tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767659678538848172024-02-18T21:04:06.924-08:00Diary of the DuleysHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.comBlogger346125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-51396778178074514482019-08-05T07:51:00.000-07:002019-08-05T07:51:25.230-07:00Surgery DayAbout 16 years ago, we decided to name our soon-to-be Duley "Joshua," because in my estimation, Joshua was a biblical character who didn't screw up and bring shame to the name of the Lord during his lifetime.<br />
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During my pregnancy, God revealed to me that I had been putting my hopes in being "good" and pleasing others instead of looking to Christ for my salvation. I repented, placed my faith in Christ, and now HIS righteousness is my covering. Around this SAME TIME, I was told that JOSHUA means "YAHWEH is salvation." What a difference in point of view!! From that moment, Joshua no longer represented efforts to "be good;" instead, Joshua was a reminder that JESUS SAVES.<br />
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Here we are today, hopefully at the end of a summer-long toothpick saga, (I need a better name for this..) and Josh is about to go into a surgery that is dangerous and tricky. "High-priced real estate" is the term being used for the location of the toothpick, and doctors keep saying that if this was a bullet they wold leave it alone.<br />
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YAHWEH is salvation. JESUS SAVES.<br />
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There are so many people praying for Josh (physical/emotional/spiritual needs), for the surgeons, and for our family. "Encouraged" and "comforted" do not even begin to describe how we feel regarding the outpouring of kindness and concern being expressed by our community- and even church families from far away!<br />
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Yesterday as I was taking a running break (Periodically I go outside and run laps around the hospital... I figure it's better than smoking...), I was praying for Josh, and all of these things were being woven together in my mind.<br />
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Our Heavenly Father, who is GOOD has chosen this for our family, and it will be used for good, because He loves us and has called us according to His purposes.<br />
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Abraham had to lay Issac on the altar before God provided a lamb, but God DID provide a lamb for Abraham, and Isaac's life was spared. God also has provided a lamb for us- the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. We are praying that God will bring glory to Himself by sparing Josh's life today and also by giving Josh a real, living faith and hope in Christ.<br />
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Then in the book of Numbers, the Israelites were being plagued by deadly snakes. After the people saw their need to be healed, they cried out for mercy. God instructed Moses to make a brass serpent, raise it on a pole, and then those who looked at it were healed. John 3:14-15 says, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life."<br />
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Similar to the Israelites, Josh is very sick right now and needs to be healed. We pray that the Lord would guide the hands of the surgeons and give them dexterity and wisdom to resolve the issue. At th<span style="font-family: inherit;">e same time, I pray that Josh would feel his need for Christ and that he would look to Christ and be healed. Both physically and spiritually.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 2 Corinthians 6:2:" <span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.'<b> Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"But my prayer to You, O LORD, is for a time of favor. In Your abundant loving devotion, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation." Psalm 69:13.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just as the lady reached out and touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was healed and forgiven, I am praying that Josh would figuratively reach out and do the same- That our God</span>, who is our great and Glorious Physician, would preserve, protect, and heal our son Joshua. JESUS SAVES, we pray that God would glorify Himself today.<br />
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It is going to be a good day. We love you Josh!<br />
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Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN.<br />
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-4333451512893171702019-07-24T19:32:00.001-07:002019-07-24T19:57:32.317-07:00The Rest of the Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: center;">Riding in the car, I used to look forward to the quirky news report done by a man named Paul Harvey. It was always some kind of interesting story with a strange turn of events or unlikely scenario, and he would say, "And that, my friends, is the rest of the story."</span><br />
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Unfortunately, there is a part 2 to my previous post. Stay tuned for news and the rest of the "Forced Family Fun Day Goes Wrong because of Toothpick" story...<br />
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I'm typing this post from the 12th floor of Lebonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, and this is the 20th day of Josh's summer vacation spent in the hospital. He will have some great material for the cliche "What I did on summer Vacation" essay. Hopefully he will choose to focus on the number of arrests we witnessed from the 9th floor window or the amazing 4th of July fireworks display we got to see over downtown Memphis. OR he could write about the day the superintendent of the school system came to visit him, along with other coaches and about 20 kids. If he is feeling super creative, he could pen a fictional narrative based on the imagined backstories of the doctors and nurses around here. At this moment, I am thinking his essay might not be so focused on the positive and humorous.<br />
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If you remember from the last post, we left our second Lebonheur visit being told that he was just constipated from traveling and that the pain was not related to the toothpick. For our third ER visit, he had high pain and fever- BUT he wasn't vomiting and he could bounce on one foot without falling on the floor in pain. CLEARLY, the doctor assured us, he was not in need of anything surgical, and we needed to just make an appointment with a GI doctor and stop taking up space in the emergency room when it obviously wasn't an emergency. <br />
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After several more weeks of pain and frustration and weight loss, we had a GI appointment. The NP did blood work and scheduled Josh for a scope a few days later. That afternoon, we had just gotten back to New Albany when she called and told us to go back to the ER... TONIGHT. She said his blood work showed that his inflammatory markers were alarmingly elevated and she wanted him admitted for more tests.<br />
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An exploratory surgery to check out some "haze" on the CT turned into a bigger deal; Josh woke up missing 50 centimeters of his small intestine because of a puncture, abscesses, and infection. This is no small surgery, so we ended up in the hospital for a full week while he recuperated.<br />
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The doctors and nurses for this fourth time at Lebonheur were great- AND we had a room with a view of a liquor store and the Hernando Desoto Bridge. There were light shows at both places, lol! There were "blue lights" at the liquor store regularly surrounding people, and we saw all kinds of drama going down.. It was like watching an episode of COPS in person every day! The bridge lights in Memphis aren't quite so dramatic, but they are beautiful! The lights change colors, flash, and dance- it is a sight to see. To top it all off, we had the best seat in the city for 4th of July fireworks! The Redbirds stadium and Mud Island fireworks were both right outside our window.<br />
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We were sent home on July 5th or 6th (days run together), and things seemed to be on the right track. I was somewhat concerned that Josh wasn't improving as quickly as I thought he would, but I tend to be a little over-competitive and pushy (imagine that), so I put it out of my mind. However, he undeniably started feeling bad again about a week after arriving home and his temperature went back up. We called our follow up number, and they sent us back here... to our new home away from home...<br />
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Infection had set in from surgery and was working a number on Josh. He had lost even more weight, blood counts were not great, and the CT showed "something." For a full day, we just knew that the CT showed "something." This is a scary phrase.<br />
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They got him started on IV antibiotics... and here we are, 9 days later... Hospital Stay #5.<br />
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Although this hospital visit has been very difficult (particularly mentally) for Josh, it has most certainly made us thankful for our family, church family, and community. SO many people have checked on Josh, brought food, offered help... I could go on and on! And nothing has brightened his spirits as much as the many times a friend or two (or 22) has ventured up to Memphis to sit with him or play cards. It has been humbling and sincerely touching how many people have expressed their concern and offered to pray for Josh.<br />
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The good news is, there was a little progress yesterday. THANK THE LORD FOR ICE CREAM AND ANSWERED PRAYERS. After a very discouraging day, he tried a little ice cream and it didn't hurt his stomach. Then, he realized his pain was only a 2.. this was like a light opening up at the end of a long, dark tunnel.<br />
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While this was "the rest of the story," the end of the story is yet to be told. The next several days will be very important. We are praying that he continues to poop, his pain continues to decrease, AND that when they take him off the IV nutrition and antibiotics, he will continue to improve. If the cycle of pain/ inflammation/ constipation begins again, they will have another surgery, in which they "leave no stone unturned" looking for a toothpick that MAY be at large floating around in his abdominal cavity. Lovely thought to end on, huh?<br />
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I can't end on that note- I just can't go there. Instead, I will close with this: God is good all the time, and all the time, GOD IS GOOD.<br />
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"The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."<br />
"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it....May you be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, or all endurance and patience with joy. "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world"<br />
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We are hoping and praying for the best!<br />
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P.S. Before I could read over and post this, we had a setback today. Short version: Josh was supposed to have some kind of special MRI... but actually an MRE... of his intestines this afternoon. After drinking two things of gross-tasting contrast, he was left in his little triage room too long and the test didn't work. Now he has to do it all over again tomorrow. This sounds trivial... but it really wasn't.<br />
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AND THEN, the bigger blow was yet to come. When he came into the room, he asked me to take his temperature, saying he felt feverish. For 5 days straight his temp has consistently been between 97-98.1. After only 6-7 hours unplugged from IV antibiotics, it was back to 99.7. This somewhat changes our hopes for a best case scenario, but we will know more tomorrow.... And after all, tomorrow is another day.<br />
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Even tonight- when there is no ice cream and only more gross-tasting contrast drink for breakfast- God is good.<br />
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Another few positives- we are close to the zoo... and since we got a family pass on "forced family fun day" we have taken Kayleigh to the zoo several times. She wants to be an animal doctor.<br />
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Hannah was granted a $5,000 stipend for nursing school- Did you know that's what those car tags pay for?? Get the Nurses Touch Lives car tag!! :) <br />
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And finally, our African Queen comes home from Kenya in 7 days!! We will be so glad to see Sarah!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXbMvbI35WmRbLlwiAI77xQJ7KzSahrM4dhKdnRdTH_lRjgAQDi-gnZlKZ0RqGqHPTJpIl1CoqB4WV7R6U5jQpzAp6tlZqb8Frg441sQXDHP_-X4ScOUjCz-VOgIsCzCYNKFfPHB3jokE/s1600/f1ac9f8d-4dcf-49a5-b73e-a0fa150ae075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="480" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXbMvbI35WmRbLlwiAI77xQJ7KzSahrM4dhKdnRdTH_lRjgAQDi-gnZlKZ0RqGqHPTJpIl1CoqB4WV7R6U5jQpzAp6tlZqb8Frg441sQXDHP_-X4ScOUjCz-VOgIsCzCYNKFfPHB3jokE/s320/f1ac9f8d-4dcf-49a5-b73e-a0fa150ae075.jpg" width="320" /></a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-31199875250227802222019-05-30T08:53:00.001-07:002019-07-22T07:39:22.274-07:00Rough Start to SummerThere is something quite satisfying about wielding a machete in dense underbrush. As Josh and I alternately hacked with the machete, cut small branches with the loppers, and used our body weight to push briars out of the path, I reflected on the craziness of the week and just how much had transpired between in such a short time.<br />
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It all began with my idea for a family fun day. When you have a large family... mind you, I realize that some people consider our family of 7 a crazy-large size, and then other friends with 7, 10, 12 kids probably snicker at my use of "large." Anyhow, for us, 7 is a comfortable, slightly chaotic number... and when you have a "large" family with working children who participate in extra-curricular activities, it can be difficult to organize times when everyone is present.<br />
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Going to the zoo is fun for people of all ages, and Kayleigh particularly loves it. When the big 4 were younger, we lived in Memphis and went to the zoo regularly. We would take our own drinks and picnics and look at animals for as long or as little as we wanted, and we all loved it. On a tight budget, the only thing about the zoo being something we did frequently was that the answer to things like Icees, Dippin' Dots, cotton candy, and the misting fans was always NO.<br />
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Consequently, my surprise for the older kids may sound cheesy, but they appreciated it. Family fun day was important to me, and I wanted it to be fun for everyone... so this was YES day. Although I DID take a backpack of drinks and snacks, it was FAMILY FUN DAY, and we would enjoy the Dippin' Dots or Icees as part of it.<br />
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The weather was great- sunny, and warm- and everyone enjoyed the time together. After we had seen everything except the farm animals (we have our own petting zoo in the backyard!), we left and decided to stop for a "linner" (Lunch/Dinner) on the way home. Huey's was close, so we crowded around a table and enjoyed burgers, salads, sodas, and more fellowship.<br />
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Huey's is a restaurant with a neat vibe- burgers come in baskets, there is graffiti all over the walls, and long toothpicks with colorful plastic ends cover the ceiling.<br />
