Good counsel refreshes, strengthens and enlightens us. It can save our lives, our marriages, our fortunes. It is priceless and rare but it is available to all of us in Christ. Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be a Wonderful Counselor. You can build a loving marriage, a happy home, a fulfilling career, vibrant churches and…Read more Wonderful Counselor
A Child’s Eyes
The Children's ministries and Creative Arts ministries at Woodland Church put on a terrific performance of The First Day of Christmas Sunday morning. Why do children look angelic when they are singing the songs of Christmas? Perhaps they help us to see Christmas through a child's again. Remember that wonderful time of life when belief…Read more A Child’s Eyes
Trust is a Good Place to Begin a Journey
After Mary's visit from the angel announcing God's choice of her to bear the Messiah. Mary started a difficult journey. Her family would be scandalized, her fiance Joseph would want to break the engagement quietly and the gossip would begin in her small town. Where to begin? Well, the obvious place was trust. Trust that…Read more Trust is a Good Place to Begin a Journey
Christmas Journeys
In just a few days many people will make journeys to the special place they call home. They will load up cars with children, pets and presents to go over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house. Christmas has been about journey from the beginning. When the angel gave Mary the news that…Read more Christmas Journeys
Christmas Dreams
Dreams are a part of Christmas. Clement Clark Moore recognized this in wonderful poem The Night before Christmas. "The children were all nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads." Their dreams keep them awake late Christmas Eve and wake them early on Christmas Day. Joseph dreamed twice in…Read more Christmas Dreams
Christmas is Love
One of my favorite warm and fuzzy Christmas songs is by Alabama, "Christmas is Love." Who can think of Christmas without thinking of love. Love is the life that Jesus Christ lived. He gave his unconditional, sacrificial loving life to save us from our sins. This Christmas think of the people that God are especially…Read more Christmas is Love
Christmas is God’s Love
Above everything else Christmas is about the love of God! I'm smiling with joy as I think about this. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16, NLT Think about it for just…Read more Christmas is God’s Love
The Center of Christmas
Memories of Christmas' past and wishes for this Christmas fill my thoughts lately. There are so many wonderful childhood memories and memories of the first Christmas Becky and I celebrated in our first year of marriage and of our own children. At the center of Christmas for all our lives has been the story of…Read more The Center of Christmas
J.C. Ryle Quotes for Young Men
1. Pride Young men, do not be too confident in your own judgment. Stop being so sure that you are so right and others wrong. Don't trust your own opinion when you find it contrary to that of older men, especially to that of your own parents. Age gives experience, and therefore deserves respect. 2.…Read more J.C. Ryle Quotes for Young Men
John Cassian on Pride
The following is from John Cassian writing in the fourth century. That the evil of pride is so great that it rightly has even God Himself as its adversary. How great is the evil of pride, that it rightly has no angel, nor other virtues opposed to it, but God Himself as its adversary! Since…Read more John Cassian on Pride
Coram Deo 