The Spotless Lamb

I’ve talked about The Chosen, the series about the life of Christ, and the Christmas special that started it all, and I want to share with you that Christmas special. 

You are taken back to the night when the angel of the Lord spoke to the shepherds, shining God’s light into the dark of night, and into the spiritual darkness that filled the whole world. 

This tiny, promised Christ child brought hope and joy for anyone who would turn and follow Him, and He still does. 

My prayer is that if you’ve never turned to Him in faith, you would do that today, right now. In your own words call out to God and and tell Him you need Him, that you believe He sent His Son, Jesus, the Savior, as both the Spotless Lamb given as a sacrifice for our sins and the Shepherd who would continually lead us, and that you desire to follow Him. 

And if you’ve put your faith in Jesus in the past but you’ve walked away, a little or a lot, it’s not too late. God loves you and He’s waiting for you to return. Call on your Heavenly Father, confess your sins, and turn and follow Jesus again with your whole heart. 

God’s Word says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Believe this, and He will do it, and the peace of God will fill your hearts, even in the middle of the turmoil we face in the world, as much today as it was in the time of Jesus’ birth.

There is no better gift to give the Lord, and nothing else He desires more, than our hearts.

I pray this Christmas Special blesses you as much as it does me.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Sunday Praise and a Prayer of Rejoicing

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise your holy and precious name. We give you glory for all you’ve done to bring us salvation – nothing short of giving your own Son to be born, to grow up and reveal to us who you are, to be the exact representation of your being, and then to give Him as the perfect sacrifice in payment for our sins so we could be reconciled to you. 

Father, we are so grateful for loving us in such an extravagant way. 

As we get nearer to the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, help us to not let the busyness of this season overshadow the miracle that took place in the stable all those years ago.  

We truly rejoice in the grace and mercy you gave us, wrapped in swaddling clothes. 

We rejoice that you spoke through your prophets about where He would be born and who He would be so we wouldn’t be left to wonder if He really was the Savior. 

We rejoice that He was born with a body like ours, was tempted as we are and identified with us in every way, yet remained sinless, both God and man.

We rejoice in all the miracles surrounding His birth – that Mary and Joseph were obedient to you with such an overwhelming calling, that the angel of the Lord spoke to the shepherds telling them the joyful news of the Savior’s birth, and that a star led wise men from so far away to worship. You brought people near and far to rejoice in you and spread the good news that a Savior had been given to the world. 

Lord Jesus, we rejoice in You and give you glory, proclaiming that you are the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior, the Christ, that you are the good news, the best news the world has ever or will ever know. You’ve given the world hope, and we pray the weary world will turn to you and rejoice with us. 

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving us a reason to rejoice. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

 

Be Still

God of Hope

Sunday Praise and a Prayer to Live Worthy of Our Calling

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise you for this beautiful day you’ve made. We praise you for your holiness and righteousness.  You are the Almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. You are our good Father from whom all blessings flow. 

We look to you Father, to fill us again with the hope of your promises, with a steadfast faith, that we may act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with You. 

Father, as we fix our eyes on you, our supreme Hope, help us remember to “submit ourselves for Your sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by You for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is Your will, that by doing right we silence the ignorance of foolish people. That we will act as free people, not using our freedom as a covering for evil, but using it as Your bond-servants.” 1 Peter 2:13-16

Father we submit those authorities into your hands and pray that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray for the salvation of each one, that they would fervently seek you and your wisdom to govern rightly.

In everything, with hope and faith, may we live worthy of the high calling you’ve placed on our lives, as children of the King.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. 

In Jesus’ holy and precious name we pray, amen.