PaulStiver.com

Photo by Jamie MacPherson on Unsplash Everyday that we walk this earth, we are in the middle of an identity crisis. We are always looking for those things that define us. "What is it about me that makes me, me?"   Quite often, we are looking for those things to boast about in our identity that make us better than other people. We aren't just trying to know ourselves better, but we are seeking to self-justify. We are trying to find our identity in things that make us feel okay. ---- Consider these boasts that I used to have in my life before knowing Christ: - I'm a better worker than others, I put so much effort into my job, I care more than those other people. - I am smarter than those religious "morons," because I am clear-headed enough to realize that faith is stupid and there is no God. We should only live our lives based on facts. I get it, those idiots don't. - I haven't gotten into as much trouble as other people because I ma...

Photo by  Kirstyn Paynter  on  Unsplash I hope these quotes, song lyrics, verses and anecdote about the birth of Jesus & the celebration of Christmas will edify you this Christmas season!  "Joseph and Mary capsulized the mystery of grace -- the King does not come to the proud and powerful, but to the poor and powerless." - Kent Hughes "The Son of God was born into the world not as a prince but as a pauper. We must never forget that this is where Christianity began and where it always begins -- with a sense of need, a graced sense of one's insufficiency. Christ, himself setting the example, comes to the needy. He is born only in those who are "poor in spirit." - Kent Hughes "Christmas Eve is like the calm before the storm. The storm is God breaking into His creation to redeem it, unexpectedly as a baby." - Tim Keller "Christmas is telling you that you could never get to heaven on your own. God had to come to you." -...

Photo by  Ben White  on  Unsplash It's the Christmas season, which means we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But why? Jesus came into the world to save sinners by revealing God's grace to us. In the spirit of the Christmas season, let's look at God's gift of grace in Christ Jesus. What is grace? J.I. Packer - Knowing God: [Grace is...] God’s love in action towards [people] who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace means God sending His only Son to descend into hell on the cross so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God and received into heaven. (p. 226, emphasis mine) God's gift of grace is fully revealed in Christ Jesus.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth . (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was h...

Photo by  freestocks.org  on  Unsplash Hey! I'd love to hear feedback from you. Please take 2 minutes to fill out this survey! Now let's celebrate because it's been 1 Year of PaulStiver.com! My blog is officially a baby! A Year In Review Fun statistics: Total Published Posts: 86 Total Pageviews: 6,298 Most Read Post: Life Update! 474 pageviews (Allison has made it clear to me that headline might have been misleading and caused people to think we were having a baby! OOPS!) Least Read Post: What is Just? 14 pageviews MY Favorite Blog Post: I really liked writing them all! But I'll say Fast Car , which tells mine and Allison's story and talks about the merits of unconditional vs. conditional love.  Looking back on the mission of PaulStiver.com: 1) An Ambassador for Christ As I look back on the mission for why I started this blog, it was to further my work as an ambassador for Christ. I highlighted in my very first post that God saves sinn...

It's Christmas time, which means Christmas music. I have to admit, I don't particularly care for Christmas music, especially when people start playing it in September! There is one song we sing for worship each advent that particularly gets me, however. The song, O Holy Night, gets to me each Christmas season. For example,  Jennifer Hudson's O Holy Night , linked here is a beautiful rendition that I really enjoy. One part of the lyrics stands out to me in particular: O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,  It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.  Long lay the world in sin and error pining.  Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.  A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,  For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.  Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!  O night divine, the night when Christ was born;  O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!  O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!...