How we can experience the fullness of joy promised by Christ
Christmas is a season of joy. And joy, real and divine joy, comes to us as we abide in Christ and follow his teachings.
Asking Santa? Why we know we can do so much better than that!
As we contemplate the gift of Jesus who came to the world a little over 2,000 years ago, we can have full assurance that he delivers on his promises 100 percent of the time.
Gratefully, today we sing what many for centuries only said
The angels spoke their praise. Today we gladly sing it. And it’s a message not limited to the familiar Christmas Bible texts.
We celebrate because God has not hidden the most important gift of all
We may hide gifts at Christmas, but God has made clear the remarkable gift h’s provided for us.
We can do better than celebrate: Stop, ponder, contemplate, tremble
The gospel is born and bathed in mystery. At Christmas, let’s not take the wonder for granted.
From a minor prophet, it is a challenge fit even at Christmastime
We may think of repentance as a subject for Lent more than Advent. But a second look helps us to think again.
O come, let us press on now with worship and service of Jesus!
“Let us press on to know the Lord.”
Three prayers, three gifts—nothing could be better at Christmas!
The little letter of Jude gives us the perfect Christmas list: “May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.”
Peace, the promise of Christmas, comes through relationships
When we have a right relationship with God through Christ, then his peace fills us and makes it possible for us to bring peace to others.
Discovering the joy and necessity of a hiding place with God
When we go to our hiding place with God, he will cover us with his loving arms, remind us of all his promises, and give us the strength and the wisdom to navigate every challenge victoriously.
Five lessons about abiding from just one chapter in Scripture
Dean Collins quoted a favorite Christmas hymn, told us a little about how it was written, and challenged us to see its truth in one chapter from 1 John in this post that first appeared in 2021.
Our goal: staying together in a world intent on segmentation
What good news we have is that our identity with Christ translates into community with God and each other.
‘Love not the world’—even in the gift-giving month of December?
“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. “
Our experience of Christmas can go beyond our physical senses
Decorating for Christmas is usually a sensory experience. Christ’s first coming involved all the senses, too.
We celebrate as always, but sometimes with a longing for what’s next
Most of us have trouble waiting, especially for Christmas. Even more challenging is our wait for the second advent of Jesus.
At Advent we look back, but the greater joy is in looking ahead
Advent includes some looking back at the promises and prophecies of God. But Advent also always prompts us to wait and to hope for something yet to be revealed.
How one father’s love helped me understand the way God loves me
A fond memory of a warm interaction. First posted here November 14, 2020.
Again and again, God echoes this chapter’s warning to leaders
Every leader gets plenty of criticism. But when the words of warning come from God himself, all who love him must take notice.
Deciding to obey while struggling to understand what God wants
God’s direction seemed harsh to the prophet, and his ways sometimes seem difficult to us, too.
God needs full-time kingdom workers who will always stay on the job
We are to do everything we can to encourage one another to stay the course, to endure whatever suffering comes.