Category: Golden Nuggets

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Golden Nuggets

He’s here!

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Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means “God is with us.”

Matthew 1:23 NLT

In Matthew 1, we see the angel confirming to Joseph the good news–Mary will have a son, named Jesus, who will save his people from their sins. In verse 23, the prophecy of his coming is recounted. After years of waiting, the prophecies were going to be fulfilled. The king was coming! He entered the world he created under the humblest of conditions and nothing has ever been the same.

It is the same way when we accept him and he enters our hearts, nothing is ever the same. From that day forward, we have the assurance that he is with us.

This is something I know, but this year God has moved me from theory to application and I see it a little clearer. He is with me, and he will give me everything I need, because he IS everything I need.

I offer the words of a well-loved Christmas song, “O come, let us adore him.” It serves as an instruction and an invitation. Come! Adore him! The angels did: they burst into a chorus of praise after the proclamation of the good news about Jesus. The shepherds did: they rushed to see him when they heard the news. The wise men did: they followed his star from afar off and came to worship. Mary and Joseph did: they were obedient to God in caring for their son and Saviour. No matter our status or position in this world–Jesus is the great equalizer. We all bow before the king.

Come and adore him this Christmas. Isn’t he beautiful? He came to save us all those years ago, just as promised. He didn’t leave us alone and he never will. Ever beautiful, ever present, ever worthy–He’s here!

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others- the armies of heaven- praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Luke 2: 13 & 14 NLT
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Golden Nuggets

Don’t let me fall

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I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.

Psalm 94:18

Because the Lord is so merciful, he keeps us from falling. Life can present us with a slippery slope of trials and challenges. Temptations can lead us on a downward spiral. Emotional challenges can cause us to lose our footing.

In all of this, thank you, Lord, for your unfailing love! Despite what we face, what happens to us and sometimes even what we bring on ourselves– when we call out to him in our distress, he will always hear us. His eyes are on his children, and he listens for our cry. And because his mercy is everlasting, just like he caught Peter before the waves could overtake him, he will do the same for you and me.

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Golden Nuggets

Strength in Christ

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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

This is such a beloved verse. To know that I can do anything through Christ, that’s good news! I can land the job, get the promotion, succeed and thrive in this life—through Christ. And surely, I can.

But I think Paul wanted us to grasp a greater truth. He had just spoken about how he made it in situations when he had plenty and when he had nothing. Rich or poor, full or hungry, his solution was the same—Christ. He was saying, “Hey y’all! I found the secret to happiness and satisfaction in life, and it’s Christ!” Whether on the mountain of victory or the valley of suffering, I’ll emerge triumphantly because Christ will give me strength. He will be my strength.

I challenge us today to trust our stories to the Master Author, knowing that every page was written before we were ever born. I pray God gives us the grace to enjoy the story as we live it in real time. And when we reach a difficult chapter, a plot twist or cliff hanger, I pray he reminds us that he will be our strength. And because of that, there is nothing we can’t do. We will have victory in this, yes even this, through Christ.