'Tis the Night Before Christmas12/24/2017 It’s finally here! The day thousands of children have been waiting for. The big deadline shoppers have been frantically preparing for. The day before Christmas.
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A Spirit-Filled Pregnancy12/21/2017 We are now going to move our focus briefly away from Zechariah and take a look at his wife Elizabeth. In light of Mary, Elizabeth is one character of the Christmas story that is often overlooked. But we’re going to change that today. We’re going to take a close look at Elizabeth and her story, and see what lessons and insights we can gain from this righteous woman.
Zechariah's Unbelief12/17/2017 He was the first person to hear a divine word in over 400 years. He saw an angel while in the temple of the LORD. He was a priest who was well versed in the prophecies of old and miracles from ancient times. Yet despite all these things, he disbelieved Gabriel’s message and became mute for over nine months.
"I Am Gabriel"12/13/2017 As we gear up for Christmas, let’s cast our minds back to where it all began. Over a year before the scene in the stable, God in His heavenly throne room summoned an angel and gave him a special assignment.
A Simple Girl from Nazareth12/9/2017 The Christmas season is upon us! Have you heard the bells ringing or the choirs singing? But Christmas isn’t just about the songs, bright lights, festivities, and colorful decorations, is it? No, it’s about much more! Christmas is about God doing an extraordinary thing through a simple girl from a small town called Nazareth.
The Silence Was Broken12/6/2017 Advent is here. Christmas is just around the corner. However, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, there is an aspect of the Christmas story we tend to overlook or underemphasize. While flipping through the pages of Luke one and two and Matthew chapter one, we forget the lengthy gap that’s represented in the page that reads “The New Testament.” For us, the span between the Old Testament and New is merely a couple of pages, but for the Israelites it was 400 years.
Share the Joy!11/6/2017
It’s that time of year again! Christmas is just around the corner, and while you might not be thinking about Christmas yet, it will be here before you know it! So as we think ahead and prepare for all the wonderful, joyous activities that are coming up, let us not forget those who might not even know about Christmas—children who may have never received a gift.
They Beheld His Glory ~ Part 212/31/2016 “What wonder still that Anna filled with praise should bless the Lord; Her aging eyes now looking on the Savior of the world. For night and day her prayers had filled the temple of our God. Her heart could tell His saving hand within this gift of love.” ~“How Suddenly a Baby Cries” by Keith & Kristyn Getty While Simeon was looking and watching expectantly for the consolation of Israel, another seasoned individual was also seeking God’s redemption of His people.
They Beheld His Glory ~ Part 112/29/2016 The festivities are over, the presents have been opened, the decorations are starting to come down, merchandise is over half off, and Christmas seems officially over. However, is Christmas Day really the end of everything, the pinnacle moment, grand finale? Or is Christmas Day truly the beginning?
A Christmas Prayer12/25/2016 Sweet baby Jesus! You left your heavenly dwelling of glory to be born among the lowly and despised of the earth, in a cattle stall among people who had no room for You. From a throne of splendor to a straw filled manger, You humbled Yourself and be came like one of us in our very weakest and vulnerable state. You came as a newborn baby, fully reliant upon an imperfect, inexperienced mother and father. And while shepherds paid their respects, and wise men came to worship, the very people You came to save largely rejected and ignored You. Their hearts and their doors stated “No room in the inn.” And now, two thousand years later, many people still have signs hanging on the door frames of their homes and hearts declaring, “No room in the inn!” But may we be like the shepherds of old who left their flocks by night and came to your bedside to worship. Or may we be like the wise men from a far who traveled many miles in search of the King of Kings. And may our Christmas prayer this year be this:
Wise Men Still Seek Him12/24/2016 As we continue our “God Came Down” series, the next characters from the Nativity story that we will look at are the Magi or wise men. How often we see these special guests depicted as three elegantly dressed men bearing rich gifts and kneeling before or hovering over an idyllic manger scene! Now while I hate to burst your bubble or perfect picture, the truth of the matter is that the wise men were nowhere near the manger scene for the birth of Jesus. In fact, we don’t even know if there were three who visited the infant Jesus! There could have been five or ten for all we know! Nevertheless, while no one knows the details on their identity, we can still learn some very valuable lessons from these semi-obscure worshipers of the Christ Child.
A Simple Girl From Nazareth12/7/2016 The Christmas season is upon us! Have you heard the bells ringing or the choirs singing? But Christmas isn’t just about the songs, bright lights, festivities, and colorful decorations, is it? No, it’s about much more! Christmas is about God doing an extraordinary thing through a simple girl form a small town called Nazareth.
Are You Ready for Christmas?10/22/2016 I know...you're probably thinking, It's not even Thanksgiving yet! However, as you may have noticed, the retail industry is gearing up for Christmas because it is just around the corner. So as you see the Christmas decor when you're going about your errands, don't just tune it out and try to focus on Thanksgiving, but rather think of those who may not get the chance to experience and enjoy this blessed holiday. And while you're think about it, why not do something too?
The Word Became Flesh12/25/2015 "How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes? How many greats have become the least for me? How many Gods have poured out their hearts To romance a world that has torn all apart? How many fathers gave up their sons for me? Only one did that for me" ~"How Many Kings" by Downhere Were They Ready for the Unexpected?12/24/2015 As we near the celebration of Christ’s birth our journey through the Christmas story continues, the next characters that come to mind are the good citizens of Bethlehem and the shepherds living out in the fields nearby. Were they ready for the strike of fame that was about to descend on their small town? Did they recognize the Christ child for who He is—the promised Messiah? And what were the thoughts of the shepherds as they witnessed the angelic chorus?
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