Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  We started our Christmas series yesterday at The Community Fellowship, and one of the parts of it that I enjoy is the ADVENT thoughts.  Our first candle was the one that reminded us of HOPE.   We need real and lasting hope.  It is not hope based on circumstances or feelings.  This real hope comes from God and is a gift when our faith grows stronger because we are connected to God and believe what He says. Do you have this kind of HOPE? 1 Thessalonians 4:13  NLT   And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. Problem of no hope is rampant.  But it does not have to be this way.  We can trust God and receive His gift of real and lasting hope! Mathew 12:21  NLT And His name will be the hope of the world. Solution of hope is JESUS.  A person.  Reality.  The one who gets us through and promises us eternity.  Hope...

  Many churches celebrate Advent by talking through the candles of the Advent wreath with points of HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE.  I’d like to share with you a each piece of it.  The word Advent means “coming” or “visit”.  In the Christian season of Christmas or Advent, we prepare for the “advent” of the Christ child.  For this devotion lets light the advent candles as we move towards Christmas and the remembrance of the birth of Christ. Hope When the whole world seems to be against us, hope can appear to be dim.  It is at these times that we feel helpless and depressed.  Yet we forget that even IF the whole world is against us (which often isn’t the case), God is still there for us.  He has promised to never leave us or forsake us, and He will always be there for us no matter how bad we may have messed up.  We always have the hope of God. Ephesians 4:4   NLT For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious...

We begin the Christmas season, or the Advent season, where we celebrate the new life of Christ as well as the new life we have from Christ.  There is more to this season than the glimmer of lights or the buying of gifts.  It has much to do with our faith, and that faith brings us deep and lasting joy. Think about the things that Jesus coming to earth made reality.  Some of the those things were promises of years earlier. These promises filled out our understanding of God… Isaiah 7:14  NASB Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a   virgin   will be with   child   and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 9:6  NASB For a child will be born to us, a son will be   given   to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His   name   will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. That is just the...

Our church will have our Christmas service tonight beginning at 6:30pm, and you are invited to join in!   We will celebrate Advent by talking through the points of HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE.    I’d like to share with you a piece of each in our countdown to Christmas Advent is a word that means “arrival”, “coming” or “visit”.   The Christian season known as Advent helps us prepare for Christ at Christmas.   The Advent wreath is seen best by lighting the advent candles. The first part for us is Hope … when the whole world seems to be against us, hope can appear to be really dim.   It is at these times that we often feel helpless and depressed.   Yet, we forget that even IF the   whole world is against us (which often isn’t the case), God is still there for us.   He has promised to never leave us or forsake us, and will always be there for us no matter how bad we may have messed up.    We always have God given hope. Ep...