Timothy Berman’s Post

Embracing the Savior's Love: A Christmas Journey As Christmas lights illuminate the night and carols echo through the air, Christians embark on a journey of joy, celebrating the birth of Jesus, the born Savior. John 3:16 encapsulates the essence of this divine celebration, proclaiming, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." The heart of Christmas lies in the boundless love of God manifested in the gift of His Son. During the Christmas season, believers are encouraged to reflect on the transformative power of Jesus' love. The nativity scene in Bethlehem symbolizes the profound sacrifice of God's love, with the baby Jesus becoming the embodiment of divine affection and salvation. By embracing the Savior's love, Christians can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the true meaning of Christmas. Furthermore, the Christmas season provides an opportune moment for believers to share the message of love and salvation with others. The story of Jesus' birth is a narrative of redemption and grace, a story that transcends time and speaks to the deepest longings of the human heart. By integrating relevant scriptural references into conversations about the love of the born Savior, Christians can effectively convey the universal message of hope and renewal. In conclusion, Christmas is a journey into the heart of God's love, as manifested in the birth of Jesus, the Savior. By immersing ourselves in the scriptural truths of God's redemptive plan and sharing the transformative power of the Savior's love, we ensure that the Christmas season becomes a profound celebration of divine grace and salvation. #ChristmasSalvation #BirthOfJesus #DivineGift #HopeAndRedemption #SaviorBorn #JoyousCelebration #Christmas #christmas2023 #christmas #SalvationStory #JesusTheSavior #ChristmasReflections

In anticipation of the Jubilee of 2025, Pope Francis has called upon us to rediscover the importance of prayer. So, what does it mean to live a life of prayer, and how can it be done in 2024? #YearofPrayer #SLMedia #prayer Read our blog to find out:

The Power of Love: How the Early Church Changed the World Are you curious about the remarkable impact of early Christian love? Dive into the transformative power of authentic love that reshaped societies and captivated hearts. Join us on a journey to rediscover the essence of early Christian love and its relevance today. Share your thoughts on the enduring strength of this love in the comments below! Let's explore together. #EarlyChristianLove #TransformationThroughLove 🌍❤️  

The origins of Christmas carols Christmas carols are festive songs that celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and the joy of the season. But where did they come from and how did they evolve over time? The word ‘carol’ originally meant ‘a dance in a ring’ and was associated with pagan rituals and festivals. The first Christian carols were composed by Roman and Greek bishops in the 2nd and 8th centuries, but they were not widely sung in churches until the Middle Ages, when Franciscan friars popularized them as a way of spreading the gospel to the masses1. Many of the carols we know today date back to the 15th century, when they were collected and preserved by folklorists and composers. Some of them have surprising origins and meanings, such as ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, which may have been a coded message of support for Bonnie Prince Charlie, the exiled Catholic claimant to the British throne2. Others, such as ‘Away in a Manger’, were falsely attributed to famous figures like Martin Luther, the German reformer, to boost their popularity3. Carols were banned by the Puritans in the 17th century, but they were revived in the 18th and 19th centuries by the likes of Charles Wesley, the co-founder of Methodism, who wrote ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’, and William Sandys, who published a collection of old and new carols in 1834. The first carol service was held in Truro, England, in 1880, by Edward White Benson, the Bishop of Truro and later the Archbishop of Canterbury5. Today, carols are an integral part of Christmas celebrations around the world, and new ones are constantly being written and performed. They reflect the diversity and creativity of the human spirit, and the universal message of peace and goodwill. 🎄

Posted @withregram • @astp_photography 🎉📸 ⚫️Birthday Celebration Recap⚫️📸🎈 Pictures by Darryl Morrow Photography 📸🖤The Underdog Story😮💨 Looking back on my past and knowing that I literally came from nothing, I understand that it’s typical most people in the black diaspora miss the opportunity to celebrate their 40th birthday’s while others fail to see the significance of it. After six whole years of grit and sacrifice, I made it my business to overcome whatever obstacles I’ve faced along the way and although the journey wasn’t easy, it was perfect, for me. The year of 40 for me is about having dominion. Dominion is taking all things I’ve ever experienced and making it work for me, AND moving forward, it’s about ownership. (Mental, Spiritual, Tangible)🌎 I share this to say this again, it’s never too late to start over. Do it for yourself and everything else will follow🥂 ✨ P.S. The self worth that’s missing may be present because you may not have something big enough to fight for and protect.😮💨 Just Start Already! Join coaching groups, get a mentor, and read / audiobooks! Here are a few symbolic examples I could find about the number 40: 1️⃣ In Christianity, the number 40 symbolizes periods of testing, purification, preparation, and growth. 2️⃣ Islam reveres the number 40, emphasizing its importance in moral and spiritual development. 3️⃣ Universal Laws, would state that the number 40 represents transformation, trial, and renewal, making it a universal symbol that transcends boundaries. In summary, the recurring presence of 40 in historical narratives and sacred texts underscores its profound impact on human consciousness and spiritual journeys. So take what you can and start! Thats all it takes…🧠 🥂Cheers to 40🥂 Creating great memories🟢💡 @highlight #happybirthday #cheers #fourty

Is Xmas different from Christmas? let's dive into this matter as there are alot of controversy over this two terms meaning the same. Christmas and Xmas, does it matter? You will get to find out by reading this post! Christmas and Xmas are both terms that refer to the same holiday, which is celebrated on December 25th every year to observe the birth of Jesus Christ. The word "Christmas" originates from the Old English words "Cristes Maesse," which means "Christ's Mass." It refers to the religious celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. And what does X-mas mean, where does the word X-mas originate from? Is it true the word X-mas takes away the name of Christ? Find out👇 The word Xmas is a casual abbreviation that uses the letter X to represent the Greek word for Christ, which is Χριστός (Christos). This abbreviation dates back to the early days of the Christian church when Christians used the letter X as a secret symbol to demonstrate their membership in the church to others. Some people may consider Xmas as nonreligious because they thought the name "Christ" was purposely terminated by replacing it with an "X" which is often regarded as a Cross-out, Cancel, Terminate, Invalidate or Negate.However, this is not the original purpose of the abbreviation. The word "Xmas" may be used by some Christians as a way of honouring the Greek origin of Christ's name. In writing, some people find it more convenient using the word "X-mas" because of its short form. Some may also use Xmas as a more inclusive term, to admit that not everyone who celebrates the holiday is Christian or religious. To end it, there isn't any significant difference between the word "CHRISTMAS" and "X-mas" . Agree or not, the facts remain that CHRISTMAS is the same as XMAS. meet me in Santa Costume😁, a newly self appointed santa. 🌲🎁MERRY CHRISTMAS🎁 🌲 Love you all❤️

Excellent article by Mark Bradford!

Hello connections ! Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25[a] as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.[2][3][4] A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it follows the season of Advent (which begins four Sundays before) or the Nativity Fast, and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night.[5] Christmas Day is a public holiday in many countries,[6][7][8] is celebrated religiously by a majority of Christians,[9] as well as culturally by many non-Christians,[1][10] and forms an integral part of the holiday season organized around it. There are different hypotheses regarding the date of Jesus' birth and in the early fourth century, the church fixed the date as December 25.[b][13][14][15] This corresponds to the traditional date of the winter solstice on the Roman calendar.[16] It is exactly nine months after Annunciation on March 25, also the date of the spring equinox.[17] Most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, which has been adopted almost universally in the civil calendars used in countries throughout the world. However, part of the Eastern Christian Churches celebrate Christmas on December 25 of the older Julian calendar, which currently corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. For Christians, believing that God came into the world in the form of man to atone for the sins of humanity, rather than knowing Jesus' exact birth date, is considered to be the primary purpose in celebrating Christmas #snsinstitutions #snsdesignthinking #designthinkers

In the journey of faith, none of us is meant to walk alone. The Scripture is filled with examples of believers supporting one another.  Think of Moses during the battle against the Amalekites. As he held up his hands, Israel prevailed, but whenever he lowered them, the Amalekites gained the upper hand. Aaron and Hur came alongside him, one on one side, one on the other, and supported his hands. Their support was crucial for the victory that day (Exodus 17:12). Similarly, when Paul, formerly Saul, was a new convert, many were wary of him due to his past persecution of Christians. Yet, it was Barnabas who stood by him, vouched for him, and introduced him to the other apostles, facilitating his ministry which goes on to change the world (Acts 9:27). Consider a time when someone stood by you in a moment of need—how did that support make you feel? Loved, valued, less alone?  This is the power of support that we can extend to others. Giving support is not always easy. It can be emotionally taxing, and there are times we might feel overwhelmed. This is where we need to practice wisdom and self-care, ensuring that while we help others, we are not neglecting our own needs. Trust me Love will take all of you, especially when you have to support someone who feels entitled to your support. 😭😂 When that time comes, looking beyond the person despite all will be Love finding expression in you! Expressive Love 💕 Abiola Adeyoola #TGIF #SupportEachOther #CommunityLove #StrongerTogether #FaithInAction #LiftEachOtherUp #SpiritualSupport #ExpressiveLove #ActsOfKindness #SpreadLove #LoveInAction

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴? You may not know this, but I used to be a rockstar. Well...sort of. I was a professional musician for years, and even had a #1 record in Rolling Stone Magazine in the 90’s. Impressed? You shouldn’t be… 😜 And you know what? Stages, lights and sound are all awesome...for a rock concert… But they may not be helping to show people what our heavenly Dad, his Son Jesus, and what this life as Christians is really all about. 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁, we’ll talk about how the medium we often use on Sundays may be overshadowing the message we really want to share about Jesus and his amazing kingdom. Take a listen >> EverydayDisciple.com/495 In This Episode You’ll Learn: 👉 What some of our favorite activities at church are saying to people. 👉 How close and yet so far off we can accidentally be in these things. 👉 Why our ‘good intentions’ are not cutting it with the culture anymore. 👉 Why much of what we do in our Sunday services are confusing people. Have you ever wondered what a person who did not grow up in church would think Christianity is all about based on what they'd experience in your church service? Are we confusing or misleading people? 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁: EverydayDisciple.com/495 Talk to you soon, –Caesar P.S. If you ask nicely, I might just send you a picture of me when I was a rockstar! You might not be ready for this… 🤩 . . . . . . . . . . . #everydaydisciple #discipleship #everydaydiscipleship #christian #christianity #jesus #missional #missionalcommunity #francischan #microchurch #housechurch #churchplanter #disciplesmakingdisciples #bivocational #covocational #smallgroup #churchleaders #evangelism