Category: advent

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12.21.24.Advent’s Song

Singing is our prescription to anxiety

Revelation 15 Looking Ahead…

We walk through each day like it was the day before. Nothing seems to change here on earth but in heaven God reveals that every day is unlike any we have ever experienced. His mercy and His judgment reign and we are given a glimpse into the very presence of God as He unleashes His angelic forces to complete His judgment. In the midst of this we are witness to the “choir” of those who were like the three Hebrews in Daniel 3. They were steadfast and never compromised. This is their time to bask in the glory of the Lord. 

Great and astounding are your deeds,

Lord God, the All-Powerful!

Just and true are your ways,

King over the nations!

Who will not fear you, O Lord, 

and glorify your name, because you alone are holy?

All nations will come and worship before you

for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Tomorrow is the last day of Advent and this should be our song as we worship. Come together and praise Him. 

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God Speaks

Matt 2 Throughout the OT and now in the NT, God often spoke to those He was going to bless in some way through a dream. God used a star and then a dream to the Wise Men of the East about the birth of Christ. That message was received with mixed reviews from the city of Jerusalem and the King. After learning from the OT scriptures that, yes a king would be born,the agitated king sent them to find this mysterious “king.”  The world today is receiving news of the King the same way. Some accept it as truth and go and worship this King. Others receive it as nonsense and ignore it. Some are ambivalent and they too ignore it. But, to those who search the scriptures and receive HIM as the Word of God who became a man and lived among us, they are the ones blessed. 

When you heard the news of the birth of Christ, how did you react? Have you gone and searched for him as the Wise Men did and then bestow precious gifts upon Him or did you ignore the news and go on your way. Or worse did you do as Herod and seek to kill Him? Now God has given us the scriptures to search and in them we will find the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. 

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Christmas Gifts!

1 Peter 1-5 Salvation is our greatest gift
Christmas is almost upon us, and with it, the spending spree! Americans are no longer satisfied with just an orange and a new pair of socks. No! We want the biggest and the best gift we can find, whether within our budget or not. How different our Christmas is today from yesteryear. Peter probably never celebrated Christmas as we know it, but he certainly knew about gifts. In his letter to the dispersion, he writes about the most incredible gift any believer can receive, being chosen by the foreknowledge of God. “By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” [1 Peter 1:2]

As you wander through the maze of shoppers, stop and gaze at their countenances. Are they happy? Are they satisfied? Most are not because they do not have this assurance that it will only be opened on Christmas morning but every morning from now until eternity.

Stop and ponder that gift and spend time thanking God for His wonderful gift that will outlast any Christmas!

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“JOY to the World”

Philippians: We read in James to have joy in all of our trials and temptations that come our way. In Philippians, Paul reminds his audience that joy is internal and leads to our external. It must begin there before we can share it outside, and Paul is our example, even amidst the persecution he faced in that city. He is now in prison writing these thoughts to encourage his fledgling church. 

Paul says, “Complete my joy.” Be unified in spirit and purpose. As you seek to complete the gift of joy, do it humbly. Look at the Savior as your role model who proclaimed joy wherever he went and in whatever he did. The result? God exalted him and honored him with a name above every name. The prophet Isaiah gave us that name, along with other names given to him:

Isa 9:6 For a child has been born to us; a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Amazing Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Celebrate this season with joy!  

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Peace and Joy

God loved


Rom 14 Do you have the Christmas spirit yet? There are only a few shopping days left, but is that what is essential? Paul may not have been reminding his readers about Christmas, but today, we are reminded to have peace and joy as we celebrate. There are songs and scripture readings galore. We have parties and church plays. People dress in their finest reds and greens.

Dr. Luke gave us the story of the shepherds and the angelic choir, reminding us that Christmas is not about parties and other things but the birth of the Messiah. The angelic choir sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” [Luke 2:14] Paul captured that theme as he wrote to the Romans. Messiah has ushered in the kingdom of peace: ” for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” [Rom 14:17]

Hoping you are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ this season.

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The Truth About Christmas

1 John 3-5 A Christmas Message from John

Today, as we stop to ponder the truth of Christmas, the Apostle John writes to remind us why God sent His only begotten Son on that Christmas night so long ago. [1 Jn 3:5] He was manifested to take away our sins, [1 Jn 3:8] He was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. In order to to do that, He had to be the propitiation [atoning sacrifice] for our sins. [1Jn 4:10] That is the true Christmas message and why Christ came long ago.

