Divine Savior Church-Sienna

What is Christmas for?

Christmas is for family – travels, reunions, people gathered at the table for meals that feed the body and conversations that warm the heart and souls.

Christmas is for decorations – the lights that line our rooftops, figures and scenes that take residence in our lawns, ornaments that hang and sway from our tree branches, ribbons, and garland, and candles filled with the scent of pine.

Christmas is for nostalgia – childhood memories remembered and recalled, films that evoke the emotions – joy and laughter, romance and heart-warmth and sentiment.

Christmas is for giving. Yes, the gifts we give, but more importantly what we have been given. We’ve been given the greatest gift. We’ve been given forgiveness through God’s Son who came into the world on Christmas.

Christmas is for giving. It’s our turn to give. And forgive. 

Support the show

~ Changing lives with Jesus!
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Instagram @dscsienna

What is Christmas for?

Christmas is for family – travels, reunions, people gathered at the table for meals that feed the body and conversations that warm the heart and souls.

Christmas is for decorations – the lights that line our rooftops, figures and scenes that take residence in our lawns, ornaments that hang and sway from our tree branches, ribbons, and garland, and candles filled with the scent of pine.

Christmas is for nostalgia – childhood memories remembered and recalled, films that evoke the emotions – joy and laughter, romance and heart-warmth and sentiment.

Christmas is for giving. Yes, the gifts we give, but more importantly what we have been given. We’ve been given the greatest gift. We’ve been given forgiveness through God’s Son who came into the world on Christmas.

Christmas is for giving. It’s our turn to give. And forgive. 

Support the show

~ Changing lives with Jesus!
Facebook | YouTube
Instagram @dscsienna

What is Christmas for?

Christmas is for family – travels, reunions, people gathered at the table for meals that feed the body and conversations that warm the heart and souls.

Christmas is for decorations – the lights that line our rooftops, figures and scenes that take residence in our lawns, ornaments that hang and sway from our tree branches, ribbons, and garland, and candles filled with the scent of pine.

Christmas is for nostalgia – childhood memories remembered and recalled, films that evoke the emotions – joy and laughter, romance and heart-warmth and sentiment.

Christmas is for giving. Yes, the gifts we give, but more importantly what we have been given. We’ve been given the greatest gift. We’ve been given forgiveness through God’s Son who came into the world on Christmas.

Christmas is for giving. It’s our turn to give. And forgive. 

Support the show

~ Changing lives with Jesus!
Facebook | YouTube
Instagram @dscsienna

What is Christmas for?

Christmas is for family – travels, reunions, people gathered at the table for meals that feed the body and conversations that warm the heart and souls.

Christmas is for decorations – the lights that line our rooftops, figures and scenes that take residence in our lawns, ornaments that hang and sway from our tree branches, ribbons, and garland, and candles filled with the scent of pine.

Christmas is for nostalgia – childhood memories remembered and recalled, films that evoke the emotions – joy and laughter, romance and heart-warmth and sentiment.

Christmas is for giving. Yes, the gifts we give, but more importantly what we have been given. We’ve been given the greatest gift. We’ve been given forgiveness through God’s Son who came into the world on Christmas.

Christmas is for giving. It’s our turn to give. And forgive. 

Support the show

~ Changing lives with Jesus!
Facebook | YouTube
Instagram @dscsienna

Where have you been before?  What is your background and experiences?  These questions serve in evaluating candidates for leadership. They help us form our opinions, and the stronger the background and experiences, the better.  What we celebrate at Christmastime is the one whose background and experience answer all our questions and give us security and peace.  The one we worship and adore is begotten of the Father from eternity. He is worthy of all praise and glory, just as Mary sang in her song.  And he comes to be our shepherd. To stomp on the ancient serpent and old evil foe, and to watch with care and concern over all his flock.

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~ Changing lives with Jesus!
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When your leader is strong, you are strong. When your leader is weak, fear and despair overtake his followers, because there will always be enemies and adversity. Fear and despair creeps into our lives because of the adversity and unknowns we face, but God calls you to rejoice, shout aloud, and sing, because your leader is a mighty warrior. Jesus came as an infant, lowly, and humble, yes, but he was a warrior with the might to overcome our greatest enemies – sin, death, hell, and Satan, who desires these for us. Since God has so delighted in us to send such a mighty warrior, we have nothing to fear. Instead, rejoice, shout, cheer, and sing for joy.

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~ Changing lives with Jesus!
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The anticipation of a new leader comes with new expectations for those who follow.  Are we prepared in our own hearts to welcome the one for whom we prepare?  God’s expectations stand for all time – they don’t change. Which means, we must change. All change is hard. This change is impossible – for us. Thank God his grace and mercy never change. He sends the refiner – the one who applies the heat so that the silver is purified. Our God calls us to return to him in repentance, acknowledging our sin and letting it be burned away, and God returns to us to restore, to refine, and purify through the miracle of justification and faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit will continue to refine and purify us as God’s holy children – purified silver in the hands of a master silversmith.

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~ Changing lives with Jesus!
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Lineage matters. Family trees tell us of the values and strengths. We might look at family members of the past to gain an understanding of a person in the present, and especially their pedigree when it comes to leadership. What if the family tree leaves much to be desired. What if there is weakness and immorality and brokenness there. This was the case with the family tree of the royal line of David and the ruling family of God’s people. A tree that seemed to begin so strong, became filled with weak, diseased, and broken branches. Yet, God promised to raise up a righteous branch in that tree. One who would serve his people well, and this righteous branch is also your righteous Savior.

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“Eyes on the prize.” That axiom stresses that when pursuing some good goal, focus is important. You don’t want distractions or a lack of self-discipline to keep you from obtaining whatever that prize might be. “Eyes on the prize.” You summon the willpower to fixate on that good thing. You let nothing divert your attention from obtaining the prize. The prize that we want most is spending eternity with Jesus. As the Church Year comes to a close, Jesus promises that he will come again “in clouds with great power and glory” to give us that prize. That prize will be so unbelievably good, it is worth fixating on. It merits our striving to set aside all that would distract us from Christ. Let us be ready. Let us keep watch. Let us live with our eyes on the skies.

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Have you ever experienced that uncomfortable feeling that others are watching you, trying to find something to criticize? We don’t want others judging us. It is bad enough listening to the voice inside our own head, whispering that we aren’t worthy. How do we overcome the fear of judgment? It begins by realizing that there is only one person whose opinion ultimately matters—the Judge. Everyone is going to live forever in one of two very different places. Where you spend eternity depends on a judgment that Jesus will render. This week we see why his judgment need not trigger any sort of anxiety. Judgment day is something we can joyfully anticipate. We can live free from the fear of judgment.

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~ Changing lives with Jesus!
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