Christmas Thankfulness Blog

  I first want to start off with saying that God is good and all the time God is good. When we think of Christmas, we think of so many Christmas traditions with family, friends, the memories. I want to say that while all these things mentioned are wonderful things there are other things that are great and it helps remind us what Christmas is about.

I would like to share some scripture with all of you that helps and reminds us that Jesus Is The Reason For The Season.

Matthew 1:18-25 says: Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.

Isaiah 9:6 says: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 1:14 says: And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Matthew 6:19-21 says: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

2 Corinthians 13:11 says: Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

When we think of each scripture, we think of how God shows us that no matter how we spend Christmas, no matter what we do for Christmas there is one thing to remember and that is Jesus Is The Reason For The Season. We think of what He's doing in our lives to help us grow. We think of what He's doing in our lives to give Hope. A hope to someone who needs it and a hope to hold onto.

Elizabeth: Christian Media Spotlight has been the ministry that when I first came to it, I didn't know what God would bring me to. Then after a while, I realized that God brought me to a ministry that not only encourages, but helps me know that I belong. God helps me see I'm where I'm supposed to be with CMS, and that brings me to an inspirational quote I got in my email from someone named Dhar Mann who creates inspirational videos with life lessons. The quote from him said this: You are exactly where you need to be. Read that again. When I think of that, I think of how many times Joe and the entire ministry of people involved with CMS have helped me with growing in my relationship and faith walk with God. I think of how much Joe and everyone in the community has been there for me and has helped me see time and time again, that I belong. They even have helped me see that I fit in with everyone. I'm thankful and grateful for Joe, CMS, and everyone in the community because God is doing great things for it and for all of us and this ministry and everything about it has been a blessing to me in my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything because I'm humbly grateful God helped me find it the way that I did, and I'm grateful for the family He has brought me to and allowing me to call this Home.

Megan: CMS is like my second family. It lifts me up when I’m down and encourages me to keep on living. Also, CMS has been the way to get my music out there for people to hear my music. If it wasn’t for CMS I wouldn’t be where I am with my music making stuff. This group gives me a reason to keep on living no matter what trials are thrown at me. I love CMS and I’m very grateful for what they have done for me.

Red: well, I love Christian media spotlight and not just because of how we combined the ministry I love the way that Joseph is able to pump up the community and he is there for anyone that is down and will go the extra step to help someone even when he is down himself.

Denise: What Christian Media Spotlight has been to me...well as I have delighted in Christian Music Independent Artists and promoting and supporting them that ministry got interrupted during the pandemic, and as I had to endure working through the pandemic there was CMS to tune into, got connected to Rockin Ron, Rob Montes that opened up a broader world to what I do here with a group called Christian Music Network. Not only is Joseph Neal a rock to us all in the love and support and the time he gives, he allowed us to come into being who we are, what we can contribute to CMS. For what I've endured, the love, laughter, the tears back to shenanigans has been an indescribable strength to me. I'm just so blessed to be in the CMS family and pray to continue to grow with it. It's just made my life better and what a gift I treasure this Christmas.

Bianca: CMS has helped me a lot when I have had a bad day, and it's helped me especially with hearing the artists, the music, the hangouts and also with Night Of Hope. I feel like it's a family to me because Joe is always very welcoming to everyone.

Psalm 89 says: I will sing of the Lord's great love forever with my mouth I will make my faithfulness known through all generations.

Jeremiah 29:11 says: For I know the plans I have declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you but to give you a hope and a future.

Cindy Joy Guy: What has Cristian Media Spotlight meant to me? To have a community who loves me for me....and accepts me for me is comforting. Katie introduced me to the group and I've been so glad to have met everyone who I've met. So thankful to have a family even when I'm distant at times due to life circumstances. To know that they care, and pray for me when I ask for it is also very comforting. I'm not so sure I can put into words just how thankful I am I came across this group when I did. It has been a joy.

Suzanne: CMS has opened up music that I might never have been exposed to. I am grateful for the personal interviews. seeing the heart Of the artist makes the worship so much more meaningful. I am grateful and blessed by the dedication Joe has given this ministry.

John 3:16 says: For God So Loved The World That He Gave His One And Only Son That Whoever Believes In Him Shall Not Perish But Have Everlasting Life.

John 10:10 says: The thief comes to steal kill and destroy but I have come so that you may have life and live it more abundantly.

Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest.

Psalm 30 verse 5 says: For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Emily Newcomb: Christian Media Spotlight, was my first radio station/livestream I ever found. I was so amazed how Joe was so caring of us with trying to play songs by request. He has been fantastic plugging Dave Pettigrew happenings for me, I think the last time was August when Dave was recording Solo Worship 3. Joe, you made me feel so blessed and comfy on your shows, you are truly amazing. And you always plugged about all these concerts I seem to go to. I think Joe, you even said you had never seen Phil Wickham in person yet. Just always good time with friends.

