PRAISE THE LORD

It’s almost 2026, a new year.

A new, exciting, and mysterious new year.

Now, while I could go into so many different topics such as love, service, humility, and others, I decided on a different topic today.

Praising the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 117:1; O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people.

Wow, it has been a year. There have been so many ups and downs, and in taking some time to think about it, I do not believe I could have gotten through this year without Jesus. In the middle of plenty of battles, whether they had to do with things going on in the outside world or the personal struggles I had in my heart, God was with me.

Even in the lowest moments, God never stopped being God, meaning He never stopped being good. In fact, when I felt like I couldn’t go on anymore, there was a love that kept me going. It was the same love Jesus had for us at the time He was on the cross. The same love the Father had for us when He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. When I thought a step forward was impossible, it became possible because of how much love Jesus has for me. That is the love that kept me going.

I look back at everything, and realize that God had me in everything. I believe if we all just looked back, we would see we were being held in every single moment. There was not one time God left any of us, even if we left Him.

I just have to say it, God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.

Can I get an AMEN?

While that by itself is reason enough to praise God, that isn’t the only reason we have. Another one is God wants us to have a relationship with Him, and He chose us to serve Him. Even with the fifty million other things we can do, there is (in my opinion) quite literally nothing that could even come close to that. The fact that we are hand picked by God to serve Him for our entire lives is just incredible to think about. Then to make this so much better, He doesn’t want us to just serve Him. That isn’t who our God is. No, He wants us to talk to Him, spend time with Him, give Him our burdens, and help us. All we have to do is place our trust in Him.

Somebody praise God for that!

Want to hear something crazy? I have barely even started with the list of all the reasons we have to praise the LORD. I do believe if I went through all the reasons we have to praise God, I would be typing for another good year or so. Reasons such as the life we have in Him, the protection, the assurance that everything works out for the good of those who believe, the joy in the midst of sadness, the peace in the storm, and so many more things I could go on and on about. That would still be the case even if I wasn’t going into a lot of detail as I am doing right at this moment. So for the sake of time, I unfortunately will not be going through this whole list, as much as I would love to.

The thing I want all of you to remember is, no matter what you are going through, good or bad, there is always a reason to praise. With this year getting closer and closer to the end, I want us all to just take a minute and give God some praise that we made it through another year, which in its own right is a huge blessing. Remember that it also doesn’t have to be just about making it through this year, just give God some praise for everything He has done for you.

I love you all with the love of Christ.

Christopher Haney

Prophecies Fulfilled

Many prophecies were fulfilled because of Jesus’s birth and they show us how much we can

trust what God says. Here some of the prophecies that were fulfilled because of Jesus’s birth.

1. Born of a Virgin

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall

conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

This prophecy was fulfilled 700 years later in the book of Matthew. Matthew: 1:22-23 Now

all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name

Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

2. Born in Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of

Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings

forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

This prophecy was written by he prophet Micah and was fulfilled around 750 years later in

the book of Matthew. Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the

days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

3. Jesus’s Parents Fleeing to Egypt.

Hosea 1:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

When Herod made the decree to kill every child 2 years and younger (Matthew 2:16),

Mary and Joseph took Jesus and fled to Egypt. Matthew 2:14-15 And he arose, and took the

young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of

Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of

Egypt have I called my son.

4. Preceded by a Messenger (John the Baptist)

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the

LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. This was also written by the prophet

Isaiah and was fulfilled in Matthew 3. Matthew 3: 1-3 In those days came John the Baptist,

preaching in the wilderness of Judaea... For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet

Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make

his paths straight.

These are only four of many prophecies that were fulfilled because of Jesus’s birth. They

show how these prophets were inspired by God and how we can trust what the bible says.

Merry Christmas.

Isaac S.

DO I REALLY FOLLOW GOD?

There’s a question I used to ask myself before I found my answer, and I’m positive I’m not the only one that has asked that question.It’s a simple question, with only two possible answers, yes or no. So, why would we have trouble finding the honest answer? And, if the answer turns out to be no, how do we change it to yes?“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”(Matthew 6:24) This could be why you may not know the answer. You try to follow God, but try to follow the world as well. Thus, by trying not to admit what you’re doing is ungodly while “following God,” you may know that the answer is no, but you try to make it yes and continue following the world. So maybe you don’t do magic spells and worship idols, but do you watch videos that have ungodliness in it? Things like Wednesday and Matilda? Do you play games that are ungodly? Like Fortnite, Roblox, and Poppy Playtime? What about your thoughts? Do you entertain ungodly thoughts? I read something once that said, “The person you will be in 5 years depends on:-The videos you watch-The books you read-The food you eat-The money you invest-The people you spend time with-The habits you adopt-The sacrifices you make”I happen to agree with this. So, maybe it’s just a movie, but that one movie can open a door, just a crack, but that crack can let something else in. And, then the door opens wider and more stuff comes in until the next thing you know, it’s open wide and another door is opening.

Another reason you may not know the answer could be that you have become disconnected from God. If so, I highly recommend you read your Bible. The Bible is the main way God talks to us. He tells us about himself and gives us guidance through the Bible. He will also give us signs to answer our prayers. Whether it’s a rainbow, storm, or an actual sign. Though sometimes it’s through feelings.So, how do we change our honest answer from no, to yes? It’s simple. Give all your problems to God. Read the Bible, pray, even. Prayer is so, so powerful. And if you feel like you could never be forgiven, just know God forgives everyone who is willing to be forgiven. That is why Jesus died on the cross for us. So, we could be forgiven of our sins and live with him forever.We are all sinners, God said so himself. But Jesus saved us from punishment, all you have to do is accept. And once you do that, everything else will fall into place. Just trust him.

- Kai