When the Christmas season begins, there's a lot of busy schedules and extra noise happening around us. Sometimes that noise can cancel out the message we are trying to receive. We can make room to be quiet and listen to Jesus this Christmas season.

I just listened to a podcast where the guy was complaining about being in a drive through line in which one of those “pay it forward” strings was happening. He relished in his opportunity to end the string of what he described as “forced charity.” Why is it that generosity makes us

uncomfortable?

What is it that makes comparing ourselves to others so attractive? Why is it so easy to be discontented with who we are or what we have? God's Word tells us that we can absolutely be more content when we cling to Jesus.

Paul gives clear instruction and guidance on how we can strive for unity in accordance to God's plan for the church.

It hasn’t been easy, but we made it! We are at the end of the book and the only question left is; now what?

When Jesus was about to be arrested and sent to the cross He reassured those closest to Him by promising that He was going to get their rooms ready for them in Heaven! What a promise! How cool is it that Jesus knows us enough to prepare a place just for us!

My friend just bought a new car. He had been dreaming about this vehicle for a long time. In fact, he had to special order the car to get it with all the features he wanted. He had to wait for over a year for it to be delivered. He was so excited when it arrived, and then...the gas prices were still so high, the streets were still being repaired, traffic was still filled with other drivers... We’ve never really experienced “all things new.”

The United States is about 250 years old. From our perspective that is a long time but in relationship to the world that’s a baby. For instance Queen Elizabeth reigned for 70 years over an empire founded in 925 AD.

1000 years is a long time and maybe no 1000 year period is discussed as much as the 1000 years in Revelation 20.

John’s favorite description and the image we are most familiar with of Jesus is that of a lamb that was slain. Jesus is the ultimate,

perfect sacrifice. He died a painful death for us. Jesus was raised from the dead and He ascended into Heaven. Jesus is coming again! This time not as an infant or a lamb to be slain, but as a warrior king to judge and to reign!

Have you ever seen a team turn on itself? It is not a pretty picture. Quite often these teams have all the same advantages of other teams. They have uniforms and equipment, coaches and practice plans, but something goes wrong. Revelation 17&18 pictures the beginning of the end of the unholy trinity.