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Devotions

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Devotions

Recognizing the Savior

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 2:11-12, Holy Bible, New King James).

    Shepherds keeping their flocks safe in the night received an unexpected visit from an angel who announced the arrival of Jesus. After being serenaded by a host of heavenly beings, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem (verse 16) where they “found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” The long-awaited Messiah had arrived! Shepherds recognized the Savior the angel described. They knew they had come to the right place.

        Prayer : Welcome Lord Jesus. I recognize You as my Savior. I’ve made room for You in my heart.
        Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
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Rejection and Reception

1 Min Read

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

    How we carol with passion the words of Away in a Manger and scatter clean hay in a mock nativity with little thought of how unhealthy, how cold, maybe even how dangerous, it was for Mary to give birth in those conditions. I’ve been rejected at hotel check-in far from home and heard that my room had been given to someone with a similar name or learned that the room wasn’t inhabitable. I’ve pushed for the hotel to find me a room nearby. Not Joseph and Mary. After the long journey from Nazareth, they lodged with the animals, grateful for a resting place. There in the least expected setting, Jesus was born.
    Prayer : Lord Jesus, I won’t reject You. I’ve made room for You in my heart. Amen.
    Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
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The Destination

1 Min Read

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting, (Micah 5:2, Holy Bible, New King James).

    My favorite Old Testament characters, ancestors of Jesus associated with Bethlehem, are woven through time. From weeping to rejoicing, Jacob buried Rachel, his beloved wife, there. Ruth, a foreigner from Moab, married Boaz. Samuel anointed David to be King of Israel. When Joseph of the New Testament journeyed there with Mary, his betrothed wife, for the required census, the greatest celebration of all occurred. Tiny Bethlehem, you made your mark when You became the birthplace of Jesus, the Savior of the world.
    Prayer : Eternal God, You spoke of Bethlehem’s importance from ancient days. Immanuel—God with us—at the birth of Jesus linked the past to a new world with a future. Amen.
    Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
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The Journey of Promise

1 Min Read

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child, (Luke 2:4-5, Holy Bible, New Living Translation).

    Joseph, a descendant of David, had to travel from Nazareth, Galilee to Bethlehem, Judah to be counted in the census decreed by Caesar Augustus. The journey, estimated to between seventy and ninety miles (up to 140 kilometers) through rough terrain, had to be a major challenge for Mary, his espoused wife, heavy with child. I tried to visualize Mary on a donkey, a familiar Christmas-card scene. I can’t imagine her walking that distance either. No matter how she made that journey, it had to be uncomfortable if not down-right agonizing. She did not question the journey knowing that life would not be a smooth road, but understanding that each step led toward a promise.
    Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to enjoy the journey You have outlined for me.
    Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
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Choosing a Name

1 Min Read

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, Holy Bible, New King James).

    Baby name selection is one of the first things young parents think of—maybe long before a baby is expected. Prefer Victorian for your baby girl? Maybe you’re searching for unusual names for identical twin boys that evoke courage and strength. Perhaps you want to include grandparent names. Mary had none of these options. An angel announced the name of her Holy-Spirit conceived child to Joseph. Jesus, a name above all names, selected in heaven, received on earth, etched into eternity. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12, Holy Bible, New King James).
    Prayer : Lord Jesus, Your name continues to bring salvation to a needy world. Amen.
    Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
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The Expectation of Hope

2 Mins Read
    Some would think me fortunate to have drawn the Christmas week for devotionals. Piece of cake, right? Wrong. Everything that could be said about that first Christmas—the day Jesus was born in Bethlehem—has been told, retold and debated for two millenniums. Christians devoted to this blessed event along with skeptics who view the same crèche admit the main characters are always Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus surrounded by animals. An angel heralds the event to shepherds working in the fields who make their way to find the Christ child. Certainly not a great opening scene by today’s book-publishing expectations. But this is not the beginning of a story. It’s the focus of the prophet Isaiah, the culmination of the angelic annunciation to Mary that a child conceived of the Holy Spirit would bring eternal life to all. It is the unchangeable story of Christmas.

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).

    Prayer: Lord Jesus, many babies have been born since the beginning of time, but you are the only one who brought the expectation of hope to all humanity. Amen.
    Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
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Humble Human Hearts

1 Min Read

“He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree” (Luke 1:51-52 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible).

Pride has no value. It gives a false sense of self-importance that exists only in the imagination of the heart. When God was looking for a human vessel to accomplish His will, He bypassed all of the high profile candidates and chose a humble young woman who was “powerless” in the eyes of society. God demonstrated that His favor rested upon those who followed Him in spite of the world. Though God handpicked her from all of the women on the face of the earth, Mary did not claim any glory from it.

Prayer: Lord, You value faithfulness, trust, and obedience above everything. Teach me these essential qualities and help me to never claim glory for myself. Amen.

Devotion by Julie Long

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Magnificent Mercy

1 Min Read

“For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:49-50 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible).

Mary understood that she did not merit the tremendous honor God had given her as the mother of the Saviour. All she had done for her part was live in obedience to God’s commandments and followed Him to the best of her ability. Throughout Scripture the Israelites constantly vacillated between faithful obedience and wayward disobedience, but God’s mercy was always available when they turned their back on sin. Today, God extends His faithful, loving, mercy to everyone who follows Him.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the great blessings in my life. May I always walk with You and never leave the protection of Your abundant mercy.

Devotion by Julie Long

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Impossible Prayers

1 Min Read

“And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:36-37 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible).

The angel, Gabriel, used the miraculous pregnancy of Mary’s cousin, Elisabeth, to illustrate to her that God could indeed do anything! I often pray for the impossible to happen in my own life and the lives of family and friends. I believe God has answered every prayer I’ve prayed. Sometimes the answer is “No”, sometimes it’s “Not now” and at other times God says, “Yes!”

Prayer: Mighty God, When I believe for the impossible today, I know that You are fully capable of making it a reality. If the time is right, and the answer is in Your will for my life, it will be accomplished! Amen.

Devotion by Julie Long

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