Tag: devotional
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Love.
Week Four of Advent John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Love is the heart of Christmas. Because love is the heart of God. God’s plan was always to provide a way for people to find…
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Joy.
Week Three of Advent And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10). Joy is a resounding theme…
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Peace.
Week Two of Advent Peace is a precious commodity these days. In every corner of the world, various people groups are living in distrust, discord, and even open and often violent conflict with one another. On the front lines of our own minds, we worry about safety and finances, relationships and crises of health. Where…
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Hope.
Week One of Advent I think we tend to overuse the word hope like we overuse the word love. That kind of hope is built on possibility and uncertainty. That kind of hope can just as easily disappoint as delight. As I was thinking about the Christmas story—of stables and angels and wise men,…
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Feel the Feelings
Roman 12:15: Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with this who weep. There are days when I question how my small, quiet soul fits into the body of Christ. I know that it is by faith alone I am saved, and that any works I do grow from my love of my Savior. But my…
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I Will Give Thanks
Psalm 9:1: I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. My small, simple soul loves this time of year. It holds the promise of the holidays without the urgent hustle and bustle that seems to arrive in December. I also think my soul has…
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You are Seen by God
Genesis 16:13: So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” Today I felt seen. It took being vulnerable first. Some days ago I had tentatively shared an admission, a deep hurt, a…
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Embrace the Awkward
Joshua 1:9: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. My small, simple soul fears awkwardness. Today I embraced awkwardness. Dove in and swam around in it for a while. I felt called to offer something to an…
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Let Yourself Be Real
Psalm 19:14: May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. I love quirky people. Real people. People with pesky imperfections they just can’t escape! I love the friend who snorts when she laughs. The co-worker who makes up songs…
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What Do You Bring to God’s Team?
My small, simple soul shrank a little at the question. It plummeted from the cozy kind of small to the insignificant kind of small in the space of a sentence. “What is the most important thing you bring to a team?” I don’t know! my heart cried. It was an old conversation in my…