What a great way to start out 2024!

Learning to become a Woman of Strength: How to be filled with the Spirit, How to depend on Jesus’ power, Learning to live well with Jesus, and learning how to strong in the Lord.

EG Ministries will be hosting a Women’s Weekend at Black Rock Retreat in Quarryville, Lancaster County, February 23-25. We would like to invite you to attend, as we learn from God’s Word, fellowship, and enjoy the grounds in the company of like minded women. 

Please invite a friend to join us too!

You will find information and a registration form at the bottom of the Home page, (scroll down). You may call 610.626.3332 for more information.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Coming from a family of artists and crafters, we make a lot of handmade gifts for Christmas. It’s fun to see what each project looks like because I understand that each person puts their own little slant on what they are creating.

A different color palette

Fantasy trees in a landscape

Caricatures

Adding a bit of a different medium to whatever is being created.

At this time of year, I see a lot of artistic license in the way that the Nativity is portrayed in story and in art.

Did Mary ride a donkey? Scripture says “they went up.” (Luke 2:4-5) She may have ridden on a donkey and they would probably have gone with a caravan or at least a group of people for safety reasons, but Scripture doesn’t tell us.

Was Jesus born in a stable or a cave? (Matthew 2:6-7) First of all the inn was probably a family home, and not a hotel as many people think. Because of the census, it would have been crowded everywhere. Tradition holds that He was born in a stable but at that time, stables were often part of the house. Some also believe that He could have been born in a cave in a hillside nearby. The manger or feeding trough could have been in either place.

When did the wisemen arrive to see the Child and how many wisemen were there? (Matthew 2:11-12) Scholars believe that they arrived approximately 2 years after Jesus was born. The word child in Greek means older than a baby. Also Scripture says that, “on coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary,” so Joseph had moved the family from the stable.

We assume that there were 3 wisemen because they brought 3 gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. But again Scripture does not tell us how many men came. There could have been 2 or as many as 12, as some believe.

We add details and ideas to our creche or nativity scene to make it more artistically pleasing. But the most important thing to remember is that we are celebrating the birth of God’s most beloved Son. The child Jesus Who came to Earth for us. What an amazing gift!

Emmanuel

God with us.

Merry Christmas

Every holiday seems to bring traditions to our lives.

Valentine’s Day, Mother’s/Father’s Day, anniversaries might be a favorite restaurant.

Memorial Day, 4^th of July, and Labor Day might find us watching parades and having picnics.

Thanksgiving brings trips to Grama’s house, good food and football.

Then we come to the best holiday, Christmas!

Sending cards, baking special family cookie recipes, visiting friends, dinners, shopping, creating handmade gifts, hiding wrapped presents in special hiding places, opening a gift on Christmas Eve or making everyone wait till Christmas morning, hiding the pickle on the tree for the children to find (LOL, look it up), and favorite foods to cook.

Our church has its own traditions, kid’s programs, caroling, Advent vignettes, plays, Christmas eve service, then Christmas morning service.

Another tradition concerns when to celebrate Christmas. Some celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25^th, some celebrate 13 days before that and some not until early January.

Ultimately, the specific date that we celebrate Jesus; birth is not as important as HOW or WHY He was born. The good news of Christmas is this: God entered into His creation and gave Himself to rescue us from sin.

    “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”  John 3:16-17

Happy Christmas.

One minute your toddler is at your feet and the next they are pulling a full glass of whatever off the counter.

One minute you are driving to work and the next you are calling the insurance company because someone rear-ended your car.

One minute you are in complete control of your desk at work and the next, your boss drops a dozen file folders on it with a deadline.

One minute you are making dinner and the next you are on the way to the store for a forgotten ingredient.

One minute you are chopping carrots and the next you are looking for a band aid because you’ve cut yourself.

One minute you are walking out the door and the next you are on the ground with a broken hip. This happened at Explorer Girls last night to one of our leaders.

Scary, painful, happened so fast.

Life comes at us fast and unknown, until it happens.

The Bible tells us of the moment when we will be changed in the blink of an eye. Those who have trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be taken in a moment to be with Him forever.

Those who have not, will be left behind.

Be one of those who will go, in a moment. Trust Him today!

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (ESV)   Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

Matthew 16:27   For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.

Matthew 24:27   For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Matthew 24:36   But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

Matthew 24:37-39   For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Matthew 24:42-44   Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.

Psalm 75:1  We give thanks to you, O God.

It is the month of November, and our thoughts turn to the holiday season. Can you smell it—the turkey roasting, the veggies cooking on the stove, and the pies in the oven? Can you feel it—the warmth of the kitchen, dining room, and living room as your family and friends gather to be part of the celebrations? It is always a festive time of the year. And it is a time when we are reminded to count our blessings and be thankful to God for all that He has given to us.

But, friends, remember that we should be thankful all year long for the mercies and goodness of God in our lives. He gives us all good gifts. He is the one controlling all that happens in our lives. He has a master plan for you and for me. Let’s work on our giving thanks to our great and mighty God for ALL that He has given to us.