Reblogged from Becoming the Oil & the Wine
A NOTE FROM BARB: I love this so much. I have been too caught up preparing for guests. I will definitely be referring to these steps to get me back on track
Three Best Ways To Prepare For Christmas
Last weekend I began my end of year cleaning.
This is the time of the year when I turned my apartment upside down, throwing out the old, giving away unused stuff and re-arranging everything in the house.
It is a time for purging!
As I cleaned, I could not help praising God for providing me with this comfortable apartment.
The apartment is large and have a great view of the caribbean sea and hills.
This apartment reminds me of all the blessings that God has bestowed upon me over the years.
Thank you, Lord!
He is indeed a great God!
As I cleaned the windows of my apartment, brushing off the cobwebs and wiping away the dirt, I could not help reflecting upon the cleansing power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus once told the Pharisees that they should ensure that the inside of the cup and platter are first cleansed then the outside.
Jesus is the only One who can clean our inside.
He will remove all the cobwebs such as doubts and fear from our mind so that the windows of our body (eyes) can see visions and revelations from God.
Christ will also cleanse the dirt (evil thoughts) from our hearts to purify it for His dwelling place.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. (Psalms 46:4)
Throughout the Old Testament, God always emphasized that only clean and unblemished animals must be sacrificed to Him.
God desires cleanliness and the best offering because He is a great and holy God.
He deserves respect!
As you embark upon your holiday preparation, remember Christ in everything that you do.
Therefore, here are the three best ways to prepare for Christmas.
1. While cleaning the house and yard remember the cleansing power of Jesus Christ that will make you pure.
2. While purchasing gifts for your family and friends, remember that the first and greatest gift is love.
3. While you prepare the Christmas dinner for your family and friends, remember the last supper that Jesus had with His disciples.
The supper that constitutes the new covenant of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Remember Jesus Christ because He is the reason why you can enjoy this season.
The cleansing power of Jesus Christ – Day six of our fourteen days of prayer.
Our prayer will be taken from 1 John 1 and Ephesians 1:18-23
Let us pray
Heavenly Father, you said in your Word that you will pardon and cleanse us from all our iniquities whereby we have sinned against you.
Your Word has fulfilled that which you have spoken from the begining of this world.
So today, we come before you confessing all our sins unto you because we all have sinned and come short of your glory.
We believe, according to your Word that you are faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Wash us thoroughly from our sins and create in us a new heart of flesh.
A heart that will love you and yearn for the kingdom of heaven.
A heart that will love and care for our brothers and sisters.
Lord, we ask that you pour your Spirit of wisdom and revelation upon us that we may know you in a real and personal way.
Lord, we pray that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened that we may know what is the hope of his (our) calling, and what the riches of the glory of his (our) inheritance in the saints,
And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1: 18-23)
Thank you, Lord for the cleansing power of Jesus Christ.
Lord, we continue to pray for every person that are part of this blogging community.
We pray that you will continue to bless and strengthen every one.
Lord, heal, deliver and provide for each person according to your riches in glory.
Lord, we remember our friend Fay Ann and family in their time of grief.
Words cannot describe their sorrow but we know that you understand and you still care, so be with them to comfort and strengthen them.
These mercies we ask in the name of your precious Son, Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen!
Please continue to pray for each other especially Fay Ann Swearing of the Inspirational Room who have lost one of her family members in an horific accident.
Thank you.
Additional reading: Matthew 23:26
As I wrote this post, I remembered on old hymn we used to sing in my country village in Jamaica when I was a little girl.
The cleansing stream, I see, I see! I plunge and O it cleanseth me.
Oh praise the Lord, it cleanseth me. It cleanseth me, yes, cleanseth me.
Praise the Lord.
Enjoy!