Holiday
Instruments in the Hands of God
The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back;4 the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs.5 Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back?6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs?7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. To most, these…
Read MoreOne Way or the Other
Most people know the story of Jonah being swallowed by a great fish. While many choose to look at it as an imaginative object lesson to teach obedience and the futility of running from God, in actuality, God has done stranger things than to allow a person to be swallowed…
Read MoreThe God of Things That Are Not What They Seem
The prophet Isaiah described the coming of the Messiah thusly in Isaiah 9:6-7: “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.7 Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end.He will…
Read MoreChristmas Wish List
When I was a child, the song, “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth” was popular. While that was me one year in particular, I thought it was hilarious that two front teeth would be the entire list for Santa. My list always had a lot of…
Read MoreThe Kingdom of God Is Here
When we think of the Kingdom of God, do we see ourselves living in it here and now, or is it something far away to be attained? For the most part, I believe we see the Kingdom of God as very different from our current state of existence, because we…
Read MoreWhy a Baby?
The Israelites understood from prophesy that God intended to send them a Savior. But the only hint on how the Messiah would come is found in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).”…
Read MoreThe Importance of the Celebration
A number of Christ-followers, including myself, have looked at Christmas as the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. That view is supported in Western culture with the emphasis on manger scenes featuring a beautiful, helpless baby. Certainly the reminder of what Jesus did for mankind in leaving His glory in Heaven to…
Read MoreIf He’s Not the Reason, Then…
A number of years ago the phrase, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season,” became popular for Christmas cards, plaques, ornaments and the like. It has now been around long enough to become trite to some, and to receive only casual nods from others. Spiritual detractors of Christmas argue that…
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