Sunday, December 15, 2019

Makin’ a List and Checkin’ it Twice

God is Gracious

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12

At Christmas, we all make a list of things we’d like to have. But our lists typically won’t include the hopes and desires we have to change things about ourselves, our circumstances, and our relationships. Maybe they should?

The Bible tells us such gifts like peace and joy and patience can be ours if we just ask and believe. That we can be freed from bad habits, guilt and resentment because God made good on His promise to send a Savior to all mankind. Yes, baby Jesus, the hope of the world, was found lying in a manger over 2000 years ago. And still today, God’s Son is with us. The question is have you found Him? This Christmas, let’s receive God’s precious gift and rejoice for God is with us!

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:21-23

Because God is gracious, through Jesus, God is with us always.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Co-Dependent

God is Goodness

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7

The world preaches that independence equals success and yet if we are being honest, over time we end up dependent on the very things that started off as freedoms. Things that once were a source of validation or happiness can take control and the joy that was once experienced is lost. Eventually our independence can lead to hopelessness as we try to fill an insatiable void.

God speaks of having a dependency on Him-- counterintuitive to our culture because as humans, dependence is a sign of weakness. Yet, it is because God created us solely to be in a relationship with Him, that any substitute does not last. Like little children that depend on their earthly Fathers, our Heavenly Father longs for us to see Him as the source of all goodness, all peace, and all joy.

My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Psalm 62:7

Because God is goodness, with Jesus we can depend on God always.