Claire's Prayer

A New Year. New challenges. New adventures. From what we have learned from the years gone by, there will be excitement, breathtaking miracles, trials, and tests, and the presence of the LORD with us through every single moment. Could 2025 be the year we choose to live in faith and obedience like those great heroes of the faith? A great army marching side by side, conquering the great unknown for the King and His Kingdom?

As I contemplated one of those great heroes, Elijah, I concluded that so many of those quests and commands from the Great I Am are often not the way I would plan them, but Elijah was obedient every step of the way. Do you remember the widow whose oil and flour never ran out? The story in 1 Kings 17 is worth a read. “𝙂𝙤 𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙕𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙞𝙙𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙬𝙞𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙙.” Go to a region of the Gentiles, Sidon, the one where Jezebel reigns? Surely there were widows in Israel. A widow would supply Elijah with food! Were they not the ones who lived in poverty? An unlikely quest, but one that Elijah obeyed without question when I have so many.

As Elijah met with the young widow and asked her to feed him, he certainly challenged the status quo. She told him she was gathering sticks to cook a last meal for herself and her son and then they would die! His response was contrary to anything that could be seen, when all the widow could see was scarcity, he talked of plenty, Elijah recognized God’s provision when the widow could only see deprivation. Elijah brought an encouraging word, one of faith into a situation of fear and resignation, his words to her; “𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙.”

Elijah trusted in the promise before He saw it, he knew God would deliver. He acted in obedience. Death and disaster were silenced by hope and a breathtaking miracle broke through. God provided, for both Elijah and the Gentile widow and her son.

As we go into 2025 let’s be like Elijah, trusting in the promises of God even when we don’t see them, obedient to those instructions that seem out of the ordinary, a willing participant in God’s breathtaking miracles!

There is something absolutely magical about a New Year—that clean slate, the opportunity to do things better or differently to the way they were done last year. There is something wonderful about putting up a crisp, clean calendar and carefully writing in those first new appointments. It is a time when we reflect back on the year before and vow to pray more, read more, give more, spend more time with the children, with your loved ones, with the LORD.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says that “𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙨; 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙙; 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜; 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.” Our LORD doesn’t just give you a clean slate at the beginning of a New Year, but every single day of the week! His love for you is new every day. It never, ever ceases. There is no end to His mercies!

As you sit back and reflect on what this New Year will bring, allow God to take His pen and begin to write your story on your clean slate. Remember that He will give you a new one whenever you ask for it! His mercy is new every morning and He is faithful—so very faithful!

𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱! When I say that out loud it doesn’t seem possible that we could be in 2025 already! Along with a new year comes new visions, resolutions, a brand-new page to be written upon. It’s a time to sit and ponder about what 2025 will bring, a time of hope for the future. We want to do better, be thinner, get fitter, save more, love more. A desire for change is birthed every New Year’s morning!

As I sat and considered my own life a study came across my desk, it is called The Power of 4 Effect. The Center for Bible Engagement surveyed over 400,000 people around their world and their findings were astounding. If you are not reading your Bible four times a week, then your life is statistically the same as that of a non-believer! Your life will not change in any significant way than that of one who never reads His Word! This survey also discovered if you are in God’s Word four times a week, you are 30% less likely to be lonely, 59% less likely to view pornography, 228% more likely to share your faith and 407% more likely to memorize Scripture! Those are some mind-blowing stats!

John 8:31-32 says this; “𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙅𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙃𝙞𝙢, “𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙈𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙈𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙙. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚.” If you tarry and remain in the Word of God, then you will know the truth! Not only that, but His Word will also set you free and deliver you from bondage! What a beautiful promise, a promise of change and freedom.

𝗔𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗜 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱. He will change you, remold you, and set you free. You will be a radically different person by the end of this year. Not only that but when those hard times come you will have something to stand on, God’s Word hidden in your heart!

2025. A brand new year. Will we step into it with feelings of trepidation or rush into it with freedom and excitement? 2024 flew by with the war in Ukraine entering its third year, war in the Middle East and attacks on Israel, Hurricane Helene devastating much of North Carolina. Perhaps it wasn’t the year we had dreamed of or desired. There is a feeling that we need to tiptoe softly, tentatively, nervously into 2025, not expecting anything. Fear of the unknown weighs heavily.

Two words have shaped my life in a huge way. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱. I should be dead in my sin, 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱. So many bad decisions along the way, 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱. Knowing our wonderful Abba Father the way I do, I know there is going to be a 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱 in 2025.

