Candle Light Serve — Come to the light. Come as you are. You can be the Friend of God.

Candle Light Serve — Come to the light. Come as you are. You can be the Friend of God.

Letters to Santa … Naughty or Nice.

The Elf Ann the shelf is watching and making a report. 

All reinforces that my behaviour defines me.

What defines you determines you.   

Identity is the most important power that determines our actions. 

We will act according to our views of who we truly are—whether these views are accurate or not. 

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

When Light comes in contact with darkness … Light wins!!!

John 1:4-5 “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

1. Light Confronts Darkness      2. Light Equals Life     3. Light Doesn’t Hesitate          

He never holds back.   He rushes into every dark place.

 Luke 2:6-18  “So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. …

 … Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. … 

 … Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” …

 … And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” …

… So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” …

 … And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. …

 … And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. …

… Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”

Micah 4:8 “And you, O tower of the flock, The stronghold of the daughter of Zion, To you shall it come, Even the former dominion shall come, The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.”

Shepherds:– social outcasts

Jewish Law (Talmud)

“…not to be witnesses in courts.” “…no help given to heathen or shepherds.”

Unclean! No access to temple. In the right place at the right time.

Passover lambs were kept by specially trained shepherds. The lambs were born in this “tower of the flock”

The new lambs would even be wrapped in special swaddling clothes once certified.

Jesus was born surrounded by shepherds, set apart to certify the birth of the ultimate Passover Lamb.

Lesson From The Shepherds:

1. Never Believe You Are Insignificant

2. God’s Eye Is Always On You

3. He speaks your language

4. Outcasts Are Honoured Guests 

5. Seeing Him Is Transformational

“IF JESUS WERE BORN ONE THOUSAND TIMES IN BETHLEHEM AND NOT IN ME, THEN I WOULD STILL BE LOST.”     CORRIE TEN BOOM