Celebrating the Gift of Life

The tiniest flicker of a heartbeat…

Science and medical technology tell us that the heart of an unborn baby begins beating just 21 days after conception. The 139th Psalm tells us it is God Himself who knitted us together in our mother’s womb – a place that becomes sacred as He skillfully weaves His most treasured creation. I can’t help but wonder if over two thousand years ago, the angels waited in great expectation for that instant when the Son of God’s heart would begin beating within Mary’s womb. Was there a great cheer that went up in the heavenlies as the Savior’s heart flickered with the tiniest of beats? Maybe there was merely a moment of quiet awe as they looked upon the Son who was always present in eternity past, now wrapped in humanity resting safely within his mother, Mary.

On September 1st, the State of Texas recognized the miracle of a beating heart in an unborn child. Each day the Heartbeat Law remains in effect 150 lives are saved. At publication of this Christmas E-Devotional we still await a ruling from the Supreme Court on the constitutionality. For now we rejoice in the saved lives continue to work toward the day when abortion becomes unthinkable in the hearts and minds of all in our country.

Once again, this year, it is our joy to share with you Christmas devotions written by area pastors and ministry leaders. Our prayer is that you will be blessed by these devotions as you prepare your hearts to celebrate the greatest gift ever given – Jesus Christ! Through Him we are given the gift of life here on this earth and for all of eternity.

Jana Pinson Executive Director

November 28th

A Holy Interruption Dr. James Pruitt, Director Squared Away Ministries The celebration of Christmas is meant to be a celebration of a holy interruption into the life of man by a sovereign God. During the first Christmas, the shepherds experienced that interruption in a glorious and frightening way when an angel of the Lord appeared to them and proclaimed, “good tidings of great joy.” The interruption was totally unexpected. Those shepherds had the important task of keeping the flocks of sheep destined for sacrifice in the Jewish temple. They followed a grueling schedule as day after day and night after night they watched over their flock – leading them to good pastures, protecting them from danger, and caring for their every need. One can easily imagine that the shepherds that night were busy thinking through the tasks ahead, planning for the days to come, when suddenly a holy interruption came upon them.

When the angel interrupted their nightly routine, he proclaimed the greatest news imaginable. The long-awaited Messiah had been born in Bethlehem. The Son of David had finally come to the city of David. He came to bring “peace on earth” to those who knew no peace. The Messiah offered not just eventual peace on earth but a peace between man and God. The Messiah came to save men from their sins and to appease the justice of God. He came to do what man could not do for himself and restore a broken relationship. In the process of bringing man and God together, He brought peace to the hearts of men whose true longing – although often largely unrecognized – is for God. As we enter another busy holiday season, we need to set aside time each day to remember the first Christmas and the holy interruption that came in the fullness of time to change the world and our eternal destinies. Satan would love nothing more than for us to celebrate the season and forget the reason. A preoccupation with our daily tasks and the additional holiday bustle can make it easy to forget. However, we must set aside those distractions and spend time with God. God “has put eternity into the hearts of men” and we will not find rest and peace until we find it in Him. As long as sin reigns in our lives, there will be no peace. But the Messiah came to defeat sin and restore the relationship lost when sin entered the world. The work of the Messiah remains “good tidings of great joy.”

November 29th

A Time To Trust Mance and Amanda Cutbirth Awaken Corpus Christi As we reflect on our family during the Christmas season, one of the things that stands out the most is the unmistakable joy & laughter of our children. They are filled with so much anticipation and excitement of receiving their Christmas gifts. As we watch them open their presents, we can’t help but think of the ultimate gift God has given us.

This allows us to experience the same joy and excitement as our children do with our relationship with Jesus. Putting aside all the difficulties in our lives to focus on Jesus sets our hearts apart, reminding us of what life is truly about.

As parents we understand the love and sacrifice Christ made for us. The joy we feel giving gifts to our own children and how excited we get watching them open and find not only what they asked for but getting even more than they imagined. Isn’t that what God wants to do for us?

As our children are growing up and we gather to celebrate Christmas, the love and fellowship is special to us. Being able to come together like children and enjoy that same excitement from getting more than we ever imagined from our Heavenly Father is PRICELESS. And He said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Matthew 18:3

November 30th

He Came to Us Rev. Kevin Jennings, Pastor Mt. Olive Lutheran Church And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 These words are so poignant, telling of the birth of Jesus Christ. At Christmas time, platitudes abound. “It’s Christmas,” we are told.

In fact, it is the Christmas season. Yet, the truth of Jesus Christ is not one of cuteness and warm fuzzies. This truth is of God who became man in order to save us human beings. God of God, light of light, very God of very God…who for us and for our salvation… was made man, as is spoken in the Nicene Creed.

In Christ there is life. If we want to see Jesus, we need to go look in the poor, dirty, lowly manger. We need to go look on in horror at the scourging pole where He was whipped. We need to cringe at the blows of the hammer as He is crucified. We need to hear the spatter of blood and water on the ground as His side is pierced. For us and for our salvation…

This is just how precious life is in God’s eyes. God does not wait for us to find Him or to figure Him out. He comes to us. He who breathed the breath of life into Adam is the one who became one of us. He who is life suffered and died on the cross to save us children of Adam. To redeem us, God in the flesh dies. And God in the flesh is raised on the third day never to die again.

In the delivery room at the births of my own three children, I witnessed a miracle of God as this life which was begun by His creation was now manifested. Each of my children was born to live, yet they contend with death. Christ Jesus our Lord, God in the flesh, is the only man ever born to die, yet He gives life. In His death, there is life. He is our resurrection to life. Jesus Christ, God with us, God in the flesh, is our hope now and at the Last Day. Merry Christmas!

