When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:10-11 Christmas is not just about acknowledging Jesus but adoring him. It is not first about our witness to the world but about worship…
One of my favorite Christmas carols is Joy to the World. It is an upbeat hymn and one that, right from the beginning, celebrates the coming of Jesus and calls us to worship. The hymn was written by Isaac Watts (1674-1748) and was published in 1719. While Joy to the World has been sung during…
In a season often marked by a frenzied busyness, Advent is an opportunity to set aside time to prepare our hearts. The term advent is a version of a Latin word that means “coming.” The four weeks before Christmas are set aside as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’…
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?Matthew 6:27 Oh, no! Something’s coming. What now?? Doesn’t it always feel like something is causing us worry and concern? Maybe it’s financial or work-related or health-related or something bad or the 3point internet is messed up again! And…
One of the most repeated commands in the Bible is to “fear not.” Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount not to worry about tomorrow. And Paul assured the Philippian Christians, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And…
Tina Turner once sang, “What’s love got to do with it?” I would counter that love has everything to do with it. As we continue to study the Book of James, he mentions the royal law (James 2:8). This law, he goes on to explain, is to love our neighbors as ourselves. In fact, he…
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:31 What do you do to stay in shape? For me, I try to hit the gym every day. I find it interesting that…
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet…
James begins his letter with the statement, “Count it all joy when we meet trials of various kinds.” Not if we meet them but rather when we meet them. He says that if we remain steadfast we will receive the crown of life. In our text from yesterday, James points out that God is not…
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 Growing up I loved reading. One of my favorite genres was spy novels. I read all of the James Bond novels.…