Christmas comes with so many fun traditions that we love to take part in, from the additional time with our families we treasure, to the gifts we share, the lights we behold, the decorations we hang, the food we enjoy, and the many other fun traditions our families hold on to. All of these things are great on many levels, but it is easy to lose the real meaning of Christmas in the midst of all of these traditions if we are not careful. Christmas is about far more than traditions, isn't it? It is about the eternity altering reality of God becoming man. This season is all about Jesus.

If we are going to make Christmas all about Jesus in our homes we are going to have to be intentional, and now is the time to start planning. 

If we want to see Jesus as the central theme of our Christmas celebration and hope that it will all just fall into place you are either naïve or lead a charmed life. That isn't how life works, is it? Calendars and schedules fill up quickly. When we do have time, we find ourselves tired from all that we have crammed into our schedules, and in the end the things that we hoped would happen never came to fruition. We all know this to true, right? So what are you going to do? How will you make Jesus central to your Christmas season?

Gifts are a staple in Christmas traditions, aren’t they? What if we took time with our family to express why Jesus is the greatest gift that has ever been given before we exchange the gifts we got one another? What if we reminded one another that these gifts that we are sharing are not given out of tradition, but are given out of celebration as we rejoice over the greatest gift ever given, Jesus? We need to take time to pray before gifts had been handed out and than God for the gift of Jesus? In doing this we could ensure our traditions exalt Jesus rather than distract from Him. This could remind us that He is the reason we are celebrating and even our gift giving could be a time of worship.

Please join me in prayer  Father God thank you for your awesome love and giving us the ultimate gift- Jesus  We appreciate All you do for us  We know we need to share Your love with everyone we meet.  We need to make our walks match our talks.  We need and should take care of those less fortunate than us this Christmas season and always.  We need to to do it more without words but actions.  Put on our hearts to call, email or text the Brothers and Sisters in Christ to tell how much we appreciate all they go and for sharing their gifts with us.  We ask all of this in Your Holy Name - AMEN.

Have a great and blessed day and week.

STAY STRONG!

Remember I am there for you in thought, prayer and action - 24x7.

Love Your Brother and Friend in Christ 

Michael 

215-272-2740

December 10, 2018

Brother,

I hope and pray all is well with you and your family today.

 ^“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20

The above is one my favorite Bible verses.  This verse spoke to my heart many years ago and constantly encourages me.  I believe this verse is one of the main reasons I started, along with other Brothers to have our retreats, better man of God conferences, and our Brothers Night out, etc.  

 

Discipling involves teaching but is more than just teaching – it is setting and leading by example. You can tell someone how to do it but showing them is so much more effective. People learn a little by what you say, more by what you do and the most by who you are! Those who merely teach, have pupils, but those who disciple, make followers.

 

We are to reach out to others with the explicit objective of making them into a disciple of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is the primary thing we need to do and should be our primary goal.

 

Please join me in prayer, Father we pray at we become a Brother of both word and prayer: That we would follow Jesus as He speaks to us (Word) and as we speak to Him (Prayer) in all of life, in everything.  We pray that we grow as closer to You and to each other: That we would disciple each other as a family, in community. We would be committed to the Great Commandment & Great Commission: That we would love God passionately with our heart, soul, and mind, and love each other with the overflowing love and grace of the Gospel. And that we would make disciples of all nations as we proclaim God’s love and call others to follow with us.  We ask all of this in Your Holy and Precious Name – AMEN.

 

Have a great and BLESSED day and week.

 

STAY STRONG!

 

Love-Your Brother and Friend in Christ,

 

Michael

215-272-2740