Monday, December 19, 2016
Luke 2:7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn. The travel had been tiring. It was time for rest, especially for an expectant mother. Surely they could nd […]
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Isaiah 9:6, 7 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on His shoulders. These will be His royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice […]
Saturday, December 17, 2016
John 3:16 • For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Christmas is the season of giving. Annually, for several weeks in December, society adopts a spirit of generosity. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always last. Giving runs counter […]
Friday, December 16, 2016
The one who existed from the beginning is the one we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life. 1 John 1:1 (NLT) The right words can have a phenomenal impact on a person. Positive, affirming words heal […]
Thursday, December 15, 2016
In that day you will sing: “Praise the LORD! He was angry with me, but now he comforts me. 2See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” 3With joy you will drink deeply […]
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Matthew 1:23 (NLT) “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us).” When a child feels disturbed or distressed, their first reaction is to look or cry for mom or dad. A parent’s presence has a comforting effect on […]
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Isaiah 9:2-6 (NLT) The people who walk in darkness will see a great light—a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow. 3 Israel will again be great, and its people will rejoice as people rejoice at harvest time. They will shout with joy like warriors dividing […]
Monday, December 12, 2016
John 1:14 (NLT) So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. Birthdays are special. They acknowledge a person’s entrance into the world and the value that others place […]
Saturday, December 10, 2016
They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. — Matthew 2:11 (NLT) Gift giving is a wonderful tradition of Christmas. Finding that perfect gift for that special someone […]
Friday, December 9, 2016
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. Then the […]
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Mary responded, “Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed. For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me. — Luke 1:46-49 (NLT) In recent years a […]
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy […]
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true.” And then the angel left. –Luke 1:38 (NLT) These words of Mary follow a startling message from the angel Gabriel to her. The angel told Mary that she was to be the […]
Monday, December 5, 2016
In those days John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness. His message was, “Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” — Matthew 3:1, 2 (NLT) If you met him once, you would never forget him. His appearance was a bit unusual, and his message straightforward. He […]
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly. As he […]
Saturday, December 3, 2016
For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert! ––Isaiah 43:19 (NLT) If you have ever made a terrible mistake, done something […]