Who wouldn’t want to have the best year ever, right? Make the choice to walk in the Light. 

Just as the light is always in motion, so is the will of God. Choose to seek God, and keep moving closer to Him. The Bible says:

“But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]” —1 John 1:7 Amplified

To walk in the light, we must have pure motives. For example, if you are praying for your spouse to be changed so you will have life easier, that is an impure motive. God wants us cleansed from all impure motives, thoughts, and desires. HE is “I AM,” …JESUS…SAVIOR…MESSIAH…EMMANUEL. 

God wants His Church to be spirit-led. It is impossible to be led by the Holy Spirit and doing religious activities at the same time. You are either spirit-led or moved by religion, tradition, old mindsets, or performance. 

The abundant life—one of being led by the Holy Spirit of God—is the best way to live. If you want to have the best year ever, seek God with your whole heart, mind, and soul. Ask Him to expose any wrong motives or intents of your own heart, expose any areas of deception, and to make it plain to you.

Any time we choose the external, worldly ways of doing things, it is works of the flesh. When we are led by the Spirit of God, what God sometimes ask of us goes against our natural thinking. Satan plans, through works of the flesh, getting you caught up in the world’s system, and deception—is to destroy the will and purpose of God in an individual’s life and that of a nation. 

God is always up to something in your life. For you to recognize and become active, you must join yourself to His life. The only way to have the best life ever is to live a life of full obedience to God—even when it flies in the face of religion, tradition, or the world’s system. It means you love God, love people, and choose to advance His kingdom. It’s making hard choices, obeying God even when everyone else is doing something else, and submitting to God—which by the way, is the only way you resist the devil. 

It’s your choice for 2017. I pray you have “eyes to see” what the LORD is doing in the earth as you walk with Him. The God-given authority every believer has been given is a gift from God. May He bring you increase, take you to new levels in Him, and may you recognize new authority as you walk in the Light and see His Hand behind the scenes in every situation. 

I pray God blesses you beyond your greatest dreams. May He bless you in every area of your life through your personal obedience to Him and walking in the Light with Jesus, being Spirit-led. Honor God, honor your spouse (if you are married) and be like Jesus to all you meet. 

May God bless you!

Deborah Starczewski

BOOKS BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI:

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…the full account of how God raised my husband from death, healed him from two strokes, and the walk with us through 25 days in Mercy Hospital being Spirit-Led. This book will encourage you to take your own leap of faith and to believe God for yourself, your family, or whatever situation you are facing. 

GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed and Know Your Purpose)…. how to move from drama to destiny, pain to purpose, and to reach out and help others. 

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)… a must read for all!

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. and www.starministriesinc.com

SHIFT HAPPENS –  (An anthology – collective authors – Dr. Deborah Starczewski) Best seller on AMAZON. Click on Dr. Deborah Starczewski) 

The real joy of Christmas is when we make the Savior the focus of the season—and all year long. It’s not how much we can accomplish, how busy we can be, or how great the festivities. It’s about the gift we can give Jesus all year long—our heart. 

It’s about sharing Him all year long—in the simple things, in conversations, and in showing love to family, friends, and people we meet. It’s about visiting the sick, encouraging a friend or stranger, and in taking the time to get to know the heart of a person instead of judging and assuming from a distance. There is always something you don’t know in every situation.

It’s about encouraging a family in the loss of a loved one, walking beside those we love—in sickness, in health, or in crisis…being like Jesus to all we meet. 

God sent His son—Jesus—who came down from heaven, was born in a stable, cradled in a manger, reshaped the thinking of the world, and established Father God’s kingdom. He was crucified on a cross, raised from the dead, is now seated in Heaven, and is coming back again!

He is God and He keeps His promises. He always has and always will. Jesus is the One who looks at the world and is more interested in people than in things. He is the One who wants to captivate the heart and soul of every human being.

May you reflect on the real meaning of Christmas—the birth of our Savior—the redeemer of all mankind—and the coming restoration of all things. HE is LORD over all!

Christmas is about JOY—because a Savior has been born! We have the gift of eternal life through receiving Jesus Christ as Lord.

It’s not about parties and presents. It’s about our pardon through Jesus Christ as Lord, and people in need of Him. He paid the price in full, once and for all. 

My prayer is that you will experience the Spirit of Christmas—Christ in your heart—and the joy that overflows the hearts of all who truly know Him. He wants to bless you beyond your wildest imagination and greatest need. 

