Posts with the category “advent-2025”

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death”. (Proverbs 14:12)I have found in my own life that compromise multiplies quickly and before you know it, you have a big fat runaway snowball tumbling down a hill wrecking everything in its path. The thing about sin is that it is usually enjoyable for the sinner. We ignore the wisdom and cautionary tales of those with experi...  Read More

Hope is defined as “a desire accompanied by expectation of obtaining what is desired or belief that it is obtainable”. Jesus demonstrated hope throughout His ministry. With each miracle He performed He knew the power at work within Him to accomplish what unbelieving mind would consider impossible. He healed the sick, gave blind men back their sight, made crippled men stand up and walk, He even bro...  Read More

"So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.'" (John 5:19)Jesus lived a life of perfect submission and obedience to God the Father. Being One with the Father, Jesus understood that in every circumstance, God’s plans were good. Immediately following His...  Read More

To study the word “bear” that is used in 1Corinthians 13:7 gives a much more significant and deeper meaning than I would give it at first glance. It is the Greek word “stego”; it means to cover closely, to protect by covering, to conceal and then, by covering, to bear up under. Note that at the core of its meaning stego denotes an activity or state which blocks entry from without or exit from with...  Read More

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)Rest can be elusive during the holiday season. We have trees to put up, houses to decorate, cookies to bake, school concerts to watch, shopping to do, parties to attend, family to visit. All of these good things can pile up in our already busy and hectic lives and leave us feeling quite exhausted. When our fo...  Read More

It’s happened to all of us at some point: someone you admire, look up to, and love dearly is right in front of you, sharing something important while you’re unable to pay attention to what they’re saying the moment you notice a tiny, green speck of food lodged between their teeth and you think to yourself, Who’s gonna tell ‘em? It’s especially rough when it's a serious conversation you’ve wasted a...  Read More

God in the business of writing a new story on a blank page that has been wiped clean by the blood of Jesus.  Read More

The Jesus Storybook Bible calls the love of God the “never stopping, never giving up, always and forever love.” God has pursued His people with love and grace since creation began. God has been chasing after you, personally, all your life. He determined where you would live. He gave you the parents you have on purpose. Everything you have been through, all the joys, the trials, the tears, everythi...  Read More

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. Now one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7We like to use the phrase “brutally honest” when we are about to say something we know is going to cut to the heart and probably be hurtful to people. Or “no offense, but…” and then say someth...  Read More

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted h...  Read More

Jesus had single-minded obedience to the will of God the Father, His purpose defined and set before Him. He did not look to the right or to the left to compare His lot to another, He knew why He was on the earth, and that was to bring glory to God.  Read More

The kindness referred to in 1 Corinthians 13:4 is not merely lip service; it is an active, benevolent, tangible act.  The Greek word used here, “chresteuomai”, is from the root word “chrestos” and means to provide something beneficial for someone as an act of kindness; to be kind and gracious. It is an attitude of being willing to help or assist rendering gracious, well-disposed service to others....  Read More

As the seasons of our lives change, we can rest in the fact that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. While we may falter in our love for one another, and for God, in Christ we see that God’s love for us is steady and true through the ages. We invite you to join us this advent as we consider the perfect, unchanging love of God.  Read More