With Christmas a week away, many are anticipating Santa coming. Around the world the magic of Christmas is unfolding. Christmas Trees, holiday gifts and decorations; truly Christmas is a special time.

Are you anticipating guests and the fellowship of friends during this holiday? Many of us are, but did not John the Baptist prophesy someone greater is coming? Many thought John the Baptist was someone he was not (the Messiah); likewise many think Santa Claus is someone he is not (the reason for Christmas). When Pope Julius I authorized December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today. When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in America in 1832, who would have ever thought that the light in our hearts would replaced by the lights on our houses.

It is a long time since the first Christmas in A.D. 353 or the first American Christmas Tree in 1832. How long has it been since the greatness of it took center stage during your Christmas festivities? As we approach December 25 again, we have another opportunity to pause, and in the midst of all our celebration and excitement and the unfortunate commercialization which surround Christmas today, we need to consider that someone greater – Jesus Christ – is the reason for the season. Make Christ the center of your Christmas.

The very purpose of Christ’s coming into the world was that He might offer up His life as a sacrifice for the sins of men. He came to die. This is the heart of Christmas. – Rev. Billy Graham        (DR ERNEST PEETS JR)

Advent and Christmas carry great joy with them. Nobody would doubt this. Our God became one of us and lived with us. In all the joy and excitement of this tiny Infant we look for and rejoice over, it is easy to forget the shadow that looms. One day, this tiny Baby will be betrayed into the powers of darkness. He will die a shameful death on a cross.

But in that looming shadow is the promise of life. Jesus was not surprised that Judas betrayed Him or that the men of the high priest came to arrest Him. Jesus went willingly to death, and in His sacrifice of Himself we were given a new life. It was because of that shameful death that we even celebrate His birth.

It seems strange to think of Jesus’ death as we celebrate His birth, but the two are never separated, because He was born for the purpose of sacrificing Himself on the cross. The Good News of Jesus’ life and death is the gift of life He gave to each and every one of us.

Dear Lord, when we think of Your life we think of Your death. Our hearts break when we think of the pain You experienced simply because You love us so deeply. But we rejoice as well because You rose from the dead and brought life to us all. Let us remember this Advent that You have given us the greatest gift anyone could ever hope to receive. (Pastor Kristen Jones)

John the Baptist had a very important message to bring to the people: “The King is coming!”

In those days, if the king was coming to your town, you’d go over your town with a fine-tooth comb. You’d fill in the potholes. You’d fix the bumps in the road. You’d put a fresh coat of paint on the city gates.

You’d make sure that everything was ready for the day of his arrival.

But John is calling the people to get ready for the arrival of an even more important king – Jesus. And the preparation wasn’t about roads and city gates. It was about preparing their hearts. John called them to repentance, that their sins might be forgiven.

It’s easy to get distracted by the preparations needed for all the parties, Christmas dinners, gift-giving, and even the Christmas events in church. That’s why it’s imperative that we also take time to make sure that our hearts are hospitable for the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Dear Lord, turn Your spotlight upon my heart today. Reveal the cracks in my life, the habits that are speed bumps to the Holy Spirit, and the addictions that are like potholes in my service to You. Help me prepare my heart to be a suitable throne room for You. Amen.

(PASTOR JON TWITCHELL)

Today is the First Sunday in the season of ADVENT.

ADVENT means “coming”. It is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

One of the great joys of the Advent season is that we’re not only celebrating the birth of our Lord. This season is more than just celebration for what happened in the past. As we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord we look forward to a second Advent, when our Lord will once again come to us.

But what are we to do in the meantime? We are to be faithful and dwell in the light of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. Living in the light means we are never without hope. We are never far from our Lord, who keeps us with Him at all times. We are to encourage each other to keep to a life lived in the light, because our Lord Jesus Christ is our past, present, and future. As we observe Advent let us remember that we celebrate a glorious past event which holds strong in the present and looks to the future with great excitement and hope

Dearest Lord Jesus, as we remember Your birth we look ahead to the day when You will come to us again. We wait with great anticipation, and as we wait we pray for the strength to be faithful and to hold onto You even when it seems easier to let You go. We love You. Amen.

