RSS

Tag Archives: christmas

Love Has Come to Stay

25 Dec
Love Has Come to Stay

Christmas Day – December 25, 2025

John 1:14
Love Has Come to Stay

The Word became flesh and lived among us. Love did not merely visit, it moved in. God chose to dwell fully with humanity, sharing in joy and sorrow, celebration and struggle.

Christmas Day reminds us that God’s love is not limited to one night or one moment. Christ comes to stay. To walk with us through ordinary days and uncertain seasons. To guide us, heal us, and remind us that we are not alone.

Whatever today looks like for you, busy or quiet, joyful or tender, God is present. Love has taken up residence in the world, and nothing will ever be the same.

Today, rest in this gift. Christ is born. Love has come to stay.

Prayer:
God of love, we give thanks for the gift of Christ. Help us live each day rooted in your presence and guided by your love. Amen.

Merry Christmas!

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 25, 2025 in Church, Community, Culture, Economics, Family, Life, Media, Philosophy, Podcasts, Postcolonial, Postmodern, Religion, Spirituality, Student life, Theology, Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , ,

Love Has Come Near

24 Dec
Love Has Come Near

Christmas Eve – December 24, 2025

Luke 2:1–14
Love Has Come Near

On this holy night, love does not arrive with fanfare or force. It comes quietly, in a stable, under the cover of darkness, wrapped in vulnerability. God chooses nearness over power, presence over perfection.

The world Christ enters is not calm or orderly. It is crowded, uncertain, and restless, much like our own. Yet this is exactly where God chooses to dwell. Not waiting for everything to be right, but coming close in the middle of it all.

Tonight, we remember that love does not stand at a distance. It steps into our lives as they are. It meets us in our fears, hopes, longings, and needs. The angels’ song announces peace, not because the world is suddenly fixed, but because God is with us.

As candles are lit and voices rise in song, receive this truth: Christ is born for you. Love has come near.

Prayer:
God with us, thank you for coming close. Fill our hearts with wonder, peace, and gratitude as we welcome the birth of Christ. Amen. 

Merry Christmas! 

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 24, 2025 in Church, Community, Culture, Economics, Family, Life, Media, Philosophy, Podcasts, Postcolonial, Postmodern, Religion, Spirituality, Student life, Theology, Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , ,

Love That Chooses the Hard Way

23 Dec
Love That Chooses the Hard Way

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Matthew 1:18–21
Love That Chooses the Hard Way

Joseph doesn’t say much in the Christmas story, but his actions speak loudly. When he learns Mary is pregnant, his world shifts in an instant. Scripture tells us Joseph is a righteous man, and his first instinct is to do what is right and to do it kindly. He plans to dismiss Mary quietly, sparing her shame.

Many of us know what it feels like to stand at a crossroads like that. To be hurt, confused, or afraid, and still try to respond with integrity. To do the loving thing when it would be easier to walk away. Joseph’s love shows up not in grand words but in careful decisions and quiet courage.

Then God intervenes. In a dream, Joseph is invited to trust a bigger story than the one he can see. He does. He stays. He protects. He steps into a future he did not plan but chooses love anyway.

Advent reminds us that love is not always easy or clear. Sometimes love is choosing faith over fear, compassion over control, and trust over certainty. Joseph shows us love often begins with doing the next right thing, even when the path ahead is uncertain.

Prayer:
God of faithfulness, give us courage to choose love when the way forward is hard. Help us trust you when the story unfolds differently than we imagined. Amen.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 23, 2025 in Church, Community, Culture, Family, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology, Uncategorized

 

Tags: , , ,

Love That Came Anyway

22 Dec
Love That Came Anyway

Monday, December 22, 2025

1 John 4:9–10
Love That Came Anyway

As the year draws to a close, many of us look back. We remember moments of faithfulness and moments we wish we could redo. There were days we showed up fully and days we fell short. Some choices were life-giving; others shaped by fear, exhaustion, or uncertainty.

Scripture reminds us that God knows all of this—and still chose to send Jesus into the world.

God did not wait for humanity to get it right. God did not wait for us to be faithful, generous, or strong enough. Out of love, Christ was sent to help, heal, guide, and save us, right in the middle of our unfinished stories.

