Christmas Story: Wise Men from the east visit Jesus and worship Him.

https://youtu.be/IXd157e0ha0

Have you ever noticed that the good news of Jesus will cause some to want to cause harm and others to worship? How do you respond?  What good gift can you give Jesus this year? How might you worship Him? 

Christmas Story: Baby Jesus is born and shepherds visit Him

Have you ever noticed that a birth announcement can make the most rugged of men celebrate?  Today's Christmas Story reveals that God chose to first tell shepherds about His Son and that they would be the first to see Him and shout in the streets that the Christ has been born! 

https://youtu.be/cZ1ySaMJneE

The Death of Worry

"Death was walking toward a man who stopped him and asked, "What are you going to do?" Death said, "I'm going to kill ten thousand people." The man said, "That's horrible!" Death said, "That's the way it is; that is what I do!" As the day passed, the man warned everyone he could of Death's plan. At the end of the day, he met Death again. He said, "You said, "You were going to kill ten thousand people, and yet one hundred thousand people died." Death explained, "I only killed ten thousand. Worry and fear killed the others." (Source unknown, but found in Holman New Testament Commentary). 

Worry seems to be in a lot of my conversations and if I am honest my mind spends way too much time worrying, too. Been thinking on this alot because Grant has quoted at least three times, well maybe more, a line from Fantastic Creatures. "Don't worry because this means you live it twice." Everytime, he says it I think some die a thousand times over. I know! It is easier said than done. I know this is why we are commanded to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Mind renewal isn't just taking a positive thinking stance. It is the willful obedience to release the circumstances to the LORD and trust Him with the outcome. Sometimes, this must done a thousand times over before we just realize, "Hey, I did not think on that today!" Where are you reliving something two, three times or more?  Beloved, release it to the LORD JESUS and enjoy the peace which surpasses all understanding to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. No point in giving Death more than he is accountable for!

Christmas Story: Angel visits Joseph in a dream

Often hope is only found in our obedience in times of suffering. Check out today's Christmas Story and notice how Joseph obeyed immediately even when things did not make sense.

https://youtu.be/UwvqZz64soU

The Spiritual Discipline of learning to tell Bible stories

During COVID, GOD used the practice of learning how to tell Bible stories to become a spiritual discipline for me. I realized this discipline became my spiritual act of worship that gave me peace, joy, and calm in a season when our world seemed chaotic and out of control. 

https://youtu.be/cysMBVOWGJM

Christmas Story: Mary visits Elizabeth

https://youtu.be/Plikk7iGy28

Christmas Story: The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary

https://youtu.be/Tgt3ieXv-yw