Christmas is about a gift; God giving himself. Jesus Christ is Immanuel, God with us. He is with us now and forever.

The bigger the announcement the bigger deal you make out of it. In Isaiah 40, God has such a big announcement, that he said “Shout this from the top of the mountain! This is the biggest announcement in history! It is the most astounding and astonishing thing that anybody has ever heard. And it is the best news in the world.

The prophecy of Isaiah 9:6-7 of the coming Messiah reveal to us the glory of Christ's humility, the glory of His Person, and the glory of His Empire.

Words are important. What you say and how you say it matters! We speak because God speaks. We are made in his image. We can communicate. It’s a marvelous gift, that unfortunately can be abused. Learn the importance of using your tongue to build up rather than tear down.

To walk in wisdom, we need new hearts first and foremost. We need the miracle of the new birth through which God gives us a new heart. And then it is of utmost importance that we keep the heart with God, in close communion with Him.

In the book of Proverbs God calls us to the wisdom of work and warns us against the foolishness of laziness.

Self-control is like a super power that almost nobody believes is one. It is a strong defensive weapon, like a high and thick wall around a city, and it is an offensive weapon with which to take a city... starting with the unruly city of our own soul.

God says “I hate arrogance, and pride, and haughty eyes”. And he promises to bring the proud person low. God foretells a future of disgrace, destruction, and calamity for everyone who is proud. On the other hand, God promises grace, and favor, and honor to those who are humble. Proverbs 22:4 ESV “the reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?