“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” —John 1:14 New Living Translation (NLT) May the love that came down at Christmas fill your hearts with joy and peace. His grace and His covering of love and forgiveness is available for you today. Receive His message of hope and accept His beautiful gift of life. Merry Christmas from our family to yours! .
For thousands of generations, the word of God has taught us how to live. One of the greatest lessons is thankfulness. There are many interpretations of the holiday we celebrate called Thanksgiving. Some are more myth than fact, but we do know that in 1863, with his Thanksgiving Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln finally made it a national holiday. The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica and admonished them to “Thank God in everything (no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks), for this is the will of God for you (who are in Christ.
Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake. why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” ~Psalm 79:9, 10 Prayer is communication with the Creator of the Universe. He is God and above Him there is no other. Understanding the prominent, or actually the preeminent place, prayer must have in the life of the believer is essential for spiritual growth, stability and balance. Our relationship with God is established through our communion with Him and our prayer life is the strengthening foundation of that relationship..
Beautiful Jerusalem and the Eastern Gate! The clouds look like an Aleph to me; which is the first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. “A point above, a point below, and a line of The Word between! Whatever we may understand of Him is but an infinitesimal point above. The only way we can join with Him is an infinitesimal point below. And what empowers us to become this zero point below that resonates with the infinite point above? Our awe of Him, a line that connects below to above!” Tzvi Freeman. John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and.
December is not the time of year for feeling hassled stressed or sad. This is a season of miracles; hope should abound at Christmas time! The miracle of Christmas is that Christ loved us and was willing to give His life for us, even when we were without knowledge of Him. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Jesus is the Promised One! He is Emmanuel, “God with us.” The prophets spoke of His coming centuries before it happened: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though thou be.
It has been said, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” A lovely thought…. Autumn is a magnificent time of year. All of the changing seasons are beautiful. God has designed it that way: “He has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) As the seasons change, so our lives are constantly changing, sometimes from day to day! In the center of all of this change there can be a.
There are fundamental issues that must be addressed by those of us who claim to be believers and followers of Christ. Webster defines fundamental as “anything that serves as the foundation or basis of a system of belief, as a truth, law, or principle; a primary and necessary truth; an essential.” David who replaced Saul as the new king over Israel wrote in Psalm 138, “for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!” Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he.
Justice Jackson stated, “A person gets from a symbol the meaning he puts into it.” What defines a symbol? Webster’s dictionary says, “A symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention; a visible sign of something invisible.” As we near the celebration of Easter and focus on the message of the cross, can the church be relied upon to stand for truth? Do believers today demonstrate allegiance to the cross? What is allegiance? According to Webster, it is “The obligation of fidelity. It is faithfulness, loyalty, devotion: Adherence to truth or fact;.
For too many in our world, this past year has been one of great disturbance and epoch-making upheaval. Cataclysmic events have led to incomprehensible sorrow. We have experienced happenings around the world that have tested our credulity and sorely tried our faith. 2020 was so intense, we find ourselves asking “What will 2021 bring?” Our prayer is, what will we give to this New Year? With God’s help—through prayer and a determination not to “grow weary in well doing”—we can bring a positive influence for good to our world by giving and sharing our faith. (Galatians 6:9) Every child of.
We cannot help everyone, but we can, and surely must, help some. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the.
Life changes like the seasons. We contemplate the passage of time as summer turns to autumn. Our hearts and minds remember the past months and mark the visible changes. We look forward to the new, and something within us longs to cultivate truth. As seasons change, it is not unusual to become introspective. Autumn is a lovely season for soul searching…. Does love really matter? Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” In other words, obey what our Lord has said. He talked much about love. He lived it and, ultimately, gave His life for it. The entire.
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” ~Proverbs 12:18 There are times when strong words are necessary. Words can shore us up, change our thinking, and support and strengthen our resolve. But, sharp harsh words are piercing, they wound, bringing nothing but pain. Have you heard the old expression, “soul weary and heart sore”? This well describes the bruising of our spirits and the weariness of our souls. The weight of the world and challenges of life often enough weigh heavy on our hearts and minds. Callous, thoughtless, hurtful words add.
