Wonder
Christmas at The Ridge
Joy
December 19, 2021 • Chan Mitchell
Biblical joy goes far beyond momentary happiness. Like the happiness a child might experience when they unwrap a gift that they’d hoped for on Christmas day. Biblical joy is an inner contentment that cannot be deterred by present circumstances. This type of joy comes from God alone. The wonder of Christmas is that the good news of Jesus’ birth has the power to bring us great joy every day of our life.
Peace
December 12, 2021 • Mark Hartman
When the prophet Isaiah spoke about the coming messiah, he called him the “Prince of Peace” When the angels announced to the shepherds that the messiah had come they said “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” And The Messiah himself said 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you…’ Jesus brings peace, but it is different than the peace that the world gives. The Peace of Jesus is a steady inner calm, we must learn how to access that is produced by a sense of the protecting presence of God.