December 1st

Messiah in the Manger Adam Copeland, Pastor Lexington Baptist Church “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:6-7 (ESV) The thought of baby Jesus lying in a manger does so much to warm our hearts. The great Emmanuel. The long-promised King.

The image of the Christ in the manger will bombard us this season. You will see Him everywhere: churches, homes, random yards will have little statues of King Jesus lying in a manger.

We love Jesus in the manger. He’s cute with eyes closed, chubby cheeks, and maybe a hint of a smile. Above all, Jesus in the manger poses no threat. He’s helpless. He shows forth weakness, not strength. Far from the picture of Jesus flipping over tables in the temple, and even further from Jesus on a white horse, robe dipped in blood with sword in hand, and a plan to strike down the nations…

Jesus in the manger is the Jesus we can deal with. He isn’t threatening. His only demands are for milk and fresh cloths. Baby Jesus doesn’t tell us to “go and sin no more.” He doesn’t tell us to lay down our lives and take up our cross. He doesn’t tell us to sell all we have and give to the poor.

Baby Jesus in the manger was just that, a baby in a manger. But He didn’t stay there. Jesus grew up. He preached, He healed, He gave His life as a ransom for His own, but He didn’t stay in the manger. This Christmas see Jesus in the manger, but don’t leave Him there like a little statue ready to be packed up for the next eleven months. He is more than a baby crying for milk. He is the King, looking over all of creation and crying out, mine.”

December 2nd

Great Joy for All People Jonathan Brazell, Senior Pastor Yorktown Baptist Church “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:9-11 While many think of Rome as one of the great civilizations in antiquity, the reality is that Rome was a challenging Empire. It was a very polarized society with few elites, monopolized relationships for power and wealth, and often a violent place for the common citizen. In the Book of Luke, as Jesus was born, angels announced the birth to shepherds in the same region. As it was nighttime, and the bright glory of the Lord appeared around the shepherds, it says they were filled with fear. The event they witnessed was overwhelming as this angelic figure wouldn’t have been like that of cartoons, but one who came in the powerful glory of God. While the event was an amazing thing in itself, the most amazing thing is that the angel announced the good news. The news meant that there was a particular “great joy…for all people” in the baby that was just born – the Savior of the world, who is Christ the Lord. While the shepherds would have been in a world that was riddled with violence, oppression, and uncertainty, the good news was that God hadn’t abandoned humankind. He hadn’t abandoned his creation. In the fullness of time, that very day, Jesus was born in a manger – and through his work on the cross, there would be salvation available for “all the people.” Truly, this is not only good news, but it is the greatest news that we celebrate during the Christmas season – that the greatest joy we will ever have is knowing Christ the Lord as our Savior. It is the exact reason we sing “Joy to the World” during the Christmas season. This Christmas, there may be a lot of challenges and even a lot of pain for some, but regardless of the season, there is great joy in Christ! May the great news of the gospel shine brightly to you and your family this season.

December 3rd

His Love is an Invitation Dr. Chris Irving, Senior Pastor Coastal Oaks Church Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God...

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:7, 19 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Jude 21 I vividly remember the time I discovered what fun can be had with a magnifying glass, sunlight, and dried leaves and sticks. When you have a magnifying glass and hold it up to focus sunlight on a dried leaf, or dry piece of wood, it won’t take long until you set the leaf or piece of wood on fire. Charles Spurgeon asked this question, “Now, while you see the wood burning to ashes, will you tell me what it is that burns? Does the heat of the sun burn the wood or does the wood burn? The heat that you feel while the wood is burning, is it due to the sun or the wood? Of course, at first the fire is purely and simply the flame of the sun, but afterwards the wood itself begins to burn; the sun burns the wood and then the wood itself burns.”

One challenge of Advent is to figure out what to do with the love God miraculously lavished upon us? The love of God is clearly displayed in the sending of Jesus, it is through Jesus the love of God comes into our hearts and our lives. Through the life-changing love and grace of God, our hearts must display this love. One of the greatest commands God gave is the calling to love one-another as He loves. We follow Jesus and love Jesus because He first loved us and gave Himself for us. As we follow Jesus, we are called to love BIG like Jesus. That love of God sparks the fire that burns in our hearts. Not only does that keep our hearts set ablaze for Christ, but it also keeps us in the love of God. Finally, as we grow in that love, our expectation of His second appearing grows exponentially. Pray and ask God to give you the opportunity to love one another as He first loved you and sent Jesus as the proof of that love. His love is an invitation.

December 4th

Stand Up the Child Rev. Frank Baik

Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Rockport TX, Chaplain (CPT), US Army Reserve 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”

34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:33-37 Jesus’s disciples were going down the road arguing with each other about who would be the greatest. They verbally jockeyed for the honored right-hand seat, undermining each other, and trying to build up their own positions.

But Jesus taught them, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” To illustrate the point, Jesus placed the most vulnerable of all people in their midst and said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

As we approach Christmas, it strikes me how similar the world is today to those first disciples; not really getting it; jockeying for position, status, and power. And in the midst of it all the Lord still stands up a child. Whoever welcomes this little one welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me welcomes God Almighty.

Today we remember that God saw the world arguing about who would be the greatest, and stood up his Son saying, if you want to be great, you must become like this child.

Let us become like the Christ Child; humble, generous, kind, and merciful. And let us welcome and cherish children, and through them welcome the Christ. And through the Christ, welcome the Lord who sends them.

