The Real Reason for Christmas

Many of us celebrate the Christmas Season, while not understanding its true significance. It is a festive time, enjoyed by family and friends, who enjoy the moment by eating, drinking, partying and giving gifts to each other. But, it is wise, while we celebrate, to realize and remember what Christmas really portrays. The reason for Christmas stems from way back yonder, when God first created man to be His companion. God made man in His image and after His likeness, for the purpose of relationship and fellowship. Man's body came from the dust of the ground, but his real essence came from the very breathe of the Almighty. God is a Spirit. This is what the BIBLE teaches. (John 4:24 KJV) Man, therefore, being made in the very likeness of God, is much more than just flesh and blood. Man is a spirit being, like his Creator. He lives in a physical body. And he has a soul, which comprises his intellect, will, emotions and imagination.
Man was created in class with God, and really possessed the very nature of God. He was God's son, made by God, with His very character. (Luke 3:38 KJV) We know this, because the spirit and soul of man came from the very inside, the very breath of God.
Mankind had fellowship with God and enjoyed communion with the Father until the day they disobeyed God. God had given them a commandment and they broke that law of God, literally destroying the relationship and fellowship they had with the Almighty. Sin, which is disobedience to God's Word, separated man from God and produced in man, the very nature of sin, which is the character of God's enemy, satan, who was behind the temptation of man. These things can be seen in the reading of the first three chapters of Genesis from THE HOLY BIBLE, God's Word.
God, Who actually made man because of His deep desire to have a family, loved man with a love so strong that God actually decided to do something, whatever it took, to get man's relationship and fellowship with Him, restored.
So, right there in the Garden of Eden, He made the promise and declaration that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent (devil). The understanding of this precious statement from the lips of the Most Holy God, reveals to us the reason behind the virgin birth and the purpose of the Christmas celebration.
When man sinned against God, he inherited the very nature of sin into his person. That sin contaminated his very being, spirit, soul and body. Man, through his seed, was created to be the progenitor of the entire human race. And when he sinned, his seed was contaminated with the very essence of the sinful nature. Like begets like. So, now that man was a sinner, he and his counterpart, the woman, could only beget children, born in sin and shapen in iniquity. (Psalms 51: 5, Romans 3:23 KJV)
Every man coming into this world through the seed of man, comes here in sin, because the sin of Adam was passed down through his seed. Even mankind's blood was effected. Medical Science has proven that a woman alone can never give blood to her baby in the womb. The blood is as a result of the sperm of the male giving life to the egg of the woman.
And because Adam's seed was contaminated with sin, every person coming into the earth through the seed of man, is a sinner, regardless of how good he or she behaves. We are sinners, not because we sinned, but because we were born of the seed of Adam, who was in sin. (Romans 5:12 KJV)
This is why the Virgin Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ was so necessary. God had to come through the womb of a virgin, so that He could be born a human being without sin. He, while being God, had to become man, to redeem us to Himself, because it was man who sinned, therefore, it had to be a man, a sinless man, to deliver us from sin and all of the evil that accompanies it.
So, because of God's great love for us, He sent His Son, born of a woman, without the corruptible and contaminated seed of sinful man, to free us from sin, through His shed blood, which was free of sin and filled with the very life of God.
This is what Christmas is really all about. It is about the Great Creator, Who so loved us and desired a relationship with us, His most prized creation, that He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to be born of a virgin, born without sin, to bring us back to Himself. (John 3:16 KJV)
The Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh, born of the Virgin Mary, grew up as a man, went to the cross and died for us, shedding His blood and rose again from the dead, living now, in earnest hope that we would choose Him, even as He had chosen to come and die for us.
He loves you so much. So never forget the true purpose of the season. God gave us the greatest gift of all. He gave us His Son. Receive His love by receiving His gift of life, love and peace. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart as Lord and Savior and experience the real reason for the season. Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10, King James Version of THE HOLY BIBLE)

Sheldon D. Newton is an inspirational and motivational speaker, teacher, pastor and seminar lecturer. He is the author of various life-transforming books including: Refuse to Live the Common Life, The Positive Power of Biblical Affirmations, Humility and the Honor of God and True Spirituality. His burning purpose is to see lives transformed through the application of timeless and godly principles, which will enable them to live better lives of peace, wholeness and fulfillment. Visit his website at: http://www.sheldondnewtonministries.org/ Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sheldon_Newton

