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All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us") (Matthew 1:22, 23). O come, O come, Immanuel, Last year found me in somewhat of an exile, and I prayed every day, multiple times a day, in every way I knew how, for rescue. I cried out t...
Keep Reading[Editor's note: Happy Thanksgiving to all our CD readers!] O come, o come, EmmanuelAnd ransom captive IsraelThat mourns in lonely exile hereUntil the Son of God appear "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"(which means "God with us") (Matthew 1: 23). Food! Fast, hot, and ready! Coffee! Grab it and go! Movies! On demand, rig...
Keep ReadingBut after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill wha...
Keep ReadingShe [Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins(Matthew 1:21). As you reflect on the message of Advent, I invite you to listen to the beautiful hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Click here to listen. The song is a prayer of longing, not just for ancient Israel, but for all people, everywhere. The s...
Keep Reading"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel" (Matt. 1:23, quoting Isaiah 7:14). ...
Keep ReadingHow then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:14-15a ESV). Football is the ultimate team sport. Apologies to anyone into soccer, basketball, or any of the others. They're all grea...
Keep ReadingBut how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? (Romans 10:14, 15 MSG) One of my teenagers is left-handed, and that's complicated how I've had to teach h...
Keep ReadingBut what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess ...
Keep ReadingIf you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heartthat God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10: 9). While reaffirming the Good News of Jesus, Paul speaks to the powerful faith in salvation that Jesus has placed in our hearts. But Paul also reminds us that the Good News of Jesus and his gift of eternal life needs to be shared! In...
Keep ReadingHow, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:14-15) As we head into the final week of our Kingdom ...
Keep ReadingDear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (I John 4:7-8, 11). God's love isn't selective or based on feelings or conditions, and He calls us to love in the same way....
Keep ReadingNo one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his loveis perfected in us (1 John 4:12 ESV). I'm a tremendously visual and tactile learner. So, when I teach physics and math, I thrive at the board where I can bring the equations to life with colors, pictures, and diagrams. When I finish explaining, I'll often ask students, "see what I mean?" When I...
Keep ReadingAnd so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not...
Keep ReadingDear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one anotherif we love each other, God lives in usWhoever loves God must also love his brother (1 John 4:11-12,21). If you lined up a hundred photos of toddler feet, including my granddaughter's, I could pick hers out immediately. Are hers the cutest? Well, of course, but the reality is she has two small red marks ...
Keep Reading1 John 4:7-21 This week's passage, 1 John 4:7-21, is high and long and wide and deep. "Love" appears more than twenty times! Kingdom People are called to be lovers, of God, of our neighbors, of one another, of our enemies. There just isn't anyone outside of that circle. When John writes "God is love," he is uttering an idea that no one had ever had before. Everyone knows...
Keep ReadingBeing strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:11-12) With all the current pandemonium, do you find yourself longing and praying for peace? Stress, anxiety,...
Keep ReadingFor he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14). I've always loved books and movies where the story builds to a powerful climaxthose thrilling, heart-pounding, emotional moments- that eventually lead to the resolution when everything falls into ...
Keep ReadingWe pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haulnot the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us (Colossians 1:11-12 MSG). When I ask my...
Keep Reading"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (1 Colossians 1: 13-14). This could be a tough week for many. There's a challenging battle between two sides, both of whom have incredibly loyal and passionate supporters. This is the kind of conflict that can divide...
Keep ReadingFor this reason, since the day we heard about you,we have not stopped praying for you (Colossians 1:9). A new week unfolds, a new Scripture in our Kingdom People series and Election Day tomorrow! We invite you to head into this week, whatever it may hold, and whatever the coming weeks and months many hold, by soaking in this week's Scripture passage, Colossians 1:9-14; 2...
Keep ReadingThere's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn FORGES THE TEMPERED STEEL OF VIRTUE, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrarywe can...
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