Inspirations

The hope of Christmas was meant to bring peace.  Yet, “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Matt. 2:3     Imagine that!   Herod realizes the prince of peace has been born, and he is troubled.   It’s simple for us to look back and wonder what Herod was concerned about.   It’s easy because we know Jesus’ kingdom was not earthly and most, if not all, of us, have never been the king.   When you’re the king, you worry about who wants your throne.   This little bundle resting in a manger stole his peace.   In fact, he was so bothered by the news that he stole peace from his subjects.   Unrest gushes down from Herod to those under him, and now they are troubled too.    In Bethlehem, however, a baby slept peacefully.   He was the fulfillment of peace the promise that brought pea...

We are now full swing into the Christmas preparations.   Some are searching for the perfect gift for Aunt Sally.   They trudge through many department stores  and browse the internet for hours  and still, choose a gift card because who knows  what Aunt Sally wants.  So, they lose hope.  Others are decking the halls, the yard,  the house with a gazillion lights.   Their yard can be seen from outer space.   They hope it's enough,  but they still feel the need to add one more string if brightly colored lights.   Others are hosting their nineteenth party this year, they hope it impresses the right people.   There is baking to be done and plans for a Christmas feast to be made.  We hope our family appreciates the effort we made, the time we spent. All these things can leave us frazzled, tired and even hopel...

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).  Isaiah 7:14   Before there was a manger in Bethlehem,  or a silent night, or angels singing God made a promise. God through the prophet Isaiah said,  “the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,  and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).    And through Micah he said  “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,     are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler     who will shepherd my people Israel.” God assured them there would be a savior.   One thing is sure no word from God will ever fail (Luke 1:37).    That means it is a certainty.    God never goes back on his word or breaks a promise.   So when God vowed to send his son,  it...

Some people love to plan. I know crazy. It balances out with all of us random people that  never know what we are doing from one moment to the next. God needs the planners. We need planners. As we enter the Christmas season, I am always amazed at the amount of planning that goes into Christmas plays, concerts and other Christmas activities. Just as God made a plan,  some people begin making plans for Christmas in July and August.  They are meticulously setting dates and times for the festivities. Even though Christmas was still a long way off, the plans were made. While, to the rest of us, it seems as though nothing was happening, the musicians and others were carefully setting a plan in motion  that we will not see until sometime in December when we sit in an auditorium or participate in the Christmas activity that was planned. So if you're the planner, we appreciate you, your dedication, and the skills wi...

he will crush [ b ]  your head,      and you will strike his heel.”  Genesis 3:15 As we begin the Christmas season,   I think it's appropriate to look at the beginning  of a plan.   Way back when Eve introduced sin into the world, God had a plan. A plan to correct the sin problem that we all have. We see it in this verse verse H e will crush   your head,   and you will strike his heel.” I love that, God, knowing we would sin, set a plan in motion. But the plan, though set in motion, took time. It was accurate and detailed. His plan was simple a sinless man taking on the sins of the world. A simple plan, but many years passed. Adam and Eve had long since died and there was no sign of a plan. nothing to even hint that God even remembered the plan. Don't get me wrong, things were happening but was it related to the plan? To the peo...

But while he was still a long way off,  Luke 11:20 "But while he was still a long way off,"   this phrase has been running through my head today. It's in the parable of the prodigal son. When the son decides to go home,  The father who has been longing for the day his son would return home, sees him coming down the road. He was dirty, hungry, and worn out from the life, he had been living. In the midst of this, is the phrase "But while he was still a long way off," It paints a picture of love, of forgiveness, of mercy. The son had not arrived home. I get the picture of each of us when we start seeking Christ. Unworthy, stripped bare, showing the scars that this world has left on us. Limping dejectedly home knowing we deserve nothing. But I also see the Father not waiting till we are home and cleaned up relaxing in a chair to come to us. instead, he is so excited to see us  that he drop...

Thanksgiving is over         the turkey is gone. Families have likely gone home           By now, there is barely any indication that Thanksgiving even occurred except for the turkey leftovers that you'll be eating till Christmas. As we transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas, my prayer is that Thanksgiving will invade our hearts giving us peace,                     Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,                since as members of one body you were called to peace.                And be  thankful .  Colossians 3:15 and makes us glad,                      Let us come before him with  thanksgiving and                          ex...