Advent invites us to hold our whole year before God: the good and the hard, the faithful and the messy. Love does not arrive as a reward. It comes as a gift. Jesus enters the world not because we are worthy but because God is loving.

As Christmas draws closer, receive this truth again: whatever this year has held for you, God has not given up. Love has come anyway.

Prayer:
God of mercy and love, receive all that this year has been. Thank you for sending Christ to meet us in our need, to guide us toward healing and hope. Amen.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 22, 2025 in Church, Community, Culture, Family, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

Love That Comes to Us

21 Dec
Love That Comes to Us

Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 21, 2025

Luke 1:39–45
Love That Comes to Us

Have you ever had an unexpected guest, someone you admired deeply, whose presence felt like a gift? Maybe you wondered, What did I do to deserve this? The house wasn’t ready, life wasn’t perfectly in order, but the moment still felt surprising and holy.

That must be how Elizabeth felt when Mary arrived at her door. This was no ordinary visit. Mary brought both uncertainty and promise, and Elizabeth, who knew what it was to wait, was suddenly filled with joy. Scripture tells us that the child in her womb leapt, and Elizabeth was filled with wonder. “Why has this happened to me,” she asks, “that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” Her question is not doubt, but awe.

Elizabeth sees grace when it appears. She does nothing to earn it. She simply receives it.

That is how God’s love works. Grace comes to us, often unexpectedly and rarely when we expect it. Advent reminds us that Christ does not wait for us to be ready or deserving. Christ comes to us. Love draws near. And something inside us stirs with joy.

Today, think about where grace might be surprising you. God may already be closer than you realize.

Prayer:
God of love and grace, open our hearts to receive your presence with gratitude and joy as we prepare for Christ’s coming. Amen.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 21, 2025 in Church, Community, Culture, Family, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

Tags: , , , ,

Joy on the Edge of Arrival

20 Dec
Joy on the Edge of Arrival

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Luke 1:46–49
Joy on the Edge of Arrival

Mary sings her song before the child is born. Her joy comes not from having all the answers, but from trusting what God has started. She rejoices, not because the path is simple, but because God keeps promises.

There is a particular kind of joy that comes when we are close, close to a long-awaited moment, close to an answered prayer, close to something new taking shape. Advent holds us in that space. We are not yet at Christmas, but we can feel it approaching. Joy gathers there, at the edge of arrival.

This joy is often quiet and steady. It shows up in final preparations, in small acts of care, in the ordinary faithfulness of showing up one more time. It reminds us that God does not wait for perfect conditions to draw near.

As this Advent week comes to an end, pause for a moment. Take a breath. Notice the joy that is already here, even before everything is finished. God is closer than we think.

Prayer:
God of promise, steady our hearts as we wait. Help us rejoice in what you are already bringing to life among us. Amen.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 20, 2025 in Church, Community, Culture, Economics, Family, Life, Media, Philosophy, Postcolonial, Postmodern, Religion, Spirituality, Student life, Theology

 

Tags: , , , , ,

Joy on the Way

17 Dec
Joy on the Way

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Luke 2:15–16
Joy on the Way

After the angels left, the shepherds didn’t stay where they were. They looked at one another and said, “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” Joy moved them. Not with all the answers or a detailed plan, but with trust and urgency.

That’s often how joy works in our lives, too. It doesn’t wait until everything is clear or settled. It nudges us forward toward connection, toward compassion, toward showing up even when we feel tired or unsure. One step leads to another, and suddenly we find ourselves closer to hope than we expected.

Advent joy is not about standing still. It is about moving toward what God is doing, even when the path is dimly lit. The shepherds went just as they were, carrying wonder, questions, and hope in equal measure. And God met them there.

Today, consider where joy might be inviting you to take a step. It may be small. It may feel ordinary. But God is already ahead of you, waiting.

Prayer:
God who calls us forward, give us the courage to move toward the joy you offer. Guide our steps as we follow your light. Amen.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 17, 2025 in Church, Community, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

Tags: , ,

What Then Shall We Do? A Christmas and New Year’s Reflection

19 Dec
What Then Shall We Do? A Christmas and New Year’s Reflection

12.19.24

What Then Shall We Do? A Christmas and New Year’s Reflection

As we journey through Advent and approach Christmas, we hear John the Baptist’s urgent call from the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord!” His challenge to the crowd resonates with us today: “What then shall we do?”

