2008-08-29T01:38:13-05:00 GCI info@gospel.com http://www.gospel.com/feeds/topics/holidays http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/Straight-to-the-Throne-4451 2008-08-29T01:38:13-05:00 How many times have we sincerely promised we'd pray for someone and forgotten? And while someone's promise to pray for us may be an encouragement, it's nothing like actually hearing them pray for you, right then and there. Don't you think it's time we got over this feeling of awkwardness and timidity about praying with each other? http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/I-m-Dreaming-of-a-Right-Christmas-4679 2008-08-25T11:48:34-05:00 Right now this is a season when hearts are soft, when people's guards are down. If you're ever going to be able to put it together, this is it. Will you take the healing initiative - the peace initiative? Write that letter if that's what it takes to ask for the walls to come down. Make that phone call to that person. Send them an appreciation gift and attach that bridge-building note right now. Admit the mistakes if there's been any mistake on your part. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/A-Gift-With-Your-Name-on-it-4680 2008-08-25T11:43:54-05:00 Eternal life - that's what God wants to give you. If you know you've got that, the fear of death is gone. You know when you die you'll go to heaven. You no longer have that awful nagging fear that you could be in hell for all eternity. You know your eternal destination. You're ready to die whenever that appointment with God comes. And you're ready to live. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/The-Real-Christmas-People-4681 2008-08-25T10:29:49-05:00 Maybe even in these countdown days to Christmas, you can pray for God to open up some amazing opportunities to tell someone about Him - why He came, why He died, and what He does when we open our life to Him. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/The-Hallelujah-Chorus-and-a-Hallelujah-Christmas-4682 2008-08-25T10:25:57-05:00 We're imprisoned by our dark side, our selfishness, and anger, and hurting that we can't stand - but we can't stop. We can't get free from the guilt of what we should have never done. Or from the fear of death, our nervousness about eternity because we know we're not right with God. But the Liberator came that first Christmas to be born as one of us so He could die for us - for you. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/The-Most-Important-List-this-Christmas-4683 2008-08-25T10:23:01-05:00 If you sense a tug in your heart to open up to Jesus, listen to that. That's God drawing you, and you can't come without it. This is way too important to ignore or postpone. Let this be the day when you turn from running your own life and give yourself to the Man who died so you can live. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/Why-We-Can-t-Sleep-in-Heavenly-Peace-4684 2008-08-25T10:18:39-05:00 Jesus is supposed to be governing your life. It's nice to have Jesus as a belief, a religion, or a security blanket. But He's the King of kings and Lord of lords. We've chosen to drive our own life where we want it to go, effectively ignoring the God who made us. So Jesus may be in your church, but He's not in charge. He may be a compartment in your life, but not in control of your life. He may be in your head, but not in your heart. And it's only when you put your trust in Him with all your heart that your sins are forgiven and your relationship with God begins. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/Even-Santa-Knows-4938 2008-08-12T17:04:37-05:00 The shepherds weren't trained, professional God-salesmen. They were, at best, everyday guys with an extraordinary story to tell, and that's who you are. And they'll listen to you like they listened to the shepherds because you're an ordinary person like the lost people you know. You have the information on which their eternity depends. Silence is a sin that could cost them heaven. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/How-Your-Life-Can-Really-Deliver-4939 2008-08-12T16:58:38-05:00 If you've got Jesus, then you've got His love in you to deliver to people around you. You've got His joy, you've got His encouragement, His comfort, His eternal life and the way to have that eternal life. He's given you His uniform. He's put in your hands much-needed gifts for the people in your personal world. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Most-Important-Relationship/Christmas-Far-From-Home-4940 2008-08-12T16:48:12-05:00 Today, that stirring you feel in your heart, is the Man who died for you, drawing you to Himself. You can't come to Jesus when you feel like it. You come when God's drawing you or you don't come. And this season when we celebrate His coming to earth for us, He's working in your heart to open your life to Him. This Christmas season can be the celebration, not only of Jesus' coming to earth, but of Him coming into your life.