experience Jesus this Christmas

What stands out for you at Christmas? Oh, there is so much. So much to celebrate. So much to enjoy. So much to focus on.

But take some time to think that through because often we take this holiday in other directions by focusing on the things, the hype and pieces that keep us from focusing on Christ.

Think about it. Focus on Christ this Christmas.

Luke 1:31,38 NLT

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus… Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Mary was visited first by an angel, and then she became the earthly mother of Jesus. Can you imagine how that changed her life. Accepting this call was a big deal. She experienced God and His grace.

Matthew 1:21,24 NLT

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins… When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.

The story is similar from Joseph who became the earthly father of Jesus. This truth changed His life even through he wanted to step away from his obligation, yet God led him to keep on. And Joseph experienced life and grace and so much more because of the plan of God.

Luke 2:15 NLT

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

And so many others in the Christmas story experienced Christ. Look at Elizabeth and the Shepherds, the wisemen and the people in the temple. Each saw Jesus, the gift from heaven that would change the world.

May we see and experience Jesus. May we help others experience Jesus this Christmas! Experiencing His love and grace changes everything.

I close this e-devotion with the overflow from my trip to Cuba. There are so many things that I saw and experienced that left me grateful. But what stands out are these … workers who are willing to go to great lengths to share Jesus with others, the testimony of those who have met Christ, the way God uses situations and stuff to open doors of ministry, how people who have so many obstacles have so much joy, and finally how my life (our lives) are changed by watching God work in the lives of others!

God is good. Are you ready to experience Jesus this Christmas?

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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