Ocala First Connection

Psalm 97;   John 1:14-18 Philippians 4:4-7 “God in Christ has taken into Himself the brokenness of the human condition. Hence, human woundedness, brokenness, even death itself are transformed from dead ends to doorways into Life. ” ― Martin Laird He Has Come by Kathy Murphy Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2: 19-20             Christmas is the time of year that we fellowship with our family and friends.  Sharing old stories and telling new ones.  It is a time of year for caring and sharing and spreading the good cheer.               Let us not forget the real meaning behind the Christmas cheer.  It is a celebration.  We celebrate because our...

John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:1-3;   Isaiah 60:19-20 Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley   And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.   John 1:14 The created universe is all about glory. The deepest longing of the human heart and the deepest meaning of heaven and earth are summed up in this; the glory of God.  The universe was made to show it, and we were made to see it and savor it. Nothing less will do. Which is why the world is as disordered and dysfunctional as it is. We have exchanged the glory of God for other things. - John Piper The glory of God is a human be...