Pastor H. Gene Allen

~ Good Morning and Happy Wednesday!

Today’s Bible verse comes to us from …

• Genesis 1:1 •

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (ESV‬‬)

Following is the breakdown of this verse.

✝️ “In the beginning”

A specific, absolute beginning of all time; or a general beginning of God’s work of creation.

✝️ “God”

The Hebrew word used here for “God” (Elohim) is plural, meaning God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit.

✝️ “created”

The Hebrew word for “create” (bara) is used in the Old Testament and refers to divine activity, meaning that (Yahweh) God alone (only) has the power to create.

✝️ “the heavens and the earth.”

This phrase refers to the entirety of creation, meaning both the heavens and the earth.

So, It was God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit who created the heavens and the earth, or all of creation.

Father God is the originator of all things. He is our beginning (alpha) and our ending (omega).

May we never forget this profound truth.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Charles Dickens said, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”

There’s something magical about this time of year. Even if people struggle because of the holiday season, most still have hope that somehow, and in some way, this next year will be different.

The real magic of Christmas is not in the festivities surrounding this sacred holiday, It is in living for something, and someone, beyond ourselves.

The warmth Christmas time brings can remain, we just have to make an effort to be the same people, from January through October, that we find ourselves being in November and December. As we go into January and the following months, we can carry on the warm feelings, and sensations of Christmas, by being intentional. I believe that we can purpose in our hearts to be the warm, sensitive, caring people that the Christmas season seems to bring out of us.

The most powerful thing we can do to keep our hearts warm and alive, thriving and festive, all year round, is to cultivate a heart of gratitude.

The Apostle Paul said, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭ESV‬).

‬ St. Francis of Assisi said, “It is in giving that we receive.”

We don’t have to wait until the Christmas season to make a difference in someone’s life. When we open our hearts and hands up to Heaven and release the grip on the things we tend to idolize, we become a conduit that God uses to impact others.

What if the blessings we receive on earth were meant to be turned around to bless others?

Every single day of our lives we get a new set of twenty-four hours to be the people that Jesus has called us to be. The people who are kind, generous, thoughtful, thankful, forgiving and fully devoted to following Jesus…all year long.

At Christmas time, we invest in others by the gifts, cards and sentiments that we share. I say, “Let’s Never Stop Investing In Others.”

May the gift of you, keep giving all year long.

Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning !!!

Please join me in reading these three verses of scripture …

• Isaiah 12:1-3 •

“You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to You, O Lord, for though You were angry with me, Your anger turned away, that You might comfort me. (2)“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.” (3)With joy You will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (ESV)

✝️ The people of Israel, God’s chosen people, had grossly sinned and disconnected themselves from God.

✝️ In chapter 11, Isaiah prophesied that Jesus was coming to save His people from their sins.

✝️ In chapter 12, Isaiah prophesies that the people of Israel, who will experienced the Lord’s forgiveness, and salvation, will praise the Lord for the great gift of salvation. Isaiah says, in 12:2 …

““Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation”” (Isaiah‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

⁉️ How often do you take the time to praise the Lord for the forgiveness, and salvation, that He has given you ⁉️

⁉️ So you’ve been saved for a long time; is it just “Old Hat” to you, or do you still feel the Joy of Salvation that Jesus originally gave you ⁉️

‼️ The Lord deserves our Continual, Highest Praise for what He has done for us ‼️

‼️ If you don’t still have your Joy of Salvation that you were given when you were saved, no matter how long ago it was, I encourage you today, to go back to Jesus, pray, rededicate your life to Him, and get that Joy Restored ‼️

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY, which shall be to All People. (11)For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke‬ ‭2:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬).

‼️ Joy is always attached to Jesus! If you’ve got Jesus, you should have genuine Joy ‼️

I pray that genuine joy is restored to you this very day.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning, Church Family and Friends:

I awoke early this morning with the following Special Prayer Requests on my mind and in my heart.

