Author: pastorpete51

Born Again at Christmas

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Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 
John 3:3 ESV

This famous verse comes at the start of a conversation between a Jewish teacher, named Nicodemus and Jesus. Interestingly, Nicodemus had just finished saying that he knew that Jesus must have come from God because of the miracles he had seen Him doing. Then Jesus interrupts him, to say, “Unless you are born again, you cannot see who I really am!” Jesus was happy that Nicodemus understood that Jesus came from God, but he wanted Nicodemus to see the whole picture; and for that to happen, Nicodemus needed to be spiritually reborn.

Just as Jesus had to be born, in order to come to earth, we must ask God to change our hearts in order to receive eternal life and go to Heaven. Just as Jesus had to be born as a real human baby, we must be born again to receive the life He came to bring. Jesus came to earth at Christmas. Now God is asking us to receive Him into our hearts as our Savior, so that we can be born again and spend an eternity of Christmases with Him!

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Christmas Communion Service

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 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 1 Corinthians 11:23 ESV

Since our meetings at Watermark are only on the 1st and 3rd weeks each month, this past Sunday was our last service of 2023. What a beautiful time we shared together. If you watch the video, you may notice one of our ladies passing by the camera as she serves communion. Maybe it feels so right to be singing Silent NIght, as we take the bread and the cup, because, in the words we are remembering the birth of Jesus and in the elements, we remember His death. I pray that you also find the peace of our Lord, through the shed blood of Jesus, not only at Christmas time, but even on those moments when you feel betrayed by life. Jesus gave us His example, washed our feet and then laid down His life. At birth, He was laid in the manger, and in death He was laid on the cross. At birth He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and nursed by Mary. In death He was stripped, and while soldiers gambling for His clothing, they gave Him vinegar to drink. These are two silent nights that bring us hope and salvation. The first in Bethlehem, the second at the garden tomb. At Christmas we should remember both of them, as the precious gifts of God’s love that they are, and then fully surrender our hearts and lives to Him.

Joy to the World!

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And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:20 KJV

After passing through the halls singing carols one-night last week, it seemed clear that there were many places far more joyful than a nursing home. And yet…the tears that flow, the peace that is evidenced on their faces and by their attitudes, tells me that there is a joy which God once sent to earth, in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. I am so glad that He came as a real baby, to a real stable in Bethlehem, and willing lived among us to show us the way to Heaven. He humbled Himself even further and allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross, and the book of Hebrews tell us that it was all for the joy set before Him. From the cross, Jesus could look out over thousands of years and see the faces of every one of us who have come to Him for forgiveness and Salvation. What could be more joyful message than this? I do hope you enjoy our rendition of Joy to the World – Isaac Watts 1719. As a side note, the lady singing with me is not my dearest, but one of our several volunteers who come to help at the nursing homes where we serve.