Good morning!

With the New Year coming up I wanted to still reflect back on what is the real reason for celebrating Christmas. Well I ran across a post from a guy I follow on Facebook and felt he put it really well so today I am sharing his post here (his Facebook page can be found here - Red Pen Logic with Mr. B).

Culture presses hard to take us away from what is important here at Christmas so I really enjoyed his sharing of what is important - here it is:
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Red Pen Logic with Mr. B
Dec. 22, 2024

As we walked through a crowded mall in search of some last minute gifts, I could hear the faint but recognizable words to one of my favorite Christmas carols: "Joy to the world, the Lord is come."

At that moment, I turned to my daughter and asked, "What is the real reason for the season?"

Without missing a beat, she said, "Jesus!"

She's right. It's not about bright lights, or decorated trees, or finding the perfect gift. It's about Jesus.

But what is it about Jesus? How exactly is Jesus the reason for Christmas? The answer to this question lies in the reasons why Jesus came to this world.

As you reflect on Christ's advent, I wanted to give you 10 reasons why Jesus came to earth:
1. Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45).
2. Jesus came to bring light to a dark world. (John 12:46).
3. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance.(Luke 5:31-32).
4. Jesus came to give eternal life. (John 3:16).
5. Jesus came to bear witness to the truth. (John 18:37).
6. Jesus came to save sinners. (1 Tim. 1:15).
7. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.(1 John 3:8).
8. Jesus came to reveal his glory. (John 1:14).
9. Jesus came to do the will of the Father. (John 6:38).
10. Jesus came to fulfill the Law. (Matthew 5:17).
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I hope you see the richness of why we really celebrate Christmas.

This reflection on Facebook helped me refocus on Jesus. I pray you found it valuable as well.

Lord Jesus, my prayer as we go into this upcoming weekend, is that we focus on the fullness and richness of why You came to save us! Amen.

Happy New Year! Enjoy this weekend knowing the truth of the work, the peace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus,

​Patrick Engesser

Kathy and I wish to share our deepest gratitude, thanks and love for all including our friends and our families as we approach Christmas this upcoming week! The richness of God's love is wrapped in the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ which God further embellishes with the love we receive from all of you. This love shown by God is priceless because we know that Jesus then goes to the Cross for each of us, a love so deep there no words to describe love like that.

I have shared from another devotional email at times and do so today, as Arlin shared this blog post from the Navigators in his morning email and I found these shared prayers as something you might find value in as Christmas approaches:

From the Navigators blog
12 Prayers for Christmas
Often, the fast-paced time and space to connect with God through prayer is difficult. Use these 12 powerful prayers for Christmas to help you slow down and focus on the true meaning of this season—the celebration of Christ’s birth. Share these with a friend or small group and spend time praying them together as you anticipate your Christmas celebration.

Prayers for Christmas – Focused on Advent1. Love
Lord, help us follow the way of love—let the love of Christ compel us.
1 Corinthians 14:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14
2. Joy
Restore the joy of Your salvation to us; let us experience the joy of Your presence.
Psalm 16:11; Psalm 51:12
3. Peace
Let Your peace rule and guard our hearts; give us more of You, Jesus—You are our peace.
Ephesians 2:14; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 3:15
4. Hope
Enlighten the eyes of our heart so that we may know the hope You called us to.
Ephesians 1:18

Prayers for Christmas – Focused on God’s Sovereignty and Grace
5. Favor
Let Your favor rest on us.
Luke 2:52
6. Life
Shine Your light of life on us; help us to walk in it.
Job 33:30; Psalm 56:13
7. Salvation
Help us to fear You so we can unlock the treasure of Your salvation.
Isaiah 33:6

Prayers for Christmas – Focused on Spiritual Growth
8. Selflessness
Keep us from self-seeking attitudes that reject truth.
Romans 2:8
9. Generosity
Make us rich in ways that result in generosity on our part so You will be praised.
2 Corinthians 9:11
10. Receiving
Help us receive Your kingdom, Your Spirit, and Your grace.
Daniel 7:18; John 20:22; Romans 5:17

Prayers for Christmas – Focused on Worship
11. Seeking
Encourage us to seek Your face with all our hearts.
Deuteronomy 4:29; Psalm 27:8
12. Praise
We ascribe glory to Your name, Lord; we come before You in worship for You are holy.
1 Chronicles 16:28-29

I would like to close with a thought or two based on a John Piper devotional Kathy and I read last night titled "The Christmas Model for Missions".

Consider this verse - John 17:18 - " As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.' This is Jesus praying to God the Father about the apostles but His prayer extends to us as well (Matthew 28 we see this in the Great Commission).  The thought here by Jesus can be summarized as..."As I, so you".

