"But He was wounded for our transgressions… and by His stripes we are healed." — Isaiah 53 : 5
When we don't minimize our sin or His sacrifice, we have lives of gratitude and real freedom!
Thank Him for His sacrifice today!

Joshua 24 : 15 - "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Fifteen times the word "serve" is used. We need to hear it...often. To serve God means to fear/respect Him, obey Him, and worship Him. We obey and serve Him because we want to, not because we have to.
Because of that, I still say, "AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!"
How about you?

Matthew 24 : 6 - "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."
...wars have existed throughout history. But Jesus reminds us that these times are the beginning of sorrows, like labor pains. The labor pains point to a birth that is soon. These events point to His return. So let's be busy with the Father's business until Jesus returns. Look up Go forward!

Genesis 24 : 27 - Blessed be the Lord God...of my master Abraham...
As for me, BEING ON THE WAY, the THE LORD LED ME...
God can't lead immobile Christians. As you get active for Him, walking on His way, day-by-day He will lead you. Just like Abraham's servant!!

Ezekial 3 : 10-11  - "Moreover He said to me: "Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord God,' whether they hear, or whether they refuse."  

1 Timothy 1 : 15 - "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief..."
If Jesus could save Paul, a persecutor of Christians, He will save us too. No person is beyond the reach of God's love. Jesus wasn't sent to condemn the world, but save it.
Pass it on...Easter all year!

Isaiah 12 : 2 - "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid…"
Faith over fear is our remedy when we sin and fear the consequences.
Faith over fear when we don't know the outcome to a concern.
When we fear that we can't overcome a challenge, faith in God over our fears is the remedy.
What fear will you conquer by faith in Christ today?

Psalm 86 : 5 - "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You..."
God is not reluctant but ready to forgive. There is no scarcity of His love and mercy, there is abundance. Before you feel worthy, before you clean yourself up, before you "do better" have you called upon your Heavenly Father for forgiveness? He is ready and eager to forgive, (1 John 1 : 9).

Psalm 81 : 11, 13, 16  - "But My people would not heed My voice... Oh, that My people would listen to Me... [I] would have fed them with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you."..
Refusing God's voice was, and is, still a problem. It wasn't ignorance, it was unwillingness. God delivered them from Egypt, but they preferred their own counsel. Obedience opens God's provision which pride and self forfeit. Let's learn to listen!

He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." - John 9:25.
Sharing your testimony builds bridges with others instead of burning them. Then people see you can relate to them, but are changed by the power of Jesus Christ. Venture out and tell others about Christ. Build bridges to the Gospel and see what God will do as you share!

John 15:4 - "Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."
Connection before production is the key to a fruitful life in Christ. Feeling spiritually distant or dry is remedied by remaining close, not striving!

Colossians 3 : 2 - "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."
Whatever has your attention shapes your direction. Altitude shapes your attitude.
Keep your focus on Jesus Christ today.

"Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing…"   -  Isaiah 43 : 18-19
Don't carry last year's failures, regrets, or even successes into the future. God does His best work when we release what's behind us and trust Him with what's ahead.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
"Through God's mercies we are not consumed... Lamentations 3 : 22
God gives us a New Year with favor, not fear, with steadfast love, not stress.
Let's move into this new year, resting in the promises of God.

1 Corinthians 7 : 31 - and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away...
Use the World, Don't be Used by it. Live responsibly, but don't be consumed by the world. Let eternity guide your perspective. The world is passing away, and we are just passing through...to heaven.

"The time is short…" - 1 Corinthians 7:29
God says nothing in this world is permanent. Not relationships, success, or sorrow.
Live fully, but don't cling tightly. Eternal priorities deserve deep commitment.

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream.  - Matthew 1 : 20.
The first Christmas showed faith over fear and reveals how God often speaks when we think things through, not rushing through. Pause, Ponder, and Listen.
What seemed like a scandal became the story of our salvation. Christmas teaches us that God is working even when life feels unpredictable, so we need to trust His promises.
"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet." - Matthew 1 : 22.

Matthew 1 : 18 - "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit…"
Jesus entered the world through the unseen work of the Holy Spirit. The story behind Christmas reminds us that God often does His greatest work behind the scenes.

"... and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." - Luke 2:7
Rejected by the world, Jesus still came to us. A great reminder that even though life feels closed off, people may reject us, God will always make a way to reach us.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" - John 1:14
Jesus' identification with our weakness and shortcomings by taking a human body demonstrates His invitation to bring our weakness to Him all the time.

Daniel 2:20 - "Daniel answered and said: 'Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His...'"
Daniel worshiped God before he saw the King's response to God's answer in prayer. Real faith praises God BEFORE the payoff is presented.
In what scenario in life can you praise God BEFORE you see the outcome?

**Join us this Sunday for COMMUNION and a Christmas Message!** Invite a friend to the wonder of Christmas at CBV!

Daniel 2:17-18:
17: "Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,"
18: "that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven...."
When their lives were threatened Daniel and his godly friends advanced in faith and prayer instead of retreating in fear.
Trials are not a trigger to take off, but a tip to Trust in God.

"A man holds the truth only when he is held by the truth." - G. Campbell Morgan

Psalm 100 : 4 - "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise…."
Do you want to be closer to God? The GATEWAY  to God's presence is filled with praise and thanksgiving. Being grateful creates a full heart, grumbling depletes it.

"Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!" - Psalm 100 :1.
A thankful heart will have joy that flows into worshipping the Lord and OVERflows into the world!