John reminds us that preparing for Christ’s coming is not about relying on our church traditions, family name, or how much money or time we give the church. None of these outward signs can genuinely prepare our hearts. Instead, it’s about how we reflect God’s love and justice in the way we live. John calls us to bear fruit that shows repentance—a life that aligns with God’s will.

This requires a shift in our attitudes and ways. Are we sharing the blessings God has given us, or are we holding onto them for ourselves? God’s blessings were never meant for us to hoard. They are meant to flow through us, reaching those in need. Preparing for Christ means living with open hands and open hearts. It means practicing compassion and integrity in our everyday actions. It means being generous to those who lack, showing fairness in how we treat others, and embodying God’s justice in all we do.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, let us examine our lives and ask ourselves hard questions: Where do we need to let go of pride, selfishness, or complacency? How can we show more love and justice to those around us? Advent is not only a time to anticipate Christ’s coming but also a time to realign our lives to reflect His kingdom.

This Christmas, let us welcome Christ into our celebrations and our actions. As we step into the New Year, may we commit to living lives of generosity, compassion, and integrity—lives that prepare the way for the Lord every day.

Christ is coming—may our hearts, homes, and lives be ready to receive Him.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Pastor Sela 

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 19, 2024 in Church, Community, Culture, Family, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

Tags: , , , ,

Refined for the Season

11 Dec
Refined for the Season

12.11.24

Refined for the Season

Advent isn’t just about decorating our homes or checking off shopping lists—it’s about preparing our hearts and lives for the arrival of Christ. The prophet Malachi offers a challenging but vital message for this season: we need refining. Like a refiner’s fire purifying gold or a launderer’s soap scrubbing away dirt, God’s work in us removes impurities and instills qualities that shape us into Christ’s likeness.

This process is not always easy. It requires honest reflection and a willingness to let go of attitudes and habits that hold us back—selfishness, pride, impatience. But it also fills us with new gifts: love, peace, patience, and kindness, the fruit of the Spirit that makes us more fully who God has called us to be. Advent reminds us that transformation is possible; this is the season to let God begin that work in us anew.

Sometimes, we may resist this refining work because it feels 

uncomfortable or disruptive. Yet, just as we wash before we sit at a table or remove our shoes before entering a clean home, Advent calls us to spiritual preparation. It’s an act of love and respect—to ourselves, to God, and to the promise of Christ who is coming.

As we prepare for Christmas, let’s embrace this deeper call to readiness—not just for the celebration of a day, but for the ongoing work of God in our lives and the world. Join us next Sunday as we continue our Advent journey and reflect on the joy that Christ’s coming brings!

Love, grace, and peace!

Sela 

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 11, 2024 in Church, Community, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

Tags: , , , ,

Our Wondrous Light

28 Dec
Our Wondrous Light

12.28.23

A Child Is Born

For the child born in that humble manger grew up to be Emmanuel, “God with us.” He is not a distant memory, a fading star in the annals of history. He is here, in the midst of our very own darkness, the embodiment of hope amidst the flames.

He is our Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father. He walks with us through the valleys of the shadow of death, his light a shield against the darkness, his love a balm for our wounded hearts.

And that light cannot be dimmed. It burns in the acts of compassion that defy the shadows, in the whispers of comfort that soothe the afflicted, in the unwavering pursuit of justice that tears down the walls of division.

This Christmas and this new year, let us be the bearers of that light. Let us join churches around the globe and carry it into the streets, into our homes, into the hearts of those lost in darkness, including the very place where Christ first came. Let us be the living testament to the promise that even in the darkest night, the wondrous light of Christ will prevail.

For our wondrous light is not a memory, but a mission. A call to walk in the footsteps of the Prince of Peace, to illuminate the shadows with kindness, compassion, and the unyielding hope that only this night can bring.

For Emmanuel is with us, and in Him, there is always hope.

Amen


Merry Christmas
and 
Happy New Year!

Pastor Sela

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 28, 2023 in Church, Community, Culture, Family, Life, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

 

Tags:

← Older posts