“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” I John 3:1 God loves us so much that He became our Redeemer and paid a ransom for our lives with His own. We are valuable not because of who we know or what we have accomplished. We are priceless because of who He is. Understanding that we are created in His image and precious in His sight will forever change our perspective on love, life, and living free from the awful burden of sin. There are battles that take.
The years bring many changes for all of us, some we never reckoned on! Christmas is a time of reflection; it is also a season of hope. As we approach the end of the year, it is natural to look back with contemplation and reflection. At Christmastime our hearts turn toward home. We remember our childhood and those we love who may no longer be with us. We think about the challenges of the past year, as well as the many blessings, and wonder what the future holds. We contemplate the unexpected things experienced, and often looking back, we clearly.
Where do we find strength to run this race of life with endurance and finish strong? “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” ~Hebrews 10:36 “We are not of those who shrink back and perish, but are among those who believe and gain possession of their souls.” ~Hebrews 10:39 We are of “those who believe.” Now is the time to run our race in truth, with confidence. Unheeded anxiety, self doubt, insecurity, carnality and sin will undermine and sabotage our effort to run the race.
We may be asking, “What will 2018 bring?” Our prayer is, “What will we give to this New Year?“ With God’s help—through prayer and a determination not to “grow weary in well doing”—we can bring a positive influence for good to our world by giving and sharing our faith. (Galatians 6:9) Every child of God can spread hope and share a legacy of faith that will heal. What is faith? Faith is complete trust and confidence in our God. What is a legacy? “Anything handed down from the present and past, as a gift.” In this New Year, we can.
Christmas is the celebration of the coming of the Savior of the world! It has been celebrated for centuries, since the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine. The birth of The Promised One was prophesied by many seers, hundreds of years before His coming! Isaiah 9:6 is one of the more familiar passages of scripture concerning the birth of Messiah: For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. December 25, A.D. 336,.
There are fundamental issues that must be addressed by those of us who claim to be believers and followers of Christ. Webster defines fundamental as “anything that serves as the foundation or basis of a system of belief, as a truth, law, or principle; a primary and necessary truth; an essential.” David who replaced Saul as the new king over Israel wrote in Psalm 138, “for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!” Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he.
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” ~ Romans 12:17-18, 21 Ever feel like you’ve been run over by a Mack truck? All of us have had the experience of feeling “overcome.” Prayer and perseverance bring peace. There are times in our lives when we must make sacrifices. Change is not comfortable, or easy, but it is necessary to make the determination to let go. Whatever it.
For too many in our world, this past year has been one of great disturbance and epoch-making upheaval. Cataclysmic events have led to incomprehensible sorrow. We have heard and seen images of happenings around the world that have tested our credulity and sorely tried our faith. Currently around the globe in this 21st Century, there have been extreme acts of violence and brutality that hearken back to days of archaic barbarism. In light of these egregious atrocities, we may well ask, “What will 2017 bring?” Our prayer is, what will we give to this New Year? With God’s help—through prayer.
Luke tells a story of 10 men who met Jesus and were healed as He was traveling near the border of Galilee and Samaria. They asked Him to take pity on them. He told them to go show themselves to the priest. “And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘We’re not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God?’”.
The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. He responded with a wonderful outline starting with where to begin and how we should end. Jesus began with saying, “Our Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9) How beautiful! Recognition that God is our Father and we belong to Him is the first place to start. It is good to remind ourselves that we are beloved children of God. Our heavenly Father loves us. (John 3:16) The next step on this journey of prayer is worship. Our God is sovereign and our affirmation of who He is, and the truth that.
The years bring many changes for all of us, some we never reckoned on! Christmas is a time of reflection; it is also a season of hope. As we approach the end of the year, it is natural to look back with contemplation and reflection. At Christmastime our hearts turn toward home. We remember our childhood and those we love who may no longer be with us. We think about the challenges of the past year, as well as the many blessings, and wonder what the future holds. We contemplate the unexpected things experienced, and often looking back, we clearly.
We cannot help everyone, but we can, and surely must, help some. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the.
Seasons are fundamental to how we understand climate and our environment. There are differences of opinion concerning the start of autumn. “In meteorological terms autumn begins September 1st, as each season is defined in a three month period.” Astronomers have another perspective based on the date of the seasons of celestial events, placing the official start of autumn on September 23. There is a third definition of the beginning of autumn which comes from Phenology. The National Wildlife Federation describes Phenology as “the study of periodic plant and animal life cycles. These are the changes in the natural world, such.