Perhaps you could consider these issues, and help me pray about them, as well.

We need a Healing, Blessing Breakthrough in our world today!

Let Us Pray …

🙏 Lord, please heal our land!

“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV‬)‬

🙏 Lord, please heal our land.

🙏 Lord, protect those working on the front-lines, those serving the sick and those in essential ministries, and anyone else, from getting COVID-19.

🙏 Lord, let all Christians and churches, reach-out with hope, and love, while people’s hearts are open to You.

🙏 Lord, how can I bless my church financially during these challenging days?

🙏 Lord, help me be a blessing to my pastor, and church, that feeds, and encourages me, spiritually.

🙏 Lord, please use me to bless others in Jesus’ name.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank you for helping me pray this prayer today, and thank you all for your faithfulness to the Kingdom of God.

You matter to Jesus. May you be abundantly blessed by Him.

✳️ Merry Christmas 🎄‼️ ✳️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

By Aaron Earls

For many looking for the frontlines in the “War on Christmas,” X marks the spot. Historically, however, X-mas is closer to Christmas than you may realize.

On the surface, X-mas seems like the definition of “taking Christ out of Christmas.” It literally replaces His name with an X. But when properly understood, it’s more like using “JFK” to refer to John F. Kennedy than removing a reference to Jesus from the celebration of His birthday.

WHEN X IS NOT REALLY X

The first part of understanding where X-mas originated is to recognize that the letter used in the abbreviation is not actually the English letter “x.” It’s the Greek letter chi and is the first letter of Christ.

In Greek, Christ looks like this: Χριστός.

Because of this, X has been used as an abbreviation for Christ, very early in Christianity.

The so-called Jesus Fish symbol comes from an acronym that incorporates X as a stand-in for Christ. ΙΧΘΥΣ is the Greek word for fish, but early Christians used it as shorthand for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”

Chi-rho XP

(Chi-rho symbol)

(See Symbol Below)

On October 27, 312 A.D., Constantine, in a fierce battle with Maxentius over the Roman Empire, claimed to vision instructing him to mark the shields of his soldiers with a sign for Christ.

Constantine combined the first two Greek letters of Christ to create the XP or chi–rho sign as a symbol for Jesus.

“Constantine instructed his soldiers to scrawl the letters on their shield before the Battle of Milvian Bridge, his victory in which led to the unlikely establishment of a Christian empire,” writes Matthew Schmitz at First Things.

“Far from a symbol of secularization, then, Xmas carries echoes of the clash of battle that inaugurated political Christendom.

X-MAS’ LONG HISTORY

The first use of X in an abbreviation for Christmas dates all the way back to an Anglo-Saxon scribe in 1021, who wrote “XPmas” as shorthand.

The Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage describes several variations of “Xtian” being used as an abbreviation for Christian since the 1400s.

X had become so closely tied to Christ that illiterate Jews at Ellis Island would not sign using the letter, according to a story relayed in Garner’s Modern American Usage. They instead chose to mark with an O.

“Xmas,” specifically, appeared in the letters of writers like Lord Byron and Lewis Carroll in the 1800s. Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes used it in 1923.

For years, people would simply read Xmas as “Christmas.”

“There’s a long and sacred history of the use of X to symbolize the name of Christ,” wrote theologian R.C. Sproul, “and from its origin, it has meant no disrespect.”

But that doesn’t stop many followers of Christ from seeing the term negatively. More than 4 in 10 Christians (42 percent) say it is offensive when people say “X-mas” instead of “Christmas,” according to a new study from LifeWay Research.

Instead of being offended, Christians could see someone using “X-mas” as a gospel opportunity.

X MARKS THE GOSPEL SPOT

People are open to faith-filled conversations this time of year. They expect to talk about Christ during Christmas.

Four in 10 Americans who never attend church (41 percent) say Christmas should be more about Jesus.