A quick search of the Bible reveals dozens of scriptures that contain a ‘𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱!’ “𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙤𝙖𝙝,” “𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨,” “𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙢 𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝” 𝙖𝙣𝙙 “𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧!” The best one of them all is in Acts 13:29-30: “𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙗. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙.”

We certainly don’t have the answers—only questions about what 2025 may or may not bring. But we do know our God is a redeemer. He has not only redeemed our very lives through His death on the cross, but He redeems each one of our stories. We know that God has plans for us for this year, and we know He has put us here for a purpose. Even though the storm clouds of fear, anxiety, and worry may gather on the horizon, 𝗹𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 ‘𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱’ 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 —the ‘But God’ that raises us from the dead, brings dry bones to life, and gives us strength, purpose and vision! May He fill your year with surprises, joy, and pleasure around every corner. May your year be filled with ‘𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱!’

Looking for God’s surprises with you,

Matthew didn’t start his book off with a bang or a flourish, there were no fireworks.  Not like Mark who exploded straight into the story of a Wildman coming out of the wilderness eating locusts and honey!  A man who cried out within the first few sentences, “𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙊𝙍𝘿.”  (Mark 1:3). No, Matthew began with a list, perhaps just like a taxman. A list of names, many of which I cannot pronounce, a historical record, the genealogy of Christ.  If there was anyone who could list these names in the correct order it was Matthew, a literate, learned man, a former Government employee, indeed that collector of taxes!

Even though we so often skip over this long list of names, it is of vital information, scripture that is God breathed!  You see, the Messiah had to come from the line of King David and names are so very important to God.  Behind each name in the genealogy of Jesus is a story, some are heroes of the faith, some were scoundrels, and others, well we don’t really know their story. 

Sitting in my living room at home I have our family bible, it is a huge leather-bound bible that dates all the way back to 1864!  Written in the front pages is the genealogy of my family and one of the very first entries is Maud Collings. I never knew Maud; I don’t know what her life was like or even what she looked like, but I do know that she has a story and isn’t forgotten by God.  When I counted the generations in my family tree there were 7, not many when you consider the fact that there are 42 from Abraham to the Messiah, Jesus.  But the names on that faded page of my bible are important to me, they are my history, just as all those names in Matthew 1 are important to Jesus, His history.

Not only are those names important to the LORD but they are of key significance to us as well.  A prophecy fulfilled at the birth of Jesus.  John 7:42 says, “𝘿𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙎𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘿𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙙’𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘽𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙚𝙝𝙚𝙢, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙?”  And indeed, Jesus was born in Bethlehem and by His genealogy we can see he came from the line of David!  In fact, at the time Micah was crying out that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, (Micah 5:2) Isaiah was prophesying how our Savior would come from Jesse, King David’s father! (Isaiah 11)

Perhaps it is worth struggling through this list of names and learning how to pronounce them, names the LORD wanted remembered.  Names important to the Father.  Names showing without a shadow of doubt that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God.  𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁!

As I considered December, I could sense that extraordinary moment, as if an orchestral symphony was beginning an incredible crescendo.  The hint that something was about to explode in magnificence and splendor.  The cherry on top of the cake, the final flourish, the knowledge that something epic was about to happen – and it does!  “𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙙 𝙖 𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙧, 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙.”  (Luke 2:11) Christmas, the crowning achievement of a year filled to the brim with miracles.  The Creator becoming the created!

Mary understood the miracle of that very first Christmas. She knew the astonishing significance of this one, grace filled, day. Luke 1:46 tells us, “𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙: “𝙈𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙧.”  From the moment the angel appeared to Mary she began to magnify the LORD; she rejoiced in her God and Savior. Words of praise and adoration spilled from her lips, Mary did not magnify the LORD merely in her thoughts but with her voice! Loud and full of rejoicing!

I remember as a child being fascinated with the microscope at my father’s office. My Dad would take a tiny ant and place it under the glass, and I would jam my eye against the eyepiece.  Suddenly I could see every detail, every hair on that little ant’s leg, its alienlike eyes looking back at me. I’d gasp with wonder, it was incredible! 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱!  You see, the more you magnify your Savior the greater He becomes, and the greater He becomes the more you magnify Him! Of course, we cannot make our wonderful, mighty God any greater than He already is or even begin to imagine His actual greatness, but when we magnify our LORD, make known His marvelous deeds, proclaim His abundant goodness then He becomes greater in our eyes. He becomes elevated in the eyes of those around us who hear our proclamation! Faith grows bigger and hope shines brighter.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, proclaim His abundant goodness and shout His great name in an epic crescendo of praise! Let’s bring our gift of worship to the King of Kings, the Savior of the world, and make His deeds known among the people!  Let’s join with the angels in shouting, “𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙣!” (Luke 8:14)

Christmas really has to be my favorite time of the year. It’s a time of miracles, a time when God’s goodness and grace is put on display. Christmas lights illuminate the darkness, and hot chocolate warms us to the tips of our toes! It’s a time to give gifts, give to those less fortunate, and give of our time. Everywhere we look it seems as though the very air itself is electrified with the possibility of a great and glorious miracle.

