Christ's first coming...that's what we're focused on right now. When our Savior came the first time, He came as a helpless infant, born in a manger...with angels announcing His arrival.
His arrival was heralded as an event of "good news" and "great joy." Does Jesus bring that to your life? What is His good news?
In this world of ours in 2013 we are bombarded with bad news...think about the news we have experienced in just the last twelve months.
Globally: North Korea launched war missiles; gunmen stormed our Embassy in Benghazi, Libya and killed four Americans; Civil War in Syria spilling over into Lebanon with ongoing killing.
Nationally: Superstorm Sandy plummeted the east coast; shooting at Newtown, Connecticut, took the lives of 20 first-graders plus teachers; multiple bombs exploded during the Boston Marathon.
Locally: Over 40 Texans died from West Nile virus; a mile-wide Category 4 tornado hit Oklahoma and claimed over 24 lives; a fertilizer plant exploded in West, Texas, resulting in 12 deaths and over 200 injuries.
Our lives, here on earth, never seem to have a shortage of bad news. It just doesn't seem to ever stop...and here's an encouraging note, it never will! While we remain on this earth, we will have troubles. Jesus told us that much...remember when He said, "In this world, you will have trouble...." But He gave us a tremendous second half to that proclamation, "....but take heart, I have overcome the world."
There's the good news that the angels sang of! Jesus' coming brought the very, very good news that we can be assured that no matter what happens in this world, He has overcome the world and brings with Him the promise of more...more than this world that we see and touch, which can be tremendously wonderful, but which can also inflict fears and sorrows. For unless the headlines listed above affected you or your family personally, you probably got through them with little anguish. But when this world's bad news comes into our personal worlds, then we need to know that there is something more. We need some really, really GOOD NEWS that overcomes.
That's what Jesus' coming brings to us personally...HE is the good news. He lived on earth to show us God's love, He died to give us redemption, He rose to give us assurance of eternal life, He lives on high to be our advocate and intercessor, and He is coming again to claim His role as eternal King. There is more ---- oh yes, so much more!
Good news .... for all people... and for each of us individually. Open your heart to His coming!
His arrival was heralded as an event of "good news" and "great joy." Does Jesus bring that to your life? What is His good news?
In this world of ours in 2013 we are bombarded with bad news...think about the news we have experienced in just the last twelve months.
Globally: North Korea launched war missiles; gunmen stormed our Embassy in Benghazi, Libya and killed four Americans; Civil War in Syria spilling over into Lebanon with ongoing killing.
Nationally: Superstorm Sandy plummeted the east coast; shooting at Newtown, Connecticut, took the lives of 20 first-graders plus teachers; multiple bombs exploded during the Boston Marathon.
Locally: Over 40 Texans died from West Nile virus; a mile-wide Category 4 tornado hit Oklahoma and claimed over 24 lives; a fertilizer plant exploded in West, Texas, resulting in 12 deaths and over 200 injuries.
Our lives, here on earth, never seem to have a shortage of bad news. It just doesn't seem to ever stop...and here's an encouraging note, it never will! While we remain on this earth, we will have troubles. Jesus told us that much...remember when He said, "In this world, you will have trouble...." But He gave us a tremendous second half to that proclamation, "....but take heart, I have overcome the world."
There's the good news that the angels sang of! Jesus' coming brought the very, very good news that we can be assured that no matter what happens in this world, He has overcome the world and brings with Him the promise of more...more than this world that we see and touch, which can be tremendously wonderful, but which can also inflict fears and sorrows. For unless the headlines listed above affected you or your family personally, you probably got through them with little anguish. But when this world's bad news comes into our personal worlds, then we need to know that there is something more. We need some really, really GOOD NEWS that overcomes.
That's what Jesus' coming brings to us personally...HE is the good news. He lived on earth to show us God's love, He died to give us redemption, He rose to give us assurance of eternal life, He lives on high to be our advocate and intercessor, and He is coming again to claim His role as eternal King. There is more ---- oh yes, so much more!
Good news .... for all people... and for each of us individually. Open your heart to His coming!
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