(PASTOR KRISTIN JONES)

As we celebrate our 110^th Church Anniversary, what does God have to say about our priorities …

We hear a lot of talk these days about priorities, and such talk is warranted. After all, whether we realize it or not, every daily activity we engage in reflects our priorities like a mirror. Some companies even set up workshops on this issue and pay their employees to attend.

Well, if the prophet Haggai had led one such workshop, he would have had a lesson prepared about priorities. Listen to what he said to the people coming back from years in captivity in Babylon: “Don’t take care of your own house,” he warned. “Rebuild God’s house first.” Now, Haggai wasn’t just talking about physical structures here. His references didn’t only relate to bricks and mortar. He was telling the people to never put their personal desires, goals, aspirations, even their marriages and families ahead of God. What does your day planner look like?

When we receive God’s Salvation, we are freed from condemnation,
No longer at enmity with our God, we’re now lead by Staff and Rod,
In Christ, with God, we have peace, a relationship that will not cease,
Saved out of the world of strife, we’re granted, by God, Eternal Life.

True Freedom from God we receive, when in Christ, we truly believe,
While in this life we are free of fear, as The Lord God is always near,
While seated now upon His Throne, Christ watches over all His Own,
And our Father has complete control, over every trial, big and small.

We can be free of discouragement, in The Spirit, who God has sent,
Sent to be our Counselor and Guide, to all believers, to dwell inside,
While in this life, to encourage us, as in The Lord, we place our trust,
With our eyes fixed upon His Son, through all trials when they come

We too have freedom from defeat, for in Christ we’re now complete,
By saving us from the power of sin, we now can live our life for Him,
As His Spirit helps us to live above, all our trials, guided in His Love,
For in Jesus Christ we have victory, through His power from Calvary.

Believers today can rest assured, knowing Jesus Christ, as our Lord,
Even through life’s darkest night, we’re guided by The Savior’s Light,
With God’s promise of Eternal Life, through our Savior, Jesus Christ,
And we have this freedom eternally, all through the Cross of Calvary

BY BOB GOTTI

Abba: A Syriac word, which in its Greek equivalent is translated as “father.” It is a term expressing warm affection and filial confidence.

In his book Silent Strength for My Life, Lloyd John Ogilvie tells the story of a young boy he met while travelling. He noticed the boy waiting alone in the airport lounge for his flight to be called. Boarding began for the flight, and the young child was sent ahead of the adult passengers to find his seat. When Ogilvie got on the aircraft, he discovered the boy had been assigned the seat next to his.

The boy was polite when Ogilvie engaged him in conversation and then quietly spent time coloring an airline coloring book. He showed neither anxiety nor worry about the flight as preparation was made for takeoff.

During the flight, the plane flew into a very bad storm, which caused the jetliner to bounce around like a “kite in the wind.” The air turbulence and subsequent pitching and lurching of the aircraft frightened some of the passengers, but the young boy seemed to take it all in his stride.

A female passenger across the aisle from the boy became alarmed by the wild rolling. She asked the boy, “Little boy, aren’t you scared?”

“No, Ma’am,” he replied, looking up just briefly from his coloring book. “My dad’s the pilot.”

There are times when events in our lives make us feel like we are in the middle of a turbulent storm. Try as we might, we cannot seem to land on solid ground or get a sure footing. We may have the sensation of being suspended in mid-air with nothing to hold on to, nothing to stand on, and no sure way to get to safety.

In the midst of the storm, however, we can remember that our Heavenly Father is our pilot. Despite the circumstances, our life is in the hands of the One who created heaven and earth.

If uncontrollable fear begins to rise within you today, say to yourself, “My Dad’s the Pilot.”

Because you are sons and daughters, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”  (Galatians 4:6)

(SOURCE UNKNOWN)