTMAS WORSHIP, which includes 7 new, original Christmas worship songs, which the Lord had me compose specifically for this project.   It can be purchased at www.holyspiritpress.org or amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Worship-Elizabeth-Fulgaro/dp/B004D9931G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320069144&sr=8-2  or  itunes or CDbaby.com  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/elizabethfulgaro3.  Music clips can be heard at the CD Baby or amazon.com links.  May God receive the honor and worship He is due this Christmas season.

Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist.  She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way. 

For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org  Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org   Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Tags: advent devotion, Christ in Christmas, Emmanuel, for God so loved the world, gift of salvation, He loved us first, John 3:16, preparing hearts for Christmas, unconditional unending love of Jesus

Gift of Forgiveness

For You so loved the world, that You came, forgave and still forgive. We pierced Your heart with our transgressions and offenses, yet You still love us infinitely, unconditionally and forever. Help us to forgive! We are in awe of You.

by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2011     www.holyspiritpress.org   www.eaglesnestfoundation.org 

“Preparing hearts for Christmas” actually is less about preparing for a day, than preparing for the day-to-day which follows.  During the Advent season we seek to prepare our hearts for Jesus by focusing our attention on Him in a way which causes us to know Him more.  Our faith is deepened and it helps us to live more in Him and for Him all of our days.

A well-known part of seeking to draw nearer to God at Christmas is the examination of ourselves, so we can repent of any and all actions, thought patterns and habits, which do not honor Him. To repent means to be sorry and contrite, while simultaneously choosing to have a change in attitude toward the issue.  True repentance motivates a change in behavior going forward.  The fruit of repentance coupled with God’s forgiveness when we ask is powerful!

Yet there is another integral, often overlooked component to preparing our hearts to go deeper in God and to become more effective for Him at Christmas and beyond: forgiveness.  Our forgiveness of others.  This is in addition to God’s forgiveness of us.

We are human. We all have been wounded both intentionally and inadvertently by others.  When we do not think to forgive (or cannot bring ourselves to forgive) resentment and bitterness take root and fester.  The injury becomes like a wound which is now infected and cannot heal until the infection is cleaned out.

Forgiveness is the answer.  Jesus showed us the way.  From the cross He asked the Father to forgive those who had sought His death and were party to it.  For some of these, the crucifixion of Christ represented the intentional annihilation of Jesus which they had sought.  For others it was duty.  Jesus knew if they understood life from God’s perspective their actions would have been different.  “Father, forgive them.  They know not what they do.”

In Matthew 16 Jesus gives us another revelation.  Unless we forgive, we will not be forgiven by God.  This is an aspect of God’s truth we would sometimes rather not consider!  Forgiveness can be harder than it looks.

The sense of justice with which God created us rises up.  There is a sense if we forgive, that it condones what is wrong, or if we forgive the person “gets way with it” or worse yet, is rewarded for it.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  God sees.  God knows.  To Him in the end each of us must make an account.  No one ever really gets away with anything.

Instead, when we choose to forgive others it is a gift – not just to those whom we have forgiven (who may never acknowledge or care), but most especially from God to us. When we forgive, we release ourselves from the negativity the event has caused in our spirits. We stop looking at those who have hurt us and look to Christ.  We entrust the people involved as well as the event to Him who has all power and is the one true and righteous Judge.  All time is under His perfect control.  What seems like an eternity to us is but an instant to Him.  We stop carrying around the need for retribution.  We release the situation into His hands. We mentally and emotionally lay it at His feet.  He is in charge.  We believe in His promise to take all and use it for good in light of eternity.  We are set free to love like Christ once again, which is the true message of Christmas.

Forgiveness seems like it should only need to happen once, but in reality, we are human and sometimes the remembrance of an offense and the pain it caused rises up in us again after we thought we had forgiven.  This, too, is hard. But we can give thanks.  It is a cause to celebrate that true, lasting forgiveness requires an increased dependence on God, His power and strength.  Increased God-dependence is always good.

