DECEMBER THEME — FROM CHRISTMAS TO CALVARY –  The Story Love Wrote

Please begin preparing your hearts now for a sacred and unforgettable Christmas Sunday on December 21 at 10:30 AM. With no Sunday School that morning, we will enter unrushed—allowing our spirits to breathe, our minds to quiet, and our hearts to be fully present before the Lord. We will come to the Lord’s Table together, remembering with holy reverence that the Baby laid in a manger was the Lamb who would one day hang on a cross. Our choir will lift the name of Jesus in glorious Christmas worship, turning our attention away from the noise of the season and back to the Savior who came near in grace and truth. This will be a morning of wonder—a morning where the presence of Christ feels close enough to touch, where worship becomes a doorway into peace, and where weary hearts find rest. Come expecting beauty. Come expecting joy. Come expecting Jesus. Invite someone who needs hope, arrive a little early, and step into the sanctuary with anticipation. Christmas Sunday is almost here, and we cannot wait to celebrate the majesty of our Savior with you.

SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY

The Cross in the Cradle reminds us that Christmas and Calvary were never two separate stories but one holy masterpiece written in eternity past. The manger was already casting the shadow of the cross, and every detail of Bethlehem—Mary’s trembling joy, Joseph’s overwhelmed protection, the shepherds’ awe, the swaddling cloths, the rough wooden manger—quietly pointed to the mission of the Lamb. Before Mary ever held Him, the Father held the cross in His heart. Jesus did not come to escape suffering, but to absorb it; not to avoid the wounds of humanity, but to heal them by bearing them. From Eden’s first promise to Abraham’s sacrifice, from Passover to Isaiah’s prophecy, Scripture whispers one continuous message: The Lamb is coming… and He has come.

This message also reveals that Christmas was an act of war—hell tried to stop the Child, but nothing could stop God’s plan. And because God did not spare His Son the cradle or the cross, He will not spare us His comfort or His victory. The cradle teaches us that God steps into low places, unlikely places, hidden places, and the darkest places of our lives. The call is clear: we cannot look into the manger or hear Simeon’s prophecy without responding. The Savior who stepped into a stable is stepping into our battles today. The cradle says, “Come.” The cross says, “Come.” The Spirit says, “Come.” And at the altar, there is victory waiting for every heart willing to come surrendered, trusting, hopeful, and ready to be changed forever.

GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.

Friends, would you help me pray today about giving a gift unlike anything wrapped under a tree? Most gifts will be forgotten by February—broken, returned, or tucked away in a closet—but a gift that strengthens a marriage can change the rest of someone’s life. Even strong, healthy marriages need moments to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the heart of Christ. The best couples don’t stay strong by accident—they stay strong by choice, through regular spiritual “checkups” that renew tenderness, deepen communication, and keep their foundation steady. Sometimes the most loving thing we can give a flourishing marriage is the opportunity to grow even stronger for the decades ahead. If the Lord brings a couple to your mind—whether they’re thriving or simply wanting to guard what God has built—consider sharing this life-shaping resource: 31-Day Reset for Struggling Marriages by Pastor Counselor Nolan Jackson. It’s more than a book—it’s a journey that encourages reflection, builds unity, and equips couples to love with intention. A gift that won’t fade with the season… but may strengthen a marriage for a lifetime.

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Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart

LAY ONE BURDEN IN THE MANGER TODAY

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7

When Jesus stepped into the world, He did not choose a palace, a throne, or a place of comfort. He chose a manger—hay, animals, darkness, and obscurity. That choice was intentional. God was making a declaration from the very beginning: He is not intimidated by mess, and He is not repelled by brokenness. The manger announces that no burden is too unclean, too complicated, or too heavy to bring to Him.

Jesus did not wait for humanity to get its act together before coming near. He came because we couldn’t. He stepped into poverty so those crushed by lack would know they are seen. He stepped into darkness so those overwhelmed by fear would know light has arrived. He stepped into weakness so those worn down by life would know strength is now within reach. The manger is proof that God meets us where we are, not where we pretend to be.

Many of us carry burdens silently—fear we can’t name, grief we haven’t processed, resentment we justify, shame we try to bury. We tell ourselves that God expects us to handle it better, pray harder, or fix ourselves first. But the manger dismantles that lie. God did not ask humanity to climb up to Him; He came down to us. His presence preceded our repentance, our healing, and our obedience. He came close so those things could begin.

Laying a burden before Jesus is not weakness—it is worship. It is the humble admission that we were never meant to carry everything alone. When you place a burden in the manger, you are not disappointing God; you are responding to His invitation. The manger becomes a sacred exchange point—where fear meets peace, where shame meets mercy, and where heaviness meets hope. You may not see immediate change in your circumstances, but something far deeper shifts: you are no longer carrying what He came to bear.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You stepped into the mess of this world so I would never have to face my burdens alone. Today, I bring You the weight I’ve been holding in silence. I step out of hiding and place it at Your feet. Thank You for meeting me with compassion, not condemnation. Teach me to trust You with what I cannot fix. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Challenge: Today, write down one burden you’ve been carrying—fear, shame, grief, confusion, or resentment. In prayer, place it before Jesus and say aloud: “Lord, You stepped into my world. I now step out of hiding and place this at Your feet.” Put the paper somewhere meaningful as a reminder. When the burden tries to return, choose again to leave it in the manger.

MONDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS

Tammy Parker – Surgery Today

Betty Hammock

Brando Echarte

Cheryl Knight’s Brother

Debbie Foskey 

Don Franklin’s Daughter, Darlene, Son, David

Ed Adkins – Friend of Brian Edwards

Gloria Young

Jake Jenkins

June Cronan

Louise Jackson – Richard’s Sister – Home

Jean Partee’s Sister

Kim McClain’s Daughter, Amanda

Deon Lotter

Doris Loyd

Nancy Brown

Amy Garner’s Dad

Annette Ford

Andrea Nix– Friend of the Shelnutt’s

Angela Bryan’s Sisters

Ann Stanley  

Carol Lawhead – Riverside in Conyers

Danny Jarrard   

Darlene Wiggins

Doris Loyd

Dr. and Mrs. Davis

Eric Magnusson’s Mother

Eric Ward

Friend of Linda Hodge

Gayle Sparks

Linda Alexander 

James Burnette

Jessica Headrick  

John McClain’s Mother

June Cronan’s Sister

June Davis

Kailey Bateman

Kim McClain’s Mother 

Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda 

Lee Cronan

Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom

Lonzo Christian 

Lori Blount’s Mother

Mary Williams

Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom

Mrs. Franklin 

Nora Allison

Ron And Johnnie Barry – Friends Of Ashton & Glenda Bateman

Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA

Scott Lanier 

Scotty Nix

Stephanie Seivers – Friend of the Shelnutt’s

Steve Michaels

Tom Witcher