It is holy work you are doing when you welcome and raise up children. And as we raise up children, we remember to stand up the Christ Child among squabbling disciples, and detractors. Behold, the first has become the last, and the servant of all. Therefore, he is exalted to the highest place. (Philippians 2)

December 5th

God’s Love Showed Up! Greg Hood, Executive Director Reach Ministries A homeless man was sitting on the ground by the bus stop near my office. Several black trash bags containing his meager earthly possessions surrounded him. Trying to dismiss the sight, I walked into the building but could not shake the thought that I could do something for him. Feeling that I had a divine mission, I returned and asked several times if he needed anything. Each time he replied, “No.” Finally, he blurted, “I need to go to Loaves and Fishes, but don’t know how to get there.”

At this point I saw God had chosen me to transport this mentally, financially, and culturally challenged man to the homeless mission. He moved his plastic luggage into my car as I embarrassingly looked around to see if anyone on the busy street saw me with my new friend. We headed for the mission, and I learned the man had a name, Patrick Dyer, that he loved Jesus and chose to be homeless. He got his need met at Loaves and Fishes and asked if he could get my phone number. I did not give Patrick my number but told him I’d stop and help when I saw him walking.

Our paths crossed innumerable times over the next 5 years. Patrick ate meals and took baths in my home dozens of times, and my wife came to love his innocent, humble way of expressing gratitude through simple gifts like a cross he made from twigs and yarn found on the street.

I was in San Antonio one of those years during freezing weather and stopped at a McDonalds near North Star Mall for an early morning cup of coffee and a quiet devotional. My prayer that day was for God to show me more about His love, and before my coffee cup was empty, God filled the cup of my heart. I couldn’t believe my eyes as Patrick walked by my booth – in San Antonio!

He’d gotten money for a bus ticket from Corpus Christi and spent the freezing night under a city bus bench outside McDonalds!

I sat in amazement as Patrick told me, “Two nice ladies stopped last night and gave me warm clothes and a bag of food!” (Psalm 145:16) My wife and I miss Patrick Dyer! We haven’t seen him in years, but God’s love showed up with Patrick. What a gift!

December 6th

The Greatest Story Ever Told Jack Carter, Pastor Emeritus City Church The New Testament contains two narratives of the birth of Jesus: Matthew’s 1:18-2:23 and Luke’s 1:5-2:40. They essentially tell the same story, yet each has unique elements as they tell the story. Matthew’s account focuses more on Joseph, while Luke focuses on Mary. Both writers tie the birth of Jesus to the Old Testament in such a way as to reveal the unity of God’s plan of salvation.

A child named “Emmanuel,” “God with us” is born of a virgin and given the particular name “Jesus,” meaning “Savior,” who will save His people not from a military threat, but “from their sins.” For Matthew, Jesus is the new Moses, clearly providing an identity for Jesus rooted in a fundamental continuity with Israel, led by Moses in deliverance from bondage. Jesus vindicates the “old covenant” given in God’s revelations through Moses, while bringing the “new covenant” and completing the “old.”

Matthew also looks back and sees Jesus as the Davidic King. Jesus, not Herod, is both the legitimate heir to David’s throne, born to be King, but also Son of God, great David’s greater Son. Jesus is truly the Shepherd-King.

Luke emphasizes Abraham and God’s story of salvation found in him, with Jesus’ reign the true “seed of Abraham.” Not only does Luke mention Abraham explicitly in Mary’s Magnificat, Luke 1:54-55 says of God, “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Also, in Zechariah’s prophecy (1:7375) “…the oath that He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”

By these means and others, Luke presents God as personally orchestrating events to continue the one true story of God’s great mercy toward all men, a story that leads through covenant promises to the coming of King – Savior – Son Jesus, God in Christ, God incarnate, for the purpose of saving us from our sins and bringing many sons to glory, transferring them out of darkness into the very kingdom of God, God’s active rule, as we joyfully and gratefully declare, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”

December 7th

Far as the Curse is Found Jan George

Bible Teacher My family and I love listening to Christmas music during the holidays! We are ECC – Early Christmas Celebrators! We begin listening in November because it makes us happy to hear Christmas tunes playing throughout the house!

One day I was listening closely to the lyrics of Joy to the World when the third verse caught my attention: No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.

What kind of Christmas song talks about thorns infesting the ground or a curse? When you think of Christmas songs you probably think of Snowmen, Jingle Bells, Holly and Ivy, and Baby Jesus, but certainly not a curse or thorns infesting the ground! But yet, here is a famous lyric that we sing over and over every Christmas.

Christians have a wonderful reason to sing and to have joy – and that joy in turn truly goes into the whole world because Jesus came to break the curse of sin and death! The curse that Joy to the World refers to is from Genesis 3:15 -18 where Adam and Eve sinned against God and brought the curse of sin into the world. Consequently, all men and women are born with sin conditions and a sinful nature.

The truth is sin has infected everyone and everything. It has gone as far as we can see and imagine and is deep within the hearts of people. Sin’s curse truly is far flung, as the song mentions.

Even so, we can see joy, and a future hope in Genesis 3:15! This hope and the joy sprung forth when Jesus, the Messiah, crushed Satan, our enemy, on the cross, by defeating sin and death and rising again.

Genesis 3:14-15 says: 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals!

You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[a] and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.”

So, yes, we can sing with great enthusiasm and joy! Jesus broke the curse of sin, sorrow, and death! This is good news worth sharing, worth singing and worth filling your heart, soul, and mind with this Christmas. Jesus has already conquered sin: your sin and my sin – far as the curse of sin is found! This Christmas, may we remember to rejoice with Joy in His mighty work of salvation.