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And then it happened. Josh decided to add his toothpick to the ceiling's collection. Trying once, twice, he was unsuccessful. On the third time, he was going to go big. Drawing a deep breath, he sucked the toothpick right DOWN the straw and right down his throat. Choking a bit and swallowing the toothpick, Josh looked stunned. Heck, we all were. What in the world just happened??? Before thinking about the seriousness of the issue, several typical sibling "roasts" were issued, and there was a good bit of laughter. However, as we waited for our check, a cloud of worry settled over us, and we wondered how this was all going to work out.<br />
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On the way home I asked the advice of a doctor, and he seemed to think it would be broken down enough by stomach acid to pass... but be on the lookout for ANY pain and be on yellow alert. Later that evening, after a phone conversation with my uncle, we decided to take him on to the ER. From 10:00pm until 1:00am we waited in the Tupelo ER for the doctor to finally believe that Josh did indeed swallow a toothpick, even though the X-rays did not show anything. They sent us to Lebonheur, and we arrived BACK IN MEMPHIS around 2:00am.<br />
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Side note: Josh and Will qualified for a national bridge building competition, and they were supposed to leave with their school group at 8:54am on Sunday morning to fly to Nashville, on to Dallas, and then to Salt Lake City, Utah for the competition. It was now 2:00am on Sunday morning. The question became- what are they going to do? Can they even do anything? Is the toothpick still in his stomach? Is it lost in the intestines? Should they scope him? Should they try to flush it through? WOULD HE MAKE IT ON TIME FOR HIS FLIGHT TO UTAH????<br />
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The doctors finally agreed that they should just admit him for observation. NO 8:54am FLIGHT. As Sunday progressed, they decided that if he had no major pains, he should just go home (or to Utah) and be on standby for abdominal pain. Meanwhile, Will and the other students were delayed in Nashville because of a canceled flight.<br />
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After church, Scott came to Memphis to swap with me, because I had to drive to a coaches' meeting in Montgomery, AL. At 4:00pm, Scott and Josh left Lebonheur with strict instructions to "RETURN IF YOU HAVE ANY ABDOMINAL PAIN!!!" and drove to Nashville to meet the group. Did I mention that Josh and I had ZERO SLEEP on Saturday night? ZERO. Not an auspicious beginning to a full week (that was only going to get fuller).<br />
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Sarah rode with me to Montgomery, and although I missed the first meeting, we were there for a very late dinner and visit with a boy with whom she had been corresponding. By this time, I was slightly loopy and in a sleep deprived state... probably not a great way to meet a potential suitor for the first time.<br />
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Meanwhile, Josh met with Will and the group in Nashville and prepared to leave for Utah the next morning.<br />
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Monday dawned and sent the boys flying from Nashville to Detroit to Salt Lake City while Sarah and I drove home after meetings in Montgomery.<br />
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On Tuesday morning, I had to work 10-6 at Fleet Feet and then do some serious grocery shopping for Will's graduation celebration. The boys had made it to Utah safely, and we were able to watch the livestream of their bridge competition between customers.<br />
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Both boys' teams got third place!! How exciting!!<br />
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Wednesday was cleaning day for the at-home Duleys and a long day of traveling home for the boys which ended with a flat tire on the side of the highway as they made their way home.<br />
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On Thursday, Josh finally got to sleep in and recover, but Sarah, Will, and I left the house at 3:30am to head to his freshman orientation at USM. Kay met us in Hattiesburg and picked up Sarah to go home with her until graduation. Another long day full of meetings and information overload began when we arrived in Hattiesburg, MS at 8:00am. Hannah, the MVP of the week, kept Kayleigh and worked on finishing up house chores and cooking for the graduation dinner.<br />
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The parents and students were separated almost immediately, and we both participated in different types of programming all day. The information was helpful, and I think Will is prepared for August. Southern Miss... TO THE TOP!<br />
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We spent the night in the dorms on Thursday night, and Friday got going early with advising sessions and information about the honors college program. While Will was meeting with an advisor, I received a text from Hannah saying that Josh was having a lot of abdominal pain. Our primary care doctor advised us to take him back to Lebonheur, so Scott took Josh back to the hospital while Will and I wrapped things up in Hattiesburg and Hannah and Kayleigh worked with all three grandmothers to get the house decorated!<br />
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Around 4:30 on Friday, Will and I entered the house to find that Hannah had done an AMAZING job; our Hawaiian Luau was a go. Although Josh and Scott were still sitting in the Lebhoneur ER while the team of doctors decided Josh's pain was from constipation (presumably resulting from the traveling- even though he had never been constipated in his life), the pre-graduation dinner was a success. Kay made Will a Tardis quilt for his graduation gift- it is the coolest quilt we have ever seen!!!!<br />
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Our friends Ginny and Nathan came to swap out with Scott, because he did NOT want to miss Will's graduation that evening.<br />
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The entire family and many friends packed in on the bleachers and beamed with pride as Will was honored for being STAR Student (highest ACT). Below he is with Ms. Bailey, his choice to honor as STAR Teacher.<br />
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He was also honored as Salutatorian, Hall of Fame, Ms Scholar, highest 4 year average in Science and History, and recognized for his many scholarship awards. He has worked so hard to be successful, and we are proud of his many accomplishments!<br />
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After a family picture session (that was missing Josh), Hannah and I left for Lebonheur. We crowded up in his hospital room and watched a late night movie before falling asleep on couch and recliner. Saturday was a long day (especially for Josh) at Lebonheur, and the rest of the family visited at home with Nana and Papa John.<br />
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Late Saturday afternoon, after a major "Love it or List It" and "Fixer Upper" marathon, they decided to send us home with a regimen of meds for Josh. We arrived home to a delicious dinner prepared by Papa John, and we decided to keep our plans for going to our annual gathering at the TN river with my parents.<br />
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Early Sunday, we loaded our tents, camping gear, and all of Sarah's gear for her trip, and headed to the river. WHAT A RELAXING 24 HOURS! The weather was so beautiful, and we enjoyed the last day with Sarah. In fact, we were so relaxed that I didn't even take any pictures!!)<br />
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Sunday night we got to have steaks for dinner- what a treat!- and then about 2:00am Monday, I woke up thinking that I had fleas in my bedding. The itching increased steadily, and I realized that I was having another red meat reaction. Daylight confirmed that I was indeed covered in hives. Thankfully, we had Benadryl, and I am officially a non-beef eater. No exceptions.<br />
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By 11:30 I had slept off the Benadryl and all of our stuff was gathered and loaded. The kids headed back home, and Scott and I took Sarah 4 hours across Alabama to drop her off for her summer. She turned in her cell phone and that was that.<br />
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Although I had been fighting it, I lost it. There is something about knowing your child will be flying internationally without a cell phone that just made me tear up. It will be a long 8-10 weeks until I can give her a big hug and have all my chickens back in the nest. After a four-hour drive home, we felt like we had survived a ridiculously busy, stressful week that had involved thousands of miles driven and flown, over 100 hours in the hospital, two large family gatherings/ celebrations... and much, much more.<br />
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On Tuesday we slept late-ish and then jumped right into trail work and preparations for running camp. I got two quotes from bulldozer operators, and it looks like we will be able to renovate our 1.5 mile trail.<br />
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Wednesday, Josh and I went hacking a path through the brush in order to mark a path for the bulldozer driver, and now we will have a true loop without any two-way traffic.<br />
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Today, I have spent the morning catching up on this blog, and I am about to take Kayleigh to the spray park with some friends. That will be followed by a final round of laundry catch-up, housework, and then topped off with a girls night dinner in Tupelo!<br />
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Sarah, we miss you and love you and hope you enjoy us keeping you updated with our day to day ramblings this summer!! :) <br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-50947204687847981222018-06-21T08:30:00.001-07:002018-06-21T08:30:16.285-07:00Final school and home Again!<br />
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Sunday night saw us safely in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, which somehow seemed very similar to Memphis. We were instructed to walk PAST Pizza Capri and into the nearby neighborhood to have the best Chicago deep dish pizza in the area. We were not disappointed! <span id="goog_316866445"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeB11Bf55YIzVVtxTdM9bmoaoYmkXL-d1d8NXJjQQsT1MfWJHjH2IGZKhbeafPUQ8-4Nlg3ZCqJMLGzm0tPI8I-XyCWfuJMMKMgjmUPR5_G69QA6c9GSlnuz615LhH66ttt3sMOk3gUw9/s1600/IMG_5274.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeB11Bf55YIzVVtxTdM9bmoaoYmkXL-d1d8NXJjQQsT1MfWJHjH2IGZKhbeafPUQ8-4Nlg3ZCqJMLGzm0tPI8I-XyCWfuJMMKMgjmUPR5_G69QA6c9GSlnuz615LhH66ttt3sMOk3gUw9/s320/IMG_5274.HEIC" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyn1b0kAeH_ye39Dit1HNJ_ykgTB3D8cKcrnY2zlz0dz4etgcG3M5G_a2LImQTNlqYZ79IhMH-nxQkoca5HIgVjevckzNM3RXyNJgfAj6IMMgqKn4qMxE427OF2IbnXKLuBfjef6-oY4Gw/s1600/IMG_5273.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyn1b0kAeH_ye39Dit1HNJ_ykgTB3D8cKcrnY2zlz0dz4etgcG3M5G_a2LImQTNlqYZ79IhMH-nxQkoca5HIgVjevckzNM3RXyNJgfAj6IMMgqKn4qMxE427OF2IbnXKLuBfjef6-oY4Gw/s320/IMG_5273.HEIC" width="320" /></a><br />
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Stuffed full of pizza, we walked back to our swanky Chicago hotel and went to bed early. It was great to be back in the central time zone! The next morning we had breakfast, got our final cup of Starbucks (My souvenirs as we traveled were the "been there" coffee mugs from all of our fun places!) and waited on the shuttle to take us to our final destination, the University of Chicago.<br />
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The University of Chicago is yet another urban campus. Same song, different verse... we listened to an admissions presentation and then went on a tour. The speeches were beginning to sound strangely familiar at this point... We heard the joke about siblings getting dragged along against their will, we heard about holistic application processes, and so on. We joked about the common story of the mom who tested the blue light safety system and was surrounded by campus police within 60-90 seconds. Was this the same mom traveling to all of the schools we were? Did she really test the blue light system at EVERY college? Or was it a different mom at each college? Whatever the case, the blue light system is a good idea and seems to have improved campus safety around the country!<br />
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One funny story unique to U of C pertained to their annual scavenger hunt, which is an elaborate, fun event. According to our tour guide, the challenge was to re-create a nuclear reactor. Some highly intelligent students took this too far, created a real nuclear reactor, and were raided and arrested by the FBI. When the misunderstanding was discovered, the students were subsequently released, and they were eventually offered jobs working for the government upon graduation. Now, the University clears the scavenger hunt list with the FBI beforehand. This story cracked me up!<br />
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Here is the list of pros for University of Chicago:<br />
Beautiful campus<br />
Students are paired with a career advisor as well as academic advisor<br />
90%+ students do internships, and there are internships reserved all around the city for students<br />
There is an online platform that helps you find research opportunities<br />
Dorms/ houses seem to have feel of community<br />
Smaller school- 6,000 students<br />
Students use ID to get passes to museums and cultural opportunities in the city<br />
Chicago Transit is free with ID<br />
You can check out artwork from the art museum to put in your dorm<br />
More research is available for undergraduates than there are undergads to fill them<br />
Financial aid follows you with study abroad<br />
The school meets demonstrated financial need<br />
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Cons:<br />
The marine lab is in Massachusetts<br />
Registration for classes is random and based on a computer algorithm<br />
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After our tour, we loaded up the car and hit the road for the last time. Our 9 hour drive home seemed like a piece of cake. About 10pm we completed our circle around the eastern United States. The week actually flew by, and we all had a great trip! It is fun to go, but it is always good to come home. </div>
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-41400256552923962012018-06-16T21:14:00.001-07:002018-06-16T21:14:27.719-07:00College tour continues... This is Saturday night, and I am currently in Erie, PA. I think. Maybe. Yes, that's it. The admissions counselor from Duke accurately pegged it when she mentioned being on the college road trip. "Some of you" she joked, "are living the life of a rock star right now. Sleeping in a different hotel every night, going from city to city each day..." So true!! I can't believe this is our 7th night away from home. The week has FLOWN by, perhaps because we have stayed so busy each day, but definitely NOT too busy to take in some history and culture along the way!<br />
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I left off about our travels the night we were in DC. We woke up the next morning in DC and left our car parked at the hotel, hoofing it to the metro station. Like professionals, we checked fair prices, loaded our metro cards, and hopped on the subway to metro center. Because the museums were not yet open, we grabbed a cup of coffee and went on a walking loop past the White House and around all of the monuments. <br />
