Advent 2022 – Day 2: Isaiah 9:2

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isaiah 9:2, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

We live in a dark world.

Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve broke the one command of God that should have been the easiest: “Don’t eat this fruit.”

Yes, sin means missing the mark, falling short, turning away from God.

Sin is ultimately separation. We are born separated from God because of our super-great grandparents, yet we also choose to remain separated by our own choices.

We live behind a veil that blocks His light, and that veil is too heavy to remove ourselves.

It is as if we blocked out the sun to stop it’s heat, and then we climbed into a steep cave, falling to the bottom, unable to climb back out let alone remove the barrier between us and God.

Yet God came to us, the sun itself removing the barrier and lifting us up. God Himself lifted the veil to be with us.

Yes, we still live in a darkened world full of sin and separation, but God has lifted the veil over us. As we go into this world, the people will see the light streaming through us from above.

May we seek to be that light as we take Him into this dark world.

This Sunday at Church: Express Gratitude for those who pick up the elderly to Church

I started my walk in a church that had two vans: one for kids who came from poorer and/or working parent homes and one for elderly.

Our current church, we don’t have vans or specific ministries, but there are a few people who get picked up for services by a few others. My wife and I often help, too, especially with getting one woman to prayer services on Wednesday nights. (She likes being able to grab a slice of pizza and some water from the youth dinner, too!)

I tell our families who pick up these folks regularly “Thank you,” because my wife and I have done it at so many churches, and we are too involved (kept busy?) at this church to be available most of the time.

Daniel

This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Express Gratitude for those who pick up the elderly to Church. Our church use to have a ministry where the church van would pick up members from the elderly homes to church.  I think those who do such a ministry should get […]

This Sunday at Church: Express Gratitude for those who pick up the elderly to Church

VerseD: Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24‭-‬26, ESV

Seek the Lord, and He will bless You with His presence, His grace, and His peace.

Advent 2022 – Day 1: Isaiah 9:1

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

Isaiah 9:1, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

As humans, we have a tendency to let those around us influence us more than God.

Look at Eve with the serpent.

Look at the brothers of Joseph, even though Reuben had tried to save him, still going along with his brothers.

Look at Israel as a nation, constantly turning to the gods of their neighbors.

Zebulun and Naphtali were the same, living way in the north of Israel, what came to be known as Galilee, often overrun with Gentile pagans, and they frequently gave in to their practices rather than worship the one true God.

Yet, God tells them that in the last days they would be blessed.

There is a reminder that we all fall short of God, that we need His help to be good, righteous, holy. We may wander far from Him, yet God comes to us. He makes a way for us. God comes and shares His glory.

If we are willing to see His light in our dark world.

VerseD: Galatians 6:10

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:10, ESV

Let us give thanks to God for every opportunity we get to serve others, especially within our family in Christ: the Church.

VerseD: Psalm 9:1

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1, ESV

Let us be thankful for all God has done, that He keeps His promises and has shown His love for us.

Thanksgiving 2022

It’s Thanksgiving here!

May we be thankful to God for all He has blessed us with, especiallythe promises we have in Christ.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16‭-‬18, ESV

VerseD: Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:6, ESV

Be thankful to God for the goodness He has shown us in offering us eternal life through Christ.

VerseD: Psalm 119:2

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart

Psalm 119:2, ESV

We should be thankful to God who has proven Himself to us and given us His Word. May we seek Him continually.

VerseD: Mark 16:15

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Mark 16:15, ESV

Let us be thankful, not only for our salvation, but that our Lord has given us a purpose: to lead others in our world to salvation in Christ.