First Baptist Blog

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which means, God with us."    – Matthew 1:23

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” - 1 Peter 5:7

In 2016 I learned that I needed open heart surgery. This was a shocking surprise, as my only symptom was shortness of breath with minor activity. Initially I was quite anxious since I had never spent one night in a hospital.

The grace that saved us is the grace that shapes us.

In my youth I began to depend on God’s presence to support me through challenges only He could understand. Looking back, I think of the children of Israel waiting for the Messiah.

Think about your favorite movie. Odds are at some point in the movie you see the protagonist experience a series of events resulting in some revelation, growth, new way of thinking, or other improvement in their life.

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

Welcome to our Advent blog! For each day, beginning on the First Sunday in Advent and ending on Christmas Day, a member of our congregation has written about their experience of Emmanuel: God is With Us, sharing a time when they have felt and known God’s presence in a meaningful way.