TwelveTwelve: The Leader Blog of North Wake Church

Incarnations Are Forever The "Incarnation" is the label given to the true event that happened when God, who consists of three persons and is the creator and sustainer of the Universe, took on human form. Many Christians are quite clear on this truth, even if it is too grand to be fully understood. We sing and celebrate it repeatedly as a church family. Yet just as amazing but discussed less is that Jesus grew into an adult man made of flesh and bone, and is still an adult man even after his resurrection. Do we doubt this truth --

Your Assignment: Will You Accept? On Christmas Day in 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, beloved American poet, was mourning. A year and a half earlier, he had lost his wife in a horrible accident involving fire (he suffered massive burns himself trying to save her and could not even attend her funeral).  His country was torn in two, embattled in the brutal Civil War.  His son, despite his father’s wishes, had entered the war and recently been wounded.  Longfellow wrote very little in his sadness.  “I can make no record of the days,” he said.  “Better leave them wrapped in

The Blind Won't Gain Their Sight By Opening Their Eyes Read:  Luke 18:35-19:10 Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar 35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near,

Choices and Paths Read: Luke 18:15-34 Let the Children Come to Me 15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” The Rich Ruler 18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good?

Directional Gratitude And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God. And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you. -Deuteronomy 26:10-11 "Gratitude" is a popular concept right now. Writers at the University of California at Los Angeles report that a practice of regular gratitude has measurable

Read: Luke 18:1-14 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the

Read: Luke 19:20-37 The Coming of the Kingdom 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” 22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow

Read: Luke 17:1-19 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If

Give Like You Were Dying Finishing one story, Jesus said, 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. .... 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Read: Luke 16:19-31 Later, Jesus said, 19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor