The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing . . . At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes. Zephaniah 3:17;20 There will be a new day when God will mightily bless His people. If the leaders in the church today were to hear a message from a prophet of God, the message would probably resemble the book of Zephaniah. Under Josiah's religious reforms, the people did return to God outwardly, but still their hearts were far from Him. Zephaniah encouraged the nation to gather together and pray for salvation. And we, so too, must also ask ourselves: Are the changes we make merely an outward show, or are they changing our very hearts and lives? We need to gather together and pray, to walk humbly with the Lord, to do what is right, and to hear the message of hope regarding the new world to come. God Bless you, J.H.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:1-2,4 God is a shelter, a refuge when we are afraid. The psalmist's faith in the Almighty God as Protector would carry him through all the dangers and fears of life. This should be a picture of our trust - trading all our fears for faith in Him, no matter how intense our fears. To do this we must "dwell" and "rest" with Him. By entrusting ourselves to His protection and spending time daily in the Word, we will be kept safe. That is a promise you can trust. And you can take that to the bank. Heavenly Father, I thank you for bringing me through another year. For all those reading these words, I ask that you bless them mightily upon the New Year and elevate them in ways that they themselves did not deem possible. Demonstrate your Power and Grace in our lives this year that will enable us to get our eyes off of our circumstances and on to You, the author and perfector of our faith. I thank you for Your overwhelming forgiveness and mercy that will allow us to begin this year free of burden and condemnation from the past, free to enjoy today and look forward to the future with hope. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen. God Bless you, J.H.

I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Isaiah 43:25 How tempting it is to remind someone of a past offense! But when God forgives our sins, He totally forgets them. We never have to fear that He will remind us of them later. Forgiveness is a decision. It is a deliberate act that results in setting a person free; free of anger, resentment and bitterness. Once forgiveness is granted, a large burden is lifted. But it is not the offender who is being freed, it is you. Being bitter against thost who have wronged you in the past is not doing anything to the other person, but it does serve to weigh you down to grit and grind your teeth every time you even think about that person or what they did to you. Forgiving them removes all those feelings of resentment so that you can get on with your life. To be forgiving is to be God-like. To forget the past is to be even more like God. Thoughts for the New Year, God Bless you, J.H.

Simeon blessed them and said to Mary: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Luke 2:34-37 Although Simeon and Anna were very old, they had never lost their hope that they would one day see the Messiah. Led by the Holy Spirit, they were among the first to bear witness to Jesus. In the Jewish culture, elders were respected, so because of Simeon's and Anna's age, their prophecies carried extra weight. Our society, however, values youthfullness over wisdom, and potential contributions by the elderly are often ignored. As Christians, we should reverse those values whenever and wherever we can. Encourage older people to share their wisdom and experience. Listen carefully when they speak. Offer them your friendship and help them find ways to continue to serve God. God Bless you, J.H.

"Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be 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 men on whom His favor rests." Luke 2:11-14 Some of the Jews were waiting for a savior to deliver them from Roman rule; others hoped the Christ (Messiah) would deliver them from physical ailments. But Jesus, while healing their illnesses and establishing a spiritual kingdom, delivered them from sin. His work is more far-reaching than anyone could imagine. Christ paid the price for sin and opened the way to peace with God. He offers us more than temporary political or physical changes - he offers us new hearts that will last for eternity. As a parent, it is difficult to keep your kids focused on the true meaning of Christmas when all they can think about is what is sitting under the Christmas tree. However, the magic and innocence of Christmas is evident in my children and they know (because I remind them) from whence all good things flow. That is something that I praise God for and prayerfully is something that I have instilled in my children as my parents instilled it in me and will therefore pass on through the generations. Merry Christmas everyone, J.H.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 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." Luke 2:8-12 The greatest event in history has just happened! The Messiah had been born! For ages, the Jews had waited for this, and when it finally occurred, the announcement came to humble shepherds. The Good News about Jesus is that He comes to all, He comes to everyone, including the plain and the ordinary. He comes to anyone with a heart humble enough to accept Him. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can have Jesus in your life by simply accepting this precious gift. Don't think you need any kind of extraordinary qualifications - He accepts you just as you are. Our challenge is to actually admit that we need Him and then to accept His gift. When someone gives you a present on Christmas day, we are certain to say "thank you" and let the giver know how much we appreciate the gift, lest we appear to be ungrateful. And we wouldn't dare to reject the gift. Even so, if by chance, we failed to give a gift in return, we feel rather sheepish and undeserving. And that is true of the gift of Jesus, as well. We didn't do anything to accept His gift. In fact, we have done much to warrant NOT receiving anything at all. Yet, God saw fit to give us His Son because He loves us. He loves us unconditionally. Accept His Gift today. Merry Christmas, J.H.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 Perhaps one of the most popular passages in all of Scripture, and one that you will often see in the endzone of football games, and for good reason. The entire gospel comes to a focus in this verse. God's love is not static or self-centered; it reaches out and draws others in. Here God sets the pattern of true love, the basis of all love relationships - when you love someone dearly, you are willing to give freely to the point of self-sacrifice. God paid dearly with the life of His Son, the highest price He could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life that He had bought for us. When we share the gospel with others, our love must be like Jesus' - willingly giving up our own comfort and security so that others might join us in receiving God's love. On Christmas day, more than 2000 years ago, this is exactly what Jesus did: gave up His own comfort and security in order to become one of us and fulfill the greatest promise that the world will ever know. God Bless you, J.H.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 This passage provides the central theme of Deuteronomy. It sets a pattern that helps us relate the Word of God to our daily lives. We are to love God, think constantly about His commandments, teach His commandments to our children, and live each day by the guidelines in His Word. God emphasized the importance of parents' teaching the Bible to their children. The church and schools cannot be used to escape this responsibility. Do you ever wonder what is wrong with our children today? We have relied too much on our schools and paid too little attention to the other influences in our children's lives, such as television, music and even their friends, who many times have more of an impact in changing and shaping their world view than we do. The Bible provides so many opportunities for object lessons and practical teaching that it would be a shame to study it only one day a week. Our kids need to know that there is such a thing as Absolute Truth: what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong, and it has nothing to do with what you "feel is right for you," or "what's right for me is not necessarily right for everyone else." That's called Individualism and that is the biggest lie of the modern age. Eternal truths are most effectively learned in the loving environment of a God-fearing home. Teach your children well. God Bless you, J.H.

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Proverbs 23:4-5 We have all heard of people who have won millions of dollars and then lost it all. Even the average person can spend an inheritance - or a paycheck - with lightning speed and have little to show for it. Don't spend time chasing fleeting earthly treasures. Instead, store up treasures in heaven, for such treasures will never be lost (Luke 12:33-34). "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God . . . " At this time of Christmas commercialism, it is important to keep your mind on the real meaning of Christmas. It's not about what you get, it's about what you have already been given. If you truly stop and think about it, you already have everything that you need. Sometimes, our biggest challenge as Christians is being content. Pray for contentment today. Heavenly Father, I pray that you give me the Grace to see Your hand on my life today. I pray that you will continue to work out the circumstances of my life for Your glory. I may not be able to see my hand in front of my face, but You know how everything is going to work out, as You have already ordained the footsteps of my life. I pray for discernment and wisdom when making financial decisions for myself and my family and that we are content with all that you have blessed us with. I thank you and praise you, in Jesus' Name, Amen. God bless you, J.H.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ's control - we can't obtain them by trying to get that without His help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to His. We must know Him, love Him, remember Him, and imitate Him. As result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law - to love God and our neighbors. Which of these qualities do you want the Spirit to produce it you? Because the God who sent the law also sent the Spirit, the by-products of the Spirit-filled life are in perfect harmony with the intent of God's law. A person who exhibits the fruit of the Spirit fulfills the law, far better than a person who observes the rituals, but has little love in his or her heart. Look to Him today and learn from Him. Everything you strive to be, He is. Everything He has promised, is already yours. Receive it today. God Bless you, J.H.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of the one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each just as He determines. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 Here are the gifts of the Spirit, given to be shared as the beginning for all else that God has for those who open themselves up to be used by Him. All Christians have faith, however, some have the spiritual gift of faith, which is an unusual measure of trust in the Holy Spirit's power. "Prophecy" is not just a prediction about the future; it can also mean preaching God's Word with power. "Distinguishing between spirits" means the ability to discern whether a person who claims to speak for God is actually doing so. No matter what gift or gifts a person has, each gift is given by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit decides which gifts each one of us should have. We are responsible to use and sharpen our gifts, but we can take no credit for what God has freely given us. God bless you, J.H.

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. Joel 2:28-29 The Apostle Peter quoted this passage in Acts 2:16-21; the outpouring of the Spirit predicted by Joel occurred on Pentacost. While in the past, God's Spirit seemed available only to kings, prophets, and judges, Joel envisioned a time when the Spirit would be available to every believer. And that time is now. Ezekiel also spoke of an outpouring of the Spirit in Ezekiel 39:28-29. God's Spirit is available now to anyone who calls on the Lord. God gives us authority here on earth; authority that many believers do not utilize. When we take ahold of that authority, God releases His power to us from heaven. Because it is God's power and not ours, we become the vessel through which His power and Spirit flow. When we pray, we bring that power to bear upon everything we are praying about, and we allow the power of God to work through our powerlessness. When we pray, we are humbling ourselves before God and saying, "I need Your presence and Your power, Lord. I can't do this without You." Pray now, and pray hard. God Bless you, J.H.

So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 Many people believe that to survive in this world a person must be tough, strong, unbending, and harsh. But God says, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," The key words here are "by my Spirit." It is only through God's Spirit that anything of lasting value is ever accomplished. The exiles returned to Jerusalem and were indeed weak - harassed by their enemies, tired, discouraged, poor and hungry. But they had God on their side! And so do you. As you continue to live for God this Christmas season and beyond, determine not to trust in your own strength or abilities. Instead, depend on God and work in the power of his Spirit. That means slowing down. That means praying and seeking God's will. That means not worrying about tomorrow, but focusing on today. God wants us to redeem the time that He has given us and live for today. Right now. If we truly believe that He has a great plan for our life, let Him start working that plan out in your life today and stop thinking that it will happen sometime in the near future. Go out expecting great things. Expect a miracle. He will deliver. For He is faithful. God Bless you, J.H.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. Romans 8:26-27 As a believer, you are not left to your own resources to cope with problems. Even when you don't know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with you and for you, and God answers. With God helping you pray, you don't need to be afraid to come before Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you "in accordance with God's will." Then, when you bring your requests to God, trust that he will always do what is best. We do not need to come to Him with a lot of words and sound all holy and devout in order to be heard by God. He hears the simplest prayers of a child. Children don't beat around the bush when they pray. They get right to the point. Whatever they need, they ask for it; pure and simple. We need to remember to do the same. God has plans for you beyond what you can ask or imagine. He will not fail you. He will guide you towards all Peace. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Look to Him. Rely on Him. He is there. Always. God Bless you, J.H.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 Power from the Holy Spirit is not limited to strength beyond the ordinary - that power also involves courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority. The disciples would need all of these gifts to fulfill their mission. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you can experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. Jesus promised the disciples that they would receive power to witness after they receive the Holy Spirit. Notice the progression: 1) they would receive the Holy Spirit, 2) He would give them power, 3) They would witness with extraordinary results. Often we try to reverse the order and witness by our own power and authority, only to find out that we have very little power and no authority. Witnessing is not showing what we can do for God. Witnessing is telling what God has done for us, pure and simple. Heavenly Father, grant me boldness and courage today to stand up for what I believe. Grant me the grace to proclaim what you have done for me. Let me live by example worthy of your ultimate sacrifice. Allow me to receive your gracious gift that I may never, ever be the same. In Jesus' Name, Amen. God bless you, J.H.

"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify for you have been with me from the beginning." John 15:26-27 Jesus uses two names for the Holy Spirit - Counselor and Spirit of truth. The word Counselor conveys the helping, encouraging, and strengthening work of the Spirit. Spirit of truth points to the teaching, illuminating, and reminding work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit ministers to both the head and the heart, and both dimensions are important. The Holy Spirit is our constant companion and our Divine Teacher whose number one assignment is pointing us to Jesus. When we have learned that lesson, we will have pleased the Teacher, received power in our lives, and fulfilled the plan of the Father. And we then, have a responsibility to share with others what God has done in our lives. "To whom much is given, much is expected." God Bless you, J.H.