Die to self This is a poem that I found from an unknown author. It was used from the message I recently taught, entitled “The Best Place to Be in Life ...
God is at work in North Valley. We are excited about all that He did in 2018. We believe God is going to do even more in 2019!...
I can only imagine what joy the wise men felt when brought their gifts to Christ. Joy, joy inexpressible, likely filled their hearts. Matthew records that three gifts were given. This is where many have concluded the number of wise men. The Bible doesn’t tell us how many wise men were actually present, but it does give us a clear description of three gifts that these wise men offered....
What is there to be joyful about on Christmas if your heart is overwhelmed with business? What is there to be joyful about if there is no family to share it? What is there to be joyful about if finances or health is failing? Steady yourself, Christian. The joy the Christ offers is not all limited by one’s circumstances. The joy that Christ offers you is that which was experienced at the first Christmas....
It might sound crazy to leave your home in search of a king, but the wise men studied the stars and scriptures and then made a decision. They would travel a great distance to come and worship a newborn King. Their honesty is strikingly bold....
The wise men had very little fear. They ask questions because they are learners and not afraid of looking dumb. We have a saying at North Valley: the leaders are the learners. Learners ask questions. Matthew tells us that the wise men came to ask King Herod where the King of the Jews was. ...
he wise men were counselors and advisors to political leaders within the Roman Empire. These men studied astrology, dreams, sacred prophetic scriptures, and the arts of magic. At the time of the writing, Jesus had been born in the town of Bethlehem, during the reign of Herod the King....
We have looked at God’s Word over the last twenty days, and we've seen how prophecies made concerning the coming Messiah have been fulfilled. From the birth location to the virgin Mary to his very own name, we have seen promises made, and promises kept. God’s Word is true....
Herod tried to kill Jesus as a toddler. The rumor of a king being born in his small jurisdiction was too much. Yesterday we learned about his fear and fury. Today we learn about King Jesus’ reign forevermore....
Who are you angry at? Is your anger solving the problem? Why are you angry?...
The timeless book of Ruth is timelier than ever. For the first time in U.S. history, the majority of adults are single. The same is true in many other nations around the world. As anyone seeking a mate can testify, finding a safe person is perhaps more difficult than ever. ...
Keep ReadingPerhaps the women were sitting together and weeping loudly at the thought of adding the loss of their close friendship upon their already devastated lives as Naomi continues to persuade her daughters-in-law to return to their families in Moab rather than journey with her for an uncertain future in Bethlehem. Orpah chose the ordinary course of reasonable action and returned...
Keep ReadingIn his book Necessary Endings, Dr. Henry Cloud explains how there are times in life where we need to have a clear ending with a person or place so that we can heal up and move into a new season of life. This is what happens after the funerals in Moab....
Keep ReadingHave you ever hit rock bottom? Have you ever lost someone you dearly loved? Have you ever felt like your whole world came crashing down, that there was no one to turn to and God seemed far away? ...
Keep ReadingWhile in Moab, Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, saw their sons marry Moabite women, which wasn’t technically forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 7:1...
Keep ReadingCan you recall the absolute worst season of your life? Do you remember how overwhelmed you felt, how exhausted you were, and how unsure you were if your future would ever get any better?...
Keep ReadingChristianity offers the hope of good news: a savior has been born, named Christ the Lord. We have a real need and a real savior who ALONE can really save....
Keep ReadingBesides Christianity, there are four predominant worldviews that compete for allegiance:...
Keep ReadingJesus is the Savior. All religions and worldviews outside of Christianity have one thing in common: God is not the savior. Either you are your own savior, or there’s no savior at all. ...
Keep ReadingLuke 2:8–21 is perhaps the most familiar passage in all Scriptures. Linus reads it every Christmas for the Charlie Brown television special. Almost every church has a nativity scene stashed somewhere. ...
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