It's About the Way You Finish

It's About the Way You Finish

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

2 Timothy 4:7, NIV.

TODAY’S WORD

So often, when people make mistakes, they get down on themselves and think, “If only…” “I should have…” “What if…?” It’s easy to feel like you’ve missed the best plan for your life. That’s when people get discouraged and stop pursuing their God-given dreams. But understand today, just because you’ve made a mistake or failed in some way, that doesn’t cancel God’s plan. God never disqualifies you. He never says, “Go sit on the sidelines. You’ve blown it too many times. You’ve got too many weaknesses.” No, God always gives you another chance!

Some of the great people in the Bible made very poor choices. The apostle Paul started off as a murderer, yet his destiny was bigger than his mistakes. He ended up becoming a great leader and writing over half of the New Testament.

What am I saying? Our mistakes, our failures, our poor choices don’t have to keep us from our God-given destiny. With God, it’s not about the way you start in life, it’s about the way you finish. Receive His grace today and embrace the bright future He has in store for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy to me. I trust that my days are ordered of You. I ask that You strengthen and empower me to fulfill Your call on my life. I love You and bless You today in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***

Develop God's Perspective on Life 6 hours ago  Rick Warren “So we continue to preach Christ to each person, using all wisdom to warn and to teach everyone, in order to bring each one into God's presence as a mature person in Christ.” (Colossians 1: 28 NCV) The second measure of spiritual growth is perspective. Perspective is understanding something because you see things from a larger frame of reference. It is the ability to perceive how things are interrelated and then judge their comparative importance. In a spiritual sense, it means seeing life from God’s point of view. In the Bible, the words "understanding,” "wisdom,” and "discernment” all have to do with perspective. The opposite of perspective is “hardness of heart,” “blinded,” and “dullness.” Psalm 103:7 says, “He [God] made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel” (NIV).The people of Israel got to see what God did, but Moses got to understand why God did it. This is the difference between knowledge and perspective. Knowledge is learning what God has said and done. Perspective is understanding why God said it or did it. Perspective answers the “why” questions of life. The Bible says that unbelievers have no spiritual perspective (1 Corinthians 2:14). Likewise a lack of perspective is a mark of spiritual immaturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-2, 13:11, 14:20). In contrast, having perspective is evidence of spiritual maturity. Hebrews 5:14 (NASB) says, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” There are many benefits of learning to see everything from God’s perspective: Perspective causes us to love God more. The better we understand the nature and ways of God, the more we love him. Paul prayed "May you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is" (Ephesians 3:18 LB). Perspective helps us resist temptation. When we look at a situation from God’s viewpoint, we realize the long-term consequences of sin are greater than any short-term pleasure sin might provide. Without perspective we follow our own natural inclinations. "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death" (Proverbs 14:12 NIV). Perspective helps us handle trials. When we have God’s perspective on life we realize that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28) and that “the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:3). Perspective was one of the reasons Jesus was able to endure the cross (Hebrews 12:2). He looked past the pain to the joy that was set before him. Perspective protects us from error. If there was ever a time that Christians need to be grounded in the truth, it is today. Pluralism has created a very confused culture. The problem is not that our culture believes nothing but that it believes everything. Perspective is the antidote. When believers, new and mature, are given both knowledge and perspective, the result is rock solid: "Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth" (Ephesians 4:14 LB). Talk About It In what recent situation have you applied your knowledge and not God's wisdom? How does God's perspective help you accept James 1:3: “the testing of your faith develops perseverance"?

The Journey

Nothing Can Hold You Back

Nothing Can Hold You Back

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree…

Psalm 92:12, NKJ.

TODAY’S WORD

Have you ever seen a palm tree in the midst of a great storm? That tree may be bent so far over that it’s almost touching the ground, but when the wind finally stops, that palm tree bounces right back up. What’s interesting is that while that palm tree is hunched over under the pressure of the storm, it is actually growing stronger?

The reason God said we’d flourish like a palm tree is because He knew there would be difficult times. He knew things would come against us to try to steal our joy and victory. God said, “You’re going to be like a palm tree because when the storms of life blow, you are going to come right back up stronger than before.” Nothing can hold you back! No weapon formed against you will prosper.