December 8th

The Fullness of God Lying in a Manger Joe Fahl, Managerr KBNJ Radio What is the first mental image that comes to your mind when you think of Christmas? Probably, your mind imagines the scene in Bethlehem on that first Christmas. Mary, looking serene as she watches over the sleeping Baby, Joseph watching them both. The straw in the manger is bright and yellow, the floor uncluttered. There’s a cute donkey in the background, maybe a lamb or two. It’s the perfect scene for a Christmas card or the order of service at your church’s Christmas Eve program. But, for all of you who grew up in a farming community, you suspect this scene is a bit sanitized.

My grandfather was a dairy farmer in South Dakota, and his milk barn was nothing like the typical Christmas manger scene. It was noisy, dirty, and either cold or hot depending on the season. In short, it wouldn’t make anyone’s list of Christmas card artwork.

So, for a few minutes, let’s go beyond the stylized vision of that first Christmas. Let’s take a look in that manger. Who is this adorable infant? Listen to what Paul says about Him in his letter to the Colossians. He is the “image of the Invisible God.” Do you want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus. “If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father,” Jesus would say. He is the Creator. “For in Him all things were created.” All that we see, all that we are, everything was made by Him and for Him. And in Him “all things hold together.” He’s not a distant Deity far away and unaware of our daily struggles. He is holding it all together. He is the “firstborn from among the dead.” He was able to walk out of that tomb one spring morning – and offers that power and hope to all of us.

Jesus’ empty tomb is the promise that my tomb will stand empty one day too. Through all of it, He is to be preeminent. He is the central figure of human history, the central figure of our lives. In fact, Paul writes, “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.” All the fullness of God, lying in a manger.

This Christmas let’s remember that the Child in the manger is so much more than just a baby asleep on the hay. He is God’s own son, and He is our Savior. Merry Christmas!

December 9th

Praise God for Christmas Larry Mayo, Pastor Country Bible Church “... But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10–11) Herein lies the wonder of Christmas. There is truly a Savior! As the angel told Joseph, “... He will save His people from their sin.”

(Matt. 1:21) And save He did! And He is still saving today! He has been born! Through the miraculous virgin-birth, the Son of God, Jesus Christ the Lord took on flesh and blood and entered into humanity, His own creation! This Christmas Babe, fully God yet fully man, was born to die, perfectly fulfilling the eternal redemption plan.

The apostle Paul said it this way: Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil.2:8) And what did God the Father do? He raised Jesus from the dead!! For all who turn to Christ, place their trust in Him, and believe that Christ died for them and rose again in majesty and power, those would have their sins forgiven, their sin debt paid, the wrath due them borne by our suffering Savior! Praise God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for Christmas!

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

May the eternal joy of the saving Gospel be yours this Christmas!

December 10th

Thank God for Christmas! – Part 1 Pastor James Krause

Gethsemane Lutheran Church “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15) I cannot think of a single gift I have ever received at Christmas that I could not describe, can you?

What could possibly make a gift so special that it defies words? Quite literally it would have to be something from out of this world!

Paul had been writing to the Corinthians concerning “Christian giving” (thinking of a gift he was gathering for the poor in Jerusalem) when he recalled the “indescribable gift” that God has given to all people. God had selflessly given himself to us in the person of his own Son. (John 3:16) Immanuel -- God with us. After all, Jesus and all that he has done for us is what Christmas is all about.

God is the original giver. “In the beginning” (Genesis 1:1), he created our world and the precious gift of life. Words are so often inadequate in describing the intricacies of life: the balance of nature; people created with a body, soul, and spirit; knit together in the womb; the breath of life. We use words to describe life, but we can’t really understand it completely. Suffice it to say that everything was miraculously perfect. Harmony between God and man and God’s creation -- until people chose to go their own way, and in doing so, added sin and death to the picture. There was nothing they could do to undo the damage. It was at that point when God promised to give again, this time a Savior to save us from sin.

It may have taken thousands of years, but finally the gift arrived. A baby born in Bethlehem. On Christmas Eve, angels announced to humble shepherds the arrival of “Christ the Lord.”

Jesus, as a baby, could certainly be described. He was “wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12) However, as “the Lord,” he is divine or we might say ‘out of this world,’ and, therefore, eludes the scope of words to completely describe. We say God is spirit, infinite, unchangeable, eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, etc. He is a member of the Trinity -- three beings, yet one God. Yet, being God, Jesus is also a human, like you and me, only without sin. Get the picture? Indescribable!

Tomorrow in Part 2, we will explore the indescribable gift of what Jesus has done for us.

December 11th

Thank God for Christmas! – Part 2 Pastor James Krause

Gethsemane Lutheran Church In yesterday’s reading, we saw how God, the original gift-giver, gave us the indescribable gift of Jesus. Today we will look at the indescribable gift we have because of what Jesus has done for us. Jesus came to be a sacrifice on a cross to provide salvation, atonement, propitiation, reconciliation. What does all that mean? We understand that it all has to do with our sin. Perhaps most noteworthy is that He saves us when we are enemies of God. (Romans 5:8) Completely unable to undo the damage of our rebellion and make things right with a holy God, Jesus takes our guilt and punishment on Himself. How can you explain what Jesus has done freely for us all? It’s indescribable!

He changes our status. He clothes us in the righteousness of Christ. He adopts us into His family and asks us to come to Him with our requests and promises to answer all our prayers as our loving Father who knows what we need. He makes us His heirs “and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). He gives us His Spirit, who lives in us. He gives us His peace “which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). And Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us to live with Him when He returns (John 14:2-3). In other words, in Christ God gives life to our soul and the certain hope of eternal life to come. These are exactly the gifts that were lost when people chose to turn their back on God and go forward on their own. You could say that Christmas is all about life restored to what it was originally meant to be. Paul was right! It is beyond our ability to describe.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to find ways to thank God for what He has done for us. Our words might come up short but thank Him anyway! Thank Him for Jesus -- the Savior. Technically Christmas is His birthday celebration.

