One of the unmistakable thoughts of Christmas is that Jesus is King!
And the most disturbing of all questions that Christmas brings us is: “Who is our king anyway?”
Is our king the images we find in our mirrors everyday? Are we so much in love with our own selves? So much in love with
Let us be honest here. If we were given a chance to write a gospel account of Jesus Christ, we might never have started off with His genealogy. One of the difficulties that beginners who read the Gospel of Matthew face is this long list of names at the beginning itself. Wouldn’t this turn away
Christmas stars, candle lights, serial lights and many other decorative lights are a feast to the eyes during Christmas season. We grow up seeing them every Christmas. They have become part of our lives every year end. Without them Christmas may not be so bright for us.
So what makes them special? In fact, what
Stirrings to Move Out
First of all, they saw the star in the east. And they came to Jerusalem. They could have stayed in their homes and rejoiced at the thought that they had been fortunate enough to see the star of the king. But they moved out. They could have sent messengers to greet
The star appeared when Jesus was born. It was a guiding star. It announced the birth of a king to the wise men (Magi) from the east. Probably the wise men had access to the words in Numbers 24:17, where Balaam had proclaimed: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. … Read the rest
Christmas is also the story of a highly dramatic dialogue between the Angel Gabriel and Mary.
First there is the greetings from the angel. The angel greeted Mary saying that she was highly favored with God and that God was with her.
We have to try standing in the shoes of Mary to understand her
Big things attract us easily but small things are not easily noted. Big things are given first choice by men but God often chooses the small things.
And then there are people who think small of themselves. There is not much in life they can be proud of. The only thing that they are conscious … Read the rest
God with us1
The glory from heaven came down. It inhabited a house of dust of which we are made. They called Him, “Immanuel!”
He came to be with us. He came to share in our humanity.
He came to take part with us in all our experiences–of joy and sorrow.
His coming then
The word “Bethlehem” means “house of bread.”
Let us go to Bethlehem. We reach there around 1200 B.C. There is famine in the land. A man moves out with his family to the land of Moab in search of food. There he and his sons die. After all this, his wife heard that “the Lord
“The name that is above every name’2
We all love our names. That is one thing that is music to our ears. It is what identifies and distinguishes each one of us from others as a unique and different person. Many names have meanings. And often the names of children reflect the
Christmas holds special relevance for us since the birth of Jesus was announced to be good news of great joy for all the people. These articles will help you focus on Jesus, who is the reason for the joy of the season!
Where Is Jesus in Our Christmas Celebrations?
Jesus
Bethlehem
Immanuel
Smallness
Nothing is … Read the rest
Reference: Psalm 42:1, 2
Discouraged brother/sister, there is no time like this to thirst after God. Many reasons might have clouded your mind with discouragement.
It can be some sin, some failure from your part, financial worries, broken relationships or even poor health. Whatever it be, now is the time to thirst after God.
Something … Read the rest
This section helps you to understand some of the important truths in the Bible that can help you anchored to God in changing times.
What Does the Bible Say About Itself?
What Does the Bible Mean to You?
The Feast!
Practical Tips for Reading the Bible
Five Lane Bible Reading Program
| Theme: A Prayer when Friends Become Enemies |
| Focus on: David and Ahithophel |
| Reading Portion(s): 2 Samuel 15:1–12, 30–37; 16:15–17:23 |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| There are times in life when the one you loved as a friend turned your enemy for no |
| Theme: The Prayer for Replenishment |
| Focus on: Samson |
| Reading Portion(s): Judges 14 & 15 |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| Great victories are won by God’s servants when they are filled with the power of the Spirit of the Lord. During such moments |
| Theme: The Prayer of Discouragement |
| Focus on: Elijah |
| Reading Portion(s): 1 Kings 19 |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| Discouragement is deadly. It usually follows some great work done for God. From mountaintops of victory and elation and excitement can come valley-experiences of |
| Theme: Persistence in Prayer |
| Focus on: Elisha and the Shunammite Woman |
| Reading Portion(s): 2 Kings 4:8 to 37 |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| Some prayers fail for lack of persistence. Persistence in prayer is that quality which does not stop praying until |
| Theme: Faith Operating in Prayer |
| Focus on: Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath |
| Reading Portion(s): 1 Kings 17 |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| Faith has to go to school. Sounds surprising? Yes, it is true. Great faith is taught in step by |
| Theme: Action and Prayer go Hand in Hand |
| Focus on: Nehemiah |
| Reading Portion(s): Nehemiah 2, 4, 6:1 to 16. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| There is a balance in the Christian life. Many learn it very late in life. This is so |
| Theme: A Prayer to Uphold God’s Honor |
| Focus on: Ezra |
| Reading Portion(s): Ezra 7 & 8. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| This kind of prayer can occur in the lives of those believers who constantly interact with unbelievers. In the course of |
| Theme: A Prayer to Uphold Right Motives |
| Focus on: Hezekiah |
| Reading Portion(s): 2 Chronicles 29 to 31:1, Numbers 9:1 to 12. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| There are times when we may not have done everything right in our pursuit of seeking |
| Theme: Setting Things Right for Prayer to be Answered |
| Focus on: David and the Gibeonites |
| Reading Portion(s): 2 Samuel 21:1 to 14, Joshua 9. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| Delayed blessings trouble our minds. Then we seek God in prayer. The answer |
| Theme: Acting Deceitfully to Seek Relief through Prayer |
| Focus on: Pharaoh and Moses |
| Reading Portion(s): Exodus 7 to 10, Jeremiah 17:9. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| Our prayers are not always pure. They contain wrong motives. Many times we try to deceive |
| Theme: A Prayer for God’s Blessing |
| Focus on: Jabez |
| Reading Portion(s): 1 Chronicles 4:9,10. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| Many people remain victims of their circumstances. Though it is true that we have no control over the circumstances of our birth and |
| Theme: Praise and Thanksgiving in Prayer |
| Focus on: David |
| Reading Portion(s): 1 Chronicles 28 & 29. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| Have you reached the end of your journey on earth? Is there something left to do? There might be many things. But none |
| Theme: Learning to Pray |
| Focus on: Rachel and Leah |
| Reading Portion(s): Genesis 29 to 30:24; 35:16 to 20. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| Learning to pray is like any other learning. It takes time. There is a process involved. Also we move |
| Theme: A Prayer for Fruitfulness |
| Focus on: Isaac and Rebekah |
| Reading Portion(s): Genesis 24:67; 25:19 to 28. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| Barrenness is difficult to accept. We know it from the agony of barren women. The Bible speaks of many such. |
| Theme: Claiming God’s Promise Specifically in Prayer |
| Focus on: Nehemiah |
| Reading Portion(s): Nehemiah 1, Deuteronomy 30:1 to 10. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| General praying is no praying! We need to pray specifically. This is very important when we claim God’s promises |
| Theme: Mourning in Prayer |
| Focus on: Ezra |
| Reading Portion(s): Ezra 9 to 10:17; Ezra 7 & 8:15 to 36, Deuteronomy 7:1 to 6, [Nehemiah 13:26,27]. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| One of the forms of prayer that is much missed today is |
| Theme: A Prayer of Repentance |
| Focus on: Manasseh |
| Reading Portion(s): 2 Chronicles 33:1 to 18, 2 Kings 21:1 to 18; 23:26,27; 24:3,4 & Jeremiah 15:4. |
| – Important Background Information | |
| – Helps you find strength in God |
| What this article teaches you |
| Sin destroys good things. Then it rebuilds wrong things. It defiles what |