Whether others recognize it or not, the X in X-mas is a reminder of who Jesus is.In 2015, LifeWay Research found 61 percent of Americans typically attend church at Christmastime. And among those who do not attend, 57 percent said they were likely to attend if someone they knew asked them.

In 2010 LifeWay Research asked people when they are more open to considering matters of faith. Christmas was the most common response. Almost half (47 percent) said they were more open to thinking about faith during the holiday season.

With non-Christians ready to talk about Jesus this time of the year, someone using “X-mas” could open the door for a conversation about that X.

Ask if they know how the abbreviation started. Talk about how X-mas still points to Christ. Bring up why early Christians used the fish as a symbol.

Whether others recognize it or not, the X is a reminder of who Jesus is—the Messiah sent by God as a humble baby at the first Advent, but who will return one day in the second Advent as the conquering King.

You may not want to use X-mas personally, but someone else using the shorthand can give you an opportunity to talk about the long history of Christians recognizing Jesus as the Christ.

~ Good Morning!

Instead of a scripture and devotion this morning, how about a couple of Bible verses and a prayer?

Pray this prayer with me and sincerely mean it with all your heart and mind.

Have a blessed day!

— Pastor Gene

******************************

Dear Lord Jesus,

I thank You for coming to us as Immanuel, “God with us,” as Isaiah prophesied and as Matthew wrote in his Gospel…

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

I pray for those who are lonely this Christmas season, for those who are suffering, that You would visit them as Immanuel, God with them.

I pray that through their pain, Your presence would wash over them, covering them with Your joy and peace.

Please lead me by Your Holy Spirit, that I may be available to bring love and joy to those around me who may be lost, or struggling.

Give me the ability to see the world around me through Your eyes, this Christmas, and let me be more generous just like You.

Please use me as Your hands and feet, that Your goodness may be known wherever I go.

This Christmas, let the name of Jesus resound in my heart and in my life, and may I always be Your faithful child.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen.

~ Good Morning!

I’d like for you to read, and meditate, on Psalm‬ ‭8:1-9, today.

•—> What does the Lord want you to learn from this passage of scripture today?

•—> What is Father God personally saying to you out of this passage today?

•—> How can you use this information in your personal testimony?

• Psalm‬ ‭8:1-9 •

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. (2)Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. (3)When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, (4)what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? (5)Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. (6)You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, (7)all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, (8)the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. (9)O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (ESV‬‬)

I’ll be praying for you today!

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Let’s take a few minutes and reflect on Hebrews‬ ‭10:23-25‬. The scriptures say:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (24)And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (25)not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (ESV‬)

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.” — Bob Hope

A common tradition that people participate in during the final month of each year is sending out Christmas Cards.

The Christmas card began in the 1840s by Sir Henry Cole and was actually born out of his having too little time to respond to the correspondence that was stacking up in his house. He felt it inconsiderate not to respond to the people who wrote letters to him so he hired an artist to create the very first Christmas card for his family’s update. While some criticized him for this time-saving act, many others caught on and began sending their letters and cards out at Christmas time.

Christmas time! A time to love others! A time to reflect on relationships! A time to catch up with family, and old friends!

The writer of Hebrews, here, reminds us to …

✝️ Consider our own personal relationship with the Lord (v. 23).

✝️ Not only follow up, but “stir up” others, encourage others, in their personal walk with the Lord (v. 24).

✝️ Remind us that Christian’s need to meet together often, to encourage each other, and meet together even more often as the coming of the Lord draws nearer (v. 25).

Maria and I use to be really good at Christmas Cards, but honestly, now, because of our very busy holiday schedules, we don’t usually get those created and mailed out.

