Why the Manger?
Every Christmas Eve we’re invited to the manger. The manger is the centre-piece of every nativity set. And the manger central to the account of the very first Christmas. Have you ever asked why?
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“I LOVE YOU!” DO YOU BELIEVE IT?
Our Fourth Advent If I told you that “I love you” would you believe me? Depending on the relationship we have, you may or may not. And yet, maybe it’s not a shocker to you that I said it? Why? Because in our culture we use those three words so frequently and flippantly that perhaps,…
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WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU FELT JOY?
I’m talking about that giddy, uncontrollable joy, where you want to run and jump and shout for joy?
Some of you may feel like this is an unfair question. That this year, 2020, has not been very joyful at all. However, there is one moment of giddy, uncontrollable joy that happened hundreds, if not thousands of times throughout 2020. And that’s when parents find out a baby’s on the way!
Specifically, for those first-time parents! We’ve all seen those videos on social, where a mom plans a pregnancy reveal to her husband on camera. And what does he do? He goes crazy; crying or laughing, sometimes both at the same time. He is overwhelmed with joy!
Then, an even better video-clip is when the couple tells the first-time grandparents. I especially love watching grandmas! She starts dancing around the kitchen or living room like a crazy lady! You can’t help but smile or laugh.
Now imagine for a moment, receiving that baby announcement after 400 years of waiting.
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HOW WILL WE PREPARE?
When do you start preparing for Christmas? Do you start the day after Thanksgiving, or maybe even before that?
Do you start playing Christmas music after the first snowfall? Then immediately move to decorating, wrapping gifts, and Christmas baking?
What if I told you preparations were a matter of the heart? That preparing for Christmas has little to do with what we do, and more to do with why we do it? (Our heart condition leading up to Christmas can make all the difference!)
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WHY NAMES MATTER
Our First Advent: This week, as we enter our first Advent, we’ll discover how much names really do matter. Before we focus on Mary and Joseph, and the Christ-Child. We must first, focus on Elizabeth and Zechariah, and their child, John.
John, who would become a Prophet, and the forerunner of Our Coming Saviour, Jesus.
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WHERE DO I FIND ASSURANCE? WHAT CAN I CLING TO?
Jesus is our hope, but can we prove it? As Christians, we know this to be true. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to articulate it as clearly to an increasingly secular and skeptical world. There are multiple clues in our society that people are searching for assurance in life, and the afterlife. They seeking something to…
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HOW CAN I FIND MEANING? HOW CAN I FEEL WHOLE?
Have you ever made a deal with God? Have you ever asked Him for something that you want really bad? What about when you’re in trouble? If you’re really in need of some supernatural help? It’s interesting how many people all over the world, including in the West, pray for help. When talking about spirituality,…
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WHY AM I CONSTANTLY STRUGGLING? WHY DO I CONTINUALLY FAIL?
We have a problem. We are naturally blind to our own nature, convincing ourselves that we are justified. Therein, creating a godlike existence, doing what is right in our own eyes. The point is that evolution struggles to explain why we’re not inherently good. Instead, the evidence actually shows us that humanity is inherently selfish. The same problem Adam and Eve had in the very beginning.
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WHO AM I…REALLY? WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CREATED IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD?
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why was I born? Why am I here? Why do I exist?” The real question is, “Who am I?” The starting point to answering this question is found in the first chapter of the Bible.
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.'” Genesis 1:26
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WHEN THE ENEMY’S SCHEME IS TO DELAY REST AND KEEP SERVING
A Post Burnout Reflection: “You have time-off booked next month; just keep pushing through!” (Falling into the enemy’s scheme of Delay.)
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DEAR POLICE OFFICER
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about posting this. Then again, it’s not written to those who won’t like it. I wanted you to know that there are a lot of us out here on the internet who love you, appreciate you, support you, and are praying for you.
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HOW TO PREVENT A COVID-19 MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN
Are you exasperated?
This week, we’ve been discussing the mental, and emotional strain that is being felt, related to COVID-19. But the virus itself is only one piece of the puzzle.
– There are relational impacts as friends and loved get sick.
– There is the financial impact of lost jobs, and an uncertain future.
– There is the community impact of social distancing, and self-isolation.The increasing pressure has shifting the conversation to ask, “How long can we live like this? Where’s the balance?”
We found a 3-step process.
