Renew your faith at Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Renew your faith at Christmas

But the angel said to them, "... I bring you good news of greatjoy that will be for all the people." Luke 2:10 Knowing that Christmastime is God's chosen time teaches us that Christmas is the time for us to renew our faith.   We need not fear God because of the Good News of Christ's arrival; it is a Good News meant to "bring great joy to all people." (Luke 2:10) What is the Good News? You matter to God: God knows everything about you -- the good, the bad, and the ugly -- and He still loves you. He cares about you. He loves you more than you could ever know. God is for you, not against you. You are not an accident: Regardless of the circumstances of your birth, you were not the result of an accident. God has a plan and a purpose for your life.  The only way you will find meaning and satisfaction is to discover God's purpose for your life and then to get right into the center of his will. God sent Jesus so you could know what He's like.  If God wanted to communicate to birds, He would have become a bird.  If God had wanted to communicate to cows, He would have become a cow.  If He wanted to communicate to dogs, He would have become a dog.  But God wanted to relate to you and to me, so He became like us -- a human being.    The thing is this -- I don't have the foggiest idea of what it means to relate to something like 'The Force' -- some impersonal power in the sky.  But when I see Jesus in human form, I can say, "That's what God's like.  I can understand that."   This is why Christmas is not about a religion. You may be Catholic; you may be Jewish; you may be Presbyterian, or Buddhist, or Baptist, or Lutheran; I don't care what your religious background is, Jesus didn't come to give you religion.  He came to give you a relationship. Christmas is God saying, "I want to relate to you.  I want you to know Me as much as I know you."  That's joyful news. It's good news!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receive forgiveness at Christmas

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 Knowing that Christmastime is God's chosen time teaches us that Christmas is the time for us to receive forgiveness for the wrong things we've done.   God didn't send us a salesman because we don't need a product. He didn't send us a politician because we don't need diplomacy. He didn't send a scientist because we don't need more information.   God sent us a Savior because we need a Savior. If we didn't need a Savior, God wouldn't have wasted time sending one.  God sent a Savior so we could receive forgiveness.   Why do I need a Savior?  The Bible says that heaven is a perfect place.  There's no sin in heaven; there's no suffering in heaven; there's no pain in heaven; there's no sorrow in heaven.  It is a perfect place.  The Bible says only perfect people get to live there.  Obviously, if imperfect people lived there it wouldn't be perfect.  That means I don't stand a chance of getting to heaven on my own merit.    You may be a good person, but the Bible doesn't say good people go to heaven.  It says perfect people go to heaven.  Not imperfect ... perfect.  And none of us measure up.  So we all have a big problem.  Here's this perfect place, but none of us are perfect.  So God came to earth in the form of Jesus, who was perfect. I can't get to heaven on my own, but Jesus says, "I will be your Savior."   How do I let Christ save me?  It's real simple.  You admit you need a Savior.  That's hard for a lot of us because it hurts our pride.  We think we're a good person.  That may even be true but you're not good enough.  You're not perfect.  We must admit, "I need a Savior.  I need help. God, I need Jesus in my life. I need Jesus to be my Savior."   I was a life guard when I was younger.  one thing every lifeguard knows is that you can't save anybody who's trying to save themselves.    If you've ever watched a lifeguard approach a person who is drowning, you will see the lifeguard swim out to the person and then just tread water. The lifeguard will watch the swimmer flail around until he or she finally gives up and goes limp.  At that point, the lifeguard can simply put an arm around the swimmer's shoulder and swim back to shore.   It's that easy! But as long as the swimmer is trying to save him or herself, then no one can save him or her. If you grab on to swimmers before they give up trying to save themselves, they'll pull you down with them. You've got to wait until they stop trying to save themselves, then you can save them.    In the same way, God can't save you until you stop trying to save yourself.  You can't have Christ as your Savior until you quit trying to get to heaven on your own effort.  You have to just relax (remember 'stop being afraid') and say, "God, I don't deserve to be forgiven.  I just cast myself on Your mercy." And God says, "That's what I've been waiting for.  You are forgiven." God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconcile with God at Christmas

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:14 Knowing that Christmastime is God's chosen time teaches us that Christmas is the time for us to reconcile with God.   Christmas is the time for you to meet Christ: "It is time for you to turn to me, your Lord, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you." (Hosea 10:12)   God not only wants you to have peace with Him, He also wants you to have peace (goodwill) with other people, too.   Holiday seasons, rather than promoting harmony, often become a time of conflict.  All families have difficulties: there's jealousies, grudges, resentment, misunderstanding.    Who do you need to reach out to this Christmas?  Who do you need to write a letter or call or visit to start the process of reconciliation?  Is there someone you need to forgive? Is there someone you need to approach and ask forgiveness?   The Bible says, "But if we live in the light—just as he is in the light—then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin." (1 John 1:7)   When Christ is in me and Christ is in you, then Christ isn't going to argue with Christ.  We're never going to have peace on earth until the Prince of Peace reigns in everybody's heart and that's why we need to reconcile with God and with other people at Christmas.   But it starts with Jesus in your heart. God gave us Christmas so we could meet Christ: "But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son." (Galatians 4:4)   This means the timing of Christ's arrival was not an accident because "everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)   Don't waste this Christmas. It's time for you to turn to God. God says, "It is time for you to turn to me, your Lord, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you." (Hosea 10:13)

 

 

 

 

 

Release your fears at Christmas

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid." Luke 2:10 Christmas is not just a season, but it is a time specifically chosen by God for Jesus to come to earth: "But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son." (Galatians 4:4)   Knowing that Christmastime is God's chosen time teaches us that Christmas is the time for us to release our fears.   What are the things you're worried about?  The economy?  Your health?  Your bills? Your kids? Are you worried about the future? The fact is there are lots of reasons to be afraid in today's world, but God's message at Christmastime is "Don't be afraid!" (Luke 2:10) Release your anxieties; let go of your fears.   It's interesting to note that there are 365 verses in the Bible that say, "Fear not." God provided us with one 'fear not' message for every day of the year! Do you think God is saying, "Get the message.  Don't be afraid!"   Why does he want us to get the message? Because a lot of people are afraid of God! But God says we do not need to be afraid of him. He is for us; not against us. And with the birth of Jesus, God shows he is with us. This Christmas release your fears to the God who says we no longer need to be afraid.

 

 

 

 

 

When you're separated from those you love

"But the Lord stood at my side ...." 2 Timothy 4:17 The Christmas holidays tend to magnify the loneliness we feel when we're separated from the ones we love. Many of us have lost our roots, or never had any to begin with, and that can cause loneliness. We can experience the loneliness of separation because of military service, or a career, or an illness.   But the Bible tells us what we can do about our loneliness --   Focus on the needs of others - Get your eyes off yourself and focus outward. Look at how you can serve other people. The Apostle Paul focused on telling more people about Jesus: "But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it" (2 Timothy 4:17).   Focus on your purpose - Even when the Apostle Paul was isolated in a prison, he never stopped living out his purpose. He wanted everybody to know about God's love.   When you're lonely - Stop building walls and start building bridges! Instead of saying, "I'm so lonely," say, "Father, help me be a friend to people who need a friend. Help me to help lonely people." That is the antidote for loneliness.   You can help others become rich in relationships by giving them the gift of YOU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

pics from Dolores in Colorado Springs

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