Albert Einstein said this; “𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲.” Of course, the greatest miracle of all and the very reason for this season is the birth of a Savior; “𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙙, 𝙖 𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙧, 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙.” Luke 2:11

On that day when the shepherds heard these words, they fell down and worshipped the Savior. When the wise men saw Him after his birth they didn’t coo or make funny faces at the newborn King, they fell down and worshipped Him. Both groups saw the miracle, they discovered their Messiah, one who would rescue them from the great and overwhelming shadow of death. They knew that the appropriate response was to worship at the feet of Jesus.

It’s so easy to lose the wonder of it all, to forget the virgin birth, to forget that a dozen prophecies were fulfilled in a single moment, to rush through this season stressed about finding the perfect gift and throwing the best Christmas party! Instead, let’s spend this season looking for the miracles, looking for God’s goodness, seeing His beauty on display. 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃, 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭!

There are so many great bumper stickers on cars, and I enjoy reading them, one of my absolute favorites says; “𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗛𝗶𝗺!”  Who doesn’t enjoy the sweet story of Jesus’ birth and the wonder of the wise men bringing Him gold, frankincense and myrrh? In Matthew 2 we can read the story of the Magi who saw Jesus’ star and travelled a considerable distance, under difficult conditions, to Jerusalem to seek Him out.  Once there, they enquired of King Herod, the Chief Priests, and the Scribes, scholars who studied the scriptures; “𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑱𝒆𝒘𝒔?  𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑯𝒊𝒎.”

These incredible researchers of the Word of God immediately quoted Micah 5:2 telling the Magi; “𝑰𝒏 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒍𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝑱𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒂.” These learned men, academics, including the High Priest himself, chose not to seek out the Christ even though he was born only 5 miles away! They knew the scriptures but were not changed by them. They understood Biblical information but did not apply it to their own lives.

In contrast, the wise men headed off to Bethlehem and verse 10 and 11 tells us, “𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒋𝒐𝒚. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒊𝒎.”  This verse tells us the star had not been visible during the whole of their travels, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy when they saw it again.  The Magi had heard the Word of God and acted upon it.  In faith, they travelled to Bethlehem.  The wise men stood on the scriptures, sought the Christ, and found Him!

Isn’t this Christmas season wonderful? A time when we can celebrate our love of Jesus the King, a time when we can freely talk about our wonderful Savior, and our testimony can ring out in symphony with the greatest of Christmas carols.  𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳, 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘪𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.  𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘏𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘫𝘰𝘺.   𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨!

Celebrating the birth of our Savior with you,

The Truth.  In this day it seems as though truth is elusive, subject to change, different from one person to the next.  We hear talk of personal truth, “𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩!”  As if truth can fluctuate and alter, dependent on who is speaking it.  One news channel will say it this way and another that.  How do we find truth with absolute certainty?

There is a verse in scripture that we quote so often, and it is one we should not take out of context – I’ve heard it phrased this way, “𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦.”   But let’s take a second and look at it in context; “𝙏𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙅𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, “𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚.”   John 8:31-32.  Did you see the difference?  Did you notice the word Then?

“𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜!”  The New King James says, “𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙.”  I love the Greek Word used here for hold, it’s ‘𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗼’ and means to abide, endure, remain and stay, to tarry and live in The Word, to remain in the same place or position over a period of time.  Literally to make yourself at home in God’s Word! 

Jesus told us this because He knew that truth would be hard to find, and He knew the only place it could be found – in His Word.  When we make ourselves at home in the scriptures, abide in them, tarry a while and consume them, THEN we shall know the truth which will set us free.

Free from condemnation, free from slavery to sin, free from the enemies lies, free from deception, free from the fear of death, free to live a life of joy, free from chaos and walking in peace, free to come boldly before the Father and live in relationship with Him.  Oh, what freedom, what truth, the truth of Jesus Christ.  𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙙!