Men have tried to compare God’s holiness to white hot burning metal — so fiery and eye-scorching, one cannot look at it. God’s holy nature is such that it radiates outward and impacts anyone or anything which comes near, to the ends of the cosmos.

God is not explicit in His Word about why the shepherds were the first to receive the announcement of Jesus’ birth, but with a little digging we can find some possibilities.

Let’s face it, we all can get caught up in “feel-good” Christmas movies. They’re called “feel good” for a reason — they make us feel happy as and after we watch (often with tears). But Christians have a different way of viewing movies than unbelievers and people of other faiths. We look for ways Christ is magnified and exalted within characters, plotlines, and themes. We sometimes have to look hard, however, to see even nuggets of faith in movies we watch during the Christmas season, with many production companies opting for “holiday” instead of “Christmas” in titles, storylines, scripts, and dialogue.

But feel-good movies abound, especially between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s hard to get away from Christmas being linked to Christ’s birth, yet as we carefully watch, we can discover and point out ways the gospel is hidden or given mention within a movie. Especially fruitful are our gospel explanations (the why of Christmas) to those we are sharing the movie with.

We’ll look at five different feel-good movies and discover how we see the gospel in them. Three are from the Hallmark Channel, and two are from other sources.

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Most church services include times of singing and music, and there are hundreds of options for worship leaders to choose from. But while some songs magnify the name of Jesus and thank Him for all He is and has done, others focus more on us and our emotional response. Together, we'll look at what makes a good worship song, as well as some examples from Scripture.

Christians have been waiting for the second coming for thousands of years, since Jesus first ascended to Heaven. Some have used their time wisely, others foolishly. So what are we to actually do as we await the Lord?

Scholars identify no less than twenty-six different men named Azariah in Scripture. All of them are included for God’s purposes in the narrative of His redemptive history within humanity.

In Ecclesiastes, the preacher declares that in days of prosperity and days of adversity, "God has made the one as well as the other." That can be hard for us to wrap our minds around. Why would a good, loving God allow adversity in our lives?

Christians pray before meals, while they prepare to study the Bible, during worship services, with small groups, in times of praise and supplication, and almost any other time. They usually end their prayers with, “In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Why do Christians pray in Jesus’ Name?

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In the Bible, woe is far more than an expression of sadness; it is a solemn warning of grief and judgment. It marks the sorrow and consequences that come from rebelling against God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit. When God pronounces woe, it is a certain promise of His holy justice, whether fulfilled immediately or in His appointed time.

Sometimes, a person declares woe over himself, confessing guilt and unworthiness before the Lord, as Isaiah did when he said, “Woe is me! For I am lost” (Isaiah 6:5). In every case, woe reminds us that rejecting God’s truth brings judgment, while turning to Him in repentance brings mercy and hope.

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With myriad distractions, we can all agree it’s hard to be still with God. Yet being still with Him is exactly what He desires of His children. 

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"Divine immutability" is another one of those words that sounds like you need a theology degree to understand. It merely means God does not change, but within that simple statement are incredible, eternal truths.

Women are uniquely loved, cared for, and purposed by God. If you are a woman and you are in Christ, then you've likely felt His all-encompassing love in one of these ways.

Our days can tend toward much busyness, yet the Lord is with us throughout every one, and His presence is felt even more when we begin our days communing with Him in prayer. Similarly, ending each day with prayer in the quiet space of our homes calms and quiets our souls as we ready ourselves for sleep. I’d like to offer ten evening prayers to end your day with God.

1. A Prayer for Hard Days

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Father,

This day gave me many challenges and disappointments, and my heart is heavy with anxiety and discontent. I thank You for Your abiding presence in my life, that no matter what every day brings, You never leave me or forsake me. I know I can rest in my Lord Jesus as I lay my head down for the night. Nothing that happens during each day will stop Your steadfast love and faithfulness. And I know your mercies are new every morning.

I praise You, God of all comfort and joy. I thank You, Lord Jesus, for what You have done, for what You are doing, and for what You will do. I praise You, Father, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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True wisdom is not what the world deems it to be. For example, wisdom doesn’t automatically come with age. Nor does wisdom necessarily belong to those who are most experienced or who have excelled at knowledge. Proverbs 1:7 tells us, “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline.”