Colossians 1:3-8 Amplified Bible
3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we pray always for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness], and of the [unselfish] [a]love which you have for all the saints (God’s people); 5 because of the [confident] hope [of experiencing that] which is reserved and waiting for you in heaven. You previously heard of this hope in the message of truth, the gospel [regarding salvation] 6 which has come to you. Indeed, just as in the whole world the gospel is constantly bearing fruit and spreading [by God’s power], just as it has been doing among you ever since the day you first heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth [becoming thoroughly and deeply acquainted with it]. 7 You learned it from [our representative] Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf 8 and he also has told us of your love [well-grounded and nurtured] in the [Holy] Spirit.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
It is so cliché to say life is uncertain, yet Jesus offers us a steadfast promise—eternal life. His words are as reliable as the sunrise, as sure as a parent’s love.
On that miraculous night Jesus’ miraculous birth brought to all of us heaven’s promise to earth, “a heavenly light has been revealed, shined in the dark and the darkness could not do anything about it” and through His teachings and sacrificial death, He paid sin’s death penalty with eternal life. His resurrection affirms exactly what He promised. This, my friends, is as certain as the sunrise.
This promise of eternal life begins with the miraculous birth of our Savior, a child called Immanuel, “God with Us,” an event both prophesied and fulfilled.
1. Christmas Reminds Each One of Us to Trust God’s Promises
Every day, we trust the sun to rise; we never doubt its appearance because it has always been faithful. In the same way, we anchor our confidence in eternal life in God’s faithfulness and the consistency of His promises. Just as we rely on the sunrise, sunset, we can trust that God will fulfill His word regarding eternal life.
Hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Isaiah foretold,
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… and His name shall be called Mighty God…” (Isaiah 9:6).
Jesus’ miraculous birth, born of a virgin (Luke 1:27), and the fulfillment of countless prophecies are miracles that only God could accomplish.
With this same divine authority, Jesus declared it was time to get our lives in line with God through repentance, forgiveness of sins and promised eternal life—a promise validated by His resurrection, as steadfast, certain as a rising sun.
Jesus’ humble arrival in a manger was the only One who could ensure salvation and life everlasting as 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains:
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
The Savior’s life, His wise teachings, His miracle of feeding the thousands, His healings, stilling the storm, giving life to the dead, His inclusion of all classes of people (Mat. 11:28-30) unveiling before the veiled eyes of humanity, the forever expanding-length, depth, height, breadth, widest possible expanses of God’s own coming Kingdom, providing ample instruction in faith, hope, trust, love.
2. Jesus Unveils God’s Kingdom and Secures Our Faith
The sovereign authority of God upholds, and the law guarantees a legally binding contract—whether for a job, a home, or a covenant commitment.
Similarly, God, the ultimate Lawgiver, “seals” His unbreakable word: “When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal” (Ephesians 1:13-14), the guarantee of inheritance in eternal life. God’s word, unlike earthly contracts, is more enduring, engaging, because they’re backed by His unchanging nature.
Jesus revealed the way to eternity, declaring, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). His sinless life exemplified His teachings as a model of righteousness and eternal values.
His words, like a covenant, indestructibly rooted in God’s authority, are impossible to void. Unlike human agreements, God’s word is absolute and faithful: “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind…Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19).
Through Jesus, we can safely place our faith in a covenant as unbreakable as the most binding contract—yet far more enduring, secured by God Himself. Jesus secured this covenant by accomplishing redemption for our sins on the cross.
3. Jesus’ Victory Over Death Confirms Our Hope in Eternity
When a close friend promises to help in a challenging time, we believe them based on a long history trust built through shared history and proven loyalty.
We don’t have to question whether or when, they will show up because they have repeatedly revealed that they are 100% dependable. In the same way, God demonstrated His faithfulness in sending Jesus, and we can trust His promise of eternal life as surely as we would trust a BFF friend who has never let us down.
Martin Luther echoed this trust, saying, “When I look at myself, I don’t see how I can be saved. When I look at Christ, I don’t see how I can be lost.”