God has everything He needs, so express your thanks to Him in acts of service to others who need help in their lives. Reach out in Christ’s name. Let God’s pattern of “giving freely first” be a pattern for your giving and service to others.

Finally, don’t only thank God for His indescribable gift of Jesus. Tell others! That’s what people on the first Christmas did. The shepherds “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” (Luke 2:17) Simeon “praised God” (Luke 2:28).

Anna, the prophetess “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). The wise men said “We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:12) Thank God for Christmas!

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.”

(Romans 11:33-36)

December 12th

Just Man

Jonathan Stubbs, Youth Pastor Fellowship of Oso Creek I remember the moment my Grandparents told me my father had died. I remember the panic and despair that instantly washed over me. Sitting on my grandparent’s bed crying and not knowing what to say. Wishing that I could have been there and maybe could have saved him, even though I could have done nothing. Praying with my mother that night for God to bring him back. Watching with glazed eyes as my best friend brought over a stuffed animal for me in an attempt to comfort me. Months of feeling sick to my stomach at the idea of going back to school. Fearing that the other kids would make fun of me for not having a dad. Receiving a book from them, The Little Prince, where they all signed it saying they missed me and loved me. Not knowing what to say at the funeral when people ask how I am doing. Losing my father so early in my life has shaped everything I have done since.

Years later as I entered middle school and high school I sought out influences of how to be a man. My uncle was the party person and the center of attention. My paternal grandfather and grandmother lived in the same house but were essentially roommates. He focused on everyone else around him except his wife. My maternal grandfather was your typical man that went to work and came home and expected dinner on the table and a glass full of tea. He sits in his recliner watching tv showing no emotion whatsoever, because that makes you weak.

In the years to come I had no idea who to look to to find out who I should be. There were so many different ideas and examples of what a man should be. It turned me into a weird combination of everything I saw. Willing to do whatever it takes to be there for someone else, while never letting anyone be there for me. Always trying to be the life of the party and everyone’s friend while feeling lonely and excluded as I sat at home. Having no idea how to treat women and making a mockery of what I thought love was.

Being a man for me was a confusing and difficult task.

Thankfully we have a great example of what a Godly man looks like in Joseph. Joseph on all accounts would have been justified to publicly shame Mary. To end the marriage and move on, he could have done so with no remorse. No person would have looked at him and wondered why he left her. Not much is said about Joseph and not because he doesn’t deserve much but because not much needs to be said. Matthew 1:19 tells us that Joseph was a just man, verse 24 tells us that he obeyed God’s commands. A man we know so little about gives us two of the most important lessons we can have when it comes to being a man.

Be just and obey God.

December 13th

Good News, For Everyone

Chris Stapper, Vice President, Mission and Finance Stark College And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:10-12 My favorite Christmas special is A Charlie Brown Christmas. I love the music, the dilapidated tree, but most of all, I love Linus’ simple response when asked about the meaning of Christmas. Linus takes center stage and quotes from Luke 2. Reading this passage, much like watching Charlie Brown’s story, is a familiar part of my family’s Christmas tradition. And like anything that becomes familiar, sometimes we can rush quickly past the most astonishing portion.

The angel’s announcement declares a gift of good news of great joy for all people. If we step back and survey the story, our first question might be: What about this situation is great news? Is it the pregnancy that almost ended a marriage before it began? The government decree that made a poor family travel? Or perhaps the family’s limited lodging options that force them to lay their newborn in a feeding trough should be considered good news. We have heard the rest of the story, and so we know that these difficulties do not get the final word. But when we read the angel’s declaration of good news, we are reminded that there is often more happening than what we see on the surface. God was at work, doing something unlike anything the world had seen before.

We are all familiar with good news, but it is nearly impossible to think of an announcement that would be good news for all people.

Almost every bit of good news for someone is bad news for someone else. One team wins the championship while another team loses. In fact, to try and think of an idea which is good news for all people would be so ridiculous that it would seem nonsensical. It would have to be something like the end of traffic or a scientific study that proves Blue Bell Ice Cream increases life expectancy.

And yet, that’s exactly what the angel announces. Good news. Great joy. For everyone. The promise of a Savior born in Bethlehem was the best news to ever be delivered in the history of planet earth. And that promise still stands today. The arrival of a Savior means that you can have hope, no matter your situation. Jesus’s arrival was the greatest reminder that you are loved and cherished.

God sent his Son to earth to rescue us all. And that is great news…for everyone!

December 14th

Connecting Christmas with Creation Danny Isom, Lead Pastor Abundant Life Fellowship A few months ago, my wife and I attended a Biblical Worldview Conference hosted by BJU Press, which was held at the Creation Museum. Being the huge Christmas enthusiast that I am, after all, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, I began to see how Christmas is so intricately woven into the creation account.

The New Testament makes it very clear that Jesus is the Creator: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:1-3 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16 The wonder of Christmas is that the Creator of the heavens and the earth Himself became man and that He entered the world so humbly, as a little baby who would be born in a stable and laid in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. As John puts it, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:14 What so impressed me about the Creation Museum is that it centered around Jesus, and rightly so. Sure, scientific explanations are presented throughout the museum, but the account of Jesus’ life and death is the over-arching theme of the museum presentation.