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I'll pause here and say that if I was going to live in any big city, it would be D.C. I LOVE it there. Sipping Starbucks and walking amid the hustle and bustle of our nation's capitol, I reveled in the fact that I was surrounded by so much history. We made the corny joke about "You may not see the Trumps, but you can always see the Bushes!" as we walked past the White House. The color change in stone was noted on the Washington Monument. Pausing to soak in the fact that over 400,000 soldiers died fighting for our freedom in WW2, we admired the details and symbolism of the WW2 monument. As we headed toward the reflecting pool, we told Noah the story of Kilroy and told him about how my Pepa would stamp his woodwork with "George Lark was here." At the Lincoln Memorial, the boys looked for the face on the back of Lincoln's head and we sought out the word which was almost misspelled.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeIyzWrNSlbPziLak0vmD4R2T8NLfh7_1zH-DmcIUmrImYdpEcGvUQxnebOnR_-LF00iXSlHQ3lgfW-t7zNqY48xO23cBxrygy4DiFG3QPHevW98lZN9W2BjOLj55ZdtIhvPHJph18Ahm/s1600/IMG_5235.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeIyzWrNSlbPziLak0vmD4R2T8NLfh7_1zH-DmcIUmrImYdpEcGvUQxnebOnR_-LF00iXSlHQ3lgfW-t7zNqY48xO23cBxrygy4DiFG3QPHevW98lZN9W2BjOLj55ZdtIhvPHJph18Ahm/s320/IMG_5235.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br />
We walked back down the mall until we reached the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. This was a "payback" visit of sorts. When I took the kids to D.C. back in 2010(ish), we skipped this museum because Will was the only one who wanted to go. Last November, I visited the Museum of Natural History with Josh and Unee, and I immediately regretted not taking Will all those years ago. The boys were not disappointed. After a few minutes in the ocean exhibit, I set a meeting time and decided to let the boys read all the details while I went to the gift shop and then to my favorite museum next door, the Museum of American History.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEDndby7qPHRKn-EMxYa1I6R0D8Xl1wcyapadn0f1EO2_stf2a8kArqZxok5pHqT8KL4icKd8g09FFfQXmxvZ5nsaqWCGdB0xkT7hY0Gzk4dZob-tysoz2ZHO-LfUKGWGwZUZI697sKMW/s1600/IMG_5236.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEDndby7qPHRKn-EMxYa1I6R0D8Xl1wcyapadn0f1EO2_stf2a8kArqZxok5pHqT8KL4icKd8g09FFfQXmxvZ5nsaqWCGdB0xkT7hY0Gzk4dZob-tysoz2ZHO-LfUKGWGwZUZI697sKMW/s320/IMG_5236.HEIC" width="320" /></a><br />
After visiting the museums, it was time to hike back to the subway, this time via Chinatown, and then to the car... the drive to Boston loomed ahead. <br />
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According to to google maps, the drive was supposed to take six and a half hours to get to Boston. Unfortunately, road work and traffic extended the drive to TEN HOURS. Speaking of traffic... the route took us through New York City. Holy cow. This Mississippi girl will NEVER, EVER drive in NYC again if I can help it. That was the most stressful drive ever, but we survived and arrived in Boston after 1:00am on Friday. <br />
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Way too early, we woke, dressed, and headed into Boston on the commuter rail train. This was a different experience, because it was a real Amtrack train! We boarded at the platform, took our seats (after an embarrassing fall down some steps), and the conductor walked up and down the aisles punching tickets and taking money. It felt like we were in an episode of Thomas the Train!<br />
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By 10:00am we had gotten our coffee and arrived in the admissions office of Boston University. Although BU had a very modern lounge with coffee and tea, the information session seemed much like the others we had heard. It was probably the lack of sleep, but the session seemed flat. Our tour guide did a good job, but we weren't "wow-ed." <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pII2C_R6VyhJWySNyiLN4VqxemSWrLO5JEJ5xlM0sRvItyKUp620OxqbIdBPnFX_2HYNSjLrc1Q9zFCG6wZpXkXWcBlb09LEyXId98NY-b7_oiD2MVQmTa0exZiou36ZTSITteNNKRME/s1600/IMG_5248.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pII2C_R6VyhJWySNyiLN4VqxemSWrLO5JEJ5xlM0sRvItyKUp620OxqbIdBPnFX_2HYNSjLrc1Q9zFCG6wZpXkXWcBlb09LEyXId98NY-b7_oiD2MVQmTa0exZiou36ZTSITteNNKRME/s320/IMG_5248.HEIC" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxKDaTE_YVxXAcQC-UhV4wU1mLgNvxBoutocFUqaBWH600nuoGPR_rWTdkSvkGQ4AGJidFpur2VHTqRmSz5LDIDLSFcmsPGr9_VAVLMr1BZ9ESxypHDedqO0iRguEIj-n8EXtKB3RlCrZ/s1600/IMG_5247.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxKDaTE_YVxXAcQC-UhV4wU1mLgNvxBoutocFUqaBWH600nuoGPR_rWTdkSvkGQ4AGJidFpur2VHTqRmSz5LDIDLSFcmsPGr9_VAVLMr1BZ9ESxypHDedqO0iRguEIj-n8EXtKB3RlCrZ/s320/IMG_5247.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br />
Similar to Charleston, Boston University is a VERY urban campus- So urban, in fact, that one of their dormitories is an old Howard Johnson Motel. Will has decided that he definitely likes the idea of an urban campus because of the access to city life and culture. <br />
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After our tour ended, we began a long walk- twas a very long walk, indeed. From Boston University on Commonwealth Ave., we walked to Boston Commons, stopping by the finish line of the Boston Marathon. You know, just to tell it hello and that I would be seeing it again in 2020. :) <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCUCkIIelj-py3-smD7gD3iZSceBNIZHdrZLxveaXVpWaNZbHyZrGnhTHMRIIEj-abrgw2j98mdwy3qJUNJpVoPtDqiXCuVlywUT0MzQRGDADgluC-imnJwc8xCoQ7h2UFPKD7UK2zNtS/s1600/IMG_5251.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCUCkIIelj-py3-smD7gD3iZSceBNIZHdrZLxveaXVpWaNZbHyZrGnhTHMRIIEj-abrgw2j98mdwy3qJUNJpVoPtDqiXCuVlywUT0MzQRGDADgluC-imnJwc8xCoQ7h2UFPKD7UK2zNtS/s320/IMG_5251.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br />
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After a nice cafe lunch, I signed us up for a freedom trail tour led by a man in colonial dress.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUKHpKtckKl_mmuTfHWoZ1T45L6uZCrjO9N_-vXXNwEwbhwJ5-rvTiLJrmEpzalEFJV_FcjVU0OpsGrJJ56etYqPlIvbeXk33V07FGEybCX21MNPd4VgAJop-CwaDNt0t48rXslYzcvoT/s1600/IMG_5253.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUKHpKtckKl_mmuTfHWoZ1T45L6uZCrjO9N_-vXXNwEwbhwJ5-rvTiLJrmEpzalEFJV_FcjVU0OpsGrJJ56etYqPlIvbeXk33V07FGEybCX21MNPd4VgAJop-CwaDNt0t48rXslYzcvoT/s320/IMG_5253.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br />
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Will was mortified, of course, because the man was shouting in Boston Commons, "Here ye, here ye the 2:30 tour will begin in 5 minutes." However, it turned out to be fun and we appreciated the fun facts and anecdotes that the tour guide supplied. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YprLw4akCAXSA-cH6yYUnaXpD2p2QMOr9KpT9MmigJZIOC63BjgShQe5J-ApT0mgC4nRhra-kMKt8H67lIiDRasUgEM9zjrx8jWZwXm6CDq4AUo6eqpHlhag4VYFSu4CRw7GVUsoYGMs/s1600/IMG_5261.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YprLw4akCAXSA-cH6yYUnaXpD2p2QMOr9KpT9MmigJZIOC63BjgShQe5J-ApT0mgC4nRhra-kMKt8H67lIiDRasUgEM9zjrx8jWZwXm6CDq4AUo6eqpHlhag4VYFSu4CRw7GVUsoYGMs/s320/IMG_5261.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br />
For example, in the graveyard beside Park Street Church, standing beside the grave of founder Samuel Adams, the tour guide pointed out the Beantown Pub. "Over there is the only place you can sip on a cold Sam Adams... while looking at a cold Sam Adams." Bahahaha<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw3EuUWRgPUEktjgEJGeYJX2cfLkcoE0nTThZYqpOoQaUFh72y-IsJbw5yze7v3B9VkHH9OsR2PQUj0MQUfsON-0HrhG3ATiYVcWHj-KKIL5XYzBET7TSXpASxTzsUgvqJJpLIzy86S8X/s1600/IMG_5259.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw3EuUWRgPUEktjgEJGeYJX2cfLkcoE0nTThZYqpOoQaUFh72y-IsJbw5yze7v3B9VkHH9OsR2PQUj0MQUfsON-0HrhG3ATiYVcWHj-KKIL5XYzBET7TSXpASxTzsUgvqJJpLIzy86S8X/s320/IMG_5259.HEIC" width="320" /></a><br />
We finished our portion of the freedom trail at Faneuil Hall, walked back to the South Station, and caught the commuter train back to Natick. By the end of the day we had about 24,000 steps without exercising!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8G_qwOBQ6QL2Q6muutOmdmtOa00M8sfdvoqg_q8Tv2sy-NkwEizYL9XVradHqm6DUoEcqknOj6Z8saWnFnNpmfO4yF94neuRpXuCOLHXI6srtkKS6VljDp0wiZN6Ah81dU8ZUhXKSILK/s1600/IMG_5266.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8G_qwOBQ6QL2Q6muutOmdmtOa00M8sfdvoqg_q8Tv2sy-NkwEizYL9XVradHqm6DUoEcqknOj6Z8saWnFnNpmfO4yF94neuRpXuCOLHXI6srtkKS6VljDp0wiZN6Ah81dU8ZUhXKSILK/s320/IMG_5266.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br />
Friday night we spent another night in the same hotel, and then slept late this morning. Well, the boys slept late, and I got a great treadmill run in with my companion, Madam Secretary. <br />
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Today was a driving day. We made it from Boston to Erie, PA in about 8 hours. <br />
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We tried to make a pro/con list for Boston University, but each time we just kept coming up short. It just seemed like we didn't know much more about the school than we did reading about it on the internet, but here goes:<br />
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Pros for Boston University:<br />
Urban Campus (VERY urban)<br />
cool town/ history<br />
Freshmen do community service together during orientation week<br />
94% of students do at least one internship<br />
Handshake Program (kind of like linked in for BU students)<br />
If accepted, financial aid package would probably be better than W&M<br />
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Con's<br />
Larger school- less personal feel<br />
Career center seemed a little more formidable/ less accessible from what the guide was saying<br />
Larger class sizes than the other schools<br />
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The next few cons are mine- not Will's<br />
WINTER!!! Will assures me that this is NOT a con for him, but large amounts of snow were mentioned in several situations. <br />
Distance from home- 20 hours is a LONG way. <br />
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Tomorrow we will complete the drive to Chicago and hopefully have pizza for dinner!<br />
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<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-39675375961327523072018-06-13T19:56:00.002-07:002018-06-13T19:56:47.790-07:00College Tour Day 4I woke up earlier than the boys and took an exploratory run around Williamsburg and found exactly where we were supposed to meet at 10:00 this morning. We ate a breakfast of leftover pizza and coffee from the campus bookstore, and made it to the admissions office with time to spare.<br />
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Very similar to the other colleges, William & Mary had an information session followed by a campus tour. We learned some useful information during the information session, but the campus tour was AMAZING. We walked around the campus for almost two hours and talked about everything a person could possibly wonder about the school. As the tour guide described campus life, the college community, and the W&M experience, I could see Will as a student there. Looking at him told me that he felt it too. He was smiling, asking questions, and nudging me/ making positive eye contact from time to time. <br />
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Although William & Mary undoubtedly boasts the "best and brightest" as well as Duke and other prestigious schools across the country, the atmosphere was not at all intimidating. While promising to be rigorous and challenging, the school is a friendly, inviting place. <br />
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As the visit ended, Will confirmed that he had it. "The feeling." THIS was his place. The pro and con list was easy to make for this one, and I was thrilled to see that he had found a place he wanted to call home for four years.<br />
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PROs for William & Mary:<br />
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<ul>
<li>"THE FEELING"</li>
<li>Color, symbol, mascot- love them all</li>
<li>70% of undergraduate students participate in research, MANY of them get published as undergraduates</li>
<li>Great campus atmosphere and active campus life (lots to do)</li>
<li>Urban-ish campus/ adjoins colonial Williamsburg, great location</li>
<li>Lots of quad type areas</li>
<li>Career center is instrumental in finding internships for students early on in undergraduate career</li>
<li>VIMS (Virginia Institute of Marine Science) is connected with the University, and W&M undergraduate students have a greater chance for admission into the graduate program. </li>
<li>Don't need a car</li>
<li>less than hour and a half from the beach and only 2.5 hours from DC</li>
<li>12:1 student: faculty ratio... AND the professors TEACH the classes, not graduate assistants. Also, the professors and research opportunities are very accessible to students. </li>
<li>It was awarded one of the top schools for having a "happy student body," and this was evident in talking to the tour guide and the other people on campus. </li>
<li>The tour guide spent a few minutes discussing how W&M was the first college to have an honor code. Apparently, the students were the first to be asked to swear not to lie, cheat, or steal upon enrollment. This may seem silly, but she took a moment to explain that although the pressure on students can be great, the honor code continues to be taken seriously. Additionally, the students encourage one another and rejoice when fellow students rejoice instead of feeling like they are in constant competition with one another. </li>
<li>Acceptance rate is 34%</li>
</ul>
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CONs for William & Mary:</div>
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There are only three. Two are minor, but one feels somewhat insurmountable. </div>
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1. Not all dorms have A/C! (This was a shocker to the us, but she assured us that it is only hot the first week or two of school, and a fan is just fine)</div>
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2. Community bathrooms in freshmen dorms</div>
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1 and 2 are the minor ones. </div>
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3. It is a public university, actually considered the "public ivy league" school. Because it is a public school, they have out of state tuition... and it is MAJOR. Scholarships for out of state students are HARD to come by in a ridiculously competitive environment. <u>So, prohibitive cost is the only major con for W&M. </u></div>
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After being encouraged by admissions to go ahead and apply for regular decision and apply for all outside scholarships we can find, we walked back across the street and had lunch at the Colonial Williamsburg Cheese Shop then got a few souvenirs from the bookstore. </div>
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Spirits were high as we left town in the direction of DC. Will informed me a little later this evening that he plans to research and apply for outside scholarships, keep studying to improve his ACT score, and come up with an outstanding admissions essay. Actually, this is all his plan B. I think his plan A is to be adopted by a family in Virginia for the in-state tuition and VA grants. We will see how that goes, but I am thinking plan b is a better option.</div>
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We still have two more schools on this road trip, and I am always holding out for Southern Miss as an option, so who knows how it will all work out! </div>
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The drive to DC was only three hours, and we were able to exercise and then go to dinner at a local Greek restaurant. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-v0fWavXxI4XKuyZH46qAJPtIbE4TaV2gc3Njce8a3r9o4vpPWnu9G3darBmZkvO9lHEUvfAWYl5YDAGgBHswCpzlQm7k9vCJAXiw7XE_GWrjNfjvHPu5T9Iy2x5Iz_5LhgQE-bQHtSx1/s1600/IMG_5227.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-v0fWavXxI4XKuyZH46qAJPtIbE4TaV2gc3Njce8a3r9o4vpPWnu9G3darBmZkvO9lHEUvfAWYl5YDAGgBHswCpzlQm7k9vCJAXiw7XE_GWrjNfjvHPu5T9Iy2x5Iz_5LhgQE-bQHtSx1/s320/IMG_5227.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div>
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Tomorrow morning we will wake up and take the metro in to visit the monuments and Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.... AND THEN DRIVE TO BOSTON. </div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-67827819804558540152018-06-13T18:59:00.002-07:002018-06-13T18:59:52.748-07:00College Tour Day 3Tuesday morning in Durham dawned cloudy and threatening rain. This was the big day- we were off to see DUKE, as in THE Duke University, home of the basketball playing blue devils. We arrived at the office of admissions and participated in a well-done information session touting all of the amazing things about Duke. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWJ1xZtCGJ0amJYlTvNyoZeTPBDULhtujsI1R2K7hSCwu6xDQ-6O-8zvoWISIyn0BJ7jcZKJgB66FgYCCfwsKbqPe0jEbcbyaPka5abyeasoYfaY4WmmXb_1e7ZDHglXUHI7fgZtqzzWr/s1600/IMG_5209.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWJ1xZtCGJ0amJYlTvNyoZeTPBDULhtujsI1R2K7hSCwu6xDQ-6O-8zvoWISIyn0BJ7jcZKJgB66FgYCCfwsKbqPe0jEbcbyaPka5abyeasoYfaY4WmmXb_1e7ZDHglXUHI7fgZtqzzWr/s400/IMG_5209.HEIC" width="400" /></a><br />
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The speaker did a great job, and it was reassuring to hear her say that they wanted to see that students took the most challenging classes <u>available to them</u>. This was particularly comforting, because most students who apply at more competitive schools have multiple AP classes and honors classes on their transcripts. Although Will has a great ACT score, this will be the first year AP classes will be available for him at our school, and he worries about being handicapped by a transcript which lacks evidence of academic rigor. The admissions officer emphasized the importance of the essay in the application process, and I think she made Will feel somewhat better about doing the best he can with what he has... an important lesson for all of us to remember!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRLDbjdYInGmj3ry0jdnhTKguHtMMhh3QgndG0eQV3se5xcsrVOb-c53XsubFZmO33TlSsQ9uaAmL8NFu1BKVvsuL7kFX1MTEGI7aWp-61lOSydUAuarEbio1f5FhQ2Q8hJcgXzj9vnqJ/s1600/IMG_5206.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRLDbjdYInGmj3ry0jdnhTKguHtMMhh3QgndG0eQV3se5xcsrVOb-c53XsubFZmO33TlSsQ9uaAmL8NFu1BKVvsuL7kFX1MTEGI7aWp-61lOSydUAuarEbio1f5FhQ2Q8hJcgXzj9vnqJ/s400/IMG_5206.HEIC" width="300" /></a><br />
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Some positive notable things about Duke from the information session:<br />
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<ul>
<li>IF you get accepted, the school expects students to get $5,000 per year in loans, do work study, and parents pay no more of their expected contribution as determined by the FAFSA. </li>
<li>Study abroad is included in the cost and the Duke Engage program.</li>
<li>Undergraduate research opportunities</li>
<li>Only the "Best and the Brightest" go to Duke</li>
<li>Freshmen live together in a place called East Campus. This builds camaraderie and friendships.</li>
<li>It is possible to do without a car- transit around campus and Durham available</li>
<li>GREAT place for grad school (well funded marine biology research opportunities)</li>
<li>Color is blue</li>
</ul>
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The room was packed, and we were broken into six groups to disperse and take a 90 minute walking tour of campus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01mz7p45BxLhquytzS6x-nff7p7uu5g6AykujfKba7LCUR0J55gimqNTdm63wurN2TPZ-HOyFFuk95SGgweMHDli2dP7ieX0DqBztrE-a64a0Jcdelj9-v6fV7-werIJW6P9CtV5PU5Fq/s1600/IMG_5211.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01mz7p45BxLhquytzS6x-nff7p7uu5g6AykujfKba7LCUR0J55gimqNTdm63wurN2TPZ-HOyFFuk95SGgweMHDli2dP7ieX0DqBztrE-a64a0Jcdelj9-v6fV7-werIJW6P9CtV5PU5Fq/s400/IMG_5211.HEIC" width="300" /></a><br />
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This is where the visit took an unexpected turn. Instead of walking onto the chapel quad and feeling as though THIS IS THE PLACE, the Gothic architecture and single digit acceptance rate settled over us, somber and intimidating, like the ominous clouds threatening rain. To clarify, the lack of "the feeling" may really have just been the rain clouds dampening our spirits or our tour guide's several references to depression and mental health; however, I don't think it was the case. I just couldn't see Will "THRIVING" and "EXCELLING" there, like Dr. Sancho (College of Charleston) mentioned being so important. <br />
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When we got into the car heading toward Williamsburg, we all needed a while to decompress and process. Eventually we made a pro/con list. The pros are listed above, but here are the cons:<br />
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<ul>
<li>The meal plan seemed expensive</li>
<li>Community bathrooms in the dorm</li>
<li>SMALL dorms</li>
<li>Intimidating atmosphere</li>
<li>8% acceptance rate</li>
<li>Campus set apart from town (surrounded by 9,000 acres of Duke forest)</li>
<li>MINIMUM $20,000 student loans for an undergraduate degree</li>
</ul>
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About 7:00pm, we rolled into Williamsburg, VA. It wasn't quite bedtime yet, and we were hungry, so we checked into our room and then headed to explore around Colonial Williamsburg a little. At the bookstore, we discovered that William & Mary is the "Tribe," but the griffin (half eagle/ half lion) is their mascot. School colors are green and gold (Will saw this as a positive thing). Their logo is a W and an M meshed together with a crown, because in 1693 King William III and Queen Mary II of England signed the charter for a college to be founded in the Virginia Colony. </div>
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We loved the area and found a quaint deli to enjoy some dinner and the latest episode of "America's Got Talent." Back to the room, and off to bed we went. Although it was cloudy in Williamsburg, the next visit at the College of William and Mary already seemed promising. </div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-68572101380263991672018-06-11T19:32:00.002-07:002018-06-12T06:34:19.900-07:00College Tour Days 1-2Yesterday Will, Noah W, and I left church and hit the road for the first leg of our our American Road Trip 2018. I spent a while attempting to invent a catchy, clever name for our adventure, but that was the best I could do. After a happily uneventful journey, we safely arrived in Charleston and went straight to bed about 11pm.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdnXUWLoLDma6oIslF7KXf_zi-AS8Yt5DNTzTA1MOWP4CQcAzxyf8qWLyLXAyO0VbOZE0MZuZCzsULHiFZrMgJT9jFfzuNPxoplUcDRU5OXBvbkhQDSLHRQajwDCGCgrTbn7WNWOvmaxA/s1600/IMG_5174.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdnXUWLoLDma6oIslF7KXf_zi-AS8Yt5DNTzTA1MOWP4CQcAzxyf8qWLyLXAyO0VbOZE0MZuZCzsULHiFZrMgJT9jFfzuNPxoplUcDRU5OXBvbkhQDSLHRQajwDCGCgrTbn7WNWOvmaxA/s320/IMG_5174.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br />
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Monday was college #1, The College of Charleston. With approximately 10,000 students, the campus is urban, set right in the center of downtown Charleston. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJeSehX7nWiBsopV3mD4s2W57_MCvDOvR16VEP-7IGnsTOvti8Ag766PcmTepVDMeqCdYygVq3oUMftQKg7lDtT-HQWhgJZF29yQLOYzCj49ijVt-RgP4B82_59wux4_f48tOclKMWS1y/s1600/IMG_5192.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJeSehX7nWiBsopV3mD4s2W57_MCvDOvR16VEP-7IGnsTOvti8Ag766PcmTepVDMeqCdYygVq3oUMftQKg7lDtT-HQWhgJZF29yQLOYzCj49ijVt-RgP4B82_59wux4_f48tOclKMWS1y/s320/IMG_5192.HEIC" width="320" /></a><br />
Sprawling live oaks, impressive landscaping, and historic homes turned into offices and student housing meet modern, cutting edge classroom buildings... all within walking distance of famous Charleston landmarks.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIBMPL-X8OgUutmKo8HAD8QZWNpAYR5lx4l29s5ZNBxqOCdnN-iBVh3zB8bljkiHL1k-agDAN4_T2jx-T2evtO0D3-DCyjEkHX5WLg5BUS0yNfjHqDX77-JyB4pe0QCBdf6NBxORf1QL6/s1600/IMG_5189.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIBMPL-X8OgUutmKo8HAD8QZWNpAYR5lx4l29s5ZNBxqOCdnN-iBVh3zB8bljkiHL1k-agDAN4_T2jx-T2evtO0D3-DCyjEkHX5WLg5BUS0yNfjHqDX77-JyB4pe0QCBdf6NBxORf1QL6/s320/IMG_5189.HEIC" width="320" /></a><br />
Although Charleston is hot and humid like MS, the campus was shady and pleasant. The presentation and tour lasted about 2 hours, and then we went to meet with a representative from the honors college. Following this meeting, we wandered around campus for a while, checked out the bookstore, and then had a picnic lunch in the car before leaving the parking garage. It was fun walking from campus straight onto King Street, a famous street of shops in Charleston.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2c9SxDGfGjdiuxwj63V87fa6I5ZHrCxJtsncFAzwpEU9o7TD0Xd2GXDsOLSAPb0pc6iyRXkXR4prFUq3hX6iw42us4B8EGdMD_jacYXjp0RcJproM8NsIRfBGE5Z1we4tF1pchUsub1G/s1600/IMG_5195.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2c9SxDGfGjdiuxwj63V87fa6I5ZHrCxJtsncFAzwpEU9o7TD0Xd2GXDsOLSAPb0pc6iyRXkXR4prFUq3hX6iw42us4B8EGdMD_jacYXjp0RcJproM8NsIRfBGE5Z1we4tF1pchUsub1G/s320/IMG_5195.HEIC" width="320" /></a><br />
Within 20 minutes, we arrived at the Grice Marine Laboratory. A very kind and helpful professor sat and talked to us about choosing undergraduate and post graduate programs, marine biology careers, and undergraduate research experiences. His advice about how to be a successful student prepared for graduate school was most helpful: choose a school where you will thrive. For your undergraduate degree, it doesn’t have to be a big or famous school- your performance is more important. Go there, work hard, EXCEL, search for opportunities to get involved in your area of interest, NEVER take the minimum requirements for a program, take a wide variety of classes in your department, and be proactive in looking for research experience- this is almost a necessary prerequisite for a masters degree. He assured the boys that the students who follow this advice are successful wherever they choose to get an undergraduate degree and put themselves in a position to be accepted into high-ranking graduate programs.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YYRmMhkY2HPQ9sXEN80E7nKPZ8s1WIbBY5jLswRvFkFmZ91hmQXDUawnsZAkLgl3-gH4yo_E0hw8Gt_wukwOqGUjtrwmCcYhVkveh1MVFeJTKybaIHdCwq6qdlwyHYXbGAUQzJMMCrVi/s1600/IMG_5199.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YYRmMhkY2HPQ9sXEN80E7nKPZ8s1WIbBY5jLswRvFkFmZ91hmQXDUawnsZAkLgl3-gH4yo_E0hw8Gt_wukwOqGUjtrwmCcYhVkveh1MVFeJTKybaIHdCwq6qdlwyHYXbGAUQzJMMCrVi/s320/IMG_5199.HEIC" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoy9IYnuUjWsNApkyi8JfP494WtuRDdSZ8mZ_uNU-1TNsqSjr1hZyMgvRQrI_31bVhCxG5csvB4VXmFhyphenhyphenw7gemUuKo5-tY8nv8oRX-6MtFmEeWJHiHkQzudPkhjCmabIXe2RXGvsOjYME6/s1600/IMG_5200.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoy9IYnuUjWsNApkyi8JfP494WtuRDdSZ8mZ_uNU-1TNsqSjr1hZyMgvRQrI_31bVhCxG5csvB4VXmFhyphenhyphenw7gemUuKo5-tY8nv8oRX-6MtFmEeWJHiHkQzudPkhjCmabIXe2RXGvsOjYME6/s320/IMG_5200.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br />
I was happy to hear him caution the boys about the long-term burden of taking on student loans. He seemed to agree that (for marine sciences) a debt-free undergraduate degree, rather than obtaining an undergraduate degree from a “prestigious” university, would not handicap them at all in their chances of gaining admission to a top graduate program. Being debt-free would give the freedom and flexibility to take a low-paying/ great-experience type job after college, OR it would make taking a small student loan in order to study and research abroad for a semester more feasible.<br />
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With this advice ringing in our ears, we headed out for our next destination: Durham, NC.<br />
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Along the way, we made this pro list:<br />
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Urban campus<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F1qh_G7V6hc5K11ZuPewuPoVVA5xmPHM9ZFLdzPJ79B9-0B8dq9LNWLRdouCHP5IP4-aHgdvkVnMvv_ZiIl5Ph2yCqcvT7ylAoph-rftldwbYgVKNuBGAjGDf_Q8cNoz-v4sOuJM1IvN/s1600/IMG_5178.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F1qh_G7V6hc5K11ZuPewuPoVVA5xmPHM9ZFLdzPJ79B9-0B8dq9LNWLRdouCHP5IP4-aHgdvkVnMvv_ZiIl5Ph2yCqcvT7ylAoph-rftldwbYgVKNuBGAjGDf_Q8cNoz-v4sOuJM1IvN/s320/IMG_5178.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br />
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Museum of natural sciences<br />
Recycles- dedicated to sustainability<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYocsGgLkfK3e9YRNe4nw7iL3EXvY5pqZsx95TvzHgxWmkO1fvGGyZWeE3SxNb3kq4M4ewOJjU6EumarR_EGCARunil9lRneu4XeYEZa2kDkLzJMaL5woqaIRENASfuY2rEkIM2bNs0375/s1600/IMG_5193.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYocsGgLkfK3e9YRNe4nw7iL3EXvY5pqZsx95TvzHgxWmkO1fvGGyZWeE3SxNb3kq4M4ewOJjU6EumarR_EGCARunil9lRneu4XeYEZa2kDkLzJMaL5woqaIRENASfuY2rEkIM2bNs0375/s320/IMG_5193.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br />
Only 20% of students participate in Greek life<br />
Health services is included in tuition<br />
Close to marine lab<br />
Close to beaches<br />
Pretty campus<br />
Friendly atmosphere<br />
Honors college<br />
Great library<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ0YrYLpjr9NfmCedvTLaRiWB1-8ajj0MxBGWeq6cvx-0ieVMEGvwJZ_BS6mm7pIG0sjkAwwjaOK53OEVhZeDPvvba1EWGetAVKgsYd6C6jw5_-brFQ2QIR3FY8y3s_x25PNmA1bieoxy/s1600/IMG_5187.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ0YrYLpjr9NfmCedvTLaRiWB1-8ajj0MxBGWeq6cvx-0ieVMEGvwJZ_BS6mm7pIG0sjkAwwjaOK53OEVhZeDPvvba1EWGetAVKgsYd6C6jw5_-brFQ2QIR3FY8y3s_x25PNmA1bieoxy/s320/IMG_5187.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br />
Free transit around town (no vehicle)<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-33987533711600204322018-01-17T08:15:00.003-08:002018-01-17T08:15:53.669-08:00Cooking DayIn an effort to start 2018 off right, my friend Candice and teamed up to cook for the month. Years ago I tried once a month cooking. Hannah was 3, Sarah was 2, and Will was almost 1, and I was a stay at home mom. Although I was home every afternoon to cook, once a month cooking was the fad among my Sunday School circle, so I decided to give it a try. Handy meals were nice, but the long day of work (made more complicated with little children) was not worth it to me AT THAT TIME. <br />
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Boy, have times changed. Now, those little kids have grown up into BUSY teenagers, and I am no longer a stay at home mom. As a working mother with a busy schedule, I am often not home from teaching and practice until 5:30 pm or later. This makes cooking dinner, one aspect of adulthood that has never brought me great joy, a difficulty. <br />
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Candice and I decided that quantity was more important than variety, so we made 6 batches of 8 different dishes. We split the meals, so both families had 24 meals in the freezer. This kept the prep rather simple, and it seemed to work well. Cooking day was still an all day affair, but it was more fun with a friend, and I think the team work definitely shortened the prep time due to the principle of divide and conquer. <br />
We will be cooking again, and I think next time we will also add on some breakfast foods such as muffins and breakfast burritos to freeze individually. These will make healthier "on the go" breakfasts for everyone as we are running out the door in the mornings.<br />
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<b>SOUTHWESTERN QUINOA</b> (8 Weight Watchers points WITH cheese)<br />
1 1/2 cups quinoa<br />
1 can black beans<br />
1 cup frozen corn<br />
1 can diced tomatoes<br />
1 tbsp garlic<br />
1 cup onion<br />
1 cup water<br />
1 Tbsp cumin<br />
1 can enchilada sauce<br />
1 pound cooked ground turkey (or chicken- meat is optional)<br />
Optional Toppings: cilantro, cheese, sour cream<br />
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Mix all the ingredients except the toppings into a crock pot and cook on low for about 4 hours.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>TACO SOUP</b><br />
1# ground meat<br />
1 onion<br />
1 can ranch style beans<br />
1 can kidney beans<br />
1 cup frozen corn<br />
1 can rotel<br />
1 can black beans<br />
1 can pinto beans<br />
1 packet taco season<br />
1 packet ranch season<br />
5-8 cups water<br />
<br />
Place in ziploc bag (without the added water). To cook, place in crock pot or on stove top and cook until beans are soft. Serve with tortilla chips<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>SWEET POTATO SHEPHERD'S PIE</b><br />
4 sweet potatoes<br />
2Tbsp olive oil<br />
1 1/2 tsp paprika<br />
Sea salt <br />
<br />
2tsp olive oil<br />
1 onion<br />
1 lb ground turkey<br />
2c frozen veggies<br />
2 tsp worsteshire<br />
1 Tbsp tomato paste<br />
1/2 c chicken stock<br />
salt and pepper<br />
<br />
Cook sweet potatoes, mash with oil, paprika, and sea salt. <br />
<br />
Prepare filling: Add olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, stir, and cook for about 3 minutes. Add turkey and chop into small bites using wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper, cook until turkey is ALMOST done. Stir in remaining ingredients and cook until turkey is done. Place in bottom of a 9x13 freezable baking dish. Spread sweet potatoes over the top. Cover with foil, and freeze. Thaw, bake at 400 for 30 minutes. <br />
<br />
<b>CHICKEN ENCHILADAS</b><br />
10 large tortillas (burrito size)<br />
4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded<br />
1 onion<br />
1 Tbsp garlic<br />
1 can chopped green chilis<br />
1 can black beans<br />
1 cup sour cream<br />
1 cup frozen corn<br />
<br />
2 cups shredded cheese for filling<br />
1 large can enchilada sauce<br />
<br />
Saute onion and garlic in a little butter or olive oil. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Spoon into tortillas and add a serving of the shredded cheese. Fold tortilla into a burrito shape and place in pan. When all enchiladas are folded and in pan, pour the can of enchilada sauce over the top. Cover with foil and freeze. To bake, 350 for 30-45 minutes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>SAUSAGE and PEPPERS</b><br />
1 pound beef sausage, sliced<br />
1 onion sliced<br />
3 bell peppers (different colors) sliced<br />
2 cans diced tomatoes, fire roasted- NOT drained<br />
1 chicken bouillon cube<br />
2 tsp minced garlic<br />
1 tsp cajun season<br />
<br />
mix all ingredients in a freezer ziploc. To cook, place in crockpot for 5-6 hours or cook on stovetop until peppers are soft and sausage is done. Serve over brown rice or in tortillas.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN</b><br />
4 chicken breasts<br />
1/2 cup lime juice<br />
1/4 cup olive oil<br />
1 tsp pepper<br />
1 tsp sugar<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
1 Tbsp minced garlic<br />
1/3 cup cilantro, loosely packed<br />
<br />
Place everything into ziploc bag. To cook, thaw and bake 350 for 35 minutes. Grill until no longer pink inside. Or cook in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>MEATLOAF MUFFINS </b>(2 WW points)<br />
1.25 pound package turkey meat (we used deer meat)<br />
1 /2 cup bread crumbs<br />
1 cup finely diced onions<br />
1 egg<br />
2 Tbsp worcestershire sauce<br />
1/2 cup BBQ sauce<br />
<br />
Mix all ingredients EXCEPT BBQ sauce and form 9 balls. Flash freeze on cookie sheet and then place in ziploc bag. To bake, remove meatballs and place in muffin tins or on a broiler sheet. Top with BBQ sauce and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>LEMON-GARLIC CHICKEN</b><br />
2 tsp minced garlic<br />
1/4 cup olive oil<br />
1 Tbsp parsley flakes<br />
2 Tbsp lemon juice<br />
4-6 chicken breasts<br />
<br />
Dump everything into a freezer ziploc. To cook, thaw and bake 350 for 35 minutes. Grill until no longer pink inside. Or cook in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours.<br />
<b><br /></b>
Along with all of the meals, we went ahead and made several batches of brown rice to bag and freeze. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-17665232510620840852017-12-23T06:23:00.004-08:002017-12-23T06:23:43.399-08:00December 23<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">December 23</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ornament with the oil lamp</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9628a1a5-83c1-5c0c-eee8-3ac2b22f5b53" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">As we are spending time anticipating the celebration of the birth of Jesus, it is easy to look back with fondness and joy at the ways the Scripture points us to the coming King. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Yesterday we remembered WHY the King came- to suffer and die on the cross, providing a way for us to be saved.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Today, on the day before Christmas Eve, we will spend a few minutes talking about the SECOND ADVENT. Did you know that in the Bible, Jesus never tells us to remember his birth? BUT, Jesus DOES tell us to be ready for his return, or the second Advent. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Matthew 25:1-13 is a parable that Jesus used to illustrate the need for being prepared for his return. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">This is a reminder for believers to continue pursuing the Lord. We must be concerned with doing our Bridegroom honor and glory, and we should not be like the foolish virgins, who had the lamp, but no oil. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Those who haven’t yet trusted in Jesus as their King can also learn from this parable. We don’t know the hour when Jesus will return. Why delay? Second Corinthians 6 says, </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“We also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— for He says,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">‘At the acceptable time I listened to you,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And on the day of salvation I helped you.’</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation.’”</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Advent is all about preparing for the coming of Christ. As we hang the ornament with the oil lamp, let us also remember to be prepared for His return! </span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-33716714938098851262017-12-22T06:47:00.000-08:002017-12-22T06:47:14.959-08:00December 22<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">December 22</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ornament with cross</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9628a1a5-7eb0-6b4a-8ca3-6acce4e1f55c" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We have been hanging ornaments that help us see how the scriptures point us forward to the celebration of the birth of Christ. Our countdown is almost complete; Christmas is only a few days away! </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Our culture places a great emphasis on the birth of Christ, and I wanted to be sure we include Jesse tree ornaments which point us to WHY the birth of Christ is so important. Matthew and John tell us the reason for his coming to earth and being born as a man. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Matthew 1:21 says, “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">You see, God sent Jesus to save us from our sins and give eternal life to those who put their hope and trust in Him. Gospel means, “Good news,” and that is very good news indeed! </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Our ornament for today is a cross, and I am sure you can guess why!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">1 Peter 2:24 says, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Christ died on the cross so that sinners could be found righteous before a holy God. This is SUCH an important topic, because the gospel is everything. It really IS the difference between life and death. For this reason, I want to read a few paragraphs written by a man named R.C. Sproul. He does a great job explaining the gospel:</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the Gospel. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> The Gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings, and that problem is simply this: God is holy and He is just, and I’m not. And at the end of my life, I’m going to stand before a just and holy God, and I’ll be judged. And I’ll be judged either on the basis of my own righteousness – or lack of it – or the righteousness of another. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to God, not for His own well being but for His people. He has done for me what I couldn’t possibly do for myself. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> For God to forgive you is a very costly matter. It cost the sacrifice of His own Son. So valuable was that sacrifice that God pronounced it valuable by raising Him from the dead – so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> So the Gospel is the message of who Jesus is and what He did. The Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith – and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him – and in Him alone. You do that, you’re declared just by God, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and you have begun your pilgrimage for eternity. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9f9c90; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">From Ligonier Ministries, the teaching fellowship of R.C. Sproul. All rights reserved. Website: </span><a href="http://www.ligonier.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #011ea9; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">www.ligonier.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9f9c90; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> | Phone: 1-800-435-4343</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Let’s close with Hebrews 12:1-3 and remember to fix our eyes on Jesus this Christmas:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-7482849698372011882017-12-22T06:45:00.002-08:002017-12-22T06:45:42.372-08:00December 21<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">December 21</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ornament with carpenter’s tools</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9628a1a5-7eaf-50d4-fd31-7195406978e8" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The devotions for yesterday and today are about the earthly parents of Jesus. Yesterday we began with the words to a hymn: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” We talked about Mary, Jesus‘ mother, and how she is an example of humility and trusting God. Today we will talk about Jesus‘ earthly father, Joseph, and our reading is Matthew 1:18-25: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” The life of Joseph is a great example of faith and obedience to God. When the angel of the Lord came to Joseph, he believed and obeyed without question. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Not only did Joseph obey immediately and without question before the birth of Jesus, he continued to obey without question. When Joseph was told to pack up his family and escape to Egypt, he ensured the safety of Jesus from Herod.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Although Joseph was not related to Jesus by blood (remember, God is Jesus’ father), we still include him in our Jesse Tree. Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus, and he filled an important role. Joseph ensured that Jesus was raised according to the Jewish laws and his decisions for their family resulted in the fulfillment of prophecies concerning our Savior.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The carpenter’s tools can remind us of Joseph, because Matthew 13:55 says, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“Is not this the carpenter’s son?” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> As we hang our symbol for today on the tree, let’s remember the faith and obedience of Joseph. He obeyed God, even when it might not have been the easiest choice. Joseph knew that God has an eternal plan and knows what is best for his children. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Likewise, we must use the means of grace (Scripture, prayer, and Christian fellowship) and walk closely with God. Only when we are found in Jesus, rooted in faith, are we able to follow the pattern of Joseph in trust and obedience? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Let’s close with the first and last stanzas of “Trust and Obey” (or just the refrain) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0432ff; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 13pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">When we walk with the Lord</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">in the light of his word, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">what a glory he sheds on our way! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">While we do his good will, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">he abides with us still, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">and with all who will trust and obey. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Refrain:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Trust and obey, for there's no other way </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Then in fellowship sweet </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">we will sit at his feet, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">or we'll walk by his side in the way; </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">what he says we will do, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">where he sends we will go; </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">never fear, only trust and obey. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Refrain:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Trust and obey, for there's no other way </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-5433356973524624082017-12-20T19:26:00.002-08:002017-12-20T19:26:54.008-08:00December 20<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">December 20</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ornament with the heart</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9628a1a5-771a-f6ad-3493-73aa1c2e79cc" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Have you ever heard the song called “Trust and Obey?” The chorus goes like this: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” When I think about our ornaments for today and tomorrow, the words to that hymn leap to my mind. Today’s ornament is the heart, and tomorrow’s is the carpenter tools. Any guesses? We are going to be talking about the earthly parents of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Our Scripture reading is Luke 1:26-38:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Mary is part of our Jesse Tree, because she is the mother of Jesus! After the angel of the Lord told Mary that she would be the mother of our Savior, her response was, “Behold the bondslave of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your Word.” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">We have been talking about preparing our hearts and lives for the coming of Jesus. Mary’s life and response to the Holy Spirit are a pattern of faith and humility for us. She understood her position in relation to her God, and her heart was prepared to be the mother of the Messiah before the angel ever came to her. After Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, Scripture records her song. This joyful response clearly shows her trust and intimate knowledge of her Savior: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“My soul exalts the Lord,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And holy is His name.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">50 “And His mercy is upon generation after generation</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Toward those who fear Him.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And has exalted those who were humble.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">53 “He has filled the hungry with good things;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And sent away the rich empty-handed.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">54 “He has given help to Israel His servant,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">In remembrance of His mercy,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">55 As He spoke to our fathers,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">To Abraham and his descendants forever.