Posts with the category “winter-2022”

DAY 28Fight!Revelation 11:1-14 Tell the truth about God.That’s our job - to witness and prophesy. But why does God give us that job? Look again at Rev 11.John measures God’s temple. Everything inside ...  Read More

DAY 20 - The Most Expensive GiftRead John 3:16-17Jesus was in the beginning. Jesus is God in our skin. Jesus died in our place. This proves, once and for all, that God loves us. Think about Jesus’s de...  Read More

DAY 19 - In Our PlaceRead 1 John 4:7-12There’s a third sign of God’s love hinted at in John’s opening. Those hints unfold as the Gospel goes on. But this sign is the crowning achievement of God’s love...  Read More

DAY 18 - In Our SkinRead John 1:14-18Jesus was in the beginning. And then God in Christ moves toward us. “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (Jn 1:9, NIV). God has ...  Read More

DAY 17 - Personal and PurposefulRead John 1:1-5, 9-14Science can tell us a lot about how the universe began. It cannot tell us why it began. The Gospel of John makes four powerful claims about the uni...  Read More

DAY 16 - In the BeginningPsalm 90:10-12 “Have you got any proof?”Many times we are asked to provide proof. Whenever you exit and reenter the country, you have to provide proof of citizenship. If you b...  Read More

DAY 15 - Rest in JoyRead Psalm 5:11Rest in the joy that’s already yours.We rest when we trust we’re safe. Trust you are safe in God’s hands. Rest in joy because joy already touched down on planet Eart...  Read More

DAY 14 - Just RelaxRead Luke 1:34-38How do we overcome our fear so we can experience joy?Look again at Mary’s response to Gabriel. Early Christians revered Mary of Nazareth as Mary, Mother of God. But...  Read More

DAY 13 - Do Not FearRead Luke 1:29-33There are many reasons why we don’t feel joy. But one of them is fear. Luke says, “Mary was greatly troubled.” She’s confused and disturbed, maybe even afraid. Why...  Read More

DAY 12 - Rejoice!Read Luke 1:26-28 Are you a joyful person?In Luke 1, God offers Mary of Nazareth a baby. More than that, God’s giving her joy! In the NIV translation, the angel says, “Greetings!” Ano...  Read More

DAY 11 - SERIOUS BUSINESSRead Luke 2:9-11Joy is serious business. C.S. Lewis told his nephew, Malcolm, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” Joy is something we desperately we want - and something ...  Read More

DAY 10 - Search Me, O GodIsaiah 1:16-18 Repentance is a gift, not a grief. Jesus and John the Baptist stand in a long line of Hebrew prophets calling God’s people to turn back to God’s ways. Isaiah ca...  Read More

DAY 9 - Wash Behind Your Ears!John 13:3-11 Did your parents ever tell you, “Wash behind your ears!” Dirt mysteriously works its way into every nook and cranny of the human body. Kids are understandabl...  Read More

DAY 8 - Make a U-TurnLuke 3:7-14 What does it look like to repent?Simply put, repentance means “to turn.” On the one hand, we turn FROM our sins. We turn away from selfishness and pride. We refuse to ...  Read More

DAY 7 - Starting With the Man in the Mirror2 Corinthians 7:8-10How do you typically get ready to meet someone? I look in the mirror like most others do. That’s what John the Baptist is - a mirror. His...  Read More

DAY 6 - Get ReadyMark 1:1-8What do you do before meeting someone important?The four Gospels introduce to Jesus, the most important person to ever live. The Gospel writer, Mark, makes us meet John the ...  Read More

DAY 5 - Welcome HomeEphesians 1:4-6You are loved.You are welcome.You have a home.Can you believe it? You have a home with God through Jesus Christ! Many people feel homeless and lonely. A survey from ...  Read More

DAY 4 - You’re InvitedEphesians 2:19-22 Yesterday we looked at five clues in Jesus’s family tree that help us see one of God’s gifts in Jesus for us. We met Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheeba. Again w...  Read More

DAY 3 - The UnexpectedIsaiah 55:6-9 Why does Jesus need to experience life as one of us? That's the question if we want to find God's gift for us. And there are clues in his family tree.We notice some...  Read More

Day 2 - Where Are You From?Matthew 1:1-3a, 5-6, 17-21Have you ever asked, “Where are you from?”People ask me that from time to time. It’s hard to answer because my family moved around growing up. I us...  Read More

Day 1 - Your Favorite GiftRomans 5:16-17What’s one of your favorite Christmas gifts?Maybe it’s a game, your first smartphone, or even a piece of jewelry! It’s hard to pick one, but every year as a kid...  Read More

Connect with God each day of Advent with our daily devotional, The Gifts of Christmas!A new entry will publish every Monday through Friday through Advent and Christmas (all of December and then some)....  Read More