The Connect Devotional - a daily devotional with CCC

The connect devotional is a great way to stay connected spiritually to what our community is learning about God right now.  It is in step with the current sermon series, studying the scripture through the lens of life application.

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Archives for December 2020

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1

The Understated Miracle

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling with us (John 1:14). Drum roll, building, getting louder music, beginning quietly in the bass register, but rising, crescendoing sudden spectacular, full-throated chord, the entire symphony cranked all the way up, tutti fortissimo! Cue the choir, angelic and earthly! Wait that's it? That's all? A baby? Yeah, babies are cute a...

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There's Just Something About a Silent Night

Silent night, holy night/All is calm, all is bright 'Round yon virgin Mother and Child/Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace/Sleep in heavenly peace It has been easy for me to slip into a new sleeping pattern this year. In college I scheduled my classes in such a way that I could use the wee hours of the night for studying, because I found it hard to co...

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2

What's in a Word?

"In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:4-5) "Son of God, oh, love's pure light" ("Silent Night") Driving back from Durham last week, I was momentarily and agonizingly blinded by the brilliance and intensity of the nearly-setting sun. That blinding brilliance made me thi...

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1

Sh-h-h

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). In Him was life, and that life was the light of men (John 1:4). The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world (John 1:9). Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace (Silent Night) Abba, I come to be settled down. ...

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Why We Sing

"Silent Night" and John 1:1-18 If you had to pick "the best" of all the Christmas carols, "Silent Night" would certainly be at or near the top of the list. This weekChristmas is this Friday! we wrap up The Weary World Rejoices sermon series by listening to this beloved carol and "the Christmas story according to John," found in the first eighteen verses of this fourth an...

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Let Hope Be Practiced!

"Let Let Let Let " ("Joy to the World") What is our hope as followers of Jesus? I don't mean what is my hope for my life, for my future. That's an important question, just not the one asked here. As Christ-followers, as we look upon the entire burdened world and its long and wearying history, what are we hoping for? We hope, we look forward to, we anticipate, we await...

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River Talk

He comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found (Joy to the World) Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And t...

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Joy to the World - Then, Now, and To Come

"Now the dwelling of God is with men" (Rev. 21:3). "No more let sins and sorrows flow,/Nor thorns infest the ground./ He comes to make His blessings known/Far as the curse is found." ("Joy to the World," Isaac Watts, 1719) Jesus was born to die. As Christians, haven't we frequently heard that from a well-meaning parent or pastor? Their intention is clear: to guard us ...

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An Unconventional Happily Ever After

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away"(Revelation 21:3,4). ...

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The Curse Reversed

He comes to make His blessing flow/Far as the curse is found ("Joy to the World") No longer will there be any curse (Revelation 22:3). For nearly a century, the Boston Red Sox supposedly lived under a curse. Having won the World Series in 1918, the Sox owners made a diabolical deal to trade Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1919. Ruth, nicknamed the "Bambino," alleged...

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The Gravity of Glory

"Glory to God in the highest!" (Luke 2:14) This week, as we continue our The Weary World Rejoices series, we've been listening to the soaring music of "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" and "the Christmas story" as we are given it in Luke 2:8-15. We've thought about the shepherds (why send angels to them alone?), the noisiness of our hearts and times, and the humility of heav...

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Why Shepherds?

Luke 2:10-18 We all know enough of Luke's account of Jesus's birth to picture the shepherds, well away from town, probably sleepy, surrounded by sheep, terrified by the appearance first of one angel, then a "host," and excitedly rushing off to see the Baby Jesus. I'm trying to slow down during these first days of Advent, being purposeful in looking at a well-known (maybe ...

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It All Began with Humility

Mild He lays His glory by (Hark the Herald Angels Sing, by Charles Wesley) I imagine Charles Wesley was moved to write "Mild He lays His glory by" by Paul's observation that Jesus voluntarily set aside his status as God to become one of us (see Philippines 2:6-7). Being demoted from a position of honor is a big step down. Perhaps it happened when you were an only child a...

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2

Noise

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people" (Luke 2:8-10). There isn't a lot of holiday hustle...

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Repent? Let's Go!

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about" (Luke 2:15). There you are, keeping watch over your flocks by night. If you're stuck with "night duty," you probably aren't getting rich from tending sheep. Suddenly: Hark! Do you hear that? L...

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The Heart of Him Who Comes

"I am gentle and humble in heart"( Matthew 11:29). Of whom do we sing of when we sing "O Holy Night"? Who is it who comes on this silent, holy night? Why would he come, whatever could be the heart motivation for such a journey? There is just one place in Scripture where Jesus discloses his heart to us. Of course, we see his heart "in action" throughout his life, through...

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Weary Meets Wisdom at the Fork in the Road

He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger,Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend! ("O Holy Night"). Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Weary gets us to the fork in the road. From one direction despair beckons. From the other direction desperate striving beckons. Weary requires that we stop. We have to sto...

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Burdens, Yokes, and Rest

Matthew 11:28-30 Have an independent streak when it comes to doing things? "I can manage this workload myself." "I won't wait for help; I can move this heavy furniture across the room." What does that get you? Pride in taking credit for the work? Satisfaction you redecorated by yourself? Couple that with resentful coworkers or an aching back, and what have you really gain...

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He Knows Our Need

O Holy Night Matthew 11:28 I should have kept a tally of how many times I listened to O Holy Night in preparation for this week's Connect Devotional. I listened to various artists sing it in many different styles; I listened while driving, while walking the dog, and while sitting on the porch watching the kids play. It's a song I've enjoyed at Christmas time my whole l...

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