Church Blog (Page 2)
In The Wilderness | December 18 Advent Devotion
IN THE WILDERNESS Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Friday, December 18 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. (Luke 1:80) In the wilderness is not a comfortable place. There isn’t much to eat there—locusts and wild honey?—and there isn’t much company, either. A man who lives in the wilderness is giving up a lot—a nice home, a good career, a life surrounded…
Sunrise | December 17 Advent Devotion
SUNRISE Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Thursday, December 17 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our…
Enemies | December 16 Advent Devotion
ENEMIES Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Wednesday, December 16 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us … that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us … that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him…
Fear | December 15 Advent Devotion
FEAR Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Tuesday, December 15 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. (Luke 1:65-66) It’s a little strange, isn’t it, that the miracle of John’s birth causes fear in the family’s neighbors? Joy makes…
First And Last Words | December 14 Advent Devotion
First And Last Words Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Monday, December 14 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet…
The Time Came | December 13 Advent Devotion
The Time Came Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Sunday, December 13 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. (Luke 1:57-58) The thing about pregnancy is, it comes to an end. Nobody ever stayed pregnant forever (though it feels like it sometimes). I remember when I first found out I was pregnant. Suddenly my world turned into…
Among The Unnoticed | December 12 Advent Devotion
Among The Unnoticed Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Saturday, December 12 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. (Luke 1:56) Have you ever thought what it must have been like, in that house where Mary was staying? There were probably only the three of them there—Mary, Elizabeth, and her husband Zechariah. Actually there were five, if we count the two unborn babies. But none of the males in the family could talk at that point.…
Seeing | December 11 Advent Devotion
Seeing Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Friday, December 11 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name.” (Luke 1:46-49) Do you see me? That is a question a lot of people would like…
Joy | December 10 Advent Devotion
Joy Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Thursday, December 10 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And…
Caring For Our Needs | December 9 Advent Devotion
Caring For Our Needs Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Wednesday, December 9 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with…
How Will This Be? | December 8 Advent Devotion
How Will This Be? Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Tuesday, December 8 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He…
Graced | Advent Devotion
GRACED Daily Devotion for Advent 2020 | Monday, December 7 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort…