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The Epiphany season of the church year is centered around Jesus’ glory as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. This has been revealed to us for our salvation. We see that this week in the events of Jesus’ baptism byJohn in the Jordan River. This remarkable event records for us God the Father’sproclamation of Jesus as the Son of God and His Chosen Servant in whom He iswell pleased. This is a...

We are in the early days of winter, the days when darkness has the upper hand.  The nights are long, so thatmany of us go to sleep in darkness and awake in darkness.  These hours of darkness are alreadyshortening, day by day; darkness is gradually giving way to the light.  But in the fall the process will begin again,with darkness overtaking the light.  Sothe darkness in nature advances and recede...

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen. Our meditation is based on the Child Jesus in Egypt.  You will see the Lord carries you into spiritually difficult situations for the purpose that His saving grace might shine. 

A 10-year-old girl had gone with her family to see some Christmas light displays at various locations throughout the city.  At one church, they stopped and got out tolook more closely at the beautifully done nativity scene.  “Isn’t that beautiful?” said the girl’sgrandmother.  “Look at all the animals,Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.” “Yes, Grandma,” replied the granddaughter.  “It is really nice....

Verse 5 of our text says that the darkness could not “comprehend It,” the “It” being Jesus and all He is. The literal meaning is that the darkness could not grasp It. The question is: does that mean darkness couldn’t grasp It like “comprehend It,” or does it mean darkness couldn’t grasp It like “could not destroy It,” like something you have in your hand and try to destroy? Perhaps it means both,...

How many of you are familiar with the Christmas song, “I’ll be home for Christmas?”  Originally recorded in 1943by Bing Crosby, it’s been re-recorded by over a dozen artists in the last 80 years – including Kelly Clarkson, Elvis Presley, Rascal Flatts, and Michael Buble’.  “I’ll be home for Christmas (ifonly in my dreams)” was originally written from the perspective of a World War II soldier dream...

Listen to the names given in Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  (ESV)

Isaiah is an important part of Christmas.  Isaiah writes more about the promised Saviorthan any other Old Testament prophet.  Itis for this reason that Isaiah is sometimes called “The Fifth Evangelist,”right along with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.             As we enter the seasonof Advent, we do so with Isaiah.  Today,Isaiah tells us of the coming kingdom that Jesus would bring.  It is a kingd...

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has...

Gratitude is a concept so very important for us in our Christianlives! It is important, for its presence or absence affects every one of our relationships either positively or negatively. This is true whether we are talking about our relationship with God or with one another. Gratitude is that feeling of appreciation and thankfulness which arises within our hearts when we recognize that someone ha...

Text: (Hebrews 4:9-13 NKJ) "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.  10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.  11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.  12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even...

Text: (Matt. 24:15-28 NKJ) "Therefore when you see the`abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place " (whoever reads, let him understand),  16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  17 "Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.  18 "And let him who is in thefield not go bac...

Text: Galatians 1:8-9 (NKJV) 8 But even if we,or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we havepreached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, sonow I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you havereceived, let him be accursed.

Text: (Num. 32:1-27 NKJ) "Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock; and when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that indeed the region was a place for livestock, 2 the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying, 3 "Ataroth, Dibon...

Text: (2 KINGS 5:8-19 ESV) But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash...

Text: (Heb. 4:9-13 NKJ) "There remains therefore a restfor the people of God.  10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.  11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.  12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than anytwo-edged sword, piercing even to th...

Text:(Rev. 3:14-22 NKJ) "And to the angel ofthe church of the Laodiceans write,`These things says the Amen, the Faithfuland True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:  15 "I know your works, thatyou are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  16 "So then, because you arelukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  17 "Because...

Text:(Matt. 6:24-34 KJV) "No man can servetwo masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else hewill hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God andmammon.  25 Therefore I sayunto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shalldrink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more thanmeat, and the body than raime...

How did you determine what you weregoing to wear today?  Are you one ofthose people who chooses and lays out your outfit for the next day the nightbefore?  Did you put a lot of thoughtinto it?  Maybe because it’s Sunday youchose to wear nice clothes to church. Maybe you’re just wearing what your wife told you you should wear?  Or, if you’re a young child, you’re probablywearing what your mom picke...

Last year my daughter’s class went ona field trip to a huge corn maze. I wentalong to help chaperone and was givenfive kids to watch. We set out withconfidence that we could find the exit. We got utterly lost. Fortunately, we metsome other groups that had cheatsheets. They had a map of the maze withlandmarks. With that, it was pretty easyto get out. It was if we had a view fromabove.

It is interesting the things that come across a pastor’sdesk.  Usually there is a lot of junkmail and junk email, like “how to have a successful fundraiser,” or someone whocan fill our cleaning supplies needs at church, or that widow from Nigeria whohas millions of dollars she wants to donate to our congregation, she just needsmy bank account number and PIN...       But every so often,there are un...

Text: (Acts 16:9-15 ESV) "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a manof Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over toMacedonia and help us."  10And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on intoMacedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.  11 So, setting sail from Troas, wemade a direct voyage to Samothrace...

Text: (Heb. 6:1-12 NKJ) "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those wh...

Our meditation is based on the parable of the shrewd steward.  You will see that when every effort to climbthe ladder of success leaves you falling flat, Jesus stands ready to pick you back up and put you to work in the kingdom of God.  Again, the Savior defines the work ethic Heseeks: “I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon ofunrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive...

Believe it or not, we’re pretty much back at that time of year again: it’s August, so it’s officially “Back to School” time.  Which means you’ve probably noticed plenty of “Back to School” sale ads.  A typical one usually goes something like this: “Get all your ‘Back to School’ needs at [insert store’s name here]!”  Now, maybe for “Back to School” time the use of the word “needs” is appropriate at...