And so it was, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, ‘Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’”.
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” ~ Romans 8:2 What glorious liberating truth! Living free from the burden of guilt and the sorrow of sin is the beautiful gift of atonement provided for us through the blood of Jesus Christ, which is the remission for our sins. The apostle Paul admonished believers to be “filled with all the fullness of God.” He was referring to our spirits and our “inner man” being strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught that we.
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” I John 4:15-16 The nature and character of Christ is abiding love. (Luke 6:27-38) Those who say they belong to God, believers in His Son and atonement, must demonstrate the fruit of His Spirit. He is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and gentleness. He is unfailing faithfulness and enduring love. Sin is destructive.
“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.” ~Psalm 89:15, 16 What does it mean to acclaim the Lord? The word “acclaim” means to greet with strong approval or loud applause, to hail or to cheer. In other words, taken within the context of scripture, it means, “praise the Lord” and “rejoice in the truth that He is God and His name is above all others.” As we learn how to praise Him, or perhaps more.
Isn’t it wonderful that when we come to the Lord there is no prerequisite required for salvation? We only need to believe, to come as a child and receive all He is giving. The beauty of the love of God is that we are always accepted. We are never rejected under any circumstance. Jesus receives us, and embraces us with open arms. “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37) We are always accepted by God. That acceptance means that we are.
“For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:12 Until we know the depth of His love, we will never truly experience the confidence that comes from knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are loved by God and called for His purpose. That confidence comes when we understand who we are in Christ. One of the most beautiful and powerful passages of scripture is the Apostle Paul’s prayer for realization of the power that works in.
“He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” ~Psalm 50:23 (NIV) For most of us thankfulness does not come naturally. A grateful heart and positive attitude is a choice and requires determination. Strangely, sometimes the more we have, the less we appreciate it. Years ago when we were children, in an attempt to enlighten my sisters and me and emphasize just how good we had it, our Dad told us, when-I-was-a-child stories. At the time, those stories went in one ear and out the other. But,.
“Look on the bright side.” Is this an annoying cliché that is irrelevant, or is it good advice? Interpreting this statement as sound advice is a good idea. Skepticism will not lift our spirits. Negativity does not encourage hopefulness and focusing on the difficulty can cause defeat. Choosing to think positively and pro-actively looking for the light enables us to step out of the darkness. When the demanding responsibilities and cares of life are darkly overwhelming, positive focus on “the light of life” will restore hope and ultimately bring help. (John 8:12) The word of God teaches us that joy.
It has been said, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” A lovely thought…. Autumn is a magnificent time of year. All of the changing seasons are beautiful. God has designed it that way: “He has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) As the seasons change, so our lives are constantly changing, sometimes from day to day! In the center of all of this change there can be a.
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) An ambassador’s position is to skillfully represent his nation in the capital of another. As Christians, we must ask ourselves, whom are we representing? As ambassadors for Christ, we represent our Lord and the Kingdom of Heaven. Our behavior and lifestyle must not be inconsistent with the living Word of.
Those of us who claim to be followers of Christ are obligated to fear God more than man. Webster defines obligation as “the duty and promise of conscience by which one is bound.” Obligation is “the constraining power of conscience or law. The condition of being indebted for an act of kindness.” It is “the obligation to do that which is prescribed or required.” The Lord spoke to the prophet Samuel and said: “I regret making Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not preformed My commands.” (1 Samuel 15:11 AMP) Samuel was grieved with.
“Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin.” ~Ecclesiastes 5:6 When we have a healthy respect and reverence for the Lord, we will learn to watch what we say. “Like golden apples in setting of silver” (Proverbs 25:11) are words carefully chosen and spoken accurately and at the right time. So many of us experience responsibilities that can weigh heavily on our minds and on our spirits. It is easy to rush into speech without considering what we are saying. We have all heard the saying, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” Often, what we allow.
“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.” (Psalm 89:15,16) What does it mean to acclaim the Lord? The word “acclaim” means to greet with strong approval or loud applause, to hail or to cheer. In other words, taken within the context of scripture, it means “praise the Lord” and “rejoice in the truth that He is God and His name is above all others.” As we learn how to praise Him—or perhaps more significantly, as.
