Many people tend to think about the birth of Jesus - and Christmas as a whole - from their own perspective. However, the child's perspective of the birth of Jesus may be very different from an adult or seasoned perspective. 

As you continue to reflect on the coming of Jesus (God's gift to the world), I encourage you to go back to the beginning of Matthew. You might have been tempted, as I often am, to skip past Matthew 1:1-17 as a list of names of people you mostly don't know. This time, don't think about it as a list of names, but as a parade of kings leading to the introduction of the King of kings.

Into the heaviness of grief, God gives us a word that is gentle and strong at the same time - this word represented in that first flame. Hope can sometimes remind us to simply move on, for there is much greater in store for the future. Our loved ones were called to God early and they will be with us as soon as God is ready for us. Grief happens and it hits our hearts with such agony, but hope allows relief in that pain.

When we moved back to Ohio in 2012, we were broke, broke. We had a newborn baby who had just had open heart surgery, a 6 year old, a house that our tenants had trashed and not much $ in the bank. Oh, and neither of us were working yet. The amount of help we received from our families will always be immeasurable.  Times were hard, but we were determined parents. We had no other choice but to ask for help. We soon thereafter applied and we were granted Food Stamps and Medicaid. I don’t know of many people that “like” to ask for help, but sometimes circumstances are out of our control.

I love the hymn “Doxology”, also known as “Praise God, from Whom all Blessings Flow”

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

It is short, but powerful when you focus on the words. Thankfulness is a form of Praise to God. Thankfulness is not just a reaction to good moments—it is a posture of the heart that acknowledges God’s unchanging goodness. Scripture does not tell us to feel thankful for every circumstance, but to give thanks in every circumstance. There is a difference.

A veteran’s uniform tells a story of courage, sacrifice, and service. Yet behind every uniform is a deeper calling — Why do we serve? In the military, service is mission-driven. In God’s Kingdom, service is love-driven.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”  1 John 4:7

As we enter the holiday season of giving thanks and the Advent season, I would like to remind everyone to remember to love one another.  Love that person who you have maybe seen in passing at a place that you frequent and say hello.  Start a conversation to let them know they are noticed and loved because you took that moment to at least let them know that you see them when you go in. 

Love those around you in your family, your co-workers, the people you pass on the street.  Someone may not be having such a great day and you can show someone love just by saying hello with an inviting smile.  Be that sunshine in someone’s life by doing simple tasks that we ordinarily take for granted.  Invite someone over for dinner in case they may not have anything to eat because of the government shut down. Love everyone where they are in their life at that particular moment. Remind them that they are children of God and love comes from God.  

I challenge you to show someone that they are loved this week.  Someone that you see may not be having a good day, someone with a hello and a loving smile, or maybe someone who you meet by chance and strike up a conversation with them and show them they are loved and that will be prayed for during this holiday season.

More than 400 times the terms BLESS, BLESSING, BLESSED appear in the Bible. Throughout the coming week, may our attitude be LORD, I AM ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY, COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON YOU…FOR EVERYTHING!

The B.L.E.S.S. sermon series is all about ways to build bridges to people, all for the cause of Christ. This week we talked about serving in love. I encourage you today, see others with intention. Do you notice their hearts hurting? Do you see their energy is drained? Do you notice nothing different, but still wonder if there's struggles below the surface? Ask about it and then ask yourself, "how can I bless this person through service today?" 

Be on guard against fooling yourself (telling lies against the truth).  Wisdom from God does not look like jealousy, and criticism, but like peace and mercy. There are plenty of areas in which Christians can find fault in the world around us. The challenge is finding ways to tell the truth without continually grumbling and complaining. I encourage us today to be the example, in the world, spreading the light of Jesus more often than complaining about the darkness we see in His absence. 

Pastor Bob gave us an exercise on Sunday where he had us sit in silence for thirty seconds so we could listen to Jesus, He warned us this could make us a little uncomfortable, but to really allow the Lord to speak. I'm curious how many of your minds wandered. Did you start to pray words in your head? Maybe you thought about the discomfort you felt. Or perhaps you listened to the crinkling of the wrapper in the row three down from yours. It's amazing how in just thirty seconds we can become so unfocused and unable to truly listen to what's important. 

There's a beautiful rhythm in the way we cheer for the people we love. I remember vividly the first time I stood up to cheer for my daughter at her band event. For five years, it was more than just applause; it became a tradition of support, a heartbeat of encouragement she could always count on. One time, in the vastness of Lucas Oil Stadium, I shouted "Let's go, Samantha!" so loudly that it echoed through the entire place. In that moment, I realized how one voice of encouragement can resonate far beyond what we expect.

I think about the table Christ has invited us to. It doesn't matter what your past is, your demographic, your career, etc. Jesus wants you to sit with him. He's got a place for you, name inscribed on the back of the chair, seated among the heroes of the faith. He's invited you to his table. Now ask yourself, have you invited him to yours? 

This past week, I was reminded that the Holy Spirit doesn’t just spark in us - He spreads through us. After I preached the first sermon in the Pass the Torch series, many of you took the flame pin as more than a symbol. You carried it as a calling. One person shared that they gave their pin to a friend at work, and that friend wept. That simple act of courage opened the door for her to return to church after a long time away.

“Be strong and courageous…for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Deuteronomy 31:6

When Moses’ time as leader ended, he passed the torch to Joshua. The message was clear: leadership changes, but God’s mission and presence remain.

Deuteronomy 31:8  “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

I remember this passage when I fall. I am a recovering addict and I as a single mom feel afraid that I am not doing right by my children and I feel discouraged when I don’t feel I am doing a great job for myself and for my children.

The quiet is setting in now—the not knowing what to do next, the goodbye that hardly seems possible. One Hope has been more than a church; you have been our family. You have been the place where we have seen the goodness of God, experienced through the great love of God’s people.

Earlier this summer, the leadership team met at Charleston Falls. I had never been there before and was unfamiliar with the size of the park. There were 5 of us and we split into 2 groups of two and one person was solo. On the way in, I was paired with Pastor Karen and we were instructed to answer some questions and pray. We all came together at the falls and again were split into 2 groups of two and a solo person. I ended up as the solo person and went off to pray on my own. I didn’t think too much of it until I had started what I thought was the way back to the parking lot. After a little bit I realized I had gotten a bit lost. It took me another 30 min and some help from a stranger to get back to the parking lot.

People going away can be hard to process. This could be any form of leaving from death to simply moving away to a place you can't visit often.

Even though you may be worried or scared for a person you have to say goodbye to, the Lord will bring you peace of mind.

Romans 9:2-4a – “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel.”

This expression of great sorrow is directly preceded by Romans 8; one of the most pointed and beautiful declarations of the joy we receive when we enter into a covenant with our Creator through the work of Jesus the Messiah.