December 18, 2015 Year C Some things are great when they are done only once. Taking tests are great when you can pass them once and not have to redo them. Jesus had the opportunity to pay for people’s sin debts. He passed the test and paid the sin debt once (Hebrews 10:10). In the Old Testament, priests had to make sacrifices all the time because sinned all the time (Hebrews 10:11). The payment was life for life. So priests... Read more
December 17, 2015 Year C Jeremiah 31:31-34 Forgiveness has eternal rewards. When someone forgives another person, the forgiver releases the forgiven of all responsibility. At the same time, the obligation which the forgiven needed to pay back a debt is eliminated. Forgiveness truly means to forget. God had made a first covenant with His people. In that agreement, He chose to lead them out of slavery (Jeremiah 31:32). The problem was that although He physically delivered them out of... Read more
Isaiah 12:1-6 Celebrating Christ This Christmas Many people are going to celebrate during this Christmas season. The Jews will celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Others will celebrate Kwanzaa. Even Muslims will celebrate the birth of their prophet Mohammed on December 24, 2015. (Because they follow the lunar calendar, his birthday falls on Christmas Eve.) But as a Christian, how should I celebrate Christmas? From this passage in Isaiah, we can see different ways to celebrate and focus on God’s... Read more
December 16, 2015 Year C Isaiah 11:1-9 In this passage, we see a future. A future in which Jesus (David’s great descendent – also known as the “stump of Jesse.”) will reign supreme over all of the world. Yet, before Jesus reigns over the world, He will rule over my life. Jesus has already shown us what He will use to lead my life. Jesus will rule using: 1. The Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2) Jesus left us the Holy Spirit... Read more
December 15, 2015 Year C Numbers 16:20-35 People care for their community. Parents care for their children. Coaches care for their team. Military leaders care for their men and women who serve under them. Employers care for their employees. Name a group and you will find someone who leads them. In some form or fashion, the leader will care for the community entrusted to them. Three people show their care for the community in these verses. The first two are... Read more
A Christmas Alphabet Poem A Christmas Alphabet Poem lists different Christian items for Christmas according to the letters of the alphabet from A to Z. A is for Angels, appearing so bright, telling of Jesus that first Christmas night. “Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:” (Luke 2:13, HCSB) B is for Bethlehem, crowded and old, the birthplace of Jesus by prophet foretold. “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the... Read more
Celebrating Christmas Celebrating Christmas is a simple thought reflection for the Lectionary from Isaiah 12:1-6 that shows how Christians can celebrate and focus on Jesus during the Christmas season. December 11, 2015 Year C Isaiah 12:1-6 Many people are going to celebrate during this Christmas season. The Jews will celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Others will celebrate Kwanzaa. Even Muslims will celebrate the birth of their prophet Mohammed on December 24, 2015. (Because they follow the lunar calendar, his... Read more
Steeped: Recipes Infused with Tea by Annelies Zijderveld Steeped: Recipes Infused with Tea by Annelies Zijderveld is a book of recipes that focus on cooking with tea as the main ingredient. Steeped infuses your normal cooking routine with special recipes that will make your meals interesting as well as healthier. Zijderveld begins her book with an introduction to the world of tea. She talks everything about the nature of tea: where it comes from, how it is made, and how... Read more
Steeped: Recipes Infused with Tea by Annelies Zijderveld Steeped: Recipes Infused with Tea by Annelies Zijderveld is a book of recipes that focus on cooking with tea as the main ingredient. Steeped infuses your normal cooking routine with special recipes that will make your meals interesting as well as healthier. Zijderveld begins her book with an introduction to the world of tea. She talks everything about the nature of tea: where it comes from, how it is made, and how... Read more
December 10, 2015 Year C Amos 6:1-8 Christmastime is a time of celebration. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. During this special time, we are involved in all kinds of activities that supplement the true celebration. These verses remind us that we should not let the celebration of Christmas make us complacent to the need for others to hear the Gospel. What are the signs that as Christians, we have become complacent at Christmastime when we are more interested... Read more
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