Feb
5
Who Built Your House?
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Hebrew 3:4-6
Jan
29
Listen Closely
By Jan Ross | 1 Comment
Not long ago I heard a story about a young man and an old preacher. The young man had lost his job and didn’t know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher.
Pacing about the preacher’s study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, “I’ve begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn’t God answer?”
The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply–something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. “What did you say?” he asked.
Jan
19
Hold Your Tongue
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
Psalm 39:1 I said, “I will guard my ways,
that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
Hold your tongue! As a child it was an admonishment to not talk back. As a teenager, it was turning the other cheek when girl’s sharp barbs were slung in my direction. Any retaliation would just escalate the torture and make things worse. Walk away as if they didn’t matter and it would really get their goat, and maybe hurt a little less. As a young adult, it was compromise, or a swallowing of my pride. Sure, their way made no sense, but they were the managers. Ours is not to question why.
Dec
24
Handel’s Messiah
By Jan Ross | Comments Off
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
One of the most majestic and anointed musical compositions of all times was written by George Frideric Handel in the 1700’s. One writer (1) stated, “As it turns out, The Messiah is either a Bible study with a beautiful concert attached, or a wonderful piece of classical music with a free Bible study included at no extra charge. I can’t decide which. I do remember reading that when Handel was alive, the Messiah was one of the most often performed pieces of music in concert, and that Handel gave away most of the profits obtained from his concerts to support orphaned children.”
Dec
22
Away in a Manger
By Jan Ross | Comments Off
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)
Probably one of the first songs little children are taught during this season is “Away in a Manger”. I can remember as a little girl singing this with my class in front of the entire church, each of us stepping out of the choir to say our verse while we recited the entire account of the birth of the Lord Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. It was something we looked forward to each year, singing the sweet lullaby about Baby Jesus and saying our memory verses.
Dec
18
The First Noel
By Jan Ross | Comments Off
“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” ( Luke 1:30-33)
Dec
9
O Holy Night
By Jan Ross | Comments Off
At the time of the Lord’s birth, the Jewish world was looking for Him. Little girls dreamed of being the chosen one who would be God’s appointed mother of the Messiah. The prophets, the seers and all were looking for something big to happen – the earth and the heavens were all pointing to a major event.