Imagine the increase of godly love in the atmosphere as we move closer to Christmas and beyond when we each choose to forgive – not for our sake, but for His.  Jesus forgave.  With His help we can forgive and become more of a conduit of His love, His way in all circumstances.

Jesus, help us to be just like You!

MATT 16:9-15 (NIV)

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

LUKE 23:33-34 (NIV)

³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

COL 3:12-14 (NIV)

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

END

Please consider giving the gift of CHRISTMAS WORSHIP this Christmas. Christmas is coming.  A few years ago, the Lord whispered to my heart that He wanted to be worshipped at Christmas and He showed me how many of the songs we sing beautifully tell the story of His birth and why He came, but very few actually worship Him during this festive season.  As a result in December 2009 I was in the studio beginning to record CHRISTMAS WORSHIP, which includes 7 new, original Christmas worship songs, which the Lord had me compose specifically for this project.   It can be purchased at www.holyspiritpress.org or amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Worship-Elizabeth-Fulgaro/dp/B004D9931G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320069144&sr=8-2  or  itunes or CDbaby.com  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/elizabethfulgaro3.  Music clips can be heard at the CD Baby or amazon.com links.  May God receive the honor and worship He is due this Christmas season.

Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist.  She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way. 

For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org  Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org   Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Tags: advent devotion, for God so loved the world, God's Way, Jesus forgave, Jesus forgives, Matt 16, Matt 18, power of forgiveness, preparing hearts for Christmas

Seek HIM! ~ Like Shepherds and Wise Men

Lord, we seek You. We cannot live without You. We need more of You in our lives. Fulfill Your promise and meet us as we look to You alone as our answer.

by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2011                    www.holyspiritpress.org         www.eaglesnestfoundation.org

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see… 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible…6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.   (Hebrews 11:1,3,6 NIV)

17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.  18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.  (Prov. 8:17-18 NIV)

“…13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”  (Jer. 29:13-14 NIV)

Those who seek will “find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.”

God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – must be sought to be found. This requires an action on our part.  Christ came.  He was born into an animal shelter and laid in an animal feed trough.  He was here, yet so few knew. The star announced Him, but few saw.  The wise men left everything behind to pursue Him.  The shepherds chose to believe the angels were real, and risk leaving their flocks to pursue Him.  But no one else even noticed He was here.

Nothing much has changed.  Jesus remains Emmanuel, which means “God with us”.  He is not a God far-away, He is a God who is near.  He is not lost.  He is present at all times, but we must seek Him to see and hear Him.  The spiritual exists concurrently with the natural, but we must seek to see this dimension or it will completely elude us.

God could force Himself on us.   He could appear in the sky or in our homes to cause us to drop to our knees in the face of the undeniable truth that He IS and He is GOD.

But this is not how God chooses to reveal Himself to us.  It isn’t completely clear why He does not.  It definitely would accomplish His objective that all know He is God and spontaneously bow to Him in awe of His greatness and majesty.  Surely in this as in so many things, His way is not our way, but higher and better and we will never completely understand it, for He is God (and as such superior in every regard to our intellect).

Yet we can be certain, the principles of faith and free will are at play.  He does not want to force Himself upon us.  He knows who He is.  He wants to us to choose Him.  He wants us to choose to believe (faith is not seen, but believing in that which is unseen and unproven!)   Just as He loves us and pursues us through every circumstance – like the Lover of our souls that He is – He wants us to pursue Him.

When we choose to seek we are conveying that we consider Him important enough to make a priority.  We are choosing to dedicate precious time which could be allocated elsewhere to pursuing the knowledge of Him. This gives Him some of the honor and glory He is due in His position.

He is calling.  He is calling to each of us.  His call reverberates through the atmosphere at all times to all who would choose to hear.  Seek Me….you will find Me if you seek with all your heart…and I will be found by you….and I will bring you out of captivity….

