While the Bible doesn’t say anything about observing the tradition of Advent, this tradition has existed within the global Christian church for centuries. It is nearly as old as the church itself, with the earliest mentions of the tradition happening as early as 380 AD at the Council of Saragossa. While that council was responding […]
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Are you ready to experience the peace and joy of Christmas? These free short-run email devotionals will help you set aside the stress and busy-ness of the holiday season and focus on the real meaning of Christmas—click here to sign up on our Christmas devotions page. Tell your friends so they won’t miss out! Our […]
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By Sarah Young Merciful Lord Jesus, I come to You, asking You to prepare my heart for the celebration of Your birth. Christmas is the time to exult in Your miraculous incarnation, when You—the Word—became flesh and made Your dwelling among us. You identified with mankind to the ultimate extent: becoming a Man and taking […]
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By Guideposts After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” —Matthew 2:1–2 Last night my […]
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By Guideposts And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14 (NASB) I stared at my December calendar filled with commitments. There was no room to breathe. Parties. Shopping. Bills. Baking. I struggled with […]
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By Scott Erickson I. Love. Holidays. I’m always up for a celebration! And the crème de la crème for me is Christmas. It is by far my favorite time of year. But a few years ago, as the twinkly lights and evergreens came out, as they always do, I found myself increasingly ambivalent about the […]
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By Heidi Gaul For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) The Christmas tree is decorated, and stockings are hung. Carols waft through the air, […]
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By Walter Wangerin Jr. Read Luke 1:26–38. The Canaanites tell this disturbing folktale: if a jealous angel should appear to a young woman on the night of her betrothal, beware! It’s a sign that the she-demon will kill the man she’s soon to marry. Could this be one of the reasons why Gabriel’s appearance to […]
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When was the last time you and your family sat down together and read the Christmas story? Many of us are familiar with the story of Mary and Joseph and the first Christmas—we’re re-familiarized with it every year. But there’s more to the Christmas story than what happens at Bethlehem. The story of the promised […]
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For many centuries, Christians have used the season of Advent to prepare their hearts for Christmas. The word “advent” comes from the Latin word adventus and simply means “coming” or “arrival.” Advent begins each year on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which this year is December 1. It is a season in which Christians remember […]
Filed under Christmas, Devotionals