“My heart spoke for You: “Seek My face!” Therefore, Lord, I will seek Your face.” — Psalm 26:8 In 2022, our granddaughter Sofia was born – the only girl among our eight grandchildren. So, this year was special for my wife and me. When our son makes a video call, the excitement grows even more. My wife and I may be in different rooms, but her joyful scream indicates that she sees Sofia. Seeing the ones we love is now possible with just a call or a click of a computer mouse.
Being able to see the person we are talking to on the phone is relatively new, but meeting God – praying with the conscious understanding that we are in His presence – is not. David’s prayer in Psalm 26 was uttered in the midst of a confrontation that called for extraordinary help beyond the capacity of his closest human allies (vv. 10-12). This prayer contains the following words: “My heart spoke for You: “Seek My face!” Therefore, Lord, I will seek Your face” (v. 8).
Difficult times prompt us to “seek” God’s face (v. 8). But this is not the only time when we can be in personal communication with the One in whose presence “joy is great” and at His right hand “always bliss” (Ps. 15:11). If you listen carefully, at any moment you can hear Him say, “Come and talk to Me!”
At what time of the day do you feel that your heart is most tuned to communicate with God? How can regular communication with Him prepare you for the “day of trial”? Heavenly Father, I thank you for the opportunity to communicate with you. Please help me to always be ready to spend time with You in prayer. Author: Arthur Jackson
“And when they saw the dawn, they were extremely happy.” — Matthew 2:10 My husband and I always enjoyed attending the Christmas service at our church. In the early years of our marriage, we had a special tradition: after the service, we would dress in warm clothes and climb a nearby hill, where 350 glowing lanterns were hung on tall poles in the shape of a star. There, often in the middle of the snow, we meditated on the miraculous birth of Jesus, looking out over the city. Meanwhile, many people in the city looked down at that bright star on the hill.
This star is a reminder of the birth of our Savior. The Bible tells about wise men “from the east” who came to Jerusalem in search of “the born King of the Jews” (Mt. 2:1-2). They watched the sky and saw the star when it came down (v. 2). Then the wise men left Jerusalem for Bethlehem, and the star went “before them until it came and stood above where the Child was” (v. 9). There they “fell down on their faces and worshiped Him” (v. 11).
Christ is the source of light in our lives both figuratively (as the One who guides us) and literally as the One who created the sun, moon and stars in the sky (Col. 1:15-16). Like the wise men who “rejoiced” when they saw His star (Matthew 2:10), our greatest joy is knowing Him as the Savior who came down from heaven to dwell among us. “And we saw His glory” (John 1:14)!
How has Jesus brought light into your life? Who can you share this light with today? Lord Jesus, thank you for being the light of my life. Author: Kirsten Holmberg
This Sunday, the last pre-holiday service was held in our church. Our dear guest, pastor Anna Gaydarenko, shared the word of God – “Gratitude is a memory of the heart.”
You can watch the service and the sermon by following the link on the church’s YouTube channel.
We also invite everyone to share the joy of Christmas with us next Sunday, December 29 at 10:00 a.m. At the holiday service, there will be Christmas carols, a holiday performance “Holiday, Holiday, Holiday Agency”, gifts for the little ones and everyone present, as well as a festive buffet after the service.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19 Sitting next to my friend Margaret, who was lying in a hospital bed, I watched the bustle of medical staff and visitors. A young woman sitting next to her sick mother asked Margaret, “Who are all these people who keep visiting you?” She replied, “These are members of my church family!” The young woman remarked that she had never seen anything like it; in her opinion, numerous visitors were like a “manifestation of tangible love”. Margaret, smiling, answered: “All this can be explained by our love for God through His Son Jesus Christ!”
With her answer, Margaret repeated the words of the apostle John, who in the last years of his life wrote three letters full of love. In his first letter, he said: “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 John 4:16). That is, those who recognize that “Jesus is the Son of God” (v. 15), have God who lives in them through “His Spirit” (v. 13). How can we lovingly care for others? “We love Him because He first loved us” (v. 19).
