This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She…

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. —Ephesians 3:20-21 I finished the year by reading a book by Naeem Fazal and by doing some reflection. My youngest daughter, Hannah, gave me the book for Christmas. One thing that was mentioned in the book was this statement: “Has there ever been a time when you trusted Jesus more than you are trusting Him at this moment.” It is a thought provoking statement. If…

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. —Luke 2:8-11 “Born to Be Wild” is a throw-back song which speaks about living for self and doing what one wants. It is about living for pleasure and never…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. —Hebrews 12:1-2 Carry a 20 pound weight while you are running or swimming and see how that extra weight hinders your progress compared to not having it. Walk through an area that is full of vines…

There is a time for everything… —Ecclesiastes 2:1 He has made everything beautiful in its time. —Ecclesiastes 2:11 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. — Romans 8:28 Wars, crimes, sickness, earthquakes, corruption, fires, tears, death, mourning… Headlines are filled with the difficulties of the human race. The world has shed oceans of tears as hearts have ached through the painful realities life brings at times. You know the heartache I speak about. All people go through it— some more than others. There surely is a time for everything whether…

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. —Genesis 1:1 The Lord is my light… —Psalm 27:1 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. —Psalm 119:105 …I am the light of the world. —John 9:5 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. —Revelation 21:23 Sunrises bring joy as light arises on the earth. Seeing the light of the stars and moon at night causes the heart to be glad. We rejoice in seeing the sun shining bright especially after a…

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. –John 3:16 Are you a giver or a taker? Do you like to receive or do you like to give away? Our culture in the U.S. is becoming a population of recipients of the government. “We’ve Crossed The Tipping Point; Most Americans Now Receive Government Benefits” http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2014/07/02/weve-crossed-the-tipping-point-most-americans-now-receive-government-benefits/. People are becoming more dependent on the government. I heard of a sign in a mid-west park that read “Don’t feed the bears. They become dependent on you.” Yet most Americans, and people in the world, have…

The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. —Isaiah 50:4 Long bus rides to school during the bleak months of cold winters were not among my favorite things to do as a youth. Neither were the long walks to school when it was so cold the nostrils of the nose would stick together. But as much as those things were not my favorite things to do, school was even lower on the list. But today I enjoy spending time with the greatest Teacher ever, the Lord…

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. —Genesis 1:1 Have you ever seen something create itself from nothing? Imagine if I told you that a car, a house, a milk bottle or an asphalt road created itself out of nothing. If I were absolutely sincere in this you might think I was a lunatic. But, people believe that everything around us that we see that is not man-made came into existence of itself or by itself. Now that is insane. God’s Word is clear that He is the One who created all things. People can deny it or reject this, but that is the fact of the…

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross. —Philippians 2:5-8 People get into power positions and for many there is the tendency to use their position for their own advantage. They manipulate laws and people to reinforce their own power structure. These…