Through His birth, His teachings, and the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, Jesus proved He speaks the truth as a loving friend and Savior, exchanging our sin for His righteousness. Reverend Dr. A. W. Tozer says, “The only sin Jesus ever had was ours. And the only righteousness we can ever has is His.”
The blood of Jesus “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7-9). His resurrection and ascension provides the final heavenly assurance that Jesus has paid the ransom, met sin’s penalty and was accepted by God the Father as an atonement.
Jesus’ resurrection captured sin’s death penalty, replaced it with eternal life.
4. Jesus’ Resurrection Proves Our Victory Over Death Is Certain
The resurrection proves that Jesus has power over sin and death, validating His identity as the Son of God and affirming every promise He’s made.
It’s the ultimate assurance that believers, too, will share in victory over death and receive the gift of eternal life. By rising from the dead, Jesus confirmed His role as Savior and Lord, providing us a secure foundation for our trust in God.
Peter declares in Acts 2:24,
“God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.”
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).
Resurrection is the cornerstone and certainty of our own resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 states, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
Just as basic mathematical truths—2 + 2 always equaling 4—are unchanging, so is the iron clad reliability of God’s word and assurance of victory over death.
Mathematical principles remain constant, and likewise, so do God’s promises.
Author Lee Strobel captures this assurance: “Jesus Christ did not come into this world to make bad people good; he came into this world to make dead people live.”
Believing in Jesus, “that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” (John 3:16), we live by faith— the very basis of eternal life.
5. Faith in Christ Secures Our Eternal Life
Most of us experience the unwavering love of a parent or close family member. Likewise, God’s love and our security in Him are even more assured. Just as a parent’s love for a child endures, God’s love is even deeper and unending.
The apostle John, known as Jesus’ “beloved disciple,” writes of this confidence in 1 John 5:13: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
John’s message of assurance is powerful;
he walked with Jesus, ate with Jesus, witnessed His crucifixion, and saw His resurrected body. His words remind believers faith in Jesus is eternal, forever.
Salvation is God’s gift of grace—not earned but received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Faith isn’t “hoping so” or wishful thinking—it’s a confident trust rooted in Jesus! Faith fully trusts God’s promises, not because we cross our fingers or “hope for the best,” but because He has proven Himself faithful time and again.
This is the faith that gives justification from sin and peace with God (Romans 5:1).
It is certain, like relying on the sunrise or the unchanging nature of God’s Word, rather than the fleeting assurances the world offers.
The great British preacher Charles Spurgeon helps us understand:
“Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone, for justification, sanctification, eternal life by virtue of God’s grace.”
Fully assured of what God promises through faith in Jesus, we can live into, we can live out from that faith, shining out into darkness, the truth of eternal life.
By our spiritual discipline, prioritizing time in God’s presence through prayer and studying His Word deepens holiness and shapes us to be more like Jesus.
As 1 John 2:5 says, ‘If anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them.’
With confidence in the unshakable promise of eternal life, Christmas becomes a sacred invitation to share with others the true message of the season—a Gospel message of redemption, hope, and eternal assurance in Christ that the world so desperately needs.
Finally, as blessed, as miraculous, as certain as the sunrise, as the sunset, as unbreakable as a trusted promise, as enduring as a parent’s love, and presence, as unchanging as mathematical laws, God’s declarations stand steadfast, firm.
The birth, life, teachings, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection of Jesus all confirm His promise of eternal life. Yes, you can be certain of heaven! Let’s read this verse again: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 121 Authorized (King James) Version
Psalm 121
A Song of degrees.
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:
he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper:
the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil:
he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in
from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 
mostly dont blessing in family they forgetting the only saviour and doktor babyJESUS reason for the season therefore becomin sick families my own Don’t Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns: A Catholic’s Guide to Recognizing and Healing from Domestic AbuseBy Jenny duBay
In this book, Jenny duBay helps survivors of intimate partner violence identify their situation and begin to heal. With empathy and compassion, she covers such topics as what domestic abuse is, the trauma of sexual assault and coercion, verbal attacks and isolation, and the evils of manipulative control within intimate relationships. She also discusses details on what the Catholic Church teaches about personal dignity, sacramental marriages, and the nature of domestic abuse. Jenny reveals the impact intimate abuse has on targets, providing practical and Christ-centered ways heal—no matter where a survivor may be on her journey.
