Isaiah 61:1-3Philippians 4:4-9Luke 1:39-56Jesus comes to Bethlehem to enlighten the world as the Star of Joy. The great glad tidings he has to tell bring a smile to our faces as we radiate to others his good gifts of forgiveness, freedom from death and everlasting life.

Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7Romans 15:8-13Matthew 12:15-21Jesus comes to Bethlehem to be the Star of Hope to a people long forsaken. The fears of all the years are washed away by the sure hope of his salvation, which we are blessed to share with the lonely and the least among us.

Psalm 19:1-6Colossians 1:15-20John 1:1-14Jesus comes to Bethlehem to be born a star—the Star of Creation, and the ruler over heaven and earth. His presence brings light to the world, which is his creation. We were created in his image to shine forth with his love into the dark streets of our own cities and towns.

2 Samuel 9:1-11Sometimes, we feel that we are not worthy to be called Christ-followers. We’ve messed up our lives so badly that we are ashamed to even come to church. While there are consequences for our actions, God still loves us even though we don’t deserve it. He invites us to share in the meal of Grace.

Psalm 921 Peter 4:1-6, 12-16One of the oddest notions to which God calls us is the idea that we are to be thankful in and for the tough times in life. It is only when we see our suffering through the eyes of Christ that we can endure it and see the benefits that come from it - especially when we suffer for the sake of Christ.

Leviticus 23:33-36, 39-43John 7: 1-3, 37-431 Thessalonians 5:18The Israelites were instructed by Moses to celebrate the harvest that God had given. This celebration was called the Festival of Ingathering (or Tabernacles). As we begin our series, Thanks365, we also think about the “harvest” that God provides for us.

Psalm 119: 97-105Matthew 4:18-22All Saints Day!Hearing from God in His Word informs our lives so that we can be imitators of Christ

Romans 3There are no exceptions to the offer of Grace by God!

Matthew 19:1-6Ephesians 5:21-33At some point in our attempts to get the most out of life, we lose control of our lives. We try to force one more thing into our already busy lives and we reach a breaking point. Too much pressure causes an emotional breakdown. Too much debt causes a financial breakdown. Or maybe you're on the verge of a breakdown in your relationships.What do you do when your work life is so full you don't have time for the people who matter most?

Joshua 24:14-24Luke 16:10-15We live in a culture that continually tells us to pursue a higher standard of living in order to improve our quality of life. But "standard of living" and "quality of life" aren't the same thing. One has to do with the stuff we accumulate. The other is about the peace we experience regardless of our circumstances.What if your pursuit of a standard of living is undermining your quality of life?