Menu

Category: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

How am I currently responding to Jesus?

December 7, 2023
| 2 Comments
| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation, Hope, Jesus, Trusting God, Uncategorized

What do you think the artist was trying to show his audience in each person’s direction of attention?

This painting, Gentile Da Fabriano’s Nativity from 1423, and the art study question are included in my updated and expanded Advent devotional, Beyond the Nativity. In it, each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas has five devotionals with corresponding scripture, master artist paintings, art study questions, journal prompts, and song suggestions.

Would you like to know my answer…

Read More

Christmas in Graceland…What’s It Like?

December 2, 2018
| 3 Comments
| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation, Coaching Yourself

Christmas in Graceland…What’s It Like?

Shopping for Christmas presents is done with joy and a heart to bless instead of sensing it’s another task to cross off list of things to do this month.

There’s time to connect with those I love because I know that’s where the delights of Christmas really happen; face to face over good conversation and a hot drink or treat.

Instead of compulsively “doing” the usual Christmas thing, I allow for new ways that will truly nourish the soul (mine and those I’m called to love).

My sense…

Read More

Beyond the Nativity, A Four Week Devotional on the Incarnation, Week 4: The Importance and Rewards, Day 5: Christ is King

December 21, 2012
| No Comments
| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

Vasari, Giorgio, The Nativity, c. 1546

nativity 4.5

Through the incarnation, we are able to see clearly, the Son of God, as our King.  And I suppose we should say He has always been King.  But the incarnation shows us our King in the flesh and allows us to hear others proclaim it and Himself proclaim it.  For me, seeing the scriptures that declare Christ as King spanning the Old Testament through the New Testament renews a sense of joy and awe in me…it brings…

Read More

Beyond the Nativity, A Four Week Devotional on the Incarnation, Week 4: The Importance and Rewards, Day 4: He Was Exalted By The Father

December 20, 2012
| No Comments
| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

Tiepolo, Giovanni Battista, Nativity, 1732

 nativity 4.4

Acts 2:22-23, 32-33, 36-38

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus,delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand…

Read More

Beyond the Nativity, A Four Week Devotional on the Incarnation, Week 4: The Importance and Rewards, Day 3: A Rich Inheritance

December 19, 2012
| No Comments
| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

Pierre, Jean-Baptiste-Marie, Nativity

nativity

Romans 9:3-5

“3. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

Do you ever find yourself being disappointed with Christmas? …

Read More

Beyond the Nativity, A Four Week Devotional on the Incarnation, Week 4: The Importance and Rewards, Day 2: The Mark of the Spirit of Truth

December 17, 2012
| 2 Comments
| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

nativity 4.3

Previtali, Andrea, Nativity, 1515-20

1 John 4:1-6

“4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in…

Read More

Beyond the Nativity, A Four Week Devotional on the Incarnation, Week 4: The Importance & Rewards, Day 1: It Confirms the Resurrection

December 16, 2012
| 4 Comments
| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

Lippi, Fra Filippo, Nativity,1467-69

 2nativit

Acts 2:24-32

“24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the…

Read More

Beyond the Nativity