In the Last Adam theater, we meet Mary, who tells of the angel appearing to her with the news that she would give birth to the Son of God. Then the story dramatically unfolds His purpose in coming, as the sacrificial Lamb of God is revealed. The entire story from creation through Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection must be told to share the true history – His Story – of God’s plan of salvation.

I hope this Christmas that you will have put your faith into the hands that reached out to create all that is; those same tiny hands that reached out to Mary from a little manger in Bethlehem; the same nail pierced hands that reached out from the cross of Calvary for your redemption. This Christmas, accept the Gift that keeps giving and giving and giving. That Gift is Jesus; the Beginning and the End; the First and the Last. Trust Him!

December 15th

Strength in Our Weakest Moments Mike Fehlauer, Pastor New Life Church WE OFTEN find ourselves facing obstacles to our faith. We read in Romans 8:26: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

When the scripture says the Spirit “helps our weakness,” it means the Holy Spirit comes along side of us and works together with us, adding His STRENGTH to our weakness to remove the very obstacles we are facing.

The phrase, “do no know what we should pray” refers to those times when we don’t know the hidden obstacles regarding what we’re praying about. Left to ourselves, we simply don’t have the ability to see the whole picture. But, the Holy Spirit does. And, He doesn’t sit passively by, but He is actively involved in helping us. How? He makes INTERCESSION for us.

The Greek word “intercession” means to “fall into.” This word was commonly used to describe someone who discovers a friend in a ditch and then jumps into the ditch to rescue them. In other words, the Holy Spirit falls into our situation with us; the Spirit Himself meets us in a common experience, rescuing us from out weaknesses. He prays for us adding his WISDOM and STRENGTH to our prayers.

Be encouraged, even when you feel like you’re praying alone, you aren’t. You have a Helper.

December 16th

I Can’t Wait!

David Beirne, Pastor Travis Baptist Church I was that kid who got up at 4 a.m. on Christmas day to dump his stocking out on grandma’s hardwood floor, only to find out someone put a bunch of walnuts in there and I had awakened half the household. I was that kid who found mom & dad’s hiding places for Christmas presents and knowing what I was getting for some reason did not ruin the surprise for me. I was that kid who counted my presents under the tree every day to make sure all was right. I just couldn’t wait till December 25th arrived.

When our two children were old enough to really enjoy Christmas, I got up at 6 am to get everything ready so when the family popped out of bed we could dive right into the gifts. Nobody got out of bed until 9:30. Why even have Christmas if you’re going to spend most of the day in bed?

When I found out my wife was pregnant with our daughter, a day didn’t go by where I didn’t wonder what she would look like, what type of personality she might have, or how tall she would be. I couldn’t wait to see her!

For centuries the coming of Jesus was anticipated but finally “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2) God had all along planned to send us His Son and when He arrived the anticipation reached the crescendo with the angels serenading the shepherds. The shepherds couldn’t wait to go into Bethlehem to see this wonderful event (Luke 2:15-18). Those same shepherds were so excited as they left that Christmas morning that they told everyone they met about the gift of God’s Son. The beauty of this is that though Christmas has come, the anticipation has not ended. Those prophecies about Jesus coming also include a second coming. Our anticipation and excitement can continue because Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. I can’t wait until that day when He fulfills His promise: “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3)

Lord, amid our Christmas activity, restore in us the child-like excitement of waiting for You to come. Amen.

December 17th

A Christmas Invitation Raul Elizondo, Senior Pastor New Life at the Cross Read Luke 2:8-20 For many people, the Christmas season is one of the happiest times of the year. This season provides TV specials, beautiful music, special foods, buying and receiving gifts, bonuses at work, and even a few days off from work or school to celebrate with family and friends. It really is a season filled wonder, love, and joy….…for most of us. Amid all the celebrating, too many times, we forget people who are not as fortunate as we are.

The very first Christmas provides a beautiful reminder of how to really celebrate this special time of the year. As God prepared the world for the birth of the Savior, He chose to invite a unique group to witness this miraculous birth, a group of shepherds living out in the fields. In other words, He chose to invite the least likely, the often overlooked, and the mostly forgotten to witness the birth of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Many others could have been invited: kings, the rich, the famous, the intellectuals, or the powerful, but no, God invited the ones no one else would have invited.

God’s invitation was not in the form of a royal decree or on stationery with letters and words written in gold. God’s invitation to these men, who were in one of the lowest social segments of Jewish society, came in the form of a host of heavenly angels. The birth of the Savior was “good news for all people,” but it was shared first with these simple men. The shepherd’s life was difficult, dangerous, and hard work. They would never make enough money to get ahead, and they would be looked down upon by the religious because their work would keep them in the fields and not allow them to fulfill their religious obligations.

This Christmas, in the middle of all the festivities and excitement, why not make time to share God’s invitation of the birth of His Son with someone who has been forgotten, someone who has been overlooked, or someone who has been deemed unworthy. That is exactly what God did on the very first Christmas. Like the shepherds, there are many in our sphere of influence who have never been given anything, no hope, no love, no Jesus. Share the “Christmas Invitation” with a shepherd.

December 18th

Guide us to Thy Perfect Light Rod Appleby, Pastor

Destination Pointe Church Read Matthew 2: 9-11 I can recall from my childhood the beauty of the songs we would sing during Christmas as we celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The timeless hymns of the Three Wise Men, the Christ Child in the manger, and that most incredible Star of Bethlehem. As I reflect on the birth of Christ, I am reminded of the song, “O Holy Night”. I can almost hear my grandfather singing at the top of his lungs, “O Holy Night, the Star is brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth…” The more I sing this song, the more I’m drawn to the significance of that Star. It was no ordinary Star. It was a Star of wonder, and it led these men to exactly what it was that they were seeking. The Light of the World.

