Sunday will allow us to peer into the events surrounding the first Christmas this world would ever experience, the year in which our Lord and Savior, Jesus was born. In the second chapter of Matthew’s gospel letter he provides for us a unique story illustrating the hard-heartedness of Herod which caused him to come down from his lofty chambers and set forth a plan to destroy any celebration that might occur because of the birth of a baby who would be king.

Long before we came into existence to put our personal touch on history, the prophet Isaiah spoke about one who would come and change the world so significantly that it would never be the same again. This week, as we open up our Christmas series on Sunday morning, we are going to examine the wonderful life that Isaiah spoke about and how “He” changed the world.

Every Christmas, our church takes on a special mission to help serve, love and support ministries that are in need. This year we are partnering with Camp David of the Ozarks, a non-profit camp that helps children of prisoners learn about Jesus and the God who loves them. This year we are raising funds to provide 84 mattresses, mattress covers and pillows.

We have come to the end of our study in the letter from James and in it we’ll discover that prayer is a very powerful and much-needed attribute in the life of the Christian. It is through prayer that we garner the full attention of our Father in Heaven as if He ever looks away from His children, and we give Him not only our petitions but honor Him with our gratitude and praise.

In our passage of Scripture this week, James 5:1-12, we will discover that it is best to put patience before profit, trust before treasure, blessings before bounty. By letting God work things out, rather than relying on the treasures of our labors, we will find greater satisfaction in life.

While Shaun has been serving along-side us for a number of years, and while we have employed him as our Student Minister the past year, God has been working in his life since before the creation of this world. He has been molding and shaping Shaun for just this very reason and now we get to join Him in acknowledging Shaun’s calling, and we get to be a part of those who support and encourage him.

An understanding of this section of the New Testament book of James can become sweet and soul-refreshing to you.  These truths will help you face the challenges of your day, week, pandemic, and whoever is in the Whitehouse this coming year.  God said He put a desire for more in our hearts.  Would it be possible to have it all and please God?

“Be warned,” James tells us about identifying as one with that type of character. For those who oppose God will find themselves in some extreme danger. We must resist the urge to sin and unite with Satan, and rather flee from him. By humbling ourselves before God, he lifts us and draws us unto himself.

As we come to the ending of the third chapter of James, we discover the tail of two different kingdoms, as well. There is the kingdom of earth with all its bitterness, jealousy, and selfish ambition which leads to disorder and every vile practice. And then, there is the Kingdom of heaven, which is first of all pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits all while being impartial and sincere.

How can something so small possess great power? Our tongues, though small can produce both words of encouragement and words that tear down. So what does the book of James have to say about this? Much!