Christmas never fails to inspire. Its true meaning is not found in celebrations but in Jesus!
Where is Jesus in our Christmas celebrations?
Christmas becomes meaningful only when we understand the missionary heart of God. He loved the world and gave his Son to us.
God sent his Son. Jesus could have stayed in the comfort zone of heaven. But he chose to have a humble birth and be a servant … Read the rest
During Christmas celebrations at schools and churches, we often see many young children dressed up as angels in bright and shining clothes and waiting in the wings behind stage. The very spectacle reminds us of the first Christmas when angels played key roles in the unfolding drama.
Many wonder who the angels really are? Angels … Read the rest
A Christmas Story
Susan started to walk deliberately to the Coffee Shop. It was now five to three in the afternoon. As she opened the door and gazed at the dimly lit hall, she could see Rohan at the far end; the corner with a view of the sea. That had been their favourite spot … Read the rest
The good news account in Matthew’s gospel begins with a long list of names.
In this list of names there are many who failed God at some crossroad in their lives. There are blemishes in the lives of many of the people mentioned here. Even a prostitute who turned to God in faith finds mention … Read the rest
There are roads each one of us has to travel alone. In those moments, someone walks along with us. Often we are unaware of his presence.
But at some point in the journey our eyes are opened to see the stranger who accompanies us. There is something about him that is more than a mere … Read the rest
A Christmas Story
James opened the bedroom window. A cold gust of wind made the curtains flap. There was unrest in his heart. It was like chaotic voices of birds coming back to roost on trees at dusk. A sense of loss was in the air.
“Daddy, Daddy!” James was startled to hear that familiar … Read the rest
Christmas is about a response to good news.
Mary accepts the plan God had for her. It is not easy for us to imagine the trembling that might have come to Mary who was a village teenage girl when twenty centuries ago angel Gabriel told her that she was going to become pregnant as a … Read the rest
Immanuel. God with us (Matthew 1:23).
Jesus is God with us. His birth brought God near to us. A holy God shook hands with sinners, visited their homes and ate with them.
He attended weddings as well as funerals. He blessed weddings with his abundance and disrupted funerals with life-gifting power.
He was a doctor … Read the rest
Why a list of names to begin the story of Jesus (Matthew 1)? What is its personal application to you?
First of all, you as an individual is of great value to God. Therefore he remembers names, knows you by name and calls you by name. You are personally known by God (Pslam 139, Isaiah … Read the rest
Did you miss something this Christmas?
We’re not talking about gifts or money or even keys you tend to misplace. The one thing that leaves a bad taste in the mouth is the question, “What was it all about?” There were Christmas trees, stars, cakes, gifts and Santa Claus.
But the one thing–the most important … Read the rest
Success Is Staying True to Purpose
Christmas story is also about another baby who leaped for joy in his mother’s womb. John leaped for joy when Mary who had conceived Jesus in her womb came to greet his mother Elizabeth.
When this baby grew up, he said about his relationship to Jesus that it was … Read the rest
“Let there be light.” So God spoke and began his creative act at the beginning. Centuries passed and one night, when God’s chosen time came, the true light came to this world as a child born in a manger.
About this light a prophet had written, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great … Read the rest
“For God so loved the world that he gave!” Thus began the story of Christmas when God gave the gift of his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to the world.
This gift came as a child born in a manger-a living gift people could see and touch. This brought God near to us like … Read the rest
Often there is a mistaken thought that those who follow God are emotional people. Yet we find that some of the first people to recognize the birth of the Saviour were Wise Men from the land of Babylon or Persia. We can safely guess that those who came to see Jesus, born the King of … Read the rest
This man moved into the temple courts of Jerusalem as directed by the Spirit of God. He knew that he was about to see something greater than the Jewish temple.
At that moment the Joseph and Mary were bringing the child Jesus to the temple as the Jewish traditions required. They came with a sacrifice … Read the rest
There are roads each one of us has to travel alone. In those moments, someone walks along with us. Often we are unaware of his presence. But at some point in the journey our eyes are opened to see the stranger who accompanies us. There is something about him that is more than a mere … Read the rest
Christmas brings relief to those who feel inferior. For the town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born was a small town. Even God acknowledged that fact.
Yet God chose this small town to be the birthplace of the Saviour of the world. What if this town had a mind and voice? It would have protested … Read the rest
Christmas is the story of plans being upset. It is also more about people accepting God-sent change. The truth is that no one can experience Christmas and remain unchanged. So the question is whether you are ready to embrace change?
A young man getting ready to be married to a woman suddenly finds his would-be … Read the rest
Have you ever been tired of waiting? If waiting some years have been difficult what about waiting for centuries? This is what happened with the birth of the Saviour. God spoke through his prophets about a day when a child would be born to save all and rule over mankind. But the fulfilment of the … Read the rest
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
When such a light shines nothing escapes its searching and penetrating power. A man who tried to escape God’s searching eyes wrote: “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide … Read the rest
Rejection is painful in whatever form it comes. Our lives, in a very real sense, are therefore a constant struggle to be loved, accepted and understood.
The challenge however is, “Who will accept me as I am?” Often there are “conditions apply” tags attached when it comes to acceptance. “You change and be like this, … Read the rest
Jesus came to save sinners. This is the simple story of Christmas.
Because he came . . .
No more does someone’s past however black it is stop him from achieving the best God has for his life. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross has the power to break every bad and evil in … Read the rest
A list of names is uninteresting unless your name is in it; isn’t it? It has therefore always baffled me why God chose to start the good news account of Jesus Christ with a long list of names (refer Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 1, the first chapter in the New Testament).
Several insights came later; of … Read the rest
Have dreams come to you?
Were you troubled or made happy by them?
Whatever it is, the power of dreams to change life’s direction is well-known.
The foremost insight about dreams is that God shapes human history through individuals. It is of great encouragement to know that God’s eye which is ever alert to the … Read the rest
The star of Christmas is an eternal symbol of undying hope. Even today that blaze of light that illuminated the night sky at the time of the Saviour’s birth continues to shine a brilliant torch of hope in every human heart. It signals the end of a long wait, and the beginning of a difficult … Read the rest
If Christmas does not hold any hope for the broken-hearted; then its celebration becomes meaningless.
If Christmas is just exchange of gifts, lighting of candles, hanging Christmas stars and decorating Christmas trees; then it is all hollow.
If Christmas does not meet real human needs such as freedom from guilt and fear, forgiveness of sins, … Read the rest
It is difficult to wait. Then what is God’s purpose in keeping us waiting? The first Christmas itself came after centuries of waiting since God first promised the coming of a Saviour at the Garden of Eden. But then why so long? Are there lessons for us to learn from this long wait for Christmas?
A New Car
A New Dress
A New Home
A New Job
“New” is a powerful sell-word.
Yet to know its absolute power one has to believe the promise of God who says, ” Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up;
Christmas is a time for renewal of hope. It is a season when God shall breathe life into your barren situations. It is a time to remember the miracle of birth and to hope that long-awaited answers to prayer will come; no matter all the negatives that stand threat to it. It is a time
The Bible records, “From the fullness of his grace we have all received on blessing after another” (John 1:16 NIV).
But what is grace? In simple terms it is God showing His favor and mercy to man unconditionally. It is love that is shown when we do no deserve it.
Enabling Grace
The willingness and