How to Develop & Maintain High Moral Standards

Having and maintaining good and high moral standards is a must for any person who desires to experience God's best in life. And yet, it is sadly lacking throughout the world. It seems as if many do not understand the power of living a life of integrity and soundness. It is imperative that we focus our attention upon principles that are right, constructive and ethical, so that we may influence the next generation to do the same. Living a which lacks moral fiber is really living below our true essence and potential, for we are created for a higher purpose than mere existence.
Our seeming lack of self-control is the cause for much of the hurt, misery and destruction in the world today. And it takes temperance to live morally sound, even more so at this particular time. While many hold to the idea that everyone should just live as they desire, do what they want, when they want and be motivated by their feelings, weighing the consequences of such an idea, will bring the realization that this kind of thinking is the cause of much decay and problems in the world.
When we speak of developing and maintaining good morals, we are describing living a lifestyle of doing what is right, doing it because it is right, and doing it right.
For example, a morally sound person refuses to steal, because it is wrong and hurts others. A person of high moral integrity would not lie, because lying is destructive and hurts others. An individual who purposes to live by godly morals will not have sex before marriage, because it is wrong and against the principles which God has set.
Concerning developing and maintaining good, wholesome and godly morals, we are not speaking of depriving ourselves of all fun, but rather we are purposing that each of us should learn to evaluate the pros and cons of our decisions, and endeavor to make choices based upon the perspective of responsibility first and then pleasure. This balances life.
What are good, wholesome and godly morals? Different people have divers views about this subject matter. Some are right and proper, and then again, some should be refused and dismissed because of the missing ingredient of truth, which is the basis of real morality.
As it pertains to having good morals, here are a few facts to consider:
1. Responsibility should always govern our choices and modes of pleasure.
Pleasure without a sense of good judgement will prove fatal to the person who desires to maximize their purpose and potential in the earth. You will never reach the pinnacle of true success without having a moral base to stand upon.
2. Realize that being a moral person will set you apart.
It is true that many may consider you weird, strange and even somewhat of a nerd. But ensuring that you maintain your integrity and keeping yourself at a high moral standard will prepare the way for you to experience life as God intended from the beginning. Being a person of truth may not popular, but it will mark you as someone who can be trusted for your honesty.
3. Remember that pleasure delayed is not pleasure denied.
If you propose that you will maintain sexual purity until marriage, you are not missing out on the fun of life. You are simply delaying a gratification until the proper time. And when the time is right, you will have that pleasure. But you will experience it at the moment which God set for it, in marriage, rather than doing it because it seems popular. Listen carefully: Popular is not always right. Put right over popularity and then being popular will have its proper place.
4. If you break your moral code to gain a place of power or prominence, you will find that it may be short-lived, and will catch up with you sometime in the future.
It is a proven fact that there is a law in the universe called, sowing and reaping. This does not just allude to sowing and reaping money, but rather to every area of life. We receive based upon what we give out. If we steal and lie and cheat to get to the top, it will catch up with us, and when it does, the suffering we will have to endure will be costly.
5. Don't break your code of morality for friendships.
If you determine to be a person of high integrity and good morals, do not allow friends to move you from your stance. Friends may come and friends may go. But godly character is forever and will attract the right kind of friends your way. If someone refuses to be your friend because you choose to do what is right, because it is right, then that person may not be a friend at all.
6. Good and golden morals is based upon the truth as laid out in God's Holy Word, the BIBLE. It is simply learning to live life by the standard which Almighty God set for us to live by. So, by upholding to His principles for living, we are pleasing Him and that in itself is well worth it. When we please God, we attract His favor into our lives.
7. Make decisions based upon what you know is right, not based upon how you feel. Feelings change all the time. What is right never changes. Truth is constant.
8. Be a Purposeful Person.
Learn to think things through and plan your life. Set goals for yourself and stick to them. Make sure that those goals do not violate any law of God or man. Tweak your goals as necessary, but make the essence of them concrete, based upon the truth of God's Word and what you know in your heart to be right. Feelings are not always based upon truth, so, as I said before, they cannot always be trusted.
9. Having and maintaining high moral standards will enable you to hold your head high, even when others cannot. Shame is the result of doing things that are wrong, ungodly and unwholesome. When you do what is right, you can rest assured that God is pleased with you. So never let anyone make you feel bad for having high ethics and good moral character.
10. Do not pretend. Be real. If you are going maintain good morals in public, make sure that you practice the same in private. No one likes a hypocrite. So maintain your integrity, regardless of whether someone is looking or not. If you are saying one thing in public but behaving to the contrary in private, beware lest it becomes public knowledge. For as I said before, sowing and reaping is a law. Whatever you sow will grow up and produce a harvest.
In conclusion, God gave you life and He intends that you live it to His glory. So be careful to read His Word, the BIBLE, and practice developing and maintaining good morals everyday. You will be glad you did.

