Your Price Tag

When you get gifts, do you want the giver to leave the price tag on?
Does price have significance?
Is the expense of a gift your measurement to the value someone places on you?
What does it mean to have someone place a price tag on you?

Satan owns many slaves.

"Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin" John 7:34
"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves to obey, you are that one's slaves to whom you obey..." Romans 6:16a.

Satan parades his slaves everywhere, leading them around by their sin. He leads them through daily, public life the world over. Unnumbered crimes, hatred, lawbreaking, anger, stealing, murder, addictions, rape, extortion, bribery, corruption, violence, and more. The 'marketplace' is full of them.

But one day, God came through the market and said, "I'll buy them and set them free." Satan couldn't counter the cost with a higher bid and he lost hold of many his slaves.

Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross at Calvary, was buried three days, rose from the grave and returned to heaven to sit down at the right hand of the Father.

The theme of the Bible, (Scriptures), from cover to cover, is all about His act of purchasing the slaves of Satan and freeing them. The slaves of Satan had no money with which to purchase themselves. They had no way to escape their slavery. One Greater then Satan came and paid the price for them. He gave them the gift of freedom. It's a gift from God, given to a helpless slave of Satan without thought of the expense.

So, is the expense of a gift your measurement to the value someone places on you?

"For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23a. The slaves of Satan are working very hard for to die at his pleasure.


"...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 6:23b. Through spending His own life on the cross, Jesus' gift is life for all. The price of death that sin costs, Jesus paid to free many slaves.

"Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" cf 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

"You were bought at a price;...cf 1 Corinthians 7:23

If you consider yourself of great value, follow the loving Master, (1 John 4: 19), leaving the cruel master who is a murderer from the beginning. (cf John 8:44)

Roiling Water/Calm Water

The Sea of Galilee was roiling with storm.

"But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary" Matthew 14:16.

The men couldn't gain any headway, it was dark, and they were tired and wet. A form approaches through the storm. Understandably, they're scared. The lake has a total area of 166.7 km² (64.4 sq mi) at its fullest, and a maximum depth of approximately 43 m (141 feet). *  No man can walk across the waves of Galilee, let alone in a terrible storm! Impossible!
 
But, Peter, our brave sailor, who certainly knows no man can walk on water--seeing the miracle of Jesus walking on the waves, asks to walk to Him!


"So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus" Matthew 14:29.

With God's approval that they were in the storm in the middle of the lake, Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water!

In another place, the disciples were on the Sea of Galilee in calm, shallow water, yet in opposition with God.

"After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias"cf John 21:1.

His previous instructions were "go to the other side", here Jesus tells the disciples to wait. (Matthew 28:10) They went fishing instead of watching, and Jesus arrived just as unexpectedly as He had in the storm. As soon as Jesus revealed Himself through a miracle catch of fish, Peter again gets out of the boat and goes to Jesus.

"Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment..., and plunged into the sea" cf John 21:7.

(The next verse explains they were only about 300 feet from shore.)

In the storm nothing was wrong. Jesus had told them to go out there. They're in God's will and yet in deep water. Peter got out of the boat to go to Jesus. When they're in calm, shallow water, yet out of God's will, Peter swims to shore, to Jesus.

Do you know what water you're in? How did you come to be there? By God's direction or your own initiative?

In a storm-tossed, deep sea, have you seen Jesus walking by you?

Or, have you gone fishing in the pretty lake contrary to Jesus' orders?

• Either way, do you know you can get out of the boat and go to Jesus?

•  Step from the first boat in the storm because you trust Jesus. 

• Step from the second boat for Jesus' loving restoration.

 * Ask.com

The Joy of Handmade Christmas Ornaments

There are millions of selections of decorations for your Christmas tree and surrounding décor but what about making your ornaments for next year. By simple internet search, you can find simple or elaborate patterns for many items with which to decorate. or go to a craft store for instruction books. Or just get creative and have fun! The possibilities are endless!

• Tinfoil stars twinkling in the light.

•   Shiny foil snowflakes gently turning sending myriads of sparklers around the room.
• Colorful paper or felt crafts dangling merrily from branches.
• Pipe cleaners, empty paper rolls, scraps of Christmas wrap and glitter all fashioned into Holiday Happiness by yours, and the hands of your children.
• Popcorn, Cranberries, Apple slices, twists of Holly leaves, and Beads, all strung into festive garlands to wrap around a tree hung with homemade Reindeer, Santas, Nutcrackers, Bulbs, Hats, Mittens, Sleighs, Globes, Animals, Doodads, Doohickeys and Thing-a-ma-jigs, Nativities, Magi, and Baby Jesus, all with love and care.

Among the reasons for homemade decor is the wealth of quality family strength, emotion and togetherness. The tree is usually the central focus of Christmas. It is where the most fun happens. The cameras come out to record the moments as paper flies in all directions. Faces light up and laughter peels throughout the house. Children of any age get involved with the joy of giving and receiving. It’s the best family gathering for anyone.

There is another Family involved in Christmas: God the Father sending His Son Jesus into the world as His gift. The first Family and the First Gift.

There is another Christmas Tree: the Cross. Jesus came for only that purpose. Jesus came only to that destiny.

        He did not come to be a Good Teacher.