As you reflect on the events over the last year, remember, the storms you have encountered have only made you stronger. You are wiser, you are more alive, and you are headed for victory. You’re brightest days are right out in front of you! Always remember that with God on your side, nothing can hold you back!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for making me strong in You. I trust that You are working in my life, even in the midst of the storms. I know You will bring me out stronger, wiser and better off than ever before in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***

Assess the Level of Bible Knowledge 6 hours ago  Rick Warren “So we continue to preach Christ to each person, using all wisdom to warn and to teach everyone, in order to bring each one into God's presence as a mature person in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28 NCV) I believe there are five measurements of spiritual growth: knowledge, perspective, conviction, skills, and character. The first measurement is knowledge of God's Word. To begin building a spiritual growth curriculum, you need to ask two questions: What do people already know? And, what do they need to know? A church that has grown primarily by biological growth (conversion of members’ children) or transfer growth may have many members that already have a working knowledge of the Bible. But in a church designed to reach the unchurched, it’s a different ballgame. You cannot assume your new members know anything about the Bible. You must start from ground zero. We recently baptized 63 new believers, including a former Buddhist, a former Mormon, a man with a Jewish background, and a former Catholic nun! When you add in ex-New Agers and plain old pagans, you have quite a mixture to deal with. Biblical illiteracy is almost universal among unbelievers. They do not even recognize the most well-known stories or personalities of the Bible. Tom Holladay, who for years led our Maturity team, told me of his conversation with a brand-new believer who was struggling with trials in his life. Tom took him to James 1 and explained the purpose of trials. The man seemed satisfied. But as he started to leave Tom’s office, he said "I thought maybe my trials were a result of some sins from a previous life." Tom realized the man needed more than an explanation of trials! He needed to understand the biblical view of life. At the knowledge level, your church needs to regularly offer continuous new believer Bible studies and surveys of the Old Testament and New Testament. While every Bible book is important, at Saddleback we want our members to study five "core” books before they branch out into other studies. These books are Genesis, John, Romans, Ephesians, and James. Talk About It How does the development of Bible knowledge in your church compare to the practices of learning a language or studying a college course? How can you help new members and new believers in your church grow their biblical knowledge?

Inspire

 “Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.”  ~Vernon Howard

“Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned.”  ~Mark Twain

 “It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning.”~ Claude Bernard

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” ~ Harry S Truman

“You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.“ ~Clay P. Bedford

“Life is like playing a violin in public and learning the instrument as one goes along.” 

~Samuel Butler

“We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.” ~Peter Drucker

“The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think—rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with the thoughts of other men.” ~John Dewey

 “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” ~ Confucius

“Life is a learning experience, only if you learn.” ~Yogi Berra

“Wisdom is learning what to overlook.” ~William James

“That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve understood all your life, but in a new way.” ~Doris Lessing

“Learning is not a spectator sport.” ~D. Blocher

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” ~Henry Ford

“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.” ~ Lloyd Alexander

 “I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.” 

~ Albert Einstein

“All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind.”  ~Martin H. Fischer

“Nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.” ~Oscar Wilde

 “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” ~Confucius

“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”

~ Pablo Picasso

“We learn geology the morning after the earthquake.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Man’s mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions.” 

~Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr

“Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.” ~Abigail Adams

“No one as ever completed their apprenticeship.” ~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

 “All learning has an emotional base.” ~Plato

“Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.” ~William A. Ward

 “Learning isn’t a means to an end; it is an end in itself.” ~ Robert Heinlein

“Learning is not compulsory… neither is survival.” ~W. Edwards Deming

“It is what we know already that often prevents us from learning.” ~Claude Bernard

“Everyone and everything around you is your teacher.”~Ken Keyes

“You live and learn. At any rate, you live.”  ~Douglas Adams

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ~ Gandhi

“Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.” ~ John Locke

“One of the reasons people stop learning is that they become less and less willing to risk failure.” ~ John W. Gardner

You aren’t learning anything when you’re talking. ~Lyndon B. Johnson

“Almost anything can become a learning experience if there is enough caring involved.”~ Mary MacCracken

“Never discourage anyone…who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.”  ~Plato

“Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

“Supposing is good, but finding out is better.”~Mark Twain

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” ~Anthony J. D’Angelo

“In doing, we learn.”~ George Herbert

Perfect toward Him

Perfect toward Him

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

…I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

Psalm 101:2, NKJV.

TODAY’S WORD

This time of year, people often take time to reflect and set goals for the New Year. But have you ever set “perfection” as a goal on your list?

Now, that may seem a little strange or unobtainable to many; but really, in God’s eyes, perfection isn’t about performance. In fact, it isn’t about behavior at all. What God is looking for is a heart that is perfect toward Him. Scripture says that man looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart. That means He is more pleased with someone who has a heart toward Him who may mess up than He is with someone doing all the right things for all the wrong reasons.

The condition of your heart is extremely important to God. When you have a right heart, you are humble before Him. You seek His ways. You get up each day with a desire to please Him. You submit every area of your life to Him, and you are willing to make adjustments and receive correction so you can grow and come up higher.

As you prepare for the coming year, make knowing Him your number one priority. Yield yourself to Him and let Him shape your character. Serve Him with all your might and let your heart be perfect toward Him!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for all of Your blessings in my life. I declare today that You are good and thank You for Your mercy. I set my heart and mind on You and ask that You have Your way in me. Help me to love You perfectly and keep me close to You in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***

Establish Habits for Spiritual Growth 6 hours ago  Rick Warren “So we continue to preach Christ to each person, using all wisdom to warn and to teach everyone, in order to bring each one into God's presence as a mature person in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28 NCV) The most practical and powerful way to get believers headed in the direction of spiritual maturity is to help them establish habits that promote spiritual growth. You cannot talk about character without talking about habits. Character is the way you habitually act. For example, if you are honest only part of the time, or if you are honest only when you consciously choose to be honest, you cannot claim to have the character quality of integrity. Having integrity means you are always honest. It is your habit. You don’t even have to think about it. When someone asks you a question or gives you back too much change, you habitually do the honest thing. Of course, there are dozens of good habits we need to develop as we grow to maturity. But the foundational habits must be learned first in order to grow. So, what are the minimum requirements? What are the core habits that will give birth to all the others? They are the habits that influence our time, our money, and our relationships. If Christ’s lordship is recognized over these three areas of life, then he will truly be in control. I believe there are five measurements of spiritual growth: knowledge, perspective, conviction, skills, and character. Once you understand the what, why, when, and how of the five measurements, you can take the next practical steps to starting and maintain habits that will lead to spiritual maturity. Talk About It What are the three character traits that you think people would be most likely to use to describe you? If you did a quick assessment of your life, would you say that Christ has control in the areas of your time, money, and relationships?

Understanding Father’s Love

by Meg

I was born in the Northern part of the Philippines, in a small rural area where most of my mother’s relatives where living in the same compound. Life then was so simple and according to my mother, when I came to the family, our life was blessed. We had a small nipa hut that was designed by my father and some sort of livestock such as chickens and pigs. We had plenty sacks of grains/rice too, since my mother was a farmer while my father was a security guard. However, when I turned three years old my father was assigned to post in Pasig (an hour from Manila) and since he was away from us my mother decided to settle and join with my father primarily because we missed him a lot especially me.

I grew up in an urban place where industrialization and commercialization took place. Nevertheless, the value of the traditional type Filipino culture was still there because it’s my father’s responsibility to inculcate it to our own lifestyle. Basically, that’s the way he was raised by my grandma. He was so strict. A very disciplinarian person, and guess what? It was not a rod if he disciplined us; it’s a leather type two-inch belt. It was so painful and so to speak never to say anything when he’s punishing us. It’s a must. No wonder why the fear of violating household rule was within me, that’s why doing the right thing was only the best thing.

Among the four, he was much overprotected on me. I was the apple of his eyes during my teenage years. One of his famous lines was ‘if you are not obeying my rules, our door is widely open.’ Despite of that, my fear was enveloped with love and respect. I had many chances of disobeying him if I wanted to especially when I was in college, I can be as rude just like anyone else but it was my choice to still honor and follow him. One deciding factor and reason that made me obey my father was the fear of God, when we had the fear of God, we came to understand more of everything. The Bible studies I learned from Sunday school opened up my mind to know more about life, family issues and concerns. It’s the Holy Spirit that guided and whispered to my inner being on what to do rationally without any hesitation and reservation. It upholds my heart to be more right and just to do the good thing. I was blessed because God was there to lead me and come to the Father through Jesus Christ. It was my initiative also to seek God during that time by reading the Bible in my own personal way.  By all means, the fruit of the Holy Spirit was very powerful and everyone can be controlled by it if we allowed it to.

My point of view I want to share is --- different fathers might have different styles in terms of disciplining a child. And to think of the way my father disciplined us, I better say now that I understand him more because, he didn’t have much information way back then about on how to discipline a child the proper way; he was just relied on how he was raised by his mother and father. Nevertheless, I believe that a father will always be a good father making sure that his kids will have the best life better than him. And as their children, we are also responsible in accepting that fact. We might not be able to know it earlier nor even understand it better but to learn how they feel and to fit on their shoes will be much easier for us to recognize them not only as their father but a good friend as well.

In the same way, kids may vary with different personalities that make them unique. And as parents they loved their children for the reason that they were made because of love --- and by love which obviously a reason why every kid is a very special one no matter who they are. In my case, I just allowed God to control me, not my parents. They were just an instrument sent by God so that I can be the person I am right now. Likewise, I initiated to seek God 15 years ago. It was a personal choice and no one dictated me to do it. No one forced me to read the Bible and know God even more. The freedom I enjoyed most from my parents was my personality I came to develop and appreciate more.

Finally, I want to encourage every child to love our fathers. Some are blessed to have their own until now and others do not have since they were born. Some are longing to have one and others still seeking. And for those fortunate kids, let us be reminded that fathers are blessings from God. Let us not allow bitterness or even hatred to penetrate deep within if just in case they have done something wrong but rather let forgiveness and love dwell in our hearts and let these two virtues be accessible always. As my mother always says, ‘our days are almost gone and we are counting our years’ and as a child or any kid, these are the best days we have to show our love and appreciation to them for their being great and loving. And for all the fathers, you have done all your very best and I salute you for that!  =)

He Leads You by Peace

He Leads You by Peace

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6, NKJV.

TODAY’S WORD

The Bible calls Jesus the Prince of Peace. That means He is the ruler of peace. He is the ultimate peace. Having His peace is not like having the peace the world has. His peace is permanent. It never changes and can never be taken away.

It’s interesting that the word “peace” literally means “to set at one again.” In other words, when we are one with the Father, when we line up our thoughts, our words and our actions with Him through the blood of Jesus Christ, we will experience His peace in our lives. Anytime you find that you don’t have peace about something on the inside of your heart, when you feel an uneasiness, that’s a sign that you should stop and pray and make sure you are in line with God’s direction.

Remember, His plans are always for your good. He leads you by peace and fills you with His joy. When you choose His ways, you become one with Him and experience His peace and blessing all the days of your life!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for filling me with Your Peace and joy. Have Your way in my heart and remove anything that displeases You. Help me to clearly hear Your voice so I can walk in all of Your ways in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***

Blessings of a Righteous Life

by Lisa Comes

A college friend of mine often tried to persuade me to join her in partying, drinking and immorality. She said she was just “having fun,” and only wanted me to be a part of that fun. One night she invited me out to dinner, but instead of going to a restaurant, she took me to a bar where a group of her friends met up with us. I didn’t want to stay — and I told her so.

“Come on, Lisa,” she coaxed, “it won’t hurt anything.” I liked her, and didn’t want to offend her — but I stood my ground. “No,” I said, “If you won’t take me home, I’ll call someone to come and get me.” She finally relented, and took me home. I ultimately lost her friendship, but today I am grateful to be living under the blessing of God. I am sad to say that my former friend spent a number of years suffering because of unwise decisions she made in pursuit of “fun.”

The Bible has much to say about the sinful life versus the godly life — especially in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is a practical book full of wisdom for every day living. And it clearly shows that it pays to live a godly, righteous life. In fact, the wisdom of Proverbs could have been directly applied to my situation in college, and to many situations after: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say ‘Come along with us...’ do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.” (Proverbs 1:10, 15–16 NIV)

You and I have to be strong in the face of temptation — and make no mistake, we have an enemy, Satan, who tries to get us to fall into his sugar-coated trap. He never shows us the ugly outcome of disobeying God; he only tries to lure us with pretty pictures of sin’s temporary pleasure. His motive may be hidden, but it is sure: he means to steal, to kill and destroy. But God means to give us life! You see, God knows what is best for us. He loves us, and doesn’t want us to live in darkness or despair. He has a better plan for our lives — a bright future and a hope.

The person who lives a godly, righteous life is not a perfect person who never sins. No, he or she is simply someone who serves the Lord, seeking to do His will and obey His word. The righteous person feels remorse when he sins. He repents, and asks for God’s forgiveness, quickly turning around and getting back on the right path — because he knows that the righteous life is the path to blessing. Proverbs 4:18 says “The path of righteousness is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” (NIV) In other words, when you and I serve Jesus and follow Him, our path gets brighter and brighter! When we honor God, His blessing will be upon our children and our home.

I thank God daily that my parents chose life and blessing for our family. They taught us how to live a godly life. They showed us how to honor God and put Him first in our lives, and because of that, we saw the blessing of God. We witnessed His healing power. We experienced His protection. We knew financial well-being. We had peace in our home — and we even had fun in our home! We lived a supernatural life because the blessing of the Lord was on our home — and today, each of our families can say the very same thing.

If you are a parent, choose life today for your family by obeying God and honoring Him in your decisions. Declare like Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” Train your children in faithfulness and be faithful yourselves. When you do, you will live under the blessing of God. Single men and women, choose to live a pure life before the Lord. Choose to obey Him and resist the lure of a godless culture. When you do, you will live under the blessing of God.

Remember, “He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.” (Proverbs 2:7–8, NIV)

Do Not Be Afraid

Do Not Be Afraid

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.’

Matthew 1:20, NLT.

TODAY’S WORD

Have you ever felt overwhelmed or even afraid of what God has called you to do? Maybe you were pursuing a dream or goal and things didn’t turn out the way you planned. Joseph had planned to take Mary as his wife, but when he found out she was pregnant, he didn’t know what to think. He was afraid that he might be making a mistake because things didn’t turn out the way he planned. But, God sent a messenger in a dream to reassure Joseph that he was on the right path.

Today let me reassure you that God knows right where you are, and He knows how to get you to where you need to be. Even when things don’t go the way you planned, His hand is on you. Do not be afraid. Trust that God is working behind the scenes on your behalf, and that He will lead you into the life of blessing that He has prepared for you.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I choose to trust in You. Even when things don’t go the way I planned, I know You are at work in my life. Thank You for Your perfect love which casts out all fear. I love You and surrender every area of my life to You in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***

Peace on Earth Starts with Christ in You 5 hours ago  Rick Warren “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14 NKJV) This time of year teaches us to reconcile with God. This 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 10:12b GN). God not only wants you to have peace with him; he also wants you to have peace (goodwill) with other people, too. Rather than promoting harmony, holiday seasons often become a time of conflict. All families have difficulties; there are jealousies, grudges, resentment, and misunderstanding. 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 TEV). When Christ is in you and me, 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. But it starts with Jesus in your heart: “But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son” (Galatians 4:4a TEV). 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 TEV). Don't waste this season. 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 10:12b TEV). Talk About It To whom 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?

God with Us

God with Us

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel--which, when translated, means, God with us.

Matthew 1:23, AMP.

TODAY’S WORD

In the Bible, Jesus has many names that identify His character. One of those names is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Before Jesus came to earth, the Spirit of God resided in the temple. The people had to go through all kinds of rituals to become clean enough to go near to Him. Today, as believers, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He is the one who cleanses us and makes His home in our hearts. He becomes one with us, closer than the air we breathe.

Isn’t it good to know that God is always with us? His peace is always with us. His joy is always with us. His power is always with us, and His victory is always with us. The next time you feel alone, think about this scripture. Know that He is near because you serve Emmanuel—the God who is always with you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for choosing to make Your home in me. Thank You for filling me with Your peace and joy. I bless You today, knowing that You will never leave me nor forsake me in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***

Good News at Christmas: You Matter to God 6 hours ago  Rick Warren “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’” (Luke 2:10 NIV) 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 NLT). 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, Buddhist, 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! Talk About It What steps can you take to get to know Jesus better this Christmas? Is there someone in your family or in your neighborhood who needs to hear this Good News?