Better to give your kids the awe of God than to try and wow them with latest temporal toys. Giving gifts to people we love is good thing, but without the love of God in Christ Jesus, good things can become counterfeit “god things”. Presents are fine, but His presence is most important.
Here’s a link to a great post from The Gospel Project on fostering gospel wonder in the hearts of your kids.
http://www.gospelproject.com/2015/12/05/christmas-angels-spoke-to-mary-and-joseph/
Grace Bible has the privilege of partnering with Pine Hill Church on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. My good friend and one of our Deacons, Jason Carney made a video of our most recent trip to them. Check it out at the link below.
Grace Bible Fam! — We’ll be taking a break from our series in John for a few weeks for a special Christmas series ‘The Coming of Christ’
This week, 12/6 — We’ll look at Luke 1:18-25 – The First Coming of Christ, Immanuel — God with us!
The next Sunday, 12/13 — Revelation 21:1-5 – The Second Coming of Christ — The greatest blessing of heaven is still to come!
The following week, 12/20 — Luke 2:22-38 – Simeon, the man who waited for, and understood The Coming of Christ.
Finally, Christmas Eve, 5:30pm — Colossians 1:15-20, What if Jesus hadn’t come? This is one of my favorite services of the year. It’s a short (no more than 1 hr), but full of meaning and “Christmas Cheer.” If you’re in town, please, invite your neighbors, friends, and family, and join us for Christmas Eve. Last year I wore everyone out with too many It’s a Wonderful Life movie references. I’ll do my best not to do that again, but no promises 🙂
I encourage you to read and reflect over these passages! As you read pray and ask:
Find out what’s going on at Grace Bible Fellowship, including a letter to our church, my daughter’s Kenya trip recap, Navajo Nation mission trip pcs, and MORE in this month’s issue of Grace Notes! Here’s the link:
My daughter Trinity made a short video of her time in Africa. Love seeing her heart for the Lord in action!
Africa 2015 from Roy Layman on Vimeo.
In the wake of tragic events, like yesterday’s act of terror that killed 14 people and injured many more in San Bernardino California, AW Tozer’s daily devotional was especially timely today. My friend Kyle Rigsby, beat me to it early this am and brought my attention to it via text message. First thing I read when I woke up this am! Again, very timely. Check it out:
My home church, Grace Bible, is a small church in a small town in a day and age that prizes BIG CHURCHES and BIG CITIES. I read a lot about what BIG churches are doing, but I rarely read about what a small church CAN do, so I loved this post, 5 THINGS SMALL CHURCHES CAN DO WELL
Here’s an excerpt:
“The result of lowered expectations and a general lack of accountability is people who aren’t living up to their full potential. The same thing is true for the small church. We don’t expect too much from a little church because they aren’t full grown yet. Small churches can’t be expected to engage in the great commission, they are lucky to just be alive. The results of lowered expectations and a general lack of accountability are churches that aren’t living up to their full potential.”
Navajo translation of the Bible next to me in church on Sunday. A reminder that we serve the God who knows no boundaries, he’s the one true God of of every tribe and tongue.
“…behold, a great multitude…from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…” Revelation 7:9
Here’s is a link to a great post leading up to Thanksgiving with lots of ways to Help Increase Your Thanksgiving Appetite
Well worth a read. Here’s an excerpt:
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,’ said Jesus in his famous Sermon on the Mount. “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:43).
John MacArthur explains, “we are not to be enemies of those who may be enemies to us. From their perspective, we are their enemies; but from our perspective, they should be our neighbors.”
But how do we pray for enemies who want to kill us? Check out the post at the link below:
http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/3-ways-to-pray-for-our-enemies
Pastor Roy Layman 