SCRIPTURE: “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to h...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!' 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.' 16...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 1 and 2, Luke 1 and 2 The nostalgia of Christmas sometimes makes us want to prolong the season beyond its December boundary.  Maybe it’s the lights, decorations, Christmas songs, a good old Bask/Rankin Claymation cartoon, and gifts-certainly these do their part in giving us the warm fuzzies. When you ponder the events surrounding Christmas, have you ever imagined the conversatio...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: " Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." Isaiah 60:1-3 With all deference to 'Chestnuts Roasting on An Open...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1:21-30 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I kno...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 I don’t know when society stopped saying Merry Christmas and instead began saying andwriting Merry Xmas or Happy Holidays. I believe it started about 30 years ago or that’s when I remember noticing that people start...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of ...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Isaiah 53:1 There are times when the biggest, loudest, most expensive present seems the best. We place a higher value on these three because they are larger than life, bring the most attention, and yield a higher expectation of satisfaction. Maybe that is what the Jews were looking for their Messiah to be;...  Read More

Yes, Christmas Carol! Through out December's Devotionals a few Christmas Carols will be interjected to bring even more focus on our Savior's birth. Many of these carols have stanzas we've never sung. Take a moment to meditate on today's scripture and  may the lyrics to this song bring more praise to our Savior, Jesus Christ! SCRIPTURE: “then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart... 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you havefound favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son,and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom th...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went,...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” Genesis 22:2 First Peter 1:8-9 says, “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your so...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: ”do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,” Ep...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 Are there songs that you love but when you hear the words you realize maybe you should not Sing that song? Have you ever been singing your heart out and hear what you are singing to the Lord and stop abruptly. I guess that...  Read More

SCRIPTURES: “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisters the proud, butgiveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:6-7“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 I had a 19 year-old young man as a patient. He had a life-changing motorcycle accident. Heshared with me and his mom how he remembered eating his breakfast on the morning of the accident; and how his m...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: "30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead...33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on h...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that theexcellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” II Corinthians 4:7 The vessel that God uses is one that experiences grace through suffering andobedience. God liberally fills our lives with His grace and expects us to pour Hisgrace into the lives of others. Grace is the active investment and involvement fromGod to undeserved pe...  Read More