Thanks to the gift of God’s love, visiting Margaret was not a difficult task for me or for other members of our church. I received more than I gave, not only from Margaret, but also from observing her gentle testimony about her Savior Jesus. And how can God show love to others through you today?
Have you been surprised that someone noticed a manifestation of God’s love in your life? How does His love move you to serve others? Loving God, I love because You first loved me. Please continue to increase my love so that Your Spirit will shine through me. By Amy Buescher Pye
While Maria and Joseph were finalizing the guest list and choosing the wedding cake, she surprised him with unexpected news – she, a virgin, was pregnant.
Assuming she was unfaithful, as any logical person would, Joseph was ready to call off the engagement. But while he was still considering his exit strategy, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, because the child in her is from the Holy Spirit.
“Mary will give birth to a Son, and you will call Him Jesus, because He will save people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
This miracle was the fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies—divinely inspired predictions about the Messiah, Savior, or “Chosen One/Anointed One”—recorded in the Old Testament.
From the moment of conception, Jesus’ purpose was known: to save His people from their sins. Because even before God created the world, His plan was to save it.
Isn’t it interesting that you didn’t choose the time, place, body or family you were born into? But God has you here, right now, on purpose.
You have been inculcated into a continuous story that has been unfolding since the beginning of time. And this timeless offer of being saved from the bonds of your sin and freed from a debt you could never pay has been extended to you.
What is sin? Sin is choosing our way instead of God’s. Sin rebels against His design and His plan. And we’ve all done it—we’ve all fallen short of God’s righteous standard.
But that is exactly why He sent Jesus—because He loved us so much.
Like a soldier who gives his life for his family, friends or country, Jesus gave His life for the world.
If you have never accepted the free gift of salvation, today can be your day, and this moment can be your moment. There is nothing you can do to deserve it, but you can come to Him just as you are.
Have you ever had your hopes up for someone and they let you down? We live in a broken world and even the best people fail and hurt. But Isaiah knew that someone would come who would be different. He will be reliable, consistent and just what we need.
In Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah points to a king with four titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. But what do these names mean?
An amazing counselor is someone who is wise, intelligent, and compassionate. This is the kind of leader who provides support, advice and direction in life.
One whose title contains the word “mighty” is strong, steadfast, and ready to stand up for what is right.
This king will be the Eternal Father, the One who sees His people as His children, not servants.
And the Prince of Peace describes the One who has dedicated Himself to building bridges between different groups and ensures that everyone has everything they need for a full and healthy life.
On Christmas morning, a Son was born with all these wonderful titles. Not in a palace or a castle, but in a modest, ordinary nursery.
When we look at the life of Jesus, we see how He consistently demonstrated these qualities. He supported and gave advice to people who had questions. He was strong in the face of threats and temptations. He cared deeply for everyone he met. And Jesus gave His life to restore peace between God and people forever and ever.
Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Eternal Father, and the Prince of Peace. Have you seen Him in each of these roles in your life? How do you see the wisdom, power, kindness and constant care of Jesus in your life?
“The Lord, your God, will raise up for you a prophet from among you, from among your brothers, one like me – you will listen to him.” — Deuteronomy 18:15 “I must declare an emergency. My pilot has died.” Doug White nervously spoke these words to the controller watching his flight. A few minutes after takeoff, the pilot of the private plane in which Doug’s family was flying died suddenly. Doug sat in the cockpit with only three months of experience flying less sophisticated aircraft. He then listened carefully to the instructions of the local airport controller, who explained to him how to land the plane. Doug later said, “You saved my family from certain death.”
We have the One who alone can help us overcome life’s difficulties. Moses, addressing the Israelites, said: “The Lord, your God, will raise up for you a prophet from among you, from among your brothers, one like me – you will listen to him” (Deuteronomy 18:15). This promise indicated a succession of prophets that God would give to His people, but it also spoke of the Messiah. Later, Peter and Stephen claimed that this last prophet was Jesus (Acts 3:19-22; 7:37, 51-56). He came to give us God’s loving and wise instructions (Deut. 18:18).
