Thinking About Christmas.

Some key verses that stood out last week:

Matthew 22:35-40, 1John 3:16-18, & Micah 6:8

Thinking about Christmas...

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

I encourage you to read all of John 3.

As we continue preparing for Christmas let us remember why we are celebrating. This child is the only Son of God, sent to us that we may have eternal life. Because of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, we can receive forgiveness, hope, mercy, grace, and salvation. Let us act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Let us love others the way Christ has loved us.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Rejoice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcJYW1oN6fw&feature=related

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com

"I am the Lord's servant" -Mary

We heard one of my favorite verses last week, and one that I think of daily:

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.

I encourage you all to read Luke 1. I love Mary’s response in verse 38 to the angel Gabriel after he told her that even though she was a virgin she was to give birth to a son, and will name him Jesus…Son of the Most High:

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Luke1:38

Praying that you all find (make) time to be still, listen, reflect, pray, and answer the way Mary did “I am the Lord’s servant”.

Song of the week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vTGuB-eQkA

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com

Matthew 1:18-25

You can’t help but think about Christmas coming up with all the shopping, music, tacky Christmas sweater invites, cool weather etc. The next couple weeks I’d like to take us back to what Christmas is really about, the birth of Jesus. I know we’ve heard about the birth of Christ many times, but take the time to really reflect on everyone involved in this story and how this birth directly affects you. Let’s start with Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25

The Birth of Jesus Christ
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Below is a link to one of my favorite songs. I encourage you to take a few minutes and check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBWYAQlQiBI

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com