Special Advent Edition

God * is worthy of our worship * wants us to know Him * reassures us when we’re afraid.

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“The family tree of Christ is filled with every kind of person and every kind of story, which brings us to a great and glorious hope that by God’s redemptive work through Christ, every kind of person with every kind of story is invited to come near.” – The Daily Grace Co. – Waiting for the Savior

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“Jesus’ kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. It has come and is coming. He heals the sick, provides for the poor, gives rest to the weary and sight to the blind. He saves the lost, corrects the wanderer, forgives the sinner, and welcomes the prodigal. To seek first the kingdom of God this holiday season is to put Jesus at the very center of it all.” – Susie Larson – Prepare Him Room

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“God never stops looking for the world’s seconds, the unseen unimportant, and calls them the important firsts. Which means He raises Abel instead of Cain, Jacob instead of Esau, Isaac instead of Ishmael, Moses instead of Aaron, David instead of Eliab. Which means He raises the unseen and forgotten: Sarah instead of Hagar, Leah instead of Rachel, Tamar, Hannah, Ruth, Rahab. Which means that long after that unseen and forgotten son of Jesse was anointed king in Bethlehem, there was another unseen and unimportant One born in Bethlehem – One Who was left out with the sheep because no one made room for Him either. He Who was the most beautiful One became the most ugly…that our ugly hearts might become beautiful in the eyes of God. Who knows of another love story like this?” – Ann Voskamp – One Thousand Gifts

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“The baby in the manger came to be King, and He would not settle for anything else. That infant was the King of kings and Lord of lords. He would grow to become a man, a perfect man, Who would talk again and again about the kingdom He came to establish; but He would do much, much more than just talk. The King would die as a criminal, so that criminals against rule would be welcome into His throne room and live with all the rights and privileges of being members of His royal family. One of the glorious ironies of the biblical story is that the King – the King that we willingly love, worship, and serve – had to die first. Ordinarily the death of a conquering king is the end of the story. But this King came to conquer by dying for those over whom He would establish His rule. This is grace…” – Paul David Tripp – Come Let Us Adore Him

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Oh, gracious Father, that I would have eyes to see as You see! You not only see – You seek out. You search for the shamed hiding in the shadows, the left behind in lonely places, the barely hanging on in hopeless positions. You seek out not to curse or cut, but to hold and heal. You seek out to nurture and graft, for from this rag-tag band of daring-to-believe-its, You are growing a family tree of the invited. Not the lovely, the loved or the lauded, but the humble, the hungry, and the hopeful. As I walk through this Christmas season, may I see as You see, seek out as You seek out. May I bend to love and serve the lost and the lowly, remembering that the seeking eyes of the Savior once sought me out when I, too, was lost and lowly. That a King would come and build His family tree through the likes of me – You are forever worthy of my praise and gratitude! In the beautiful Name of King Jesus, amen.

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“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’…And Mary said, ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as He has said to our fathers.” – Luke 1:38, 46-55