The Word

Since advent starts this Sunday, I thought we should start focusing on what Christmas means to us as Christians.

From John 1:1-5, 14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. ....
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

It amazes me every year when I really start to think about what Jesus did. He IS GOD and He left heaven to come and live with us. To become one of us. He was tempted, yet was perfect. He lived a life that was full of love so that we would see the grace and love of His Father. He died to reconcile us to God. He is the Light, the Glory of the Father, wrapped in flesh.

Praise God today for sending His Light into the world to save us!

With Thanksgiving coming up here in America this week, I wanted to share one of my favorite psalms:

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.

Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations. - Psalm 100

**This is a short psalm, but contains so many important items. The first stanza is an element of sheer, unashamed praise. Shouldn't we always start our day like that?

The second stanza is an acknowledgement of who God is and who we are in context of His reign: He is our Creator, our loving Shepherd and we are the sheep. Remembering our place in the universe keeps us humble.

The third stanza is more praise, but it reminds us that only He makes us worthy to stand in His presence and bless His name. Wow!

The psalm ends with a reminder that the Lord is good. We have been showered with blessings, even though our lives are hard. We have a loving God; always with us, willing to do so much to bring us back to Him.

Praise God this week for His many, many blessings!