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Christmas Cheer
Simple idea #278 for Christmas (I don’t have 277 previous ones): Christ is BORN. Light has come into the world. Darkness has not overcome it… ever. And won’t. No matter what is going on in the world and in your world right now, here is the simple idea: Sit back. Get some coffee on, or tea, or other favorite beverage.…
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When Jesus comes
51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations. 52 He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed. (Luke 1:51-31) What is always profound to me is the humility of Christ’s coming. It is always…
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The Power of His Coming
4 But when the fulfillment of the time came, God sent his Son, born through a woman, and born under the Law. 5 This was so he could redeem those under the Law so that we could be adopted. 6 Because you are sons and daughters, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore, you are no longer a slave…
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The Power of God WITH Us
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. 20 As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord…
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The prayer of longing in Advent
I saw this prayer by Walter Brueggemann on Margaret Feinberg’s site: We give you thanks for the babe born in violence. We give you thanks for the miracle of Bethlehem, born into the Jerusalem heritage. We do not understand why the innocents must be slaughtered; we know that your kingdom comes in violence and travail. Our time would be a…
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Go ahead… be a “Scrooge”
“Be a Scrooge” has a bad connotation. But that would also miss the whole story, wouldn’t it? Maybe “being a Scrooge” could also be someone who is capable of change. That may mean hitting some horrifying event to wake up, but nevertheless, change happens. So, go ahead… be a “Scrooge.” It’s up to you as to which stage of that…
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The Way of the Father
5 Next the devil led him to a high place and showed him in a single instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 The devil said, “I will give you this whole domain and the glory of all these kingdoms. It’s been entrusted to me and I can give it to anyone I want. 7 Therefore, if you will worship me, it will all…
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Duck Dynasty, Chick-fil-a, etc.
We are really in trouble. I mean it. When I eat or don’t eat at Chick-fil-A, my decision is fraught with the the thought, “What if my church denomination finds out I’m not eating there?” What if I don’t watch “Duck Dynasty?” Or, worse, what if I do? I am not kidding. We are in real trouble. Putting a coin in…
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When the enemy hits hard
The Spirit has ground my Bible reading to a halt. Not really a halt, but from a fast walk to a crawl. Well, more like a “sit.” AND he won’t even let me access the one book I know will help me “read” this passage more “clearly.” He actually wants me to stop and listen to him. Just. Not. Nice. I…