Is He worth it?  Do we love Him? Then we must seek Him.  We must seek and keep on seeking, almost as with compulsion.  We delve into His Word, looking for more of Him, we call out to Him in prayer and allow Him to write the deeper truths of who He is on our hearts as we worship Him.

And we are the beneficiaries.  Like the many multi-colored, beautiful packages under the Christmas tree, the gift of Him as Savior and Lord is multiplied in seemingly infinite ways with each aspect of Himself which He reveals to us as we seek.  Our lives are transformed by how He meets us, for He is as consumed with us as we are with Him.  Life will never be the same.  We will never be the same.   We are changed by our ongoing encounter with Him in a way which sets us free.

LIKE THE WISE MEN words & music by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2010   Track #7 on the CHRISTMAS WORSHIP cd

1) Lives left behind, following a star,

Looking for  King till they found You.

Following the light, not knowing where You are

Persevering day and night, till they found You.

Chorus

We seek You, like the Wise Men

Not the Baby, but Heaven’s King

We seek You, for we love You.

We seek You now and for eternity.

2) Gifts did they bring to You the newborn King,

Trusting who You are when they found You

Like Wise Men at Your birth, we long to bring gifts of worth

Our hearts are on fire, how we love You.

END

Please consider giving the gift of CHRISTMAS WORSHIP this Christmas. Christmas is coming.  A few years ago, the Lord whispered to my heart that He wanted to be worshipped at Christmas and He showed me how many of the songs we sing beautifully tell the story of His birth and why He came, but very few actually worship Him during this festive season.  As a result in December 2009 I was in the studio beginning to record CHRISTMAS WORSHIP, which includes 7 new, original Christmas worship songs, which the Lord had me compose specifically for this project.   It can be purchased at www.holyspiritpress.org or amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Worship-Elizabeth-Fulgaro/dp/B004D9931G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320069144&sr=8-2  or  itunes or CDbaby.com  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/elizabethfulgaro3.  Music clips can be heard at the CD Baby or amazon.com links.  May God receive the honor and worship He is due this Christmas season.

Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist.  She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way. 

For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org  Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org   Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Tags: advent devotion, Christ in Christmas, Emmanuel, Jesus at Christmas, Like the Wise Men, looking for Jesus, preparing hearts for Christmas, seeking God, sheperds

Itty Bitty Baby ~ JESUS!

You descended from heaven to be with us, to save us from death, give us eternal life and lead us home. Your love astounds. We bow in awe. Jesus increase how You are with us now. We need You. Lead, O Savior, and we will follow

by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c)  www.holyspiritpress.org   www.eaglesnestfoundation.org 

“Itty, bitty Baby, lying in a manger, we are so thankful You have come.  For without Jesus there would be no heaven.  You have come; Savior of the world.

Itty, bitty Baby, lying in a manger, we are so thankful You have come.  You came in love, so we could be in heaven.  You have come; Ruler of the world.”

These are the lyrics to a children’s Christmas song the Lord had me compose many years ago and record as a prelude to “Joy To The World” on the Christmas Worship CD.

Itty, bitty Baby. Yes, You came as an little, tiny, itty, bitty, helpless, vulnerable Baby. JESUS!  GOD!  Most High!  Wonderful!  Supreme!  Almighty!  Majesty…..

How beautiful for God to come as an the infant Jesus – eternally God yet completely approachable and unintimidating.   He arrived hungry like us and vulnerable like us – dependent on the love of others expressed through their care of Him despite personal cost.

What other god would come so near?  What other god would humble himself out of love for us?  There is none!

Think about the other so-called gods.  They keep themselves removed, demanding sacrifices or else.

The One True God knew a sacrifice would be required in order to pay for our indiscretions which keep us separated from Him.  But He provided the sacrifice Himself.  He became the sacrifice.  He paid the price so there is no longer need for separation between Him and us.  We can be in Him and He in us as He created it to be.

