Christmas

Gifts After Christmas

Gifts After Christmas

For many families, Christmas becomes a multi-day marathon of celebrations, family visits, and gift exchange. Not all gifts are given on Christmas. It was many days after the birth of...
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Our Final ETJ Series of 2023

What a year we have had studying the Bible together! This month we conclude our 6th year of Enjoying the Journey podcasts, and are so very grateful for the faithful...
Christmas Evangelism

Christmas Evangelism

"And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them." - Luke 2:20 Every day is...
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Worshipping After Christmas: Gifts for the Son

The wise men from the east arrived in Bethlehem some time after the birth of Christ. The Lord Jesus was referred to as "the young child" and the family is...
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Why Did Jesus Come As a Baby?

The Lord Jesus Christ did not begin at Bethlehem. He is the eternal Son of the living God! He, with the Father and the Spirit, has always been. Yet He...
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The Christmas Message…at Caesarea

"God with us" is not just a Christmas message; it is the heart of God and the golden thread woven throughout all of Scripture. However, the emphasis at this time...
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Hymn History: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

We have been thrilled to share a series of brief accounts of how some of the great hymns of our faith were written. Each synopsis has been compiled through the...
Go tell it on the mountain

Hymn History: Go Tell It on the Mountain

The Christmas season can be one of the most joyful and heartwarming times of the year. Families meet together, gifts are exchanged, the wonderful Christmas carols are sung. We as...
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New Series: GOD CAME.

God Came. In many ways, these two words summarize the message of the whole Bible! They encapsulate the love and mercy of our God. We could never come to Him...
Silent Night

Hymn History: Silent Night

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." - Luke 2:8 We have been thrilled to share a series...
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Hymn History: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

"To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." - John 10:3 We are thrilled to...
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An Important Christmas Message

Jesus came. He came to earth. He came to sinful humanity. He came to a people that would reject Him. He came to seek and to save the lost. Yes,...
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NEW SERIES: Why Jesus Came

When people speak about Christ coming to earth, the first time they usually talk about HOW He came. But the great emphasis of Scripture is on WHY He came! Today...
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Concentrate on Christ this Christmas!

Some seasons are busier than others, but it seems the Christmas season is always full of hurry. Programs and shopping and get togethers and...life! It is easy to just exist,...
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Countdown to Christmas

Can you imagine the days leading up to the birth of Christ? No family has ever had thoughts, emotions, and Christmas preparation like that first family! Joseph and Mary, thrilled...
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New for Children this Christmas!

From time to time I enjoy sharing a recommendation of some helpful resource for families. We are approaching a time of year that is very special for parents and their...
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The Star Still Shines

Did you see the star? Over the last few days there has been a great deal of talk about the rare convergence of Saturn and Jupiter in the night sky....
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Reading the Christmas Story

Dad and mom made it a practice to read the Christmas story with our family each Christmas morning. As a little boy this was a serious delay in the opening...
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How God Used A Christmas Passage To Show Me His Will

It was Sunday, September 7, 2015. My mind was racing in so many directions. I knew that God was working in my life to show me His will but it...
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Beyond Bethlehem

I do love Christmas. While there are so many enjoyable aspects to this time of year, we must never forget that, for a Christian, every holiday should be a holy...
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12 Days of Christmas!

Go ahead and sing it - you know the words! We have always had a lot of fun singing and acting out the old Christmas classic The Twelve Days of...
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THE NAME

There is no name like the name of our great God! The apostles said of the name of Jesus, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none...
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Your Christmas Prayer List

Is your Christmas shopping list complete? Christmas card lists, grocery lists, gift lists...tis the season for written reminders! What about your Christmas prayer list? At this time of year it...
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Your Favorite Christmas Song?

They have been playing in our home for nearly a month now... You know the ones! Songs of the season. Christmas carols. It seems the whole world begins to sing...
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Christmas Blessings

This is my favorite season of the year! I love the time with family and friends. But the older I get the more I realize that the greatest Christmas blessings...
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Praying For Those Who Need To Come Home This Christmas!

In our last article I wrote about the geographical and circumstantial reasons that some loved ones cannot be home for Christmas. But there is another reason. Some people may even...
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“I’ll Be Home For Christmas…”

"I'll be home for Christmas..." Familiar words from one of the most beloved Christmas carols. There truly is something wonderful about being home at this time of year. And yet,...
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Announcing A Special Christmas Series!

Can you believe that it is December? The month ahead will be a busy one for families and church families. We must never allow our schedules to crowd out time...
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The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

Christmas and New Year are a time for family and fun. But for a believer it is a season of faith. A time to turn our eyes to Christ and...
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Christmas Miracles

Even among unbelievers Christmas is viewed as a season for miracles. (Think Miracle on 34th Street!) But for those of us who know Christ it is more than that - it...
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Don’t Forget These Things On Your Christmas List!

Everyone is busy this week. Shopping. Eating. Cooking. Eating. Traveling. Eating. Wrapping. Eating. It is easy to forget the things that truly matter in the hurry and haste. Perhaps you...
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Missing Messiah

While preaching recently in the beautiful state of Connecticut I was driven through several old cemeteries. Very old. It was fascinating to see markers going back to the 1600's!  It...
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A Christmas Letter from the Writer of Amazing Grace

You will be tempted not to finish reading this post. Could I ask you now to read to the very end? I have just completed a wonderful biography on the...
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Turning a Holiday into a Holy Day

Recently I had the joy of sharing with several young married couples a few thoughts on how to make this holiday a holy day.  The word holiday conjures up a variety...
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Christmas in Heaven?

There is a well-known song that imagines what Christmas must be like in Heaven.  In truth, Heaven is one endless season of joy.  In that beautiful place the wonder of...
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Dealing with “Down Time”

Down times can often be down times.  Activity, or lack of it, has a great deal of effect on our emotions.  The closing days of a year are a very...
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Remembering Those Who Cannot Be Home for Christmas

One of the most famous Christmas songs of all time says, "I'll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams."  Bing Crosby made it popular but few people today...
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The Biggest Birthday Celebration in the World

We are only days away from the biggest birthday celebration in the world!  No birthday on earth has more celebration or more misunderstanding.  A recent Pew survey suggests that half...
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Making Christmas Gifts More Meaningful

Shiny packages and suspense are part of the excitement at Christmas.  Fascinating, isn't it?  We spend weeks buying the gifts (or one crazy day if you are like me) and...