Sheldon D. Newton is an inspirational and motivational speaker, teacher, pastor and seminar lecturer. He is the author of various life-transforming books including: Refuse to Live the Common Life, The Positive Power of Biblical Affirmations, Humility and the Honor of God and True Spirituality. His burning purpose is to see lives transformed through the application of timeless and godly principles, which will enable them to live better lives of peace, wholeness and fulfillment. Visit his website at: http://www.sheldondnewtonministries.org/ Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sheldon_Newton

Persistence Is The Golden Key To Success.

What is the price of true success? How is it really attained and maintained in the lives of those who possess it? And what really is success? A successful person is a winner. He or she is one who knows what they want out of life, and with boldness and determination, makes the fulfillment of their dream, their personal responsibility. This separates them from others who just sit on the sidelines waiting, hoping and praying for something to happen. Really, the thing which makes a winner, a winner, is the fact that they will not take NO for an answer. When other's quit on their life's goals and dreams, they persevere. They stay with it until they get what they desire. Persistence is the GOLDEN KEY to all true success.
Many people give up too soon. They think that they cannot achieve their dreams because all of the situations and circumstances in their lives are speaking to them, letting them know that they can never be, do or have, what they want.
The winners dare to take the challenge and run for the prize. They know that there will be risks. They understand they will have hurdles to jump, and obstacles to over-come. Yet they press on. THE REFUSE TO QUIT. They hold on and keep moving. If a door shuts in their face, they regroup and go through another door. And if all of the doors seem to be closing, they kick one down.
Like Joseph, in the BIBLE, they persevere, seeing only that goal, that vision, that dream before them.
All of us face the issues of life. None of us are immune to challenges. But it is how we view these situations which will determine whether or not we can rise above them and reach the mark of the prize set before us.
WE ARE BORN TO WIN.
Having a goal is not enough to ensure success. We must develop a workable plan of action, which we can begin to implement immediately. And then, we must take ACTION. Aggressive Action. Bold Action.
Consistent and PERSISTENT ACTION.
Here are some tips to assist you in the pursuit of your goals:
1. Realize that if God has placed a dream in your heart, IT IS POSSIBLE.
Don't doubt your vision, your purpose and your dream. If something is in your heart to accomplish, and it is good, wholesome, godly and proper, hurting no man, then it is very possible and worthy of attainment.
2. Understand the PATH to the Fulfillment of your Dream.
You must have a PLAN, which is a workable way to reach your destiny. Having a dream without a plan, is like having a car without gas. You will get no where. Make a plan that is so doable that you can begin to put it into action immediately.
3. Learn as you go.
Knowledge and Understanding is vital to the person who desires success. You must read and benefit from others who have been or stand where you would like to get. Autobiographies and biographies, along with self-help books can help to show you what is possible and how many great people attained their dreams because they refused to take no for an answer.
4.TAKE ACTION NOW.
Do not procrastinate when you know what to do. DO IT NOW. Nothing happens without action, NOTHING. So, act on your plan. God will help you. He will work with you and for you. But He is waiting on you to do what you can do.
5. NEVER STOP TRYING.
Persistence is spiritual force which causes angels to come and assist you. When you are determined to hold on to your God-given dream and refuse to cave in, give up, and quit, you will find supernatural help and aid coming to your rescue. Remember how Jacob (in the BIBLE) wrestled with the angel, for a blessing? His persistence paid off, did it not? So will yours.
Dreams were given to be fulfilled. Goals exist to be reached and even surpassed. Plans are made to be completed. So persevere. Never give up. Never quit.

Sheldon D. Newton is an inspirational and motivational speaker, teacher, pastor and seminar lecturer. He is the author of various life-transforming books including: Refuse to Live the Common Life, The Positive Power of Biblical Affirmations, Humility and the Honor of God and True Spirituality. His burning purpose is to see lives transformed through the application of timeless and godly principles, which will enable them to live better lives of peace, wholeness and fulfillment. Visit his website at: http://www.sheldondnewtonministries.org/ Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sheldon_Newton