He did not create the world to stay far from us.  He created us to be near.  He is LOVE.  His love manifests in ongoing mercy.  He became His own sacrifice.  He did all this before we ever knew.  He poured Himself out completely for us knowing that there were many who would never recognize Him.

Let us listen to the children’s voices as they sing again:

“Itty, bitty Baby, lying in a manger, we are so thankful You have come.  For without Jesus there would be no heaven.  You have come; Savior of the world.

Itty, bitty Baby, lying in a manger, we are so thankful You have come.  You came in love, so we could be in heaven.  You have come; Ruler of the world.”

JOHN 3:16-17 (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

END

Please consider giving the gift of CHRISTMAS WORSHIP this Christmas. Christmas is coming.  A few years ago, the Lord whispered to my heart that He wanted to be worshipped at Christmas and He showed me how many of the songs we sing beautifully tell the story of His birth and why He came, but very few actually worship Him during this festive season.  As a result in December 2009 I was in the studio beginning to record CHRISTMAS WORSHIP, which includes 7 new, original Christmas worship songs, which the Lord had me compose specifically for this project.   It can be purchased at www.holyspiritpress.org or amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Worship-Elizabeth-Fulgaro/dp/B004D9931G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320069144&sr=8-2  or  itunes or CDbaby.com  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/elizabethfulgaro3.  Music clips can be heard at the CD Baby or amazon.com links.  May God receive the honor and worship He is due this Christmas season.

Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist.  She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way. 

For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org  Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org   Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Tags: Advent, advent devotion, Christ in Christmas, for God so loved the world, He loved us first, Itty Bitty Baby Jesus, Jesus at Christmas, John 3:16, Joy to the World, preparing hearts for Christmas, unconditional unending love of Jesus

Children Born of God

Your Light reveals the Way back to the Father & eternity in Your presence. We delight to be adopted children of God - not because we have earned it but because You were born, lived, died and rose again all for love of us. We are grateful! Thank You, Lord!

by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2011                                                  www.holyspiritpress.org        www.eaglesnestfoundation.org

JOHN 1:9-13 (NIV)

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

In a previous devotion, “Light of the World” we began to consider Jesus’ role as the Light of the world. (To read the previous devotion, click here:http://wp.me/p12t8E-1S )

Jesus, the Light of the world stepped into the darkness of humanity’s way and by living God’s Way illuminated this singular Way back to eternity with the One who has loved us from everlasting to everlasting.

We were created for eternity with God.  We lost this inheritance when our ancestors chose to be under the dominion of the opposite of God (His adversary), by following the adversary’s advice instead of God’s instructions.  In other words, when humanity began to follow where the adversary was leading (down the adversary’s path) instead of God’s, we lost our inheritance because we can’t be near Him and with Him if we choose to go in a completely different direction.

Jesus was God-made-man who came personally to show us the way.  He knew that what we had thought up ourselves would lead to nothingness (because what possible positive could the anti-thesis of all God is lead us to?)  He knew we thought we were on the right track and yet were stumbling around with no lasting purpose as if in the dark.

He came to offer the Truth, the Way and LIFE to all who would accept it.

Christmas was the beginning of the bridge provided by Jesus to cross the chasm of emptiness, lack of lasting purpose and ultimate death and usher us into the presence of God from here through eternity.  Without His birth, we could not celebrate the gift of salvation He left with us.  We would be like many in the Jewish community, still waiting for the coming Messiah.

When we reflect on Christmas we rejoice in the Light of Christ which shows us the way to God as the star showed the Wise Men and Shepherds the way to where He lay in Bethlehem.  And we must recognize, that He uses us.  Very few knew He came Christmas night.  Very few recognize the possibility for Him still.

As we believe, seek Him, raise our heads and follow, He uses us more and more to be His lamps through which His light shines to those around us, so they can find His way.  (He dwells in us and so when we submit to His will, He uses us for His purpsoes on earth – as in heaven).    We become like lamps to shine God’s Light of Truth so others find His way – there is no greater purpose or fulfillment.

He works miracles through us like the appearance of the angels to the shepherds.  And He uses us simply and most importantly to love (as He would by the power of His Holy Spirit).  We are blessed because He blesses us.  He give us life.  He gives us purpose.

Our inheritance in Him is restored.  He we become adopted children of the King of kings.

Thank You, for coming, Lord. We are in awe of You!  How we love You!

You Came To Set Us Free ~ words & music by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2010.  Track #11 on CHRISTMAS WORSHIP

1) They didn’t hear You when You came Christmas night;

They didn’t see You when you came Christmas night

Your whisper in the air; Your glory filled the sky

They never knew You came Christmas night.

2) They didn’t know You were born to save the world

Thru You the One True God to be revealed

Your whisper in the air; Your glory filled the sky

They never knew You were born to save the world.

Chorus

But we know You now, bow to You as King

Redeemer, Savior, Lord

Crucified, risen, coming again

Lamb of God You are.

3)  They didn’t know this Baby came to set us free

Didn’t know You came to die on Calvary

Your whisper in the air, Your glory filled the sky

They didn’t know You came to set us free.

END

Please consider giving the gift of CHRISTMAS WORSHIP this Christmas availabe at www.holyspiritpress.org or amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Worship-Elizabeth-Fulgaro/dp/B004D9931G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320069144&sr=8-2  or  itunes or CDbaby.com  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/elizabethfulgaro3.  Music clips can be heard at the CD Baby or amazon.com links.  May God receive the honor and worship He is due this Christmas season.

Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist.  She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way. 

For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org  Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org   Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Tags: adopted by God, children of God, Christ in Christmas, john 1, Light of the world, spiritual light vs darkness, will of the Father

Christmastime Prayer

With our minds, hearts and actions we bow to You, Baby Jesus who was and is God eternal, and King Jesus who reigns in heaven's majesty. You are Love. You came down. You loved us. You still do. You are calling. We are listening. We are ready to do Your will.

by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2011

www.holyspiritpress.org      www.eaglesnestfoundation.org 

Beautiful Savior, Christmas time reminds us You came, You died, You rose and You are here.  We gather by Nativity scenes and listen again to the story of Your birth in awe of what You have given that we might be free of death and the world’s standard of perfection.

Lord, You know we will never be perfect, yet You came and died for us.  You came down from Your heavenly throne because You loved us infinitely before we even knew You.  This means You loved us before we could possibly love You back.  You poured out Yourself as You poured out Your love knowing that some of us would choose never to reciprocate Your love.

You love us even now because You are love.  We love only because You love.  We love imperfectly, yet Your love engulfs us and give us life.

In the quiet moments of the Christmas season, when in the Western Hemisphere the days grow short and the darkness of night surrounds us.  We are reminded of Your light.  It draws us in and leads us home.

We are thankful. Thank You for Your love and the gift of Yourself which we will never fully be able to grasp.  Thank You for dying so that all our missteps can be forgiven and forgotten forever. Thank You for thereby setting us free from sin and opening the door from physical death into the eternal life for which we were created in Your most intimate, wonderful presence.

They have called You, Wonderful, Counselor and Prince of Peace. We call You all these, Jesus (which means “God saves”) and Emmanuel (which means “God with us”).  See us bowed in thought, word and deed before You.  You are the only One we adore.  Our faith, hope and trust are in You.  We rejoice for You are faithful.

1 JOHN 4:9-12, 15-16,19

⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us…¹⁵ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them…¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.

HEAVEN’S KING   ~ words & music by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2010        Track #3 on CHRISTMAS WORSHIP

1) Heaven’s King, we adore You, Heaven’s King, come down from earth;

Heaven’s King, we adore You, in You we have new birth.

2) Heaven’s King, we adore You, Heaven’s King still on the throne;

Heaven’s King, we adore You, our lives are not our own.

