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Devotions

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Devotions

A Savior’s Birth Announcement

1 Min Read

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11 Holy Bible New King James Version).

No baby announcements proclaiming “It’s a boy!” No special messengers sent to family to say that mother and son are doing well. Lowly shepherds watching flocks were the first to receive news of a Savior in a Bethlehem manager, a very unusual place for a king.

Prayer: Mighty God, You could have trumpeted word of this holy birth from heaven or delivered the announcement elegantly to royalty on earth. Instead You chose common people to be the first to know that the promised Savior, Christ the Lord, had been born. Thank You that after all these years You are still appearing to common people like me. Amen.

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A Gift of Love

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“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manager; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7 Holy Bible King James Version).

No glitter or tinsel, no brightly wrapped gifts or holiday cookies greeted Jesus. Absent of a warm baby blanket, Jesus was wrapped in cloth strips and laid in a manger. The original Christmas in a cold stable was simple with no celebration, yet no other day will impact all humanity as did that first Christmas when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, during this time of Christmas celebration I will remember how You were born so long ago in a humble setting. I won’t be concerned about the grandeur of my holiday decorations or the quantity and value of gifts I might receive. I will focus on being thankful that Your humble birth – a gift of love to me – is the greatest gift I will ever receive. Amen.

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The Pure Life

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“And the angel answered and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that Holy Being who shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35 Holy Bible 21st Century King James Version).

When the angel announced to Mary that she would have a child, she asked “How can this be?” Engaged to Joseph, chosen to be his bride, her life was pure as she prepared for the day they would finalize their marriage. The angel assured her that conception would be from the Holy Spirit. Her child would have no earthly father. He would be the Son of God.

Prayer: Dear God, the ancient prophecy of a child being born to a virgin was confirmed when the angel told Mary she had been chosen. Her purity prepared her to give birth to the Savior of the world. I too want to live a holy lifestyle so Your promises can be fulfilled in me. Amen.

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God’s Promises are Certain

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“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2 Holy Bible, King James Version).

A modern day expectant mother carefully selects the best and most convenient hospital or alternate facility for the birth of her child. Mary, the mother of Jesus was given no choice in her child’s birthplace. Her holy child would be born in Bethlehem far away from Nazareth, Joseph’s home, as prophesied. This single event would shine a spotlight on an obscure village for the whole world to see.

Prayer: Eternal God, tiny Bethlehem was destined to be the birthplace of Jesus. Nothing could change that because Your prophecies and promises are certain. This gives me great faith. You have known my future from the beginning and You are in control of events in my life, too. Amen.

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Devotions

What a Promise!

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“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 Holy Bible, King James Version).

Isaiah was inspired to speak these names of the promised redeemer. This son captured the essence of Wonderful, Counsellor and Prince of Peace. Ultimately the world would recognize that this holy child was The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father. What a promise!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for the Old Testament prophet Isaiah who delivered the message You gave him. His words inspired hope for all who believed. Because of this prophecy, I can believe with the ancients that the Holy One has brought meaning to my life because He was God on earth. Thank You that You cared for me before I was born. Amen.

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A Different Birth

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“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 Holy Bible King James Version)

“Ridiculous,” some scoffed. “Impossible,” others said. How could a pure Jewish maiden, a virgin, birth a son called Immanuel? Wasn’t stoning was the punishment for immoral acts? This birth would be different. No immorality or sin would be involved. There would be no stoning; no punishment. This holy child, destined to be God with us, would condescend from heaven to earth, to reconcile the world to Himself.

Prayer: Dear God, I don’t know how strong my faith would have been in Isaiah’s time. This special sign, a holy child born to a virgin, seemed impossible, beyond human reasoning. Reading this from Your Word now, millenniums later, I see Your plan for my redemption from sin. Thank you for the faithful ones who could not see but believed and claimed your promise. Amen.

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Hope Has Come

1 Min Read

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (Galatians 4:4-5 in the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible).

Hundreds of years passed from the time when the birth of Jesus was foretold in Genesis 3:15 until the day that He was born in a manger at a Bethlehem stable. The people of God were reminded by prophets that the promised Messiah would come, but after so many long years of delay it is no wonder that many gave up hope. The Messiah did come. And when He came, He inaugurated a new era of freedom. We, who were hopelessly chained by sin, are now the adopted sons and daughters of God!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your plan to save mankind from the death sentence of sin was perfectly timed. Thank You for making it possible for me to have the same name, the same inheritance, and the same rights as a spiritually-born daughter of the King of Kings!

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Devotions

All Things

1 Min Read

“Do all things without grumbling, complaining and faultfinding…” (Philippians 2:14, Amplified Bible)

What does ALL THINGS mean? All we do. All things we say. All things we participate in. All things we are responsible for.

This verse could just as easily have said “Do your job without grumbling, pay your bills without complaining and raise your children without faultfinding.”

By not grumbling, we show God we accept the life He’s given us. By not complaining, thankfulness grows in us. By not faultfinding, we begin to see all that’s right in our world!

What ALL THINGS are on your list today? With God’s help you can do them with joy!

Prayer: God, forgive me for the many times I’m complained about ________________. Help me to see things as you see them. Fill my heart with thankfulness and joy in all I do today. Amen.

Devotion by Debbie Simler-Goff

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Devotions

How Big is God?

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How big is God?

“(God) has measured the oceans in the palm of his hand…(God) has used His hand to measure the sky…(God) has used a bowl to measure all the dust of the earth…” (Isaiah 40:12, New Century Version)

If He could hold a tsunami in the palm of His hand, If He could measure a tornado by the distance between His thumb and forefinger, if one of His serving bowls could hold all of the sand on earth, then I’d say God’s Big Enough.

Big Enough to pay your bills. Big Enough to heal your sickness. Big Enough to solve any problem in your life!

How big is God? Big Enough!

Prayer: God, I thank-you that You are bigger than all my problems. I praise You that You are Big Enough to meet all my needs.

Devotion by Debbie Simler-Goff

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