Thus celebrate Christmas and ponder those thoughts. Merry Christmas

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Christmas – by Faith

Christmas from long ago

Hebrews 11 to 13 Others Tell the Story of Faith

Long ago in a faraway land, isn’t that how fairy tales begin? Yes, they often do, but this is not a fairy tale! It happened long ago in a faraway land, and the voices of those in the story tell a story of faith that they hope you will embrace. 

The Hebrews author wants you to know the real Christmas story as told, not by words, but by the lives of Abel, Enoch, Noah, and others. Each one says, I never saw Christ or touched Him or heard his voice, but I believed by faith. Like Abraham, God took that as my confession and counted me, just as him, righteous. [Rom 4:3] Christ was the light that came into the world; centuries later, the Apostle Paul added that this light “died for our sins according to the scriptures; he was buried, and he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” [1C or 15:3-4] Peter added his voice, “You do not see him now, but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy…”[1Peter 1:8-9]

They all were telling about the Christ Child, the Messiah. Their story is true and not a fairy tale. We pray that you join them and believe by faith this Christmas so God can call you righteous.

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Welcome, Long Awaited News!

Messiah has come

Matt 1-4 It has been 400 yrs. of silence since Malachi closed the OT. It was as if God rolled up the heavens like men roll up a scroll. What was He doing? What was He saying? What took place in those years? Today just as long ago, people were born, lived, and died. Rulers came and went, and nations have come and gone on just as before. Today’s newspapers and headlines read like the Jerusalem Post, which people read looking for that blessed hope that was promised so long ago through the prophets of old. They read the scriptures over and over, thinking that in them they would have eternal life in them; yet it is these that testified about Messiah’s coming. [Jn 5:39]

And then, with a word from heaven, the scroll unrolled to reveal the words of Malachi [Mal 4:5] “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet to prepare the way of the Lord.” And Isaiah’s words came true! A virgin would conceive, and Messiah would come through her, as Isaiah had said. [Is 7:14KJV] He would be able to trace his lineage through the royal halls of men and women such as Tamar, Ruth, Rahab, and Bathsheba. He would come to prove that God’s silence was but for a moment. Messiah came just as He promised!

Are you hungering and thirsting for righteousness? [Matt 5:6] Are you waiting for Messiah to come? He came just as He said. Have you met Him? He is waiting to reveal Himself to you.
Messiah, open the eyes of the blind to see You, open their ears to hear You, and open their hearts to receive you.

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“The Christmas Story in Hebrews”

The Christmas Story

Hebrews 7 to 10 This week we are caught up in the Christmas story of the birth of the Christ child.  We ponder anew each Christmas season the story of the Nativity. We recall the gospel writers sharing with us how that came to be; Mary, “was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.” [Matt 1:18b]  The Hebrews author does not want us to miss that God, in eternity past revealed that truth: “But a body You have prepared for Me.” [Heb 10:5] And why did this Christ child come? He came to do God’s will by offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice. [Matt 26:42] And to further take to away the first that He may establish the second. It is by this that we have been sanctified through offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. On this, it was affirmed when He said “It is finished!” [Jn 19:30]

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Left Behind

Mentoring God's way

Advent #11: Titus:

How often do we yearn for heaven? Christmas brings that focal point front and center as we yearn to be with our Lord on His birthday so we can sing in the heavenly choir. Just as Paul told Titus, the reason God has left you behind is to do the ministry work because there are churches without leaders and churches without mentors. Titus submitted to Paul’s direction in this regard. The churches were young and needed wisdom and a mentor of integrity. Titus was the man of the hour.

God has left each of us behind to be a mentor to someone in need. Imagine if Titus had not stepped into the role for which God prepared him? Imagine what happens if we refuse to step into the role God has prepared for us? Stop and think about this; what might have happened on Crete if Titus said I was too busy or not knowledgeable enough or too young or too old? Titus gave no excuses; he willingly submitted to the task Paul left to him even though he was alone. How often do we have excuses that we use not to do the work that God has clearly given to us, such as I cannot teach; I cannot witness. How often do we say that we are not prepared to do the work?

Paul encouraged Titus to step up and be the man of the hour. Will you take the challenge too?

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