Chorus

You were born in Bethlehem.  You can to set us free

Like Joseph, Mary and shepherds, we adore on bended knee.

3) Heaven’s King, we adore You, lay all cares at Your feet.

Heaven’s King, we adore You, You are all that we need.

4) Heaven’s King, always loving, always looking for the lost.

Heaven’t King, come to save us, no matter what the cost.

Please consider giving the gift of CHRISTMAS WORSHIP this Christmas availabe at www.holyspiritpress.org or amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Worship-Elizabeth-Fulgaro/dp/B004D9931G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320069144&sr=8-2  or  itunes or CDbaby.com  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/elizabethfulgaro3.  Music clips can be heard at the CD Baby or amazon.com links.  May God receive the honor and worship He is due this Christmas season.

Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist.  She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way. 

For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org  Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org   Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Tags: Advent prayer, Christ in Christmas, Christ was born, Christmas prayer, He loved us first, unconditional unending love of Jesus, will of the Father

His Presence is the Present

Heaven's King, You came to set us free. We bow in awe - not to a baby in a manger, but to the King of kings - in awe that You would lower Yourself to be vulnerable as a baby, and laid in a manger all for love of us.

by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2011  

www.holyspiritpress.org       www.eaglesnestfoundation.org

EPHESIANS 2:8 (NIV)

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

There is only one Gift which keeps on giving, despite advertisements which may try to convince us to believe otherwise.  His name is Jesus.  And contrary to most gifts which must be purchased to be passed on, the gift of eternal life reunited with the Father in heaven and as His adopted child, ambassador and Bride now is free and available to all who are willing to accept it.

Jesus already purchased the gift for us whether we choose it or not.  The cost was to obey the Father and allow Himself to be tortured and killed by one of the most heinous methods ever devised, though innocent.

At Christmas we celebrate the gift.  His presence is the present.  Because He was born, He lived and showed us the Way of obeying the Father.  Because He lived, He was available to die for our sins.  Because He died, the Father could raise Him from the dead so He would never die again, and we can live forever reunited with the Father in His presence. Because He ascended back to the Father 40 days following His resurrection, we have His presence now wherever He leads us in the gift of the Holy Spirit available to all who believe and critical to the fulfillment of His purpose (and ours) on earth.

His presence is the present.  He washes us clean.  He gives us a new heart with which to love.  He is supernatural. He inhabits the praises of His people.  He is Dwelling Place and Refuge.  He invites us to abide in Him as He abides in us (when we declare our faith and trust in Him).  He is Dwelling Place and Refuge.  He promises He will care for all our earthly needs and exhorts us not to worry, but seek Him instead.  He cares for us.  We are His children – the sheep He leads back home.   We enter the gates of His Refuge spiritually now by our thanksgiving and His courtyards by our praise. He responds to our worship and prayers according to His supernatural character and promises, and in so doing reveals Himself to the world.

Christmas is a festival of celebrating that God loved and loves us before we love Him and His love is in infinite excess over what we can offer Him in return.  At Christmas we take the time to revel in amazement that through God”s gift of Jesus to us (which moved from the prophetic into tangible form in a manger in Bethlelem) that we are free from death being the end, we are cared for and provided for now and death has become but a door deeper into the heart of God.

Celebrate the present by reveling in His presence.

REVELATION 22:17 (NIV)

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

Thank You, Jesus!  Praise You, Lord!

END

Please consider giving the gift of CHRISTMAS WORSHIP this Christmas availabe at www.holyspiritpress.org or amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Worship-Elizabeth-Fulgaro/dp/B004D9931G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320069144&sr=8-2  or  itunes or CDbaby.com  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/elizabethfulgaro3.  Music clips can be heard at the CD Baby or amazon.com links.  May God receive the honor and worship He is due this Christmas season.

Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist.  She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way. 

For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org  Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org   Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Tags: advent devotion, Christ in Christmas, gift of salvation, preparing hearts for Christmas, will of the Father