Our Divinity Determines Our Destiny
Based On: Psalm 8: 4-5 (CEB)
...what are human beings that you think about them; what are human beings that you pay attention to them? 5You’ve made them only slightly less than divine, crowning them with glory and grandeur.
Excerpt:
The only way that we can recollect our divine destiny and re-envision our divine desires, is to reclaim our divine identity. Psalm 8:5 says:
You’ve made them only slightly less than divine, crowning them with glory and grandeur.
Christmas Is When God Makes A House Call
Based On: Luke 1:43-44 (CEB)
43 Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.
Excerpt:
Our lives must be a shelter for the Christ of God. There should be a leaping in our Souls when God make a house call to our spiritual dwelling places. That’s what Christmas is all about. It’s a house call by God embodied in human flesh and named Jesus.
Finish the Journey to Bethlehem
Based On: Luke 2:4 (ERV)
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
Excerpt:
Bethlehem is the “House of Bread.” It is the all-sufficient purveyor of the promises of God. Bethlehem is the ground where seed presumed to be dead springs up as new life. Bethlehem is the place where buried dreams are resurrected as new visions.
The Prodigal Love of God
Based on: 1John 3:1a (NIV)
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
Excerpt:
This “prodigal” love that has been lavished on us comes like a flood that takes out all barriers and limitations that would block the flow of God’s redeeming love into our lives. It defies the restraint of guilt and shame that prefers we die in our brokenness.
Advent: The Chance to Begin Again
Based On: Psalm 119:49-50 (NIV)
Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Excerpt:
Advent gives us four weeks to reflect, repent, release, and prepare to receive. With this posture of renewal we are then ready to embrace the grace of a new year. It is through Jesus the Son of God that we are given the chance to begin again.
I Have No Words
Based On: 2Corinthians 9:15 (VOICE)
Praise God for this incredible, unbelievable, indescribable gift.
Excerpt:
So, when I think about the gift of the Son of God to us, I have no words. Therefore, I must resort to the appropriation of the Apostle Paul’s words and say that the love that God showed to us in sacrificing Heaven’s Son in our place is an “incredible, unbelievable, indescribable” love.
Finding Our Way Out Of Our Pain
Based On: Ruth 1:14 (NIV)
At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye,
but Ruth clung to her.
Excerpt:
The three women were hurting for different reasons, but their common sorrow was caused by the loss of someone they loved. So, they wept together and once they were done weeping they joined together to find a way forward out of their grief. They had choices. They could have stayed where they were and die in their grief, or they could walk out of their grief toward the possibility of restoration.
Get a Real Good Grip and Hold On
Based on: Isaiah 41:10 (CEB)
Fear not, for I am with you…
Excerpt:
It all depends on our track record with God. If you have been on this journey with God for more than a minute, then in your Soul you know that God is going to have the last word. You know that the left hand of God is always at work in places and ways that we cannot see.
Early Edition: Our One Common Vision
Based On: Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Excerpt:
We have authority to create a new heaven and new earth. Jesus is counting on us. If you have not already voted, please grab hold to what we know to be true. That is our one common vision to join Jesus in ushering in a new heaven and a new earth of peace and justice for all.
Throwing Our Cloaks Aside
Based On: Mark 10:50 (NIV)
Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
Excerpt:
There are certain times when God shows up and affords us the opportunity to receive that which we have been praying for – for a long time. At that time, it is incumbent upon us to defy all obstacles and step into that window of opportunity.
Access to the Presence of God
Based On: Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Excerpt:
We need not be anxious about anything. We have access to a faithful God who does not sleep nor slumber. We have 24-7 access to the wisdom and infinite resources of the heavenly realm. Holy Spirit eagerly awaits our request to come into the loving presence of our God.
Obedience to God Can Be Easy
Based On: Ephesians 5:6 (CEB)
Nobody should deceive you with stupid ideas. God’s anger comes down on those who are disobedient because of this kind of thing.
Excerpt:
I understand the struggle. After all obedience is the intentional cognizant decision to do things God’s way all the time. The beginning of which is not easy, but I am a living witness that it does get easier over time.
