Posted on 09/30/2020 9:26:22 PM PDT by JustAmy
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Bible in a Year:
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son.
“No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.” Those words from Phillips Brooks’ much-loved hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem” point to the very heart of Christmas. Jesus came into our broken world to rescue us from our sin and give all who would put their faith in Him a new and vital relationship with God.
In a letter to a friend decades after he wrote the hymn, Brooks poignantly described the outcome of this relationship in his own life: “I cannot tell you how personal this grows to me. He is here. He knows me and I know Him. It is no figure of speech. It is the realest thing in the world, and every day makes it realer. And one wonders with delight what it will grow to as the years go on.”
Brooks’ calm assurance of God’s presence in his life reflects one of the names of Jesus prophesied by Isaiah: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). The gospel of Matthew gives us the meaning of the Hebrew name Immanuel: “God with us” (1:23).
God drew near to us through Jesus so we could know Him personally and be with Him forever. His loving presence with us is the greatest gift of all.
Reflect & Pray
What does it mean to you that God loves you so much He wants to be with you always? How will you draw near to Him today?
Loving God, thank You for giving Yourself to me through Your life on earth, death on the cross, and resurrection. Please help me to live for You today and forever!
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We love hanging out here. :)
She’s a beauty!
Thank you Amy, I miss Meg.
We had a nice sunny day in Wisconsin today, about 40.
Watching Rudy and Patriots live from Michigan now...on YouTube. Crummy demonrats being jerks to the Patriots who are testifying. The Patriots are Winning. The jerks are ridiculous.
(It is 7pm central)
It was chilly and overcast here, but at least it wasn’t raining...or snowing.
I do too.
Maybe she will feel well enough to surprise us with a “Hi” soon.
I like the flower poem. The picture seems to be a dahlia. Very nice.
BTW, I miss Meg too.
They sure were being jerks. It was obvious that they weren’t serious about fixing the problem.
I watched The President’s speech on YT tonight. I thought it would be on TV, but nope, so that just makes all this fraud/stolen election more scary. First time ever a presidential address was not televised live. Maybe I’m wrong and it was live when I was gone today. Wish that was the case. Justice must prevail. I hope it is God’s will to let our country be free of this evil. The suspense is “killing me”. 😐
I just don’t feel like this whole episode has been real. it feels nightmarish!
Yes, like a never ending nightmare. A whole month since the election day. It’s getting to be too much to take. Feel anxious tonight. Held up pretty good until now. It wears on you. So many stolen elections, like in 2018 when they pulled the same crap at 3am in Milwaukee county and found enough votes to unseat Gov.Walker. It’s sickening really, they have no shame.
well let’s try to get some rest
😴🌙💫⭐️
Good idea. Rest and put it out of our mind for a while. I have to avoid social media sometimes because of it.
Bible in a Year:
Give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees.
Country artist Chris Stapleton’s deeply personal song, “Daddy Doesn’t Pray Anymore,” was inspired by his own father’s prayers for him. The poignant lyrics reveal the reason his father’s prayers ended: not disillusionment or weariness, but his own death. Stapleton imagines that now, instead of speaking with Jesus in prayer, his dad is walking and talking face-to-face with Jesus.
Stapleton’s recollection of his father’s prayers for him brings to mind a biblical father’s prayer for his son. As King David’s life ebbed away, he made preparations for his son Solomon to take over as the next king of Israel.
After assembling the nation together to anoint Solomon, David led the people in prayer, as he’d done many times before. As David recounted God’s faithfulness to Israel, he prayed for the people to remain loyal to Him. Then he included a personal prayer specifically for his son, asking God to “give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees” (1 Chronicles 29:19).
We too have the remarkable privilege to faithfully pray for the people God has placed in our lives. Our example of faithfulness can make an indelible impact that will remain even after we’re gone. Just as God continued to work out the answers to David’s prayers for Solomon and Israel after he was gone, so too the impact of our prayers outlives us.
Reflect & Pray
How have someone’s prayers made a significant impact on your life? How might you encourage others with your prayers?
Heavenly Father, I bring my loved ones before You and ask that You would work out Your plans in their lives.
Read Talking with My Father: Jesus Teaches on Prayer at DiscoverySeries.org/HP171.
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