Let’s look at the wise men found in Matthew chapter 2. Here are these men, not from the area, they were from the East. They had no map, no GPS, no written instructions, and none of them had been there before. They were in a strange land and even the king of the land they were in didn’t know where this King of the Jews was to be born, yet the light of that Star led them to the King of Kings.

This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, remember it was the light of the Star that led to the Light of the World. When the Magi in Matthew chapter 2 found Jesus, what did they do? They bowed down and worshiped Him! When that Star of Wonder led these men to Christ, they couldn’t help but fall down and worship Him! The same is for us. The promised Savior is born. He has come to take away the sins of the world. Let us remember who it is we celebrate this Christmas season. The perfect light!

December 19th

Call His Name – “Jesus” Thomas MacGregor, Pastor

Grace Covenant Church, Beeville The naming of a child is one of the most enjoyable tasks given new parents. It is a joy to finally settle on the name by which one’s child will be known for all his or her days. The Apostle Matthew has recorded how Mary’s firstborn child received his name. Joseph had a dream. While asleep, an angel visited him and told him what name to give the baby and why he had to do so. Matthew wrote: “Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21 We don’t know the extent to which Joseph understood the angel’s instruction and what it fully meant. We do know that Joseph was a righteous man; that he trusted the Lord; that he loved Mary deeply; and that he wanted to do what was right. As a faithful Jew, he understood how God forgives one’s sin and disobedience. He knew that only God can forgive sin. He knew that ‘salvation is of the Lord.’ He knew that every disobedient thought, every contrary word, and every act that violated God’s commands deserved death.

Forgiveness for one’s sins required sacrificial blood. We cannot imagine the weight of the message he received – “call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Certainly, Joseph did not fully understand the enormity of what the name “Jesus” means – “The Lord saves” or “Salvation is of the Lord”.

In this one name, “Jesus”, we are called to consider three things. First, we are reminded about our human condition. The Apostle Paul has fittingly described our desperate condition in Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Earlier in Romans 3:9-10 he confirmed that “both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one.” Paul confirms that only God can save.

Second, this name, “Jesus”, reminds us of this baby’s mission. He was born to die! We have heard the nativity narrative - Jesus, sent from Heaven’s glory, was born in a rude, crude stable among the lowliest of creatures to a humble couple. His first visitors were the poorly educated shepherds who were first to receive the angelic, good news, birth announcement. Jesus’s mission was to provide God’s only solution for our wretched condition. God sent Jesus to redeem, to buy back, for himself a people from judgment and destruction. Jesus’ blood would accomplish his Father’s plan to forgive sin and to assuage or appease God’s wrath. Paul states it clearly, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 Third, this name, “Jesus”, reminds us that each of us must make a timely decision. If I disregard Him, I pay the penalty for my sins – I die for each thought, word, and act of disobedience. The Lord oversees my judgment. If I receive him, he covers my sin; he buys me back from the judgment I deserve. The angel’s words are timely and precious – “Call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Have you considered His name for your need?

December 20th

Home for the Holidays Pastor Terry Ray

Living Word Church of Corpus Christi 11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14 My dad used to smoke a pipe once a year - at Christmas time. He always used black cherry tobacco that drifted through every room as a sweet incense, ushering in the holiday. I was visiting a friend on the East Coast when he lit up his pipe and that same sweet aroma drifted to me. I was instantly transported back to my childhood home, sitting on the floor with Dad in his chair welcoming Christmas years ago.

There’s an old Welsh word for that feeling of home. It’s called ‘hiraeth’. It’s a much richer word than ‘nostalgia’ but that’s the closest translation I have. It’s a longing not for a place, or a specific time, but more for the love that we experienced there. The older I get the more I understand that concept. As Christians, the love we ache for is not only in the past, it’s right there in the Savior, Jesus!

Home looks different for each one of us, but we all long for it. We know we can’t go back, but Jesus and His story remind us that there is still so much good ahead of us. We wait for the ‘blessed hope’ of not the things that have been, but the promise of what is to come!

Today, maybe more than ever before, the weary world needs to be reminded of their most perfect gift: Jesus. He is all we need.

December 21st

Real Joy Andres Garcia

Pastor New Song Fellowship Church Director of Certificate Program and Professor at Stark College and Seminary Where is joy in this world, not just happiness that is fleeting, but where is real life-giving joy? As we come to the end of another year, we are all wondering, “Where is joy?” This was a difficult year full of hard times of one sort or another. No rundown is needed to rehash all the difficulties that we faced this year, but everyone reading this could feel the weight of it. So, what is great about this time of the year? It’s Advent season, the Christmas Season! The joy that we feel and remember trumps everything else.

Luke 2:8-16 says, 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

See? There is the joy, real joy, and it isn’t just any joy or fleeting joy, it is great joy. That great joy is brought about by good news, The Good News, that Jesus Christ is born! Yes, we might be facing problems and difficulties--we live in a fallen world--but know that there is still joy, great joy, because in this world, this fallen world, Jesus Christ is born! Nothing you face can take away from the fact that Emmanuel, God is with us, in this world and in our life. So let us do as the shepherds did: fear not! Come and find him today! Go tell the world that Jesus Christ is born!

December 22nd

Leave No Gift Unwrapped Joel Mason, Area Director Corpus Christi Young Life “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

- Philippians 2:12-13 Imagine waking up on Christmas morning to a room full of wrapped presents sitting under the tree. What a beautiful and exciting sight to see! Now imagine walking up to all of those gifts, opening just one of them, and calling it quits for the year leaving behind all of the other gifts. It’s hard to picture anyone doing that, and I know that I wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to open every gift.