The Cure For Worry

The habit of worry is so prevalent that many people take worrying for granted. They believe it is a normal thing to be anxious about things. But worry is not good for any of us. Our systems were not made for unnecessary stress and anxiety. Some of us worry, even when there is nothing to worry about. We are world champion worriers. And, this issue of being over anxious is the cause of much sickness and nervous conditions. It has been proven that many people do not die from a disease found in their bodies, but from worrying about that disease. In other words, worry can even cause your death. Worry will cause sleepiness nights and miserable days. Worry will bring undue tiredness to our minds and bodies and wear us out. It is simply to our advantage to learn how NOT to worry as much as possible.
God actually revealed in His Word, The BIBLE, that we should not worry about anything.
In 1 Peter 5:7 (King James Version), the BIBLE says, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."
This is a good verse of Scripture to remember. Here is the same passage of Scripture from another translation of the BIBLE, called The Amplified Bible:
"Casting the whole of your care, all of your worries, all of your concerns, all your anxieties, once and for all on Him, for He careth for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully." (1 Peter 5:7 AMP)
This is the greatest cure for worry that you will ever find. God says in His Word that we are to give our cares, worries, anxieties and concerns to Him, once and for all. This means that we are to live worry free.
I know that we are using the BIBLE for our guide here, but it is proven that doing what the Word of God says, WORKS.
And when you have nothing else to hold on to, you need to realize that God is a very present help when we need Him. He wants us to casts our worries and anxieties over on Him. This is because He can handle what we cannot handle. He is able to bring us through any situation, calm any storm, ease every tension and meet any need. So, when He says in His Word that we are to give Him our problems, He knows the solutions.
Here is another passage from the BIBLE which may prove helpful: Isaiah 41:10 (King James Version) "Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will help thee; yea, I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."
This verse of Scripture is good for the relieving of any tension. God's Word tells us, FEAR NOT. Fear is another word for worry. When we worry, it is because we are afraid of the potential out-come of a situation or circumstance. God's Word instructs us not to fear. This means, do not become over-anxious about the issue we are facing. Do not fret, become despondent and depressed about it. Do not allow it to wear us out and drive us to the brink of losing our sanity. Why should we, NOT FEAR? God says in His Word, "because I am with thee." This is God's reason why we should not freak out over any issue. He says that He is with us. Think and ponder carefully what this means. Because God is with us, no matter how things may appear, He can handle the situation. He is the Almighty God. If He created the entire universe, with its vast, awesome and unsurpassable greatness, surely He can handle your situation.
Then God's Word declares, "Be not dismayed." To be dismayed means to become dispondent. In other words the BIBLE is telling us, "Do not allow yourself to become deeply depressed and frustrated over life's circumstances. And you may ask, Why not? God's Word answers, "For I am thy God." This means that God is taking personal responsibility for you. He says, I am your God. This means that He is letting you know that He is the Source of your life. He is the One Who you can call on and He will come to your rescue. He is your Light and Deliverance. He is the One Who can deliver you and He is the One Who can give you wisdom (LIGHT) to know how to handle the difficulty which is looking you right in the face. God says He is your God. This means that whatever you cannot deal with, leave it to Him. Then God's Word says, "I will help thee, yea (Yea means YES) I will strengthen thee; Yea (YES), I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."
In other words, God declares in His Word that He is there for you. This is another tension reliever. This is a stress reducer. We can call on God, leave our issues that we cannot handle with Him and find REST for our troubled minds. Here are just a few things to remember when dealing with stressful situations and circumstances:
1. God is with you.
You are not alone.
2. God loves you.
You are constantly on His Mind. And He has promised never to leave you, nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5 King James Version of the BIBLE) Even when it seems and feels as if He is not there, remember this one thing, HE IS.
3. God wants to help you.
Think about that. He wants to help you. He wants to. Say that to yourself over and over again: God wants to help me. God, the Almighty Creator of the Universe, wants to help me.
4. Talk to God about your situation.
Develop the habit of prayer. Let God know what you are going through and dealing with. He will give you the wisdom to handle it.
5. Search the BIBLE to find your answers for life.
The BIBLE covers every topic known to man. So make it a daily practice to read, search and research what God's Word says in relation to your situations.
Now, Rest and be Refreshed.
One of the greatest relievers of stress is rest. This is why we are admonish by the medical profession to make sure we get sufficient rest and sleep at night. Sometimes, depending upon how deep our anxiety is, we may find it very difficult to rest. But, remember that God's Word tells us to cast our worries and anxieties on God for He cares for us. So give that particular problem or issue over to Him and learn how to calm your mind down. Take a deep breath. Breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that God has the situation and HE CAN HANDLE IT.
Scripture Verses taken from The King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations marked AMP are from The Amplified Bible. Old Testament copyright 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright 1954, 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Sheldon D. Newton is an inspirational and motivational speaker, teacher, pastor and seminar lecturer. He is the author of various life-transforming books including: Refuse to Live the Common Life, The Positive Power of Biblical Affirmations, Humility and the Honor of God and True Spirituality. His burning purpose is to see lives transformed through the application of timeless and godly principles, which will enable them to live better lives of peace, wholeness and fulfillment. Visit his website at: http://www.sheldondnewtonministries.org/ Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sheldon_Newton