This "as I, so you" struck me last night thinking about how Jesus came into the world at His birth. Humble, in a manger, far away from home for Mary and Joseph, exposed and vulnerable - yet this was what God the Father planned.

So, we often are sent in a way similar to Jesus's birth - humbly - dependent on obedience to God, exposed and vulnerable, far from home. As God the Father planned. In our trust and love of Him, God equips us through His ever present Holy Spirit. 

As Jesus stepped away from the throne in heaven to become Immanuel, "God with us", He put all His trust in the Father, as we should also do. I urge you to consider this go forward as a way to consider what the birth of Jesus Christ represents for us.

As I, so you...

Lord Jesus, my prayer as we go into this upcoming weekend, we focus on Your sending us with the idea of "as I, so you"! I pray, we trust the Father and allow ourselves to be sent in your name Lord Jesus! Amen.

Praying a blessed Merry Christmas to you all! With much love!

Enjoy this weekend knowing the truth of the work, the peace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus,

​Patrick Engesser

Good morning!

Kathy and I have finished our "road trip" celebrating our "retirement" milestone. Interestingly, that has caused me to look back and consider the road traveled in my life so far.

As I reflected about the past, this phrase we all likely have heard popped into my head - "God is Good". That is the conclusion I come to when I consider my life, my missteps, my sins - God has been good, is good and will be good. 

So what does scripture say about His goodness? Well, here are some verses I found regarding God's goodness and a few thoughts I have on these verses:

1. "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth." Exodus 34:6 - God is speaking to Moses here (and to His chosen people Israel). But we should have this same understanding about His goodness - despite our rebellion, our sin, our turning away from Him, He offers His mercy and grace to us. Even though He is Holy, He tolerates for long periods of time disobedience and rebellion - this is God is Good embodied.
2. "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34 - This exclamation from the author here is a recognition of God's goodness as it seems the writer has seen God mercy.
3. "And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Ezra 3:11 - Again, God's goodness is linked to His patience and mercy.
4. "Good and upright is the Lord." Psalm 25:8 - Why would this be the case? We see in Genesis 1 that as the Creator, is the source of all that is good. In His creation work we see that all he created was found to be good - and in the case of mankind - man and women - very good.
5. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6 - When we turn back to God, trust in Jesus, we have the ability to start seeing His goodness and mercy in our lives. Again, His mercy is linked to His goodness - we do not merit His mercy yet He in His goodness provides it.
6. "The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psalm 145:9 Another linking of His goodness to His mercy. And He extends His mercy to all - those who know His Son Jesus and those who do not or who deny him...
7. "No one is good but One, that is, God." Mark 10:18 See number 4 above - again looking back to Genesis, it was not God who failed but rather Adam and Eve (i.e. mankind). Our failure in Genesis 3 and going forward does not mean God and His good creation somehow lost their goodness. However, it does mean only God is good until we are fully restored in Jesus Christ at His second coming when all things are made new (Revelation 21:5)
8. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17 - God is not inconsistent - His is always good, He is always the same  - yesterday, today and tomorrow. All His gifts therefore will be good whether we recognize the goodness or not.
9. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11 - Although redeemed, full restoration awaits us as we go through the sanctification process. During that time we still sin, but despite that God the Father will still answer our righteous prayers.
10. "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13 - God's goodness is there for us to see even now, if we choose to open our eyes as believers in Jesus Christ - we can see His work and therefore His goodness even in the turmoil of the world.
11. "I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness." Psalm 145:5-7 - Here the psalmist is acknowledging the goodness and greatness of our God. If we believe we too should recognize His glorious and beautiful  might and goodness!
12. "He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." Psalm 33:5 - You and I have been justified and given righteousness through Jesus Christ, not something we have earned. One can only see this as good - there is no other way to understand this.
13. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" Psalm 34:8 - For those of us who now believe in Lord Jesus as our Savior and trust in Him, should know the delicious taste of goodness and each of use have received His blessing in trusting in Jesus.
14. "Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting." Psalm 100:4-5 - Another linking of God's mercy to His goodness - the mercy and therefore goodness we receive from God is eternal.
15. "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness." Psalm 107:8-9 = The psalmist is letting us know that for those that hunger for a deep relationship with God will have that hunger for a deeper relationship satisfied through God's goodness. 
16. "The Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." Psalm 92:15 - The psalmist shares here that God is fully and perfectly righteous (just a reminder that we are not). In order for one to be considered "good" in this way, they would  need the perfect righteousness of God. This underlines why God is good, good always, and we are not.
17. "You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes." Psalm 119:68 - The psalmist is asking God to write on his heart God's will and in asking this He is acknowledging God's goodness. We likewise should seek to get closer to God by having our hearts transformed by His goodness and will.
18. "Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies." Psalm 69:16 - God is being acknowledged here as good, full of loving kindness and offering His tender mercies - let us turn to our good God and receive His loving kindness and tender mercies especially in the difficult seasons.
19. "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him." Nahum 1:7 - Nahum is sharing that a part of God's goodness is His love and protection during seasons of struggle - He  will be our protection if we are willing to put our trust in Him. God is good.
20. "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." Psalm 31:19-20 - As a believer, the words of this psalmist should give us great peace and hope. For out of God's goodness when we trust in Him, we can seek and receive His protection as we go into the daily battles of our lives in a broken world.

