1 John 4:9

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

For love to be real it has to be manifested - that is, it has to come to life.  God's love for us was manifested when Jesus was born.  God's love came alive and dwelt among mankind.  Throughout His life Jesus' love was manifested.  His is the greatest love.  He proved that when he said in John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends," and then He laid down His life.  That sacrifice manifested His love to all people everywhere.  Your greatest gift this Christmas has already been given to you.  I hope you will share the real love of Christ with everyone you'll be with throughout the Holidays.  Pastor John

John 1:14

And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His Glory.  The Glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Before Christ was born, God seemed distant to so many people.  At His birth, prophecy was fulfilled - the words became real, real flesh and real divinity.  It's meaningful to me that the first group of people to receive the news of this universe-changing birth was those shepheres on the hillside.  The King of Kings was showing that He had come for all people, from the lowliest to the mightiest.  Today we know that He came and conquered everything that separated us from Him.  Revelations 1:6 tells us that Christ made us "kings and priests."  When you feel lowly like the shepherds, remember to whom Christ first heralded His arrival.

Malachi 4:2

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.  And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.  Malachi 4:2

The word fear in this verse means more than just revere.  It refers to a reverential trust and includes a hatred of evil.  The evidence of this is in the next verse (4:3), And ye shal tread down the wicked....The result of this reverential trust is the covering of God upon our lives - the covering of His wings with healing, security and the knowledge that we belong to God.  This reverential trust gives us the freedom to run, to grow and to overcome whatever comes against us.  Find this Godly fear and walk in the reverence of God and His awesome splendor.  I pray that this Christmas Season is your best ever as you live in his Blessed Covering.  Pastor John.

Habbakuk 2:2

And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

God desires for His people to be visionaries.  He loves for His children to expect great things to happen as they display their faith and trust in Him.  When God reveals a vision or spiritual truth to us we are to write it down plainly, so whoever sees it can read it and run with it.  The Prophets saw and wrote down the vision of Christ coming to save His people.  We are nearing the year's end, and we will soon celebrate the fulfillment of the Prophet's vision.  I pray that the truth of Christ's coming is inscribed on your heart.  I hope you will run and tell others that Christ has come and is Lord of you life.  Let's make these Holidays "Holy Days", giving glory to God and expecting a fresh new vision for all who love Him.

Pastor John

Colossians 2:6 & 7

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Abounding with thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving ought to be our second nature.  As God's people we should take nothing for granted.  So often we find ourselves so busy - too busy - to count our blessings.  In fact, if we're not careful we find ourselves complaining about some things more than we thank God for the many good things. Let's count our blessings.  Take time with family and friends to recall God's goodness.  Take time to be thankful.  Think of what a witness that will be to your unsaved loved ones.  God Bless you.   Pastor John

Jonah 2:2

In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me.  From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.

Jonah, by his own doing, found himself in total distress - - swallowed by a  "great fish."  He called on God, and God came to his rescue.  Jonah's plight was the product of his own agenda.  How many times have we called upon God to rescue us from our own actions that were not His desire for our lives?  God is faithful, and it is in these times that we see His true unconditional love and patience.  He delivers us from whatever has swallowed us up.  He is the God of the second chance.  You and I, no matter how deep we go in disobedience to God ,are never out of the reach of His forgiveness and grace.  Pastor John

John 6:41

The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 
Some were looking for miracles and some were just curious as to who Jesus was.  However, when Jesus told them "I am the bread which came down from heaven,"  they were offended and questioned His words.  Even some of His own discples said, "This is a hard saying, who can hear it?"  They still had questions as to Jesus' identity.  They obviously were not listening when He said, "For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world."  Some of Jesus' teachings were so hard that "many of his disciples went back and walked no more with Him."  My hope is that you will His teaching and will know Him in an even greater way.  Pastor John