Paul tells us that we are to “work out our salvation.” What he means here is not to work for our salvation. In his infinite wisdom and love, God sent his son Jesus to be born in a manger, live among His people, and share that he was the way back into a relationship with God. Then, he died on a cross and rose from the dead, defeating the sins of the world. Jesus did this not so that we would work for our salvation. He didn’t die, so we would have to try harder.

When Paul reminds us to work out our salvation, we can liken it to a farmer who would get everything he could out of the harvest.

A farmer wants to leave nothing behind. So likewise, we are to live in a relationship with Jesus, soak up every bit of him, and leave nothing behind! When we walk with Jesus, he changes our identity, purpose, friendships, work-life, marriages, parenting; you name it! Talk about a lot of gifts to open up, and yet so often, we leave many of the gifts unwrapped. Too often, we leave gifts unwrapped because we are content with so little.

In John 10:10, Jesus tells us that he has come to give us life abundantly. This is the power of the Christmas message. Jesus died not only to save us for eternity but to give us a life in Him now that is richer than we could ever imagine! So, as we pursue our relationships with Jesus, let us not leave a single gift unwrapped.

December 23rd

May We Respond: Here am I David Bereit

When God chose to come to Earth in human form, in the person of our savior, Jesus Christ, He did so through the womb of a young, unmarried woman. Through this divine action, God illustrates the preciousness of life in the womb amidst an “unexpected” pregnancy.

Today, many women face unexpected pregnancies. As the world pressures them to abort, let’s follow God’s example and illustrate the profound gift of each child in the womb while helping these mothers embrace life ... through faith, hope, and love.

Hebrews 11 states: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.. By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible.” To help pregnant mothers have faith during their challenges, we must make visible the invisible. This is why ultrasounds are so powerful at helping pregnant women choose life: a mother witnesses the humanity of the child growing within.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” We must provide hope to moms, assuring them that -- with God’s assistance, and ours -- the future will be bright for them, and for their child. The four most powerful, life-saving words we can say to a woman facing an unexpected pregnancy are: “I will help you.” Then we need to live that out and walk with them through their pregnancy, and after the child is born.

1 Corinthians 13 instructs us that “faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” As we serve mothers and their children, we must do so in love. Love that is patient, kind, not jealous or boastful, not arrogant or rude, not insisting on its own way, not irritable or resentful, not rejoicing at wrong, but rejoicing in the right. Love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love that never ends. In John 15:13, Jesus tells us: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Let’s ask God to help us have that kind of love, laying down aspects of our lives in the service of mothers and children in need.

When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God, she faithfully said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” As God reveals His plan of how He wants each of us to protect life by helping mothers and children -- with faith, hope, and love -- may we likewise faithfully respond: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

December 24th

Don’t Be A Grinch

By Jess Cole, Senior Pastor

Grace Community Church Corpus Christi The Christmas sermon series at our church this year is entitled The Songs of Christmas. One of the songs I have chosen to preach on strangely enough is “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”. Seems like there are a number of grinches this time of the year and if we are not careful, we can become one too.

The Grinch had some major problems. The song reveals to us that the Grinch was mean. He was full of hate. He hated the Who’s.

He hated their singing and he hated Christmas. He had anger issues and was a liar and a thief. His life was centered around himself and he was miserable.

All these things were the fruit of a much deeper problem for the Grinch. We find the Grinch has a heart problem. His heart is two sizes too small. The truth is all of us have heart problems. Sometimes our hearts might be big and filled with love but sometimes they can grow two sizes too small.

It is good for all of us to examine our hearts and see what size it really is. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “watch over our hearts with diligence.” One of the ways to do that is to look at the fruit in our lives. Small hearts can cause us to be filled with hate and bitterness.

Are there people that you hate? Maybe you won’t admit to hating them, but do you love them? Will you pray for them and forgive them? Or are you “a mean one” who will treat them with unkindness and unforgiveness.

Hatred, rage, self-centeredness and meanness are evidence of heart problems. Jesus says in Matthew 15:19 “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesian 4: 31 to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Paul tells us not to be grinches but have tender or compassionate hearts.

The cool thing about a heart is that it can be changed and if you know the story of the Grinch, you know that his heart changed.

Kindness and compassion filled it. God is in the heart changing business. If your heart needs to be transformed today, give it to Jesus and let Him begin to shape and conform it and make it like His. Let’s get rid of Grinch-like hearts and have hearts like the Christ of Christmas.

Pregnancy Center of the Coastal Bend

2021 Christmas E-Devotional Authors Adam Copeland, Lexington Baptist Church James Pruitt, Squared Away Ministries Terry Ray, Living Word Church of Corpus Christi Jonathan Brazell, Yorktown Baptist Church Mike Fehlauer, New Life Church Larry Mayo, Country Bible Church Kevin Jennings, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Jack Carter, City Church David Beirne, Travis Baptist Church Amanda Cutbirth, Awaken Corpus Christi Chris Irving, Coastal Oaks Church Chris Stapper, Stark College Danny Isom, Abundant Life Fellowship Greg Hood, Reach Ministries Rod Appleby, Destination Pointe Church Jess Cole, Grace Community Church Thomas MacGregor, Grace Covenant Church of Beeville James Krause, Gethsemane Lutheran Church Frank Baik, First United Methodist Church, Rockport Joe Fahl, KBNJ Radio Jan George, Bible Study Fellowship Raul Elizondo, New Life at the Cross Baptist Church Joel Mason, Young Life Jonathan Stubbs, Fellowship of Oso Creek Andres Garcia, New Song Fellowship Church David Bereit