What the shepherds saw in the skies near Bethlehem the night of our Savior’s birth was unprecedented in human experience. An Angel, accompanied by a countless multitude of other heavenly messengers, suddenly and unforgettably intervened in the shepherd’s lives. The long-awaited Christ, the Savior of the world, God in human felsh, had just been born in a shelter in nearby Bethlehem. It may be hard to place ourselves into the shepherd’s situation, but they responded to what they saw and heard much the same way as we should respond to far more ordinary events. They had to find out more, and they had to tell others. Even more to the point, the shepherds’ response serves as a good illustration of how people respond in a saving manner to the gospel. As we prepare for December 25th to roll around, take the time today to read and reflect on Luke 2:15-20, and then go and learn of Jesus, and as you learn of Him, tell others with confidence what He has revealed to you through His Word. … READ MORE

Even though it may be difficult to be thankful at certain times we need to make a personal decision that we are going to be grateful people even when we do not feel like it or when it is hard. Er trsf om 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The quality of my life is determined not by the circumstances which I face, but my personal choices in the face of those circumstances. God has promised to be with us in the midst of our circumstances, and we need to focus our attention not on the here and now, but on the reality of the future. We live in a sin-cursed world, that brings trouble and trials, it is not until we live in the presence of the Lord for all eternity, that our lives will finally be free from the battle with our circumstances. Today, begin a regular routine of finding something each and every day to give thanks for. No matter how small or insignificant your blessing is, you can write it down and review it over the coming year. To do so will give you … READ MORE

Developing a heart of gratitude is a hard thing to do. We have a heart that is bent to selfishness, and that lends itself to naturally becoming ungrateful. Yet, with the transformation that comes by being a follower of Jesus Christ, we can develop a spirit of gratitude in our hearts that will help us approach each day with thanksgiving. That should start by understanding how much a heart of gratitude pleases God. In 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 the nation of Israel was celebrating the completion of the Temple, and as they celebrated that completion, they were rejoicing over all that God had done to make that completion possible. As they were worshipping, the glory of the LORD fills the house of God, and in doing it demonstrated that the LORD received their praise with honor. It appears from this passage and others that thanksgiving and praise are the key to attracting the presence of God. It pleases Him, that we are grateful for all that He has done for us. May we choose to make thanksgiving a daily routine in our lives. … READ MORE