I have heard some of the greatest preachers to ever draw a breath preach 1 Peter 2:24 with insight, passion and unparalleled anointing.

“He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2: 24 AMP

Most teachers focus  on “. . . by whose stripes ye were healed” but as I re-read the scripture, the part “. . . should live unto righteousness” ignited in my spirit.

I look up the word righteousness in the Strong’s Concordance and found that it’s the Greek word dikaiosynē (G1343) which means:

Who’s in your inner circle?  Do you have really close friends?

Write down the characteristics which make you consider each a close friend.

How do you decide with whom you will spend time?

Are your social interactions uplifting and character building for everyone involved?

"I sent in my prayer request and was specific.  I believed God would stop the wage garnishment for my student loan as I had applied for consolidation.  The company I was making payments to submitted for wage garnishment despite my informing them of consolidation being accepted and payments scheduled to begin early 2015.

"The company had taken 3 payments from my check already.  New Year's Eve I received a letter from my HR department simply stating "we received documentation regarding student loan and garnishment" and to call them.

Your loving Heavenly Father is ready do a new thing in your life in 2015.

Isaiah 43:19 in the Message Bible says:

“Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”

That ought to make you shout HALLELUJAH!!

In order for God to do a new thing in our lives. . .we must be willing to let go of the past.

Something to think about this Christmas...from someone named Anonymous.

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.