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Because He Came
After walking through advent season and looking forward to Jesus’ second return to earth, and having written a previous post, What If He Hadn’t Come, I was compelled to write this one. Because He DID come, we have been given an assignment. In my final week of Joy to the World (LifeWay Women), the focus was Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8: go and make disciples and teach them everything Jesus taught. We will be witnesses wherever He takes us. That is our purpose on earth. Whether we do that as employees, parents, siblings, neighbors, or ministers. Because He came, we are sent! Jesus came to bring salvation and His last words…
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What If He Hadn’t Come?
Have you ever thought about that?: What if He hadn’t come to earth? Picture with me a world today without Jesus in your life.. Does it look bleak? Hopeless? Not worth living? Now, how does it feel knowing He did come? Hopeful, purposeful, bright even on dark days? Does your heart overflow with gratefulness? We just celebrated Jesus’ birth and are looking toward a new year, but let’s consider before we do, what if He hadn’t come. In week 2 study of the Joy to the World from LifeWay Women, I pondered this question. Immanuel, God With Us, did come, changing everything. It gave us not just joy, but unending joy. …
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Where Are You Looking?
As I continued my study of Joy to the World from LifeWay Women, we looked at Simeon’s and Anna’s time with Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem. Imagine being in the temple night and day serving God and waiting for the Messiah. Both Anna and Simeon were looking for and recognized Jesus, the Messiah, as soon as they laid eyes on Him. They rejoiced and thanked God aa they worshiped Him. Simeon said to the Lord, Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation (Luke 2:29-30) Anna’s words are not recorded but scripture says, At that very moment, she…
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The Joy You Need
In preparing for Christmas a friend and I are studying Joy to the World from LifeWay Women. The very first day of the study I was made aware of a connection between Genesis 1 and Matthew 1 that I had not ever noticed. This is also the opening of the Old Testament and the New Testament! In Genesis God created. In Matthew, the genealogy of Jesus, who existed at creation, shows the Old Testament connections to the New and reveals how God fulfilled all the prophesies about the Messiah in the Old. The writer of this day of study said, Jesus’ birth was not God’s backup plan. We see in…
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A “Good” New Thing
It’s a new year. How can it be 2024? Wasn’t it just yesterday we turned the calendar to 2023? Maybe, for you, it was a really long year. At my age, every year is fast! (Smile) Yours might have lasted too long and you are glad to turn the calendar to a new year. Hard, or not so hard, I love turning to new things and anticipating new things. I recently read Isaiah 43:19 as we entered 2024. This is Isaiah’s prophecy about Israel’s ultimate restoration after continued rebelliousness of the people. Part of the prophecy to Israel was about the hard times they would face as a part of…
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Christmas Peace
Whenever I’m asked, “What’s your favorite name for God,” without hesitation I say, “Prince of Peace.” I praise Him for many other attributes, but this one comes to the top of my mind immediately. Perhaps it’s because I not only have peace with God eternally through Christ, but I also have experienced unexplainable peace on earth in some of my life’s toughest circumstances. I’ve just started LifeWay Women’s The Wonder of Advent study to prepare my heart to focus more fully on Christ during the hurry of Christmas. This week’s topic is hope. That’s the foundation for my peace, and I’m thinking it may be yours as well. I’m also reminded…
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Do You Need Courage?
Who knew, when Jennifer Rothschild began writing her Bible study Take Courage, on the Old Testament book of Haggai, how desperately we would need the messages of encouragement for tough times that Haggai preached! No one knew we’d be in the middle of a global pandemic, or that we would have such turmoil in our nation! But God certainly did. Perhaps you have faced difficulty, opposition and discouragement that causes you to question your purpose, especially as you reflect the 12 months we have just lived through. Maybe situations have not turned out like you thought they would, or how you wanted them to. Maybe you are desperately needing encouragement…
