Devotional Blog

Starry Night

12/30/2021

God put a star in the night sky to guide the wise men to where the Christ child lay. God still puts stars in the sky to light our night and guide our way. On that first Christmas challenges had to be overcome, long distances had to be traveled and a king tried to deceive and misguide them, but through it all God guided the ancient magi with a star. The star was a sign of God's love to all people in all places that God's love was reaching out to them. Through darkness and adversity, God will guide you, too. In your darkest night, through your greatest trial, God will never leave you alone. God will put a star in the night to break through the darkness and guide your way. Your star may take on different forms, but take hope and know that God will shine through the darkest night to show you love and life. How can we trust God's love for us? -Simple, because God cared enough to share all of our life with us in Christ born in a humble manger, and then in Christ to show us the way of love and new life.
Whatever challenge you face, however dark your night, take heart! Follow the star, and kneel before the Christ child, and know the peace and hope and love that only He gives. Know that in the greatest darkness God's love shines brightest, and God loves you!

(scripture of the week)
The wise men went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. (Matthew 2.9-11 NIV)

Amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas, open your heart to God's amazing love . . . and the miracle of Christmas! And then let the miracle last the whole year long—Pastor TJ

(Prayer of the week)
Loving Heavenly Father, I open my heart to your amazing love, let the light of your love shine into my life. Forgive me of failures of the past, and give me new life through the miracle of Christ. Fill my life with the true gifts of Christmas--your hope, peace, love and joy. May I find a new purpose in life and a new promise for the future, through your grace and to your glory. Amen.

(quote of the week)
Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!--Charles Dickens

Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

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Star

12/23/2021

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Have you and your family looked at the stars in the night sky lately? They are beautiful and bright. Stars light up the sky in beautiful ways that guide and inspire us. Ancient sailors navigated the seas by the stars. Travelers on land also were guided by the stars. Stars have captivated our imagination and inspired our stories. But God also gave a promise about a star that would change the world and guide us toward God, the Creator of all the stars. Take a moment and allow your life to be guided by the light that shines in the darkest night, our Lord Jesus.

(scripture of the week)
"A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel"--Numbers 24.17

(prayer of the week)
Loving Creator, you created all the universe and you created me. Help me to see and be guided by the light of your love sent in Christ. In Christ, let me find true hope, peace, love and joy, and share those great gifts with others near and far, amen.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!—Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas--Calvin Coolidge

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Hustle and Bustle

12/16/2021

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This time of the year there is plenty of anxiety and stress over the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and to-do lists and lots of other good things. Sometimes we forget the reason for the season. Amid the busyness, we rejoice knowing that God loves us. And whether we are a lowly shepherd or a person bearing costly gifts, we find our savior in Bethlehem. Let us take time to experience anew the wonder of God’s love come in Christ and share the gifts only he can bring—hope, peace, love and joy.

(scripture of the week)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
On them a light has shone –Isaiah 9.2

(prayer of the week)
Loving Heavenly Father, help me to push back the busyness and lean into your grace and love. Renew my heart with the true gifts of Christmas found only in Christ the Lord—hope, peace, love and joy. amen

Blessings –Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. If he gives us the gift of Christmas, it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it. Pope Francis

Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

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Candles

12/9/2021

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One of the Christmas traditions in Pennsylvania where I grew up was to put a single candle in each window of a home. On a dark night, you could see the candles glowing far away. It always made me feel like there was hope shining in the night. No matter how cold and snowy outside, those candles glowing in the windows made you feel there was a special warmth in the home.

I think that’s the way our lives often reflect the love of Christ. We may feel we are only one candle glowing in the night. But often times people may look across the darkness and see our lives aglow with the love of Christ in a special way that gives them hope.

(scripture of the week)
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8.12).

(prayer of the week)
Lord, touch my life with the light of your love. May all I do reflect your love. And may I be a candle in the night, shining hope to others near and far, through Christ, the Light of the World, amen.

Wishing you a blessed Christmas season—Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year –Charles Dickens

Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

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Angels Whisper

12/2/2021

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Read again the wonderful story of the angel speaking to Zechariah and was touched. Zechariah is going about his daily duties in the temple. He is burning incense to glorify God, when the angel appears. So many times God comes to us in the ordinary, the daily duties of life, as we faithfully serve God wherever we are in life. But in another sense, he is in the Lord’s house. And so it is that God often meets us in the intersection of the ordinary and the extraordinary, the human and the divine. When the angel appears to Zechariah, he is afraid. But the angel speaks those beautiful words of comfort and promise: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, “ your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you are to call his name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.” Zechariah moves from fear and trembling to wonder and rejoicing. This was likely a prayer request that Zechariah and Elizabeth had long given up on. But God was faithful.
The promise had to be fulfilled in God’s timing not theirs, as so often is the case in our lives as well. Of course, Zechariah could hardly believe it and said so. At least he was honest with God. A lesson we would do well to learn as well. The angel told him that because he did not believe, he would not be able to speak until this happens. Perhaps it was not so much punishment as a way for Zechariah to do what we should do more—to quietly meditate on the promises of God. And as we meditate on God’s promises in silence, the promise unfolds in power within us. So it was with Zechariah, and perhaps Elizabeth needed a little silence from Zechariah as well as she pondered this divine wonder. But then the moment of triumph as Zechariah was asked after John’s birth what the child’s name would be, and he faithfully followed God’s command and affirmed that his name would be John, and all of the sudden he was able to speak again. So it is with the seed of faith that meditates on the promises of God, growing faithfully, until in the right moment it springs forth into the full flower of promise. A lesson for each of us . . .

(scripture of the week)
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, “ your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you are to call his name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.” Luke 1:13

(prayer of the week)
Lord, help me to find new faith in the promises you have made to me for my faith and life. Help me to mediate on your words of promise to me that they may grow within me and, in the right moment, come forth through your power and to your glory, amen.

Listen to recent sermons by Dr. TJ Jenney at YouTube &
http://inspiresundaymessages.blogspot.com/
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

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Starry Night

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