Posts from December 2019 (Page 2)
Daily Devotional: December 20th, 2019
Depending On God We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 Ask yourself, am I growing in faith and in love for my brothers and sisters in the Lord? Paul explains in 2 Thessalonians that these Christians were going through many trials. He writes to them that he is so encouraged…
Daily Devotional: December 19th, 2019
Finding Rest We’re less than a week away from Christmas and everyone is in need of a break. With all the hustle and bustle of the season how do we find the time for rest? Finding time to relax in the holiday season can help you recenter and refocus on the birth of Jesus. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let…
What is Blue Christmas?
It is a time to recognize that Christmas can be a bittersweet time of the year. The constant refrain we hear about getting together with family, reminds many people of what and who they have lost, or what they never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the loss of a loved one, the pain of isolation- all these can make us feel very much alone in the midst of the festive…
Daily Devotional: December 18th, 2019
Blue Christmas And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 As we prepare for our Blue Christmas Service tonight, we should all take time to reflect on those who are in need of some hope or are…
Daily Devotional: December 17th, 2019
Shedding Tears When I think of the times that I have lost someone or something, most often it makes the tears roll down my cheeks. In public places we try so hard to hide them so that no one can see but in private we let them run like a river that we think will never stop. Tears are nothing to be ashamed of. Most of the time we feel relief and some healing after a good cry. They represent…
Daily Devotional: December 16th, 2019
Faith, Love, And HOpe We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Do we really cry out to the Lord to strengthen us in faith, love and hope so that we will understand and do His will? Faith, love, and hope do not come from us, but from God. He tells us that the scriptures, His Holy Spirit and prayer will…
Daily Devotional: December 15th, 2019
Give More For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 Reflection: Immanuel means God with us. From the very beginning, relationships have mattered to God. What would it look like this week for you to focus less on the presents and more on giving your…
Turn your Christmas upside down this year and do the season differently…
LET US CONSPIRE TOGETHER TO NOT ONLY SPEND LESS BUT GIVE MORE Although it was a cold rain misty morning, our hearts were warm and full as we gave out 153 families ( probably close to 600-800 people) and our Youth and Kitchen Crew fed 153 people. And thanks to all our servant volunteers in every area of the church from our hospitality crew to our encouraging escorts who really rocked it this time to our unloaders, table people and…
Daily Devotional: December 14th, 2019
Giving your SPIRITUAL Gifts Giving gifts is common this time of year. Everyone is trying to get the newest, flashiest toy or gadget, but are you taking the time this season to give out your spiritual gifts to others in your life? The spiritual gifts were laid out in the new testament mostly in the Pauline epistles, the specific verses are: We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in…
Daily Devotional: December 13th, 2019
‘Tis the Season We’re 12 days away from Christmas and I’m sure that the full swing of the hustle and bustle has started. Between the Christmas parties, gift buying, present wrapping, holiday baking, and family visiting have you taken the time to stop and truly focus on the reason for this season? We all know that the true focus that we should have during the season is the birth of Jesus Christ, but is His birth the actual reason? How…
Daily Devotional: December 12th, 2019
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 What do we treasure? Many of us said toys, our animals, electronics, friends and family, candy, comfort and even fancy cars! Matthew, the writer of this scripture, was a tax collector and was probably a rich man. He most likely had lots and lots of favorite “treasures” in his life , yet gave them all up to drop everything to follow and serve Jesus. He recognized Jesus…
Daily Devotional: December 11th, 2019
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Are you making time to listen to the Lord and be available for Him to use? We easily get caught in the distractions of this world, not making time to stop and listen to our Lord. When we do hear His voice we sometimes neglect to be obedient to His calling due to…