Devotional Blog

Candles

12/24/2024

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 season and a very Merry Christmas—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/
Inspire Messages: https://open.spotify.com/show/3dVKz5ThnCDjl8wfmCs6hJ?si=R-2uWvlaQPWF_us_AhvWdg
Check the leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

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Hustle and Bustle

12/19/2024

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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/
Inspire Messages: https://open.spotify.com/show/3dVKz5ThnCDjl8wfmCs6hJ?si=R-2uWvlaQPWF_us_AhvWdg
Check the latest leadership blog by Dr. TJ http://www.drtj.us

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A Chorus of Angels

12/12/2024

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Fear can paralyze us and take the joy out of life. Most of us are touched by some kind of fear or another. There is fear of the unknown, sometimes fear of the known, fear of failure, fear of the past and fear of the future, and host of other fears. You can name yours. Fear is like a darkness that can overwhelm us, or pull us down. Christmas reminds us that God came to dwell among us and share life and love with us. Over and over again, we hear the whispered promise of angels, “Do not be afraid!” Even more joyous, like the shepherds we may hear the songs of angels breaking through the darkness: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all on whom his favor rests.” Peace and hope and even joy are ours for God has come to give us life and love. Hear again these words of hope and song of joy shared by a chorus of angels to shepherds that sound through the ages and still ring true today:

(Verse of the week)
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2.10-14)

(prayer)
Gracious God of Light and Love, may your light and your love calm the fears that sometimes grip me like a dark night. This Christmas, let my heart be filled with the songs of angels and the simple faith of shepherds. Fill me with faith and love in the name of Jesus Christ, Immanuel, “God With Us”, Amen.

Blessings for the Christmas Season –Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give--Albert Schweitzer

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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Light in the Darkest Night

12/5/2024

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The Christmas season is full of colored lights and festive decorations, light-hearted carols and gift giving. Light was part of the earliest Christmas, when angels broke through the darkness of the night and the darkness of the world, appearing to shepherds with words of comfort, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger,” and then the heavens were filled with angels singing “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to all on whom God’s favor rests.” Not knowing the actual birth date of Christ, early Christians celebrated Christmas on the day of the year with the longest night symbolizing that in our deepest darkness God breaks through and brings light and hope and life and love. That is the heart of the angels’ song, the hope of the shepherds' hearts, and the quest of the magi who traveled from afar to kneel before the Christ child. And that is the hope of each and every one of us who kneels before the manger where God has come to show His love and to share our life and give us hope and new life. Take heart. Have hope. In the darkest night God's light and love will shine through.

(scripture of the week)
“Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to all on whom God’s favor rests.” (Luke 2.14)

May the peace of Christ be with you! –Pastor TJ

(quote of the week)
“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark”—Rabindranath Tagore

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

Hustle and Bustle

A Chorus of Angels

Light in the Darkest Night

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