It’s not about always having a huge smile planted on your face—it’s about walking through seasons in life—even through adversity, but you know HE is in control. He is Lord of all lords, King of all kings, and He is coming back again. Until He does—we choose joy—and we worship Him! 

Jesus is the greatest gift of all! He wants us to go out into a world that is in great need of Him—love the unloveable and throughout any regular day, we somehow point people to Him. 

We have a Savior who has forgiven us. We have a Messiah who keeps His promises. We have a Lord who directs us in the way we ought to go in life. We have someone who will protect us along life’s way, and someone who will welcome us to Heaven one day. What reason to have great joy! 

We have joy, forgiveness, and hope for a future—because of Jesus Christ. 

Merry Christmas!

Deborah Starczewski

BOOKS BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI

God’s Priceless Treasure (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed and Know Your Purpose)…..learn how to move from drama to destiny, a mess to a message, pain to praise, and trials to triumph.

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…the full account of how God raised my husband from death, and healed him from two strokes, and two open heart surgeries. Jesus is alive. This book will give you hope and encouragement to believe God for anything and anyone.

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)…. a must read for all leaders.

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. and www.starministriesinc.com

SHIFT HAPPENS (An anthology …available on Amazon – click on author Dr. Deborah Starczewski)

No matter what you’ve been through, Jesus is still alive. He is seated at the right hand of The Father and interceding for you and I that our faith will not fail. Have faith to believe that He is coming back again! His mercies are new every morning…and His love never fails. He is doing great things in the earth—and we can expect revival and refreshing. 

I was recently listening to someone share how Christmas was ruined for them because their father walked out at Christmas several years ago, and the painful memories left him shattered…even to the point of not caring about Christmas this year. He didn’t care about a Christmas tree or decorations… when it used to be his favorite time of year. 

People who work in the medical field will be spending Christmas in hospitals, in emergency rooms, and in urgent care facilities. Firemen will be on duty, police officers, highway patrol, and the list goes onward. Moms will be in the kitchen preparing, some will be in hospitals, some will be traveling abroad. Some people find themselves as a widow, fatherless, or alone in nursing facilities with adult children not coming to visit. No matter where you will be this Christmas—Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore…and you can choose joy. 

Jesus is the reason to celebrate life, love, family, friends, and seasons. I remember a movie I watched last year where the news of a family’s son being killed in war was delivered on Christmas eve. The family had a daughter who was very much alive. The parents were so focused on the past that they refused to celebrate Christmas with their daughter until one day she broke down in tears and told them they celebrated Christmas while her brother was alive—but everything stopped when he died—like she didn’t exist to them.

Pure joy is not our natural response when we face trials and the weakness they reveal. Struggles come to all—from the announcement of overwhelming news, betrayal, cancer, death, divorce, emotional abuse, financial stress, loss of a job, or an unexpected tragedy. Family disasters to family upheaval, but bad news can be faced with the Blessed Hope—His name is Jesus.

I don’t know what you’ve been through, the tears you’ve shed, or the pain you are walking through currently. What I do know is that everybody is walking through something. When you decorate your home and tree, if you drop an ornament and it shatters on the floor—it’s okay. It’s only temporary. 

We live in a fallen world—but even while hurting and grieving—we have a reason to be joyful. 

The Bible says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). 

Whatever we give to Jesus—He can make whole again. He is the expert in taking lives that are shattered and making them whole again. Pain—aligns us in need of God. (excerpt from God’s Priceless Treasure…published 2011). 

Take time to enjoy family and friends this season and celebrate life. Jesus is coming back again…and until He does, we are called to worship Him—being fully alive and sharing the love of Christ to all. Choose joy this Christmas season. You are blessed by God!

His love and mine,

Deborah 

Books by Deborah Starczewski:

 GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed and Know Your Purpose)….how to move from drama to destiny, from a mess to a message, from trials to triumph…and how to cross over into the promises of God through standing on His Word. 

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…the full account of God raising my husband from early death, healing him through two open heart surgeries…and the Holy Spirit’s guidance—will keep you turning the pages—and give you faith to believe for anything.

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)

ALL AVAILABLE ON AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, ETC. 

SHIFT HAPPENS….(stories of trial and triumph)… click on Dr. Deborah Starczewski (Available on Amazon)