I hope and pray that you enjoyed an exemplary and easy-going Thanksgiving that turned your attention toward giving gratitude to God. Now we turn from the turkey to focus on God’s Gift to mankind. For the month of December, I am directed to touch on the true meaning for the season because I want you to know (like I know) the real meaning of Christmas: it’s all about Jesus!
Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, Let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with you
The opening of today’s blog lifts us with a lovely and wonderful song of worship. It has marvelously ministered to millions of worshipers since its release on December 24, 2001. It reminds us that our Lord Jesus declared that He is the light of the world:
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12c (KJV, emphasis added)
This coming Thursday, countless number of families in the United States of America will be observing the national holiday of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving patterns itself after a 1621 mutual harvest feast between English colonists (also known as Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people. In the United States, Thanksgiving is a holiday heaven of tradition, often including a meal composed of a compilation of turkey, bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. My cultural pallet will translate into collards, yams, macaroni and cheese, honey-baked ham, cornbread, string beans, mash potatoes and turkey. Now let’s transition from “soul food” to faith-food for the soul.
Read MoreWhen you think about the word stability what comes to your mind? Maybe you are a fiscally focused person so you set things in place that you believe that will reward you with financial stability. If you regularly visit your relationships it is most likely that you intentionally invest in those relationships for stability. I believe that stability is an essential element in a relationship because stability provides legitimacy and longevity in sound relationships.
Read MoreOne of the core beliefs of secular humanists is that through science and reason they can conclude that their existence is independent from any divine creator. Consequently, they determine that they are the center and catalyst for civilization. Consider the following excerpt from their Manifesto: …
Read MoreThe Word of God encourages us to be good stewards of our attitudes. A steward is one who is responsible for managing and maintaining something. The word attitude is defined in the dictionary as: manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, especially of the mind.
Read MoreHave you ever given any consideration to what size a Temple of God or a house of worship God would be comfortable in? From a human perspective, it is plausible to promote the idea that God should have a significant, substantial, super-sized house of worship or temple in which he would be pleased to live in. It is perhaps this thought that caused the Catholic Church to build the current St. Peter’s Bascilica in Vatican City. Replacing the old St. Peter’s Bascilica from the 4th Century A.D., the construction of the new St. Peter’s Bascilica commenced on April 18,1506 and was completed on November 18, 1626. With an exterior area of 227,060 square feet, an interior area of 163,200 square feet, and a volume of 180,000,000 cubic feet, it is vastly considered the largest church in the world. In this degree, it is not so difficult to understand that, from a human perspective, a church this size should be big enough for the Eternal One. However, as fellow citizens of faith we embrace and enjoy heaven’s perspective with respect to the kind of house of worship or temple that God truly delights to dwell in.
Read MoreAre you aware that the most perfect Person that ever lived on the entire earth exercises authority over all that has ever existed? Not only that but there is entirely nothing physically or spiritually in this life or the life to come that is exempted from His sovereignty. No spiritual being or human being in our existence will ever exceed His transcendence! Consider this thought: the universe including all its stars, planets and galaxies cannot contain a needle-head’s worth of His immeasurable infinity.
Read MoreIf you came into my office, you would notice that I have a number of pictures of my family. One of my favorite pictures is one of my three sons and me. Right away, the family resemblance is so apparent so that even Ray Charles would say “You got the right one, baby! Uh-huh!” I offer you this question: Can a world blinded by the enemy see that you look like Jesus? Now it is important to note that I am not referring to our Lord’s physical appearance. I am referencing His Spirit and character as well as His heart and mind. So, consider with me how people can see the Lord in your life.
Read MoreWhen you think about the word stability what comes to your mind? Maybe you are a fiscally focused person so you set things in place that you believe that will reward you with financial stability. If you regularly visit your relationships it is most likely that you intentionally invest in those relationships for stability. I believe that stability is an essential element in a relationship because stability provides legitimacy and longevity in sound relationships.
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