The cry of Hosanna! is a prayer of deliverance infused with ecstatic praise. The people shout to Jesus, “I beg You to save us! Please deliver us!” Little did they know He was answering that prayer, but not as they expected.

Today is St. Patrick’s Day. We can be encouraged by the life, faithfulness, and love for God’s Presence that Patrick held. St. Patrick was not actually Irish. Rather, he was kidnapped by pirates at 16 years old and was taken to Ireland as a slave for six years. During that period of his life, he said that God’s Presence became very real to him. It was in the midst of slavery that Patrick began an intimate walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Saint Valentine's sacrifice for the sake of loving Jesus is an inspiring example for all of us. It reminds us that being a radical lover of God requires sacrifice, sometimes at the highest cost. As Christians, we are called to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This means putting God and others first, even when it is difficult or costly.

With the advent of Christ, we Gentiles have been grafted into the people of Israel. We now have entered into the glorious fold of eternal blessing and promise. We now by faith, receive the Lord - our exceedingly great reward.

Just as Noah was saved from the judgment of sin by the wood of the Ark, so shall all who call on the name of Jesus be saved by the wood of the cross soaked in the Savior’s blood.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). God had given them everything, yet they listened to the voice of the accuser and believed that God was holding back from them. In eating of the fruit they committed the original sin and the gates of Heaven were closed to all mankind.

Yet, man was not abandoned by God. The Father promised a coming Savior and Redeemer.

Out of all creation, mankind is the only work that God personally put His hands to; every other creation He spoke into existence. Imagine Adam’s first waking moment. The first time he opens his eyes, he is face-to-face with God breathing life into him. He was made to fellowship with God and worship Him.

God is the creator of all things. By speaking creation into being, God demonstrated His matchless creativity through all that was made. The beauty of our Creator’s gift gives us something to marvel at every day. Yet, in the midst of all creation, something stood far above everything else - God Himself. The greatest gift He has ever given us was Himself. 

Thanksgiving is a beautiful holiday where we can gather with our family and friends. We get to think about all God has done and focus on all we have to be thankful for. Thanksgiving reminds us to slow down and appreciate all God is doing in our lives. We get to celebrate and feast with the ones we love most. It’s truly amazing!

Too often we are more excited about the benefits of the Lord than the Lord Himself. We celebrate in victory, blessing, healing, and strength; but do we celebrate whenever we see and meet with Him? I have concluded that there is no way that I walk in the realization of the awesome wonder of God at all times. My life would look vastly different if I did.

“Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: ‘Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David’” Luke 1:67-69‬

In Genesis, we read that Abraham is elderly, and His aging wife has been barren from the earliest days of their marriage. Yet, even in his old age, God has given them a son, Isaac. God then asks Abraham to sacrifice his son. His only son.

God. Infinite. Immeasurable. Without beginning or end. His own Self-declaration says that He is the bookends of all creation; nothing exists without Him. If you are a student of Greek, you would know that Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last. Jesus here is telling John that, as his own gospel proclaims, He has existed from before the beginning of time and creation.

Miracle on 34th Street is one of my favorite Christmas movies. Surprisingly, there is a bit of political commentary in a Christmas film from the 1940s. In particular, judicial corruption. In the movie, Judge Henry Harper is tasked with the role of either committing Kris Kringle to a mental institution or providing a verdict that declares, “Santa is real.”

Bread has been a staple of survival throughout history. When reflecting on Jesus’ name, “Bread of Life,” I am drawn to the exodus journey. The Israelites wandered in the desert. Hot. Hungry. Tired. Thirsty. Yet, God, in His lovingkindness, provided manna for them every single morning. This mystery bread from heaven was their source of physical sustenance in the wilderness.

Perhaps High Priest is one of the more difficult names of Jesus to understand. Chances are, if you are reading this blog, you have no need for a biblical high priest in regard to your relationship with God. We understand that Jesus, our Savior, made a way for us to have perfect union with God. We can boldly enter His presence. The veil has been torn. The separation between God and man rent.

Jesus gives us wild hope, celebratory anticipation, and an unmatched sense of fulfillment. Here the prophet writes that there will be a shaking of the nations. This is not a gentle prod. Nor an awakening. It is a shaking of divine judgment that, as Calvin wrote, “shall habituate [the nations] to the ruling power of God.”

Throughout history, monks and mystics alike have often set apart the month of December as a time to reflect on His first coming in the flesh, to meditate on the present reality of His indwelling of believers, and to anticipate His final coming for His bride, the Church.

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the Wittenberg Church door. This was a catalytic event that would reform all of Christianity. Religious cycles that created a dead faith for hundreds of years were broken. October 31st is a day that the Lord has made, and we must remember that God is good and He is not limited by a number on a calendar.

Not every spontaneous moment is prophetic. Learn how to test prophetic songs against Scripture, love, and the edification of the church.