​It is an important part of Carolina Cornerstone that we focus intensely on spiritual growth. Why? Because most of the problems in your life come from spiritual immaturity. When we are not spiritually mature, we make dumb decisions. We build our decisions based on how we feel, which is a terrible basis for making decisions. "Well, I just feel like doing it." Well, your feelings are wrong a lot of the time and you are manipulated by your moods. Mature people make decisions based on truth, not based on feelings. So many of the problems in our world today, national debt and other things like that, happen because of immaturity. People do not know how to do what is wise, how to do what is mature. 

​I hope you had a Merry Christmas. I pray you and your family enjoyed the blessing of giving and receiving gifts. May I ask you which one was your favorite? Why does it mean so much to you?

​As Christmas nears, and we ready our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we can find encouragement from the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph. In all reality, Christmas may not seem as bright and cheery this year, but we would be wise to acknowledge that neither were significant aspects of the very first Christmas.

​No nativity set is complete without the three wise men presenting their gifts to the newborn Savior. While folklore often represents the presence of three men of royalty at the manger, the Bible’s account of the gift bearers offers a distinct perspective and a valuable insight into how we can pursue Christ this Christmas.

​How wonderful that God chose the lowest of the low to see the most important birth of all time. Because of their humble origins, the shepherds cannot help but rejoice and tell everyone they see about the birth of the Messiah. If God had chosen a king or a religious leader, the situation would have played out very differently. Instead, he picks a group of shepherds who set the tone for Jesus’ life and ministry.