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Luke 1:46-55</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The symbol of the heart can remind us of Mary, because the bible says Mary “treasured all these things in her heart.” As we hang the heart symbol, let us pray to follow Mary’s pattern of trust and humility, and prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of Christ. </span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-54042641011841687392017-12-19T16:05:00.001-08:002017-12-19T16:05:16.113-08:00December 19<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">December 19</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ornament with coat of camel hair</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9628a1a5-713c-e6aa-2956-4283bedfd7be" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Today we are going to read about a man whose purpose was to point people to the coming of Jesus. Our ornament for today is the coat of camel hair; can you guess who the man is? Here is another hint: he ate locusts and honey! Let’s read Matthew 3:1-6:</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">1 Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">‘Make ready the way of the Lord,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Make His paths straight!’”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">4 Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">John the Baptist was the second cousin of Jesus, and God set John apart to preach before he was even born. The angel Gabriel told Zacharias, John’s father,</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:15-17)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">John’s message was that of repentance. “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” Do you know what repentance is? It is turning from sin. Think of a person walking down the street. He comes to a complete stop, turns around, and starts going in exactly the opposite direction. That is a picture of repentance. A person stops, turns not just AWAY from his sin, but TO Jesus Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">In order to come to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation, we must repent and place our faith in Christ. John the Baptist was preparing people to hear the message of salvation through faith in Christ. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">These questions and answers also address the need for repentance and faith:</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Q: Who will be saved?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A: Only those who repent of sin and believe in Christ</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(Acts 2:37-28; 16:30-31; 20-21; John 3:16)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Q: What is it to repent?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A: To be sorry for sin, and to hate and reject it because it is displeasing to God</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(Luke 19:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Isaiah 55:6-7)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Q: What is it to believe or have faith in Christ?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">A: To trust in Christ alone for salvation</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(John 14:6; 20:31; Acts 4:12; 1 John 5:11-12)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">John also preached that Jesus was the Messiah foretold by the Old Testament prophets. John told the crowds, “This is He who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">As we celebrate Advent, we can feel the excitement building! John the Baptist tells us, just like he told the people in his day, “Repent- Jesus is coming! He is the one the prophets were talking about! Make your lives and hearts ready for the coming Messiah!”</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">As we hang the ornament with the coat of camel hair, consider your life and heart. Are you ready for the coming Messiah?</span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-90019822029157017942017-12-19T16:04:00.001-08:002017-12-19T16:04:33.009-08:00December 18<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">December 18</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ornament with the scepter (Esther)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The book of Esther is a small book of the Bible, and did you know that the name of God is never mentioned in it?! However, as we summarize and read from the book of Esther, let’s try to figure out why she would be included on the Jesse Tree!</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9628a1a5-713c-18fb-dd41-1c77f2a5301d" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Esther was a young Jewish lady living in the land of Persia. When the king became angry with the queen, he decided to search for a new one. Esther was in the group of ladies brought to the palace to be pampered, beautified, and considered. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Esther 2:15b-18 says, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus to his royal palace in the tenth month which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">17 The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his princes and his servants; he also made a holiday for the provinces and gave gifts according to the king’s bounty.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">At this same time, Esther’s uncle Mordecai refused to bow down to a very proud advisor of the king named Haman. Haman became angry and then convinced the king to decree all Jews should be destroyed. Of course, the king did not know that Queen Esther was a Jew. When Esther’s uncle Mordecai found out about the decree, he told Esther and asked her to plead for her people, the Jews. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Esther responded, (Es. 4:11-17) </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.” 12 They related Esther’s words to Mordecai.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">When God’s chosen people became in grave danger of being destroyed, Esther made a risky decision. After asking her people to fast and pray, she approached the king. Although this king who banished his first wife might very well have put Esther to death for appearing without summons, he extended his scepter to her and heard her request. Haman’s evil plot was eventually uncovered, and the Jews were rescued from destruction. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">God used Esther as a means of preserving His chosen people. In the same way, Christ is God’s means of preserving His chosen people and making sinners right with Himself. In John 14:6, Jesus says, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Esther pleaded with the king on behalf of God’s chosen people, the Jews. The word for this is mediator. Christ is also our mediator. We hang the ornament with the scepter to remind us that just as Esther went to her king to plead for her people, Jesus intercedes on our behalf. We will conclude with Hebrews 7:24-27 and hang the scepter ornament:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-3324611721304831132017-12-17T07:14:00.002-08:002017-12-17T07:15:11.957-08:00December 17<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">December 17</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ornament with town of Bethlehem</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9628a1a5-6508-f0df-3b0a-e0bdf739bf93" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We will begin with our reading for today, which is from Micah 5, verses 1-5a: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1“Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">They have laid siege against us;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Too little to be among the clans of Judah,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">His goings forth are from long ago,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">From the days of eternity.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">3 Therefore He will give them up until the time</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When she who is in labor has borne a child.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Then the remainder of His brethren</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Will return to the sons of Israel.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">4 And He will arise and shepherd His flock</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In the strength of the Lord,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And they will remain,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Because at that time He will be great</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">To the ends of the earth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">5 This One will be our peace.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Yesterday we talked about the prophets pointing us to the coming of Christ. Micah is another prophet who prophesied about Jesus, and he tells us in this passage that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. It also points us to Jesus as our Shepherd, just like we discussed a few days ago! It ends with Micah telling us that Christ will be our peace, and we know that the righteousness of Christ is the only way we will ever have peace. </span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">After Jesus was born and the three wise men were searching for him, they came to Herod and asked where they could find the newborn King of the Jews. This made Herod nervous and angry, and the book of Matthew tells us, </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he (Herod) inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The chief priests and scribes were summarizing Micah 5! They knew how to search the scriptures and look for prophecies pointing to the coming of the Savior, but they still only had shadows and pictures and an incomplete understanding of how things would work together. We have the blessing of having both the Old Testament and the New Testament; Christ has come, and we have the privilege of seeing things much more clearly than the prophets. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We can get to know Christ through his word and by searching the scripture, just like those chief priests and scribes! As things get busy this Christmas season, let’s remember and take time to search the scriptures so that our hearts will be ready to celebrate the coming of our Savior! </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We will finish our devotion today with the first and last stanzas of a Christmas hymn that talks about the town of Bethlehem. (#176)</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">O Little town of Bethlehem town of Bethlehem </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">How still we see thee lie!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Above thy deep and dreamless sleep</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The silent stars go by.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Yet in thy dark street shineth</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The everlasting Light;</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The hopes and fears of all the years</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Are met in thee tonight.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">O holy Child of Bethlehem,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Descend to us, we pray;</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Cast out our sin, and enter in;</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Be born in us today.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We hear the Christmas angels</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The great glad tidings tell;</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">O come to us, abide with us,</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Our Lord Immanuel.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-18831881071092692892017-12-16T05:10:00.001-08:002017-12-16T05:10:23.886-08:00December 16<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 0.6; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">December 16</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ornament with open Bible</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-28e2d967-5f72-4ae0-b844-8c80640de262" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Let’s begin with our reading for today, Isaiah 9:2-7:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">2 The people who walk in darkness</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Will see a great light;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Those who live in a dark land,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The light will shine on them.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">3 You shall multiply the nation,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">You shall increase their gladness;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">They will be glad in Your presence</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">As with the gladness of harvest,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And the government will rest on His shoulders;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">On the throne of David and over his kingdom,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">From then on and forevermore.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">God sent prophets to His people to point them to Himself. They told the Jews to repent, and they spoke of the Christ to come. Isaiah was a prophet who wrote at a time when it might have seemed that all hope was lost. The northern ten tribes of Israel had been taken captive, and now Judah was under attack. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Through all of this, Isaiah preached that hope did not come from military might, but rather from the Lord God. He pointed the people to a coming King, one who would rule forevermore. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The prophets are not part of Jesus’ family tree, but through the scripture they point us to Christ’s coming, just like in this passage from Isaiah, which was written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Not only do the prophets point us to the coming of Christ, but the Bible teaches that Jesus is our prophet. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The questions and answers we have done address this very thing. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<ol start="86" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: -18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> What does Christ do for his people?</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He does the work of a prophet, a priest, and a king</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(Hebrews 1:1-3; Acts 3:20-23; Hebrews 5:5-6;4:14; Revelation 5:5; 17:14)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<ol start="87" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: -18pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> How is Christ our Prophet?</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">He teaches us the will of God</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; John 1:18; 4:25; 14:23-24)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Christ is our Prophet because He teaches us the will of God. We can search the scriptures to see His example and His teaching. The more we spend time in God’s word, the more we will get to know him. Hebrews 4:2 tells us, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">As we hang the ornament with the open bible, let’s remember to seek the Lord and His will by hiding God’s word in our hearts. </span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-2008116399074547032017-12-15T18:52:00.003-08:002017-12-15T18:52:47.017-08:00December 15<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 0.6; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">December 15</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ornament with crown</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-28e2d967-5d3b-6d7f-2ad0-c3f8d023e909" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Yesterday we hung the ornament with a shepherd’s staff. We talked about David being a shepherd and how Christ is also our Shepherd. Today our ornament is the crown. We will be talking about David again, but this time we will talk about David as King and how Christ is our King! </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Our first reading for today is from 2 Samuel 5:1-4. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the Lord at Hebron; then they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he became king, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> he reigned forty years.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">There are three things I want us to remember from today’s devotion:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Number One: Christ came from the line of David.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Number Two: David spoke of the coming of Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Number Three: David himself is a picture of Christ. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">First, Christ came from the line of David. Matthew 1:1 says, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> David is included in our Jesse tree because Christ is one of his descendants. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">David is also included in our Jesse tree because he spoke about the coming of Christ. Many of his Psalms are actually talking about King Jesus! In Acts chapter 2, Peter quotes David and then explains this to the Jews: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">27 Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">28 ‘You have made known to me the ways of life;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">29 “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">one</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. (Acts 2:27-31)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jesus Himself even talks about this in Matthew 22:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: 42 “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They *said to Him, “The son of David.” 43 He *said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, 44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“Sit at My right hand, u</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ntil I put Your enemies beneath Your feet”’? </span><span style="font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Christ would come from the line of David, but David had placed his hope in this coming Lord and King. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Third, King David is a picture of Christ. The Bible describes David as being a man after God’s own heart. Jesus is the perfect picture of a man wholly devoted to God’s will above His own. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In John 4:34, Jesus says,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The ornament is a crown, and a crown reminds us that Christ is not just a king like David, but THE King. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:9-11, NASB) </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 0.6; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Let’s close our devotion with the hymn, “Joy to the World.” (#274)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Joy to the world! The Lord is come!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Let earth receive her King;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Let every heart prepare Him room,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And heaven and nature sing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-7926530397517160332017-12-15T18:50:00.001-08:002017-12-15T18:53:03.610-08:00December 14<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">December 14</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ornament with Shepherd’s Staff</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-28e2d967-5d39-f2c3-39bc-55c146bf8997" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Today’s ornament is the Shepherd’s staff. Before he was king, David was a shepherd, and being a shepherd was not an easy job. We know he spent much time outdoors in all sorts of weather. Protecting sheep could be a lonely, dangerous job!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">This shepherd David wrote a Psalm about the Lord based on his experience as a shepherd and his knowledge of sheep.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Lord is my shepherd,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I shall not want.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">He leads me beside quiet waters.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">3 He restores my soul;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">He guides me in the paths of righteousness</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">For His name’s sake.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I fear no evil, for You are with me;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">You have anointed my head with oil;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">My cup overflows.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In the Old Testament, there are many references to the Messiah as being a type of shepherd and the Jews being like sheep. In the New Testament, Jesus is compared to a shepherd many times. John chapter 10 is a wonderful illustration of this. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jesus says,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> 11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">them</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">. 13 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">He flees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">with</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:11-18, 27-28) </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We are just like sheep needing the care of a Shepherd. We must run to Him, and he will not turn us away, because he is the GOOD Shepherd. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As we prepare to celebrate the coming of our good Shepherd, we can be thankful that we not only have the Old Testament words and pictures which point us to our coming Savior, but we also have the very words straight from our Savior Himself! </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jesus tells us to come to Him, and he will not cast us out. A sheep off on his own is vulnerable to all sorts of danger- Sheep need their shepherd for safety, care, and protection. In the same way, we are vulnerable and exposed without the covering of our Good Shepherd. As we hang the ornament with the shepherd’s crook, let’s remember that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 0.6; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The words to the hymn “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” are a great closing:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 0.6; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Saviour, Like a shepherd lead us, Much we need Thy tender care;</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 0.6; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In Thy pleasant pastures feed us; For our use Thy folds prepare;</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 0.6; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Blessed Jesus! Blessed Jesus!</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 0.6; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Thou Hast bought us, Thine we are.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-86300459569121634412017-12-13T18:35:00.000-08:002017-12-13T18:35:12.068-08:00December 13<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">December 13</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ornament with horn dripping oil</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-28e2d967-52de-ec7a-405a-630f4210aeee" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Today’s ornament is a horn dripping oil. Do you know why someone would have a horn dripping with oil? It was used to anoint people, or pour oil, to symbolize the person being set apart. Today we are going to talk about Samuel, and how God worked through his life.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">First of all, tell me everything you know about Samuel:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(Hannah’s son; heard God’s voice; speak Lord, for your servant is listening, told Eli his sons were wicked; priest when Saul was king; hacked Agag to pieces; told Saul kingdom had been ripped from him; anointed David as next king)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Our reading for today is from 1 Samuel 16:1-13: </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">of it</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.” 4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?” 5 He said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">sees</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Samuel is not in the list of Jesus’ descendants, but this ornament is included in most lists of Jesse Tree ornaments. Can anyone guess why? Because God used Samuel and his ram’s horn of oil to anoint the king, foreshadowing the coming King, our Messiah.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Samuel went against King Saul by traveling to Bethlehem, but he was guided by faith and obedience. The scene is like that of a fairy tale. The oldest, most handsome sons are paraded by. Surely God would choose one of the oldest or biggest or strongest! Each time, God says, “Not this one.” After SEVEN sons go by, Samuel asks, “Is this all? Is there another son somewhere?” David, the youngest, was not even invited to the sacrifice; he was left in the field to tend the sheep! </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Once again, God chose an unlikely candidate for His work. David was the youngest brother, and honor usually went to the oldest. He was still a boy, and he was a shepherd! </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">This is a reminder that God does not see as we see. We tend to look at outward appearances, but God looks at the heart. David’s heart wasn’t perfect, but God did see the same faith which was present in Rahab and Ruth and Abraham. It was credited to him as righteousness. </span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Raising his horn, Samuel pours the thick oil over David’s head, ceremonially and spiritually consecrating this child for God’s holy work. A shepherd king was anointed, symbolizing the future Shepherd King, the Ancient of Days.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-10567914664126726492017-12-12T18:10:00.003-08:002017-12-12T18:10:54.592-08:00December 12<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">December 12 </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ornament with Sheaves of Grain</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Today we will be hanging an ornament with grain on it. Can anyone take a guess about what we are going to discuss? </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-28e2d967-4da2-ee86-7475-aec044ab4115" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">When Naomi’s husband and sons had died, she had no choice but to return to her home of Bethlehem. Naomi’s daughter-in-law Ruth saw something different in her. Something real enough that compelled Ruth to leave her home country and make a pilgrimage to a foreign land. Remember, Ruth couldn’t go get a job and provide for her mother in law, and she knew that she was not signing up for an easy task. However, Ruth decided that it was worth it and told Naomi, “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">They returned to Bethlehem from the land of Moab, and Ruth would have been known as the foreigner with Naomi. She had not had any sons before her husband died, and now she needed a kinsman redeemer, someone who would provide for her needs and care for her. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">She went to work in the barley fields gathering grain, and one day she began working in the field of Boaz. He noticed her and offered her water, protection, and extra grain. When Ruth questioned his kindness toward her, he replied, </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” (Ruth 2:12-13)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">When Ruth related the events of the day to Naomi, Naomi told Ruth that Boaz was actually a close relative. Naomi instructed Ruth on what to do next. Ruth went to the threshing floor late one evening, uncovered Boaz’ feet, and lay down. When he awoke, Ruth told him who she was. This was Boaz’ response:</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">10 Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. (Ruth 3:10-11)</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Ruth went to Boaz humbly, not with demands, and he covered her. A closer relative was not interested in having Ruth for his wife, and so Boaz became Ruth’s kinsman redeemer. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">They were married, and Ruth and Boaz became the parents of a son named Obed. Obed grew up to be the father of Jesse, and we know that Jesse grew up to be the father of King David!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">During this season of Advent, we remember Ruth and Boaz not only for being part of Jesus’ family tree, but also because it is a good time for us to think about our need for a Kinsman Redeemer. Just like Ruth, we need a Redeemer. Not to take care of our physical needs, but one who can give us a covering of righteousness and take care of our spiritual needs. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">In the same way Boaz showed compassion to Ruth and covered her, Christ does not turn away those who see their need and come to Him in faith and humility.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">As we hang the ornament with the grain and think about Ruth and Boaz, let’s rejoice in preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus, who came to this earth as a man in order to become OUR kinsman redeemer! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-12685250110328191782017-12-11T05:16:00.000-08:002017-12-11T05:16:07.727-08:00December 11<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">December 11</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ornament with Scarlet Cord</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-28e2d967-45b1-ff38-f393-205a93ccb834" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, as we add the ornament with the scarlet cord, we will talk about God’s faithfulness to a woman named Rahab. Rahab was not a “good girl.” In fact, she was a lady living in Jericho who made her living on immorality. We find her story in Joshua chapter 2, and I am going to read the entire chapter today... it is too exciting to leave anything out! </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. 2 It was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 And the king of Jericho sent </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">word</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 It came about when </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it was time</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 When we heard </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, 13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shall be</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household. 19 It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shall be</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on his own head, and we </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shall be</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shall be</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on our head if a hand is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">laid</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on him. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.” 