Christian Media Spotlight has grown so much. It has a radio show, a podcast, a community group on Facebook, and what I love seeing happen each time is how a community that has become family comes together for everything this ministry and show is about, not just for the music hangouts, or Night Of Hope Specials but for everything. I'm thankful to be a part of it all, but I'm thankful to be a contributing writer with Denise Winter, I'm thankful to be a viewer consultant with Katie Donovan, April Kane, and Kat Stewart, and I'm just thankful to be involved and be a part of something that is so encouraging.

Heather Rae- Yo Joe,Joe, Joe!!!

Just want to encourage you in what Christian media spotlight has meant to me and my family!!!

CMS is such an anointed and Wonderful ministry from the encouraging music that gets played to the the hearts and encouraging comments from everyone!!! Such a beautiful community!!!! It is such a blessing to hear the music that is so anointed for God's kingdom and bringing joy, love, hope, comfort, peace all good things of God!!!! Definitely a holy spirit filled time of love!!!! Just always such a blessing to be a part of CMS and to be hearing all the music and everyone lifting Jesus Name up high!!!! Always sounds so beautiful so encouraging everyone has such an amazing unique sound that's so anointed and a gift from the lord!!! Thank you, brother, for continuing to encourage everyone with the love of the holy spirit through this ministry!!!! To come in unity and give glory to our King Jesus is just such a blessing!!!! I encourage you Joe to keep building God's kingdom with the holy spirit leading this anointed ministry that brings so much hope, and encouragement!!!! You have a wonderful gift of hosting from the lord!!! Keep it up brother!!!!

May God get all the glory always!!!! This Interruption Hug comes from above!!!! Jesus loves you all so much and so do I !!!

God bless you all!!!

Lisa Ritter: Joe, and Christian Media Spotlight.

I think Denise Winter and Katie Donovan made it their personal mission to recruit the entire Dave Pettigrew MNW Community to this ministry here . Maybe, knowing the way that we all genuinely already loved good Christian music, and a real, transparent community of Christ Followers who wanted to grow in their love and understanding daily of Jesus and authentic community in a broken world. Trying, as in his song, to reflect the love, and hope that we found in Him.

I found that immediately here, Joe and wanted to share the ministry that I represented serving the Overflow Foundation with the community here- but I never imagined just how much each and every individual in this group would also reflect that same joy, light, and hope for each other as friends and family.

The artists that CMS and jointly with Red's ministry , as God has so uniquely brought together along with the sleepless club have increased my Christian music awareness level in style, musicians, countries, and again friendships on this unique platform by an infinite magnitude and it has been an immeasurable blessing in my life.

John15:11-12 says” I have told you this so that my Joy may be in you, and that your Joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you!”

Galatians 6:2 “ share each other’s burdens and in this way obey the law of Christ!”

I think Jesus would be saying, “well done” for CMS and the Community that you have obeyed God’s Plan and Call in your life, even through these “challenging, at best” circumstances, and allowed yourself to remain faithful.

I have told you personally, but for the record, it is my joy and honor to call you “friend!” as well as organizer and glue of this motley crew of broken people all looking for a Spotlight- which is The Light of The World!

Merry Christmas Joe!

For all the blessings that you bring your the only song I ever want to sing. God helps us through anything and He will help us see that as a family we can come together to support one another and help one another each day.

Joe you have done so much for us that this Christmas as I asked you if I could write a special Christmas piece as a features article, well think of this as a Christmas features article not just for the community and others to read, but for you to keep and read as a reminder each day that you have an entire family not just with CMS but with Red's Room and Interruption Hug. Joe we're your family who cares about you and so as you read this today, I hope that you will know that no matter what, God loves you, He cares for you, you're going to get through anything and you don't have to go through it alone because us a family and us as a community are going to be there for you always. God is with you always and He cares for you. He will never let you fall in and He will never let you go. He is fighting all your battles for you and you don't have to worry. Keep on doing what you're doing and keep on trusting and holding on to that hope that God gives.

I also want to say thank you for letting me be involved with logging music, being a part of night of hope, being an archivist, a viewer consultant, and a contributing writer. I also want to say thank you for letting me be a cohost. Nothing you do or every artist or person that is involved somehow, nothing like that ever goes unnoticed. We appreciate all you do Joe and we thank you for it.

Merry Christmas Joe, and Merry Christmas to an entire family and community that is so supportive and a blessing in my life. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and know that you're so loved by God and everyone around you. God is Good and all the time God is Good. He never leaves us and He is in our hearts forever and always. We are called to be His Children to do great and wonderful things that can help us grow spiritually in our relationship and faith walk with Him. We don't have to be afraid because we know that God is with us and near us.

Christian Media Spotlight is a ministry that I'm grateful to call Home and I'm thankful that this ministry and Joe and everyone I've met has made me feel welcomed and reminds me in so many ways that I belong with them.

Today is the day the Lord has made, We will Rejoice and be Glad in it, this is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made, this is the day, this is the day that Lord has made. We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it. Our God is an awesome God. Unto Us Unto Us A Child Is Born, Unto Us, Unto Us a Son is given Glory to God in the Highest. Wonderful Prince of Peace Emmanuel has come to set captives free with the Angels we sing. He has brought this great love, unto us.

All of us as a community are here for you no matter what.