Archives: Messages

A GIFT IS FREELY GIVEN

Gifts – Ralph Waldo Emmerson (1844)

A gift is freely given.
A gift should have some thing of the giver in it.
A gift should have the character of the receiver in it.
The best gifts are somewhat extravagant.
The best gifts change our lives.

I love personal gifts. Thankfully, I am surrounded by artists. I have stained glassed windows my mom made, paintings that my sister and brother-in-law collaborated on, and a painting from my dear friend Randy Jacobs. When I look at them, 
I feel their love and appreciate their talent. 
Those gifts are priceless. – Jen Welder

Christ is truly a gift, freely given
Jesus has something of the receiver in Him, something of you and me.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:6-7 
New International Version (NIV)

Jesus has something of the giver in Him

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:20 (NIV)

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Father, it is the Father, living in me, 
who is doing his work.
John 14:8-10 (NIV)

Jesus is an extravagant gift.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 
but to save the world through him.
John 3:16 (NIV)

Jesus changes our lives

If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; 
the old is gone, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17

1 Samuel 1:2-2:21 – Elkanah, Peninnah, and Hannah

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) New International Version

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, 
and the government will be on his shoulders. 
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, 
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time 
on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty 
will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, 
he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God: God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation; it’s now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel.

Luke 2:25-32 (MSG) The Message

Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, 
and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived 
as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, 
worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

Luke 2:36-38 (NIV)

What are you waiting for this Christmas?

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was 
governor of Syria.) And everyone went to 
their own town to register.

Luke 2:1-3 (NIV)

But you, Bethlehem, David’s country, the runt of the litter — From you will come the leader who will 
shepherd-rule Israel. He’ll be no upstart, no pretender. His family tree is ancient and distinguished. 
Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes until the birth pangs are over and the child is born, and the scattered brothers come back home to the family of Israel. 
He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by God’s strength, centered in the majesty of God-Revealed. And the people will have a good and safe home, for the whole world will hold him in respect — Peacemaker of the world!

Micah 5:2-4 (MSG)

God is in the details!

Jesus came to earth, not to live in a palace, but to live with us.

Are you ready for something new?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, 
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. 
The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered 
what kind of greeting this might be.

Luke 1:26-29 (NIV)

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How can this be,” 
Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

Luke 1: 30-34 (NIV)

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come 
on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her 
sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” 
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. 
“May your word to me be fulfilled.” 
Then the angel left her.

Luke 1: 35-38 (NIV)

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 
for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name.

Luke 1: 46-49 (NIV)

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save 
his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord and commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. 
And he gave him the name Jesus.

Matthew 1:20-25(NIV)

How about you?