Merry Christmas! Glory to God!

It's Time To Worship Christ

Have you ever heard the saying, "'Tis the season"? I'm pretty sure you have. Just like the Magi, who understood the times and knew it was time to worship Christ, we should remember that Christmas "'tis the season" to worship Christ, who came as a baby, lived like us, died for our sins, rose again conquering sin and death, and will come again to take us home someday. 

What Trial Are You Thankful For?

Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, 
   and he prepares the way, 
so that I may show him the salvation of God.” 
Psalm 50:23

On this Christmas eve I invite you to take a moment and remember something you are thankful for. Maybe you are in a line. You might be taking a moment between errands. Whatever you might be doing, remember and be thankful. Be thankful for the really easy things to be thankful for and also for the hard lessons that you needed to learn. Each tough lesson is a highway for the Spirit of God to move in your life. 

Baby Jesus, the Mighty One!

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
   speaks and summons the earth 
   from the rising of the sun to where it sets.

From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

Our God comes and will not be silent;
   a fire devours before him,
   and around him a tempest rages.

Psalms 50:1-3 NIV

Christmas is coming and I love this time of year. It always amazes me that Jesus came as a baby. He came down to earth and lived as one of us. Except without sin. This Jesus who humbled himself and became obedient to the point of dying on the cross for our sins. He is the Mighty One, God, the LORD of the whole earth. He is who we worship, trust and follow. 

Whatever the chaos, drama, or stress the season may bring, the real point is that we remember, celebrate and worship Jesus, who came in the flesh, lived and died for our sins and now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf. 

Praise be to the Mighty One, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Remember What to Seek First

Just a little frame of reference for the holidays. 

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or "What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will given you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:28-34

Prelude to the Christmas Story

The Birth of Jesus Foretold
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[B] the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Luke 1:-45 (NIV)

TELL US WHY YOU ARE THANKFUL!

For to us a child is born, 

     to us a son is given,

     and the government will be on his shoulders. 

And he will be called 

   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 

   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, 

establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. 

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

The reason to be thankful!

I am also deeply thankful for my family! 

A GOSPEL REMINDER

"Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion;
     to you our vows will be fulfilled.
 O you who hear prayer,
     to you all men will come.
 When we were overwhelmed by sins, 
     you forgave our transgressions.
  Blessed are those you choose 
     and bring near to live in your courts!
 We are filled with the good things of your house,
     of your holy temple."
 Psalm 65:1-4

This is the gospel. We were overwhelmed by sins and God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Everyone will come before God on the great day of judgement. Everyone will bow their knees and acknowledge Christ as Lord. Despite our sins God has chosen us to dwell with me forever. He provides for all our needs in Christ Jesus. 

It is the Christmas season. Remember that it's about Christ and all he has done for us. 

Thank you Jesus, for coming into this would to save us from sin. Praise be to you in us today!