During the life of Christ, God the Father said: “This is My Son… Obey Him!” (Mr. 9:7). To live wisely and not crash and burn in this life, let’s listen to Jesus as He speaks through the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. This is of great importance.
Why is it sometimes difficult to hear the voice of Christ in this world? How can you better follow His wise and loving instructions? Dear Jesus, please help me to hear and obey Your voice. Author: Tom Felten
“…and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” — Matthew 1:21
What began as a normal cable car ride across a Pakistani valley turned into a frightful ordeal. Shortly after the ride began, two supporting cables snapped, leaving eight passengers—including school children—suspended hundreds of feet in the air. The situation sparked an arduous twelve-hour rescue operation by the Pakistani military, who used ziplines, helicopters, and more to rescue the passengers.
Those well-trained rescuers are to be commended, but their work pales in comparison to the eternal work of Jesus, whose mission was to save and rescue us from sin and death. Prior to Christ’s birth, an angel instructed Joseph to take Mary home because her pregnancy was from “the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18, 20). Joseph was also told to name his son Jesus, because He would “save his people from their sins” (v. 21). Yet, while this name was common in the first century, only this child was qualified to be the Savior (Luke 2:30-32). Christ came at the right time to seal and secure the eternal salvation of all who repent and believe in Him.
We were all trapped in the cable car of sin and death, suspended over the valley of eternal separation from God. But in His love and grace, Jesus came to rescue us and bring us safely home to our heavenly Father. Praise Him!
What important mission was the Child of Mary to fulfill? What does the salvation given by Jesus mean to you? Dear Jesus, please help me to rejoice that I was once lost and now by Your grace I am found.
The prophet Isaiah wrote the words of Isaiah 7:14 almost 600 years before the birth of Jesus. At the time these words were written, the Israelites were performing all the right religious practices, but they were not doing justice as God commanded. Like many prophets of Isaiah’s day, it was a warning against such injustice. But amidst this warning was a glimmer of hope that God would be in control.
Here the prophet Isaiah gives the people of Israel a reason for hope through God’s good promise – the promise that He will give a sign and appear for us. Because that’s what Emmanuel means: God with us.
But what does “God with us” mean for us today?
This means that we can share this hope by fixing our eyes on Jesus and trusting in Him. We can believe that from the birth of Christ to His present reign in Heaven, Jesus is God with us.
He is with us in our pain when we lose a loved one.
He is with us in our anger when we see injustice and do not know where to turn.
He is with us in sorrow when we mourn for the lost.
He is with us in joy when we celebrate with others.
He is at peace with us when we are merciful to a suffering world.
And He is with us in our hope, lighting the way to a bright future.
He is with us.
No matter where life has taken you in this moment—through the good or through the bad—Jesus is with you, drawing you to Himself. He is the promised Emmanuel. He is God with us.
“Therefore comfort one another and build one another up, just as you do.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11 A school teacher in Indiana asked students to write notes of encouragement and inspiration to their peers. A few days later, when a school tragedy occurred in another part of the country, their notes lifted the spirits of their classmates, who were struggling with the fear and pain that something could happen to them too.
Encouragement and mutual care were also on the mind of the apostle Paul when he wrote to the believers in Thessalonica. They had lost friends, and Paul instructed them to hope for the promised return of Jesus, who would bring their loved ones back to life (1 Thess. 4:14). Although they did not know when this would happen, he reminded them that Christians should not wait in fear for God’s judgment when He returns (1 Thess. 5:9). Instead, they can confidently look forward to a future life with Him. Therefore, he urged them: “Therefore comfort one another and build one another up” (v. 11).
When we experience painful losses or senseless tragedies, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by fear and sadness. However, Paul’s words are as relevant to us today as they were when they were written. Let us wait with hope that Christ will restore everything. In the meantime, we can encourage each other with written notes, spoken words, acts of service, or a simple hug.
How did others encourage you? How can you encourage someone today? Risen Jesus, despite my problems in this world, please help me to wait for You with hope and faith, and to encourage those around me until You come again. Author: Kirsten Holmberg
