Today on the show we read some devotionals from Our Daily Bread. We also gave an update on the Food For The Hungry total.
Here are the devotional’s that I chose:
“True Identity” by Xochitl Dixon. You can find the link here.
“We Need Our Church Community” by John Blase. You can find the link here.
Congratulations to Jean of Johnstown for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!
Thanks for listening!
-Dylan
Today on the show we shared some Christmas devotionals.
Here are the Christmas devotionals that we chose:
MATTHEW 1 – THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS
#1
The New Testament begins in Matthew 1 with what’s called “the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah.” Have you ever wondered why?
Matthew’s Gospel doesn’t begin with the nativity itself…the star, the shepherds and the manger. Instead, it begins with a long list of ancestry. And let’s be honest- how many times have we skipped through this?
In his book, Hidden Christmas, Pastor Timothy Keller gives us perspective on why Matthew started the story of Jesus this way. He reminds us that Christmas is not just about a birth, it is about a coming.
The birth of the Son of God into the world is a gospel, a good news, an announcement that says, you don’t save yourself – God has come to save you. Of course, Christmas is just the beginning of the story of how God came to save us. Jesus will have to go to the cross. But you begin with Christ by believing this report about what has happened in history. Matthew tells us here that this story is no fairy tale – Jesus is real!
Matthew doesn’t start his book with “Once Upon a Time.” That is the way fairy tales or legendary fantasy stories begin. Matthew is grounding who Jesus Christ is and what he does in history with the genealogy. Keller reminds us that in Matthew 1, we learn that Jesus is not a metaphor – he is real. This all happened!
#2
In this genealogy at the beginning of the New Testament, what else is Matthew saying? Pastor Keller writes that the list of Jesus’ genealogy is also a type of resume. In those times, your family, pedigree and clan made up your resume. Therefore, this list is really saying, “this is who Jesus is.”
Matthew’s genealogy is shockingly different from the other ones of his time. First, there are five women in the list. Three of them, Tamar, Rahab and Ruth, are Gentiles. The Jews would have considered them unclean. In fact, Tamar was a prostitute. He also refers to “Uriah’s wife,” who you may know is Bathsheba. These names recall some of the most difficult stories in the Old Testament. Yet, they are in Jesus’ genealogy. Why?
But wait, in verse 6 we have the name King David. We might think, “now there is somebody we want in our genealogy!” David, after all, was the boy who killed Goliath, favored by Saul, anointed as King, and the man who conquers Jerusalem. But David also was a flawed man, who arranged the killing of his friend Uriah and whose son Solomon was the result of his affair with Bathsheba. Yet out of that deeply flawed man, the Messiah came. These people are all acknowledged in Matthew 1 as the ancestors of Jesus.
So what does that mean? Tim Keller asks us to think about it this way:
It means that people who are excluded by culture, society and even by the law of God can be brought into Jesus’ family. If you repent and believe in Him, the grace of Jesus covers your sin and unites you with Him.
Moreover, with King David, it means even the powerful and great are still in need of the grace of Christ. It is not what you have done; it is what Christ has done for you!
God is not ashamed of us. We are all in His family!
A: Matthew
Congratulations to Janice of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!
Thanks for listening!
-Alyssa and Dylan
Today we shared more Christmas praises!
Joe shared one of his favorites from 2019:
One of the first indications of the Christmas season is LIGHT. The appearance of lights seemingly everywhere – on trees, with candles, above streets; there is radiance all around us.
Lights are not just for decoration of course, they are symbolic.
In his book, Hidden Christmas, Pastor Timothy Keller says one of the most important spiritual truths at Christmas is this: the world is a dark place, and we will never find our way or see reality unless Jesus IS our light.
Keller writes that the word ‘darkness’ in the Bible refers to evil and ignorance. The world has evil and untold suffering. The world also has no one who can cure the evil and suffering. We look towards the earth and our human resources to try to fix the world. We think we can end darkness with intellect and innovation. That’s the ignorance.
So the message of Christmas is NOT, “we will be able to put together a world of unity and peace.” The message, instead, is a humble one: “Things really are this bad and we can’t heal or save ourselves. Nevertheless, THERE IS HOPE.”
Notice the verse in Isaiah doesn’t say the light comes from the world…it says that upon the world a light has dawned. It has come from the outside, and Jesus has brought that light to save us! Because, as John 8:12 says, He IS that light!
Dylan shared a Christmas thought from Amy Boucher Pye in ‘Our Daily Bread’…
When John’s cold turned into pneumonia, he ended up in the hospital. At the same time, his mother was being treated for cancer a few floors above him, and he felt overwhelmed with worries about her and about his own health. Then on Christmas Eve, when the radio played the carol “O Holy Night,” John was flooded with a deep sense of God’s peace. He listened to the words about it being the night of the dear Savior’s birth: “A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!” In that moment, his worries about himself and his mother vanished.
This “dear Savior” born to us, Jesus, is the “Prince of Peace,” as Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He came to earth as a baby, bringing light and salvation to “those living in the land of the shadow of death” (Matthew 4:16; see Isaiah 9:2). He embodies and gives peace to those He loves, even when they face hardship and death.
There in the hospital, John experienced the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) as he pondered the birth of Jesus. This encounter with God strengthened his faith and sense of gratitude as he lay in that sterile room away from his family at Christmas. May we too receive God’s gift of peace and hope.
A: Mark
Congratulations to Rebecca from Butler, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!
Pat from Mount Vernon and Pam from Fredericktown!
Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Dylan
Today on the show we read the last two Christmas Devotionals from Our Daily Bread. We also had our weekly Bible trivia where one lucky person has a chance to win a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup.
Here are the two Christmas Devotionals from Our Daily Bread:
Through The Tears
I dreaded facing another Christmas hundreds of miles away from family. Loneliness and disappointment stirred into discontent, spewing out of my mouth as complaints when my husband suggested we unpack the holiday decorations. How could I be joyful when my heart ached?
Sipping a cup of hot chocolate, I glanced at the glass-front cabinet in our dining room. An overhead light shone on the nativity set I display year-round. A figurine of porcelain with Isaiah 9:6 carved on the front sits next to a wooden shepherd. “Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace.” As I whispered each name, I grew more and more confident that my tear-filled season could never smother the joy of knowing my Savior.
The prophet Isaiah announced the coming of the Messiah more than seven hundred years before Christ’s birth in Bethlehem (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus is Wonderful Counselor—trustworthy and able to guide us. He is Mighty God, who always was and always will be the one true God with limitless power. He is Everlasting Father, the eternal Maker of time. He is Prince of Peace, the one who restored man’s relationship with the Father.
Though believers in Jesus can’t avoid the darkness of this world, we can fix our eyes on Him—the greatest light of the world. We can rejoice in knowing Christ even through the tears.
By: Xochitl E. Dixon
O Come Emmanuel
It seems we seldom go beyond the first or second verses of our beloved Christmas carols. But, buried deep in the lyrics of one Christmas hymn—in verse seven!—are words that seem uniquely in tune with our times. “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” written in the twelfth century, pleads:
O Come, O King of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
And be yourself our King of Peace.
I can’t imagine a more appropriate prayer for our fractious, splintered generation. With the tone of public debate and private disagreement at what seems to be an all-time high for anger and aggression, how desperately we need the King of Peace to come to our help. The “sad divisions” we exhibit in our communities, churches, workplaces, relationships, and families can only be overcome with the help of the One who came to forgive, heal, and restore. No wonder Isaiah anticipated the coming Jesus by calling Him “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
The apostle Paul urged us to put this into practice. “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts; he wrote. “For as members of one body you are called to live in peace” (Colossians 3:15). As we allow this peaceful Prince to restore our relationships, we ourselves become agents of His peace.
By: Bill Crowder
Congratulations to Rachel of Gambier for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!
Thanks for listening!
-Dylan and Jonathon
Today on the show we read some Christmas devotionals from Our Daily Bread. We also had our weekly Bible trivia where one lucky person has a chance to win a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup.
Here are the two Christmas devotionals that we read today.
THE TRUE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS
“Sometimes I feel lonely, and it makes me wonder how lonely they must get out here.”
