Have you ever noticed how quick we are to point out the sins of others, while conveniently ignoring our own? Jesus compares that to a huge plank jutting out of our eye while we fixate on the tiny speck in someone else’s. He calls us to deal honestly with our own sin first, inviting Him to expose and remove our blind spots. Only then will we see clearly enough to help another person. After all, when we stumble, we long for grace, not harsh judgment, so Jesus urges us to treat those who have fallen with that same generous measure. Are you wiling to lay down the gavel and show grace instead?

Seeing Christ in the Songs of Christmas
One way we always know the Christmas season is here is by the songs on the radio. Around Thanksgiving, radio stations begin playing holiday tunes — some of them around the clock. Some Christmas songs just talk about presents and snow and Santa, but other carols have their origins in the Christian faith and speak boldly to the real reason for the season. In this series, we use Christmas songs as our backdrop to explore the wonderful, amazing and history-shaking birth of Christ — what it meant then and what it still means for us today.



