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The Promise of Christmas
A Christmas Reflection
I cheated here and used the lyrics of two great songs. These songs together tell the story of why God sent Jesus to earth and what hope Jesus brings.
Don't cut it short and glance over these words, rather, take your time and read them with the intention of understanding the story, promise and hope they offer.
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" was written by several authors during the 17th century and "In Christ Alone" was written by Keith and Krystin Getty.
God rest ye merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay Remember, Christ, our Saviour Was born on Christmas day To save us all from Satan's power When we were gone astray O tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy
In Bethlehem, in Israel This blessed Babe was born And laid within a manger Upon this blessed morn The which His Mother Mary Did nothing take in scorn O tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy
From God our Heavenly Father A blessed Angel came And unto certain Shepherds Brought tidings of the same How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by Name O tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy
"Fear not then", said the Angel "Let nothing you affright This day is born a Saviour Of a pure Virgin bright To free all those who trust in Him From Satan's power and might" O tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy
The shepherds at those tidings Rejoiced much in mind And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm and wind And went to Bethlehem straightway The Son of God to find O tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem Where our dear Saviour lay They found Him in a manger Where oxen feed on hay His Mother Mary kneeling down Unto the Lord did pray O tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises All you within this place And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace This holy tide of Christmas All other doth deface O tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy
In Christ alone my hope is found He is my light, my strength, my song This cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My comforter, my all in all Here, in the love of Christ, I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless babe This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones he came to save 'Til on that cross, as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin, on him, was laid Here, in the death of Christ, I live
There in the ground, his body lay Light of the world, by darkness, slain Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave, he rose again And as he stands in victory Sin's curse has lost its grip on me For I am his and he is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me From life's first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of man Could ever pluck me from his hand 'Til he returns or calls me home Here, in the power of Christ, I stand
Easter Devotional
Follow Jesus through the 7 Days of Holy Week. It's never the wrong time to do so.
INTRODUCTION
Holy week begins on Palm Sunday and marches forward 7 days leading into Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is also called Resurrection Sunday since this is the day that Jesus rises from the dead. In order to celebrate Easter properly you have to believe that Jesus was killed by crucifixion on Friday and rose from the dead on Sunday. If He didn’t rise from the dead then He didn’t atone for the sins of mankind and He is nothing more than an ordinary human being.
Read these scripture verses:
John 3:16-17, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Romans 10:9, If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
John 5:24, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
Ponder these verses and ask God to give you clarity and understanding. To grant you the faith you need to declare Romans 10:9 as your own.
Now, get out your Bible. Don’t have one? Go out to Google and look for Biblegateway.com.
Look up and read the verses that proceed each daily devotion.
Remember to pray, first asking God to give you the clarity you need. Then read the devotional text.
At the end there will be a question or thought to ponder. Don’t end there, take your pondering with you and think about how the devotion applies to you.
Write down your thoughts each day. When the week is over, read back over your pondering's.
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This is your Project description. Whether your work is based on text, images, videos or a different medium, providing a brief summary will help visitors understand the context and background. Then use the media section to showcase your project!
This is your Project description. Whether your work is based on text, images, videos or a different medium, providing a brief summary will help visitors understand the context and background. Then use the media section to showcase your project!
This is your Project description. Whether your work is based on text, images, videos or a different medium, providing a brief summary will help visitors understand the context and background. Then use the media section to showcase your project!
This is your Project description. Whether your work is based on text, images, videos or a different medium, providing a brief summary will help visitors understand the context and background. Then use the media section to showcase your project!
This is your Project description. Whether your work is based on text, images, videos or a different medium, providing a brief summary will help visitors understand the context and background. Then use the media section to showcase your project!
This is your Project description. Whether your work is based on text, images, videos or a different medium, providing a brief summary will help visitors understand the context and background. Then use the media section to showcase your project!
This is your Project description. Whether your work is based on text, images, videos or a different medium, providing a brief summary will help visitors understand the context and background. Then use the media section to showcase your project!
This is your Project description. Whether your work is based on text, images, videos or a different medium, providing a brief summary will help visitors understand the context and background. Then use the media section to showcase your project!
Thanksgiving Devotion
Acknowledging God
I believe you must bring your whole self to the table on Thanksgiving. Reflecting on moments God has blessed you and those around you is key preparation.
According to what traditionally is known as "The First Thanksgiving," the 1621 feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians at Plymouth Colony contained waterfowl, venison, ham, lobster, clams, berries, fruit, pumpkin, and squash.
Colonists had hunted wild turkeys during the autumn of 1621 and since turkey is a uniquely North American (and scrumptious) bird, it gained traction as the Thanksgiving meal of choice for Americans after Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a federal holiday in 1863, during the American Civil War. He called it a national day of
“Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwells in the Heavens,”
Thanksgiving Day happens every year at the end of November. We know it's coming but we still need to prepare for it. Aside from buying all the goodies you want to eat on that day, and the week after, you need to look ahead. Right now, as I type this, I have a turkey defrosting in the refrigerator. A necessary step if I want to serve it, on time, for that special meal.
However, the food is the secondary celebration. First and foremost is our thankfulness and praise to God for all the provisions He has given to us. If thanking God is a part of your holiday, you need to think ahead of time of all that you are thankful for. Don't let the busyness drag you to the table exhausted without accurately understanding how much God has been in your life.
Include some quiet time in your preparation.
1. Find a time and place to be quiet
2. Pray to ask God to help you see back to all the times He's been with you
3. Thank God for who He is and all that He's done for you
Here are a few scriptures to help you focus:
Psalm 100:4
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
1 Chronicles 16:34
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”