For those who have had to leave their relationships, Jenny discusses the annulment process and what it truly means—including the immense healing it can provide. For individuals who hope reconciliation can happen, she thoroughly and compassionately discusses the possibility of abusers changing their ways, helping readers determine what authentic repentance looks like—and when so-called repentance is just another abuse tactic. Whether you’re still married or have had to separate yourself from a toxic relationship, Don’t Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns helps you navigate trauma while providing resources and gentle guidance toward Christ-centered healing and empowerment of our true self, as God created you to be.
Paperback: $19.95 | Kindle: $9.99
PAPERBACK
BUYING FROM INDIA? GET IT HERE!
eBOOK
BULK ORDERS
“The Catechism observes that God’s original plan for marriage has been ‘seriously disturbed’ by sin (1608). As a result, man and woman’s ‘mutual attraction, the Creator’s own gift, changed into a relationship of domination and lust’ (1607). In Don’t Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns: A Catholic’s Guide to Recognizing and Healing from Domestic Abuse, Jenny duBay compassionately discusses the true nature of marriage while providing resources and hope for those who aren’t experiencing authentic companionship in their relationships. Drawing from the Catechism, the Theology of the Body, and various other trusted Catholic resources, Jenny opens the way to genuine healing for those seeking freedom from abusive relationships.” – Christopher West, Th.D., best-selling author, popular podcaster, and President, Theology of the Body Institute
“Jenny duBay has written a marvelous book, Don’t Plant Your Seeds Among the Thorns, that covers the topic of intimate partner abuse thoroughly and sensitively. As a survivor herself, she understands its deceitful trap, its traumatic impact as well as the courageous steps necessary to escape it. Significantly, her book addresses the problem from the point of view of the Christian faith. Jenny duBay plumbs the meaning of scripture and helps victims and survivors connect their faith with the evil they have experienced. She emphasizes the need for spiritual healing and guides the wounded along pathways to a new and regenerated life. Her book should be required reading for all parish ministers.” – Fr. Charles W. Dahm, O.P., Director of Archdiocese of Chicago Domestic Violence Outreach, from the “Foreword”
“Jenny duBay has created a tender wake-up call for wounded wives in abusive marriages. She brilliantly blends Holy scripture and church teachings with the truth around abuse in marriage. Her candid psychoeducation is balanced with gentle, directed encouragement toward spiritual truths that wives need to understand because so often misinformed church leaders and culture are teaching the opposite. She doesn’t skirt around the toughest of issues – sexual violence in marriage. Jenny’s heart for women to find their assertive spirit through Jesus and find empowerment to make choices based on safety is very clear. I highly recommend this book to any Catholic woman who is struggling to make sense of a confusing marriage.” – Bonny Logsdon Burns, Certified Partner Coach through the Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists and co-host of Hope for Wives podcast.