In my reflections on the goodness of God, I see that even when I was lost, God's finger prints were on my life. For it was His hand that guided me back to Him, it was His call and work that brought me to His Son, my Savior Jesus Christ.

As we approach Christmas, how have you seen God's goodness in your life?

When I think about God sending His only Son, Jesus - Emmanuel, God with us - how can I not know that God is good?

Lord Jesus, my prayer as we go into this upcoming weekend, is that we focus on Your goodness and how that goodness is reflected in our celebrating Your birth, the deepest expression of love and goodness we will ever know, truly a good gift from the One who is our Hope! Amen.

Enjoy this weekend knowing the truth of the work, the peace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus,

​Patrick Engesser

Kathy and I are now one week into our road trip. A trip meant to be time together after our "retirements" this year. And because of the time of year, we are including stops that give us a peek at Christmas preparations in other places.

This has me thinking about how have I seen Jesus Christ recently especially now that we are in Advent and are meant to be preparing our hearts - making Him room. So here is a little bit about our journey this last week and how Jesus has been present...

Our first official stop on our road trip was Columbia Tennessee which is near Nashville. The reason for this stop was to see David Phelps, a singer we saw at our church earlier this year. He put on a Christmas concert in his barn in Culleoka Tennessee. Beautiful Christmas music in a unique and cozy venue.

This allowed us to have a few conversations with those around us. This included a farmer, his wife and several of their grandchildren from Pennsylvania. Part of their farming operation is to put on fall harvest events including a corn maze. This farmer and family have been attending these events since 2010. They love David and his performances and his focus on Christ centered music.

Our next stop on this journey was Memphis Tennessee. Here we enjoyed some good jazz and soul music on Beale Street, toured the Rock and Soul Museum, saw where Martin Luther King Jr. was killed and ate at some good restaurants.  In the process we met a couple of interesting people.

The first person was Carol, an African American woman working at one of the bars/restaurants on Beale street. We were looking to find some coffee to warm us up in the chilly weather. She invited us in and made a fresh pot of coffee for us. While we enjoyed this hospitality we had an opportunity to get to know Carol and learn about her life a little bit, As we readied ourselves to leave, Carol told us the coffee was on the house. We know from her story she does not have a lot so this was a precious gift to us. What a Christ like thing for her to do...

The morning of our leaving Memphis, we decided to have breakfast at a place Carol recommended to us called Sugar Grits. There we met our servers Duke and Daphne. Both sweet and with big hearts. Daphne was especially sweet. I happened to be wearing one of my FMSC logoed shirts and Daphne noticed this and asked about it. Kathy and I shared with her about the organization, its work, its focus on Christ. Because of this Daphne gave us our coffee for free - she donates to organizations like FMSC and just felt moved by what she heard - praising God for FMSC serving God's children.

Our next and current location is Branson. Last night we had dinner at Mel's hard Luck Diner. Our server's name was Kelly. All the servers are also singers - Kelly sang a beautiful new Christ focused Christmas carol we had never heard before - it was wonderful. Kelly also had a t-shirt on that had a Christmas tree with a star on top and the words below the tree were "Jesus - He is my reason". I know in Branson it is easy to see a person put forth their faith easily but I see boldness in claiming Christ one's savior on the shirt everyone sees all day long.

I know that I pray before trips like this for Jesus to be present, give show us opportunities to share Him or to touch a life in His name.

This trip we were not necessarily the light and salt but we were the ones who saw light and salt in others.

​A friend and I had a discussion recently about Christmas. About it being secular, pagan and not on the actual date of Jesus' birth.  I know that these are important questions and concerns. But I think for me as a Christian I need to be looking for Jesus Christ in the world as we celebrate this holiday, keeping my focus on Jesus, not just during this season but all year long.

Without the incarnate birth of Jesus Christ, we have no Cross and no Resurrection and then would not have the Hope that He is...

How have you been experiencing Jesus Christ recently? What have you seen and how did it touch you?

​Lord Jesus, my prayer as we go into this upcoming weekend is that we focus on You in all that we do, for it is by Your mercy and grace and love that you are present in our relationships with others and in that we get to see glimpses of You now! Amen.

Enjoy this weekend knowing the truth of the work, the peace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus,

​Patrick Engesser