That was spoken by Asteria, director of a faith-based community group who brought Christmas to El Campamento, a makeshift tent city where many drug-addicted people live. She noted how the holidays can be difficult for those on the street. So she decided to embody Christ’s love by setting up a Christmas tree among the discarded needles; by bringing them gifts, warm drinks, and food; and by leading the singing of Christmas carols. The response was heartening, she said, with many of the homeless voicing their desire to be forgiven by their family and asking for prayer.
In serving the people of El Campamento, Asteria and her team illustrate the true message of Christmas-the gift of God coming to meet us through His Son Jesus. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law” (GALATIANS 4:4-5). Even though we all do wrong, God invites us to become His heirs and children (v.7). He calls those who live on the streets and those who live in mansions to accept His gift of saving grace.
Through Jesus, God gives us the true gift of Christmas right where we are. May we receive and share this gift of love.
By AMY BOUCHER PYE
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
It was just a few days before Christmas and my wife, Cari, was standing in the checkout line at the market. The young mother in front of her was carefully assessing the contents of her cart and slowly setting aside items one by one. Cari’s initial impatience turned to compassion as she surveyed the growing pile of items that had been removed and realized the woman didn’t have enough money to purchase them.
“I’d like to pay for those,” she told the checker. The young mother turned with a surprised look on her face: “That’s too much!” she said. Cari, prompted by God’s love and remembering how a stranger, miles away, had bought our own daughter’s groceries in a difficult time, smiled and responded, “Merry Christmas.” They both left the store with tears in their eyes.
Christmas came early to our home with a fresh awareness of God’s kindness and generosity to us through His Son. Solomon wrote in Proverbs of those who are generous: “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (11:25). In the following days we were refreshed by a renewed understanding of how God had met our greatest need of all-our need for a Savior-and how His love can unexpectedly overflow from our hearts to others in need.
Kindness is contagious! Because of what Jesus has done for us, may God give us grace to make a generous, practical difference in others’ lives.
By JAMES BANKS
Congratulations to Karen of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!
Thanks for listening!
-Dylan and Jonathon
Today on the show we talked about how it is the last day to get registered to win a turkey from Smith Hisler Meats. We also read devotionals from Our Daily Bread. We had our weekly Bible trivia where one lucky person has a chance to win a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup. We talked about some details related to Food For The Hungry.
Dylan’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Laundry Day”. You can find the link here.
Jonathon’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Serving The Least”. You can find the link here.
Congratulations to Dawn of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!
Congratulations to Elizabeth and Justin of Mount Vernon for being registered to win a turkey from Smith Hisler Meats!
Thanks for listening!
-Dylan and Jonathon
Today on the show we talked about the devotionals that we picked out from Our Daily Bread.
We also talked about how there will be no NZ Top 10 tomorrow due to the MVNU Women’s Basketball game.
We also did our weekly Bible Trivia.
We also played Tom’s Turkey gobble that enters two people for a chance to win a Turkey from Smith Hisler Meats.
Dylan’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Living In The Branches”. You can find the link here.
Jonathon’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Our Reason For Joy”. You can find the link here.
Congratulations to Lydia of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!
Here are the people who were entered for a chance to win a turkey from Smith Hisler Meats:
Clarence of Howard and Heather of Mount Vernon
The winner will be announced next Friday morning on the Morning Thing at approximately 7:30am.
Thanks for listening!
-Dylan and Jonathon
Today, Dylan and I shared our favorite worship music while also sharing devotionals for Praise Thursday!
Dylan shared his devotional from Leslie Koh called Plans Disrupted. Read it here!
Jonathon’s devotional comes from Jennifer Benson Schuldt and is called “A Divine Duet”.
Answer: Andrew and Peter
Congratulations to Linda of Utica for correctly guessing our Bible Trivia and winning a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!
Thanks for listening!
Jonathon and Dylan
Today on the show we talked about how Clergy Appreciation Month is wrapping up tonight.
We also talked about how we have games coming up this weekend.
We also shared some devotionals from Our Daily Bread.
This week, Dylan’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled, “A Great Ending”. You can find the link here.
This week, Jonathon’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled, “Where Choices Lead”. You can find the link here.
Congratulations to Nancy of Fredericktown for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!
Thanks for listening!
-Dylan and Jonathon
Driving Notes 