As men and women living in a fallen world, we are all tempted to sin. The Father of Lies, Satan, seeks to make us question God’s truth for our life. We may even be tempted to question our forgiven identity in Christ – Can God really love, even me? So what happens when we are tempted; and what do we do when we are in the midst of temptation? This week in worship, Jesus reminds us of some incredibly important things: Our true identity is in Him, and because He was true to His mission of forgiveness for us, we can be assured of our life in Him!

In the baptism of Jesus we begin to see all that Jesus is willing to bear for us as he stands in the place of sinners.

What’s in a name? Well, not much, unless it’s the name above all names! Too often in this world we find that the names and labels attached to us, either by ourselves, or others, remind us of our flaws and failings. We can never be the perfect, Husband or Father, Wife or Mother, Worker, or Friend etc. Sometimes we might even feel wholly inadequate. Names help explain who we are, but they do not determine our identity! The name that determines our identity, is in the name above all names–Jesus Christ! Through faith and baptism we have put on Christ; our identity, and eternal future is in Him!

There are no perfect Christmas celebrations just a perfect gift that takes care of all the things that make our Christmas imperfect. It is the gift we don't deserve but need so greatly! The gift of the son of God, Jesus, our Immanuel. Whoever gets the Son gets it all!!!

Joseph needed God to intervene to make that first Christmas turn out the way God intended. We too need the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and lives to instill faith and to work through us to extend forgiveness into the brokenness of our lives.

Herod the Great & Zechariah lead two families that are a part of the story behind the story of Christmas. As these two families deal with their struggles in good and not so good ways we see an insight to the hope Jesus brings in the midst of our own struggles in relationships.

When Jesus calls people to follow Him, He knows the difficult road ahead. Whether it's His first disciples, or followers today, the truth is, many times we follow Jesus through the hard times, and not around them. Yet, in the midst of the difficulties and fears of everyday life, Jesus teaches us to focus, not on the circumstances around us, but on something greater - the Kingdom of God that is for you! Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest, and the abundance of His Grace and Life is something to be truly thankful for!

God keeps every promise that He makes! The Bible tells us both in the Old and New Testament about a day that is coming when Jesus will return and fulfill those final promises! While we may face suffering, pain, and struggle today our faith clings to the work of Jesus knowing that the best is year to come.

God's Word provides a sure and certain foundation for this life and the next yet at times we can forget to be in that Word and to use that Word as the lens in which we view the world. In a world with uncertainty God's Word continues to speak truth to us and gives us hope!

The Book of Daniel reminds us that in the midst of political, social, moral, and economic upheaval God is still in control! For “Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will" even when the leader doesn't immediately acknowledge it and has to learn it the hard way. Through it all God let's His people know his primary characteristic in terms of his mercy and steadfast love towards His people