21 She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">22 They departed and came to the hill country, and remained there for three days until the pursuers returned. Now the pursuers had sought </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">them</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> all along the road, but had not found </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">them</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. 23 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The men kept their promise and rescued Rahab and her family. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew chapter 1 is a long list of the descendants of Jesus. Listen to Matthew 1:5, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you remember who Jesse was? He was the father of King David! Not only was Rahab rescued, but one of the spies named Salmon married her, and Rahab became the great-great-grandmother of King David. God is faithful; He rescued a woman out of sin, made a new life for her, and put her in a royal family. Not just any royal family, but THE royal family!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God chose to put a woman who was not a Jew by birth and who was known for leading an immoral life in Jesus’ family tree. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the same way He saved Rahab, God rescues us through Christ. Rahab was a citizen of a wicked city and part of an idol-worshipping culture. She was an immoral woman, but because of her faith and putting her faith into action, (Remember, she had to hang the cord from her window) she was converted, became a citizen of a different kingdom, and made into a beautiful bride. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this same way, Jesus gives us new hearts, new desires, new life, and a new family. When we repent and place our faith in Christ, we become the bride of Christ and part of God’s royal family, with a good and perfect King ruling over us. As we hang the scarlet cord ornament, let us remember that God sent His son to this earth to rescue sinners like Rahab and all of us, and no matter how bad or “good” we think we are, Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient. </span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-84105846380276707132017-12-10T06:25:00.000-08:002017-12-10T06:25:13.924-08:00December 10<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">December 10<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Ornament with Tablets</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Today we will be hanging the ornament with the tablets.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I bet you all can guess the topic for today’s devotion!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Ten Commandments!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">In the third month after the amazing flight to Egypt, the Israelites came into the wilderness of a place called Sinai, and they set up camp in front of Mt. Sinai.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In Exodus chapter 20, verses 1-17, we read what God spoke to Moses: <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Then God spoke all these words, saying,</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>8 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>13 “You shall not murder.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>14 “You shall not commit adultery.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>15 “You shall not steal.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">During several devotions we have gone over our questions and answers, which we call “catechism.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I think it will be helpful to use those catechism questions to help us with today’s devotion. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(*If your family is not familiar with the Catechism for Boys and Girls, you can just turn the questions and answers into sentences.)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Q: How many commandments did God give Moses on Mt. Sinai?<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">A: 10 Commandments</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Q: What are the ten commandments sometimes called?<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">A: God’s moral law</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Q:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What do the first four commandments teach?<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">A:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our duty to God</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Q:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What do the last six commandments teach?<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">A:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our duty to our fellow man</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Q:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What is the sum of the ten commandments?<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>A:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>To love God with all my heart and to love my neighbor as myself</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Q: Who is your neighbor?<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>A:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All my fellow man is my neighbor</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Q: Can any man keep these ten commandments perfectly?<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">A:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No mere man, since the fall of Adam, ever did or can keep the ten commandments perfectly.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Q: Of what use are the ten commandments to us?<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">A: They teach us our duty and show us our need of a Savior.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">That last line is the key to understanding why we would hang an ornament with the ten commandments.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We can never perfectly keep the law of God, and yet we are held accountable to the law of God.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>God’s law, which is both in our hearts and in writing, points us to our need for Christ. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">As we see that we can NEVER measure up to God’s standards, we must NOT become more determined to try harder... NO!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We must see that Christ is the only One who has kept the law, and we must be found in Christ and covered with His righteousness to be right with God. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">After we become Christians, do you think we can just live any way we want, since we can’t keep the law perfectly?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>NO!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>God’s moral law used to be a burden on our back, but now it is a guide in our hand, pointing us to our continual need for Christ and helping us know how to best honor him with our lives.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">As we think about the ten commandments, let us remember just how much we need the Savior for whom we are waiting!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-88652321008233681352017-12-09T05:39:00.000-08:002017-12-09T05:39:24.462-08:00December 9<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">December 9</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ornament with Door Frame (Passover)</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-28e2d967-3b7c-88cc-0f07-1dbeb1132960" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To set the scene for today’s devotion, we are going to speed through a large section of history. God used Joseph to preserve the nation of Israel during time of famine. The Israelites moved to Egypt to be with Joseph and received a welcome from Pharaoh. Years and years passed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What Joseph had done for Egypt was long forgotten, and now all that could be seen was a group of people who posed a threat to the Egyptians, for they were many in number. This group of people, the Israelites, was enslaved, and now it seemed that they would never inhabit the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The fate of the Israelites seemed to be sealed when Pharaoh had all of the male infants thrown into the Nile River!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God always keeps His promises, and He protected a certain Hebrew baby from this cruel fate. It was Moses! God chose Moses to deliver His people from Egypt. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moses and Aaron had gone to Pharaoh several times begging him to “Let my people go!” Several times Pharaoh had refused (or agreed and then changed his mind), and God had sent various plagues to the Egyptians. Finally, God was ready to deliver His people from Pharaoh. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lamb</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. 22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. 24 And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever. 25 When you enter the land which the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite. 26 And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’” And the people bowed low and worshiped.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">28 Then the sons of Israel went and did </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">29 Now it came about at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle. 30 Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. 31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the Lord, as you have said. 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also.” (Exodus 12:21-32)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is really just the beginning of an amazing rescue that involves crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, wandering in the wilderness for 40 years... But today’s ornament is the door frame with drops of blood on it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yikes! An ornament with drops of blood on it!? Why would we pick THAT to put on our Jesse Tree? What could that possibly have to do with Christmas?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, really, it has </span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">everything</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to do with Christmas! In Hebrews 9, the writer tells us that the Old Testament priest was to sprinkle the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship with blood and that without the shedding of blood there could be no remission (or removal) of sin. He then writes that sprinkling of blood in the Old Testament was a hint or shadow of the time when Christ's blood would be shed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christ’s blood, sprinkled on the cross when He was crucified, did (and does!) what the blood of bulls, goats, lambs, and doves could never do - it cleanses our hearts from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the Christian, the blood of Christ is figuratively sprinkled on our hearts and the judgment of God passes over us for all eternity. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Merriweather Sans'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the Passover in Egypt, the Death Angel could not enter into a home that had the blood sprinkled on the doorpost. Today we CAN enter - not into death but into eternal life when the blood of Christ has been sprinkled on our hearts. That is why the true Christian can joyfully sing "There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains" (William Cowper). What a great song to sing at Christmas! Let's sing it now.</span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476765967853884817.post-22950618834641192842017-12-08T04:29:00.000-08:002017-12-08T04:29:40.851-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">December 8 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 18pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ornament with Coat of Colors</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today’s symbol is the multi-colored coat. I am sure you can guess the main character in today’s devotion! We are going to talk about the experience of a man named Joseph, and how God used him to preserve the nation of Israel. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-eb473428-345d-7cb9-56a3-ab6913d99ff9" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joseph had many brothers, but he was the favorite of his father Jacob. The entire family knew this, and the brothers were not very kind to Joseph. One day Jacob sent Joseph out to check on his brothers, and they hatched a plot to get rid of him. They threw him into a pit, sold him into slavery to the Midianites, and the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bible goes on to tell us that the Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man. Even though he was put in jail at one point because of false accusations, the Lord did not forget him. </span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Pharaoh had a dream which no one could explain, Joseph was summoned. God revealed the meaning of the dream to Joseph, and Joseph explained to Pharaoh that famine was coming. Joseph proposed a way to store up reserves and prepare for this famine, and Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of the whole operation. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Joseph’s father Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, he sent his sons to buy grain for their family. Joseph recognized them, and after a time he revealed himself to his family. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are our key verses for today’s Advent devotion</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:16-21)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This history of Joseph can point us to Christ in several ways. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Jews in Jesus’ day were just like Joseph’s brothers. When they had Jesus crucified, fulfilling many Old Testament prophecies about the way in which our Savior was to die, they did NOT mean it for good. They were trying to get rid of a problem, just like Joseph’s brothers were trying to get rid of a problem. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Little did either group know, this was all part of God’s plan for preserving His people. God used Joseph as part of His plan to physically preserve His people from starving, and God used Jesus to preserve His people from the death that is a result of sin. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also, it is helpful to notice HOW Joseph’s brothers went to him. They did not come demanding their rights, but they came HUMBLY, confessing their sins, begging forgiveness, and placing themselves in a position of servanthood. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Likewise, when we see that our only hope is God’s grace and mercy that comes through Christ alone, we must go to him humbly, confessing our sins, begging forgiveness, and placing ourselves in a position of servanthood. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition, the bible tells us that Joseph spoke kindly to his brothers and promised to provide for them. (Remember, these are the same brothers who hated him and sold him into slavery, because that would be more profitable than just killing him.) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How is this similar to the way that Jesus deals with us?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are sinful people who have chosen to place ourselves against God. Christ calls us to Himself, with kindness and promises to provide for us spiritually. When we see that we have no hope other than Christ, we must run to him humbly in repentance. Just as Joseph received his brothers with forgiveness, Christ does not turn us away.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "merriweather sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus promises in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”</span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818609925765478209noreply@blogger.com0