“With candor and conciseness, Jenny duBay has written a book that brings clarity and practical wisdom for men and women who may find themselves stuck in the suffocating cycle of domestic abuse. I am certain that this compendium of insight into abuse, the Church’s teachings on marriage, and steps to escape such physical and mental violence will assist many in pursuing the respite they desperately need and in a manner that corresponds with the Church’s longstanding wisdom.” -Angela Erickson, host of the Integrated with Angela podcast
“In a caring and heartfelt manner, Jenny duBay has gifted us with a comprehensive book about intimate partner violence, from a Catholic perspective. She provides practical information and describes ways to recognize an unhealthy relationship and journey to a space of hope and healing for all harmed or who cause harm in this way. Also, it is a must-read for all those accompanying people on their path to live a safe and sacred life free of violence.” – Sharon O’Brien, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Executive Director of Catholics for Family Peace, Initiative of National Institute for the Family
“In ministry, we encounter women daily who are living in marriages characterized by manipulation, blame, coercion, denial and other forms of violence – emotional and spiritual as well as physical or sexual violence. These abusive experiences are a profound violation of our human dignity! Intimate partner violence leaves women feeling confused, alone, filled with despair and even suicidal. We are grateful to Jenny duBay for writing this book. With a solidly Catholic voice, Jenny addresses the oft-underemphasized reality of domestic violence and spousal abuse within Catholic marriages. The truth, clarity and practical advice contained in this book make it an invaluable resource for those enduring such trauma, and for those of us walking alongside of God’s wounded daughters.” – De Yarrison, CPCC, foundress of You Are Made New Ministry and Laura Ercolino, foundress of Hope’s Garden
“Jenny duBay’s Don’t Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns: A Catholic’s Guide to Recognizing and Healing from Domestic Abuseis not simply a book, but a lifeline for those seeking healing, understanding, and hope in the context of the Catholic Faith. Throughout this work the author’s wisdom and empathy shine through each page, which results in the illumination of a definitive path towards the reclaiming of one’s dignity and becoming a survivor of abuse, especially abuse within the institution of marriage.” – Christina M. Sorrentino, author of Belonging to Christ: Catholic Poetry and contributor to Missio Dei’s book, The Eucharistic Revival Project
“Should Catholics stay in an abusive relationship? Jenny duBay answers this question with such clarity and heart in her book Don’t Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns. Comprehensive, practical and healing, this book is a must-read for anyone suffering from an abusive relationship. Coming from an expert and survivor of domestic abuse, the author will guide you as you seek to understand, forgive, move on and heal from the trauma of abuse. There is hope and healing even when all else seems lost.” – Jocelyn Soriano, author of various self-help and Catholic books including Mend My Broken Heart and 366 Days of Compassion, book reviewer, and writer of the Patheos column “Beloved”
“Jenny duBay is an author who writes with a deep understanding of God’s mercy, through which she hopes to communicate God’s love to others. She has a particular calling to provide healing to those who have suffered from domestic violence, and a desire to provide hope to those who feel forsaken. For any who are seeking inspiration or direction from the brokenness of life, I whole-heartedly endorse her writings. In her word’s, God’s love is waiting for you.” – Michael Snellen, founder of I AM Catholic and Catholic Creators
“Jenny duBay’s book Don’t Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns: A Catholic’s Guide to Recognizing and Healing from Domestic Abuse was the focus of a summer 2024 women’s book study in my parish. The group was initially 4 women but grew to 11 after advertising the study in the parish bulletin. The women attended for various reasons and all found the reading to be very informative, consoling, and hopeful. While the topic can be difficult to think and read about, Jenny presents it in a clear, compassionate way while incorporating the truths of Catholic teaching. Meaningful conversations came about during our group meetings that helped those on the path of healing. As a result, our group is considering doing this book study again soon to revisit and go deeper with the topic as well as to invite others who may not have been able to attend initially. I recommend any women’s or men’s groups to consider taking the time to read and discuss this book as a way to educate themselves and to shed light on a grave issue happening right in their own parishes.” – Kim Ferguson, Women’s Book Study Leader, Diocese of Lansing
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jenny duBay is an ICF-accredited trauma-informed Catholic life coach, certified Deconstructing Gaslighting Specialist (C-DGS), a certified narcissistic abuse specialist, and earned her B.A. in Catholic Theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary and Catholic Distance University. In addition to her coaching ministry, Jenny is the foundress of Create Soul Space,a website designed to help cultivate awareness of domestic violence within a Catholic setting. Jenny is the domestic violence support group facilitator at Hope’s Garden, is associated with Catholics for Family Peace and works with various organizations within the Church to support survivors of domestic violence. Author of the Create Soul Space and Prodigal Parishioner blogs, Jenny also writes for Missio Dei along with various other Catholic publications including Dan Burke’s SpiritualDirection.com, Aleteia, and more. Her articles have been featured on the Catholic Education Resource Center and several have been awarded “Best of Catholic Blogging” by National Catholic Register. Her mission is to accompany Catholic women who have experienced domestic abuse or betrayal trauma so they can find healing, gain clarity and understanding, and reclaim their true selves. Her main website is https://jennydubay.com.
LikeLiked by 1 person