But I have an idea! Let’s take our scriptures, from today, and merge them with this Christmas Card idea. — What if we purposed to personally engage and encourage each other more often⁉️

We could be a personal “Christmas Card,” weekly, at Church‼️

We could be a personal “Christmas Card,” daily on social media‼️

This Christmas, and throughout forever, let’s catch up with, encourage, and offer hope, to friends, family, and old friends that maybe we haven’t spoke with in a long while‼️

Let’s encourage each other to continue serving, and being faithful to the Lord‼️

Let’s encourage each other not to give up, because of daily troubles, but to pray, to have hope and expect miracles‼️

I believe we can be a daily Christmas Card to, sincerely, let others know that we love them, that we really care for them and that we believe in them‼️

As a believer in Jesus, we’re suppose to be carriers of hope. Let’s offer hope to as many as we can this Christmas Season and at every other opportunity that we’re given.

You may not get a Christmas Card sent out, but you can be a personal reflection of the Reason for the Season.

The Lord bless you, and Merry Christmas 🎄 ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

~ Good Morning!

Look with me at …

• John‬ ‭8:12‬ •

“Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time He said, “I am the light for the world! Follow Me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”” (CEV‬)

✝️ “I am the light for the world!”

During this time, when Jesus was teaching those who followed, the Israelites were celebrating The Feast of Tabernacles. By this time, it’s probably evening. In the midst of great burning lights, which brightened up all the area which they were celebrating in, Jesus stepped out and proclaimed that He was The Light of the World!

This world is in darkness, a symbol of evil, sin, and ignorance toward God (John 3:19). “Light” in the Bible is a symbol of God and His holiness (John 1:5).

Jesus is “The Light,” not merely a light or another light among many lights. He is the only Light, “The True Light” (John 1:9), for the whole world.

✝️ “Follow Me, and you won’t be walking in the dark.”

When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He was speaking to those who would sincerely believe, obey and follow Him.

When He said, “you won’t be walking in the dark,” Jesus was speaking of His followers receiving True Salvation, and receiving The True Light.

Coming to Christ for salvation results in a different kind of life. It’s a saved life; a holy life. As a sincere believer of Jesus, we will never walk in darkness, nor will we live in darkness (John 12:46; 1 John 1:6–7) unless we chose to walk away from the Light.

✝️ “You will have the light that gives life.”

Again, a believer of Jesus, we’ll no longer be in darkness. We’ll no longer remain in the realm of evil and ignorance, because Jesus is our Light and Salvation.

❇️ Jesus will only lead us in the way of True Light and Abundant Life. ❇️

Jesus said, in John 12:46, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness.”

‼️ Have You Seen The Light ‼️

Are you walking in the Light of the Lord Jesus? You have a choice. Will you live in darkness, or Walk in the Light?

Come to the Light❗️

Accept Jesus as Lord of your life❗️

Dedicate yourself totally to the Lord❗️

I pray that you make the right choice today.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene

FamilyChurchAG.com

~ Good Morning and Happy Thursday!

Hey, it’s Friday Jr! You’ve almost conquered the week. Keep On Keeping On!

Today’s Bible verse, and Devotion, comes to us from …

• Galatians‬ ‭6:2 •

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (ESV‬)

1.) Christians should always help others who are carrying heavy burdens.

2.) Every believer should be involved in lifting other’s burdens by prayer and encouragement. When you do this, you are doing the work of the Lord.

3.) Though the principle of, “Bear one another’s burdens,” should apply to all burdens, this context has special reference to helping to bear the heaviest, and most oppressive burdens, and weights, such as temptation, spiritual warfare and ultimate spiritual failure.

4.) The word, “burdens,” here, in the Greek, literally means, “heaviest weights” or, “heaviest burdens.” — These heavy weights usually always exceed the strength of those who are under them.

‼️ Galatians 6:2 is saying that every believer should be about the business of helping others carry their heaviest burdens — especially those burdens/weights associated with spiritual temptation, and spiritual warfare, in which satan is trying to crush them. ‼️

I dare you, today, to ask Jesus to lead you to someone whom you can help carry a heavy load. You might just see a miracle happen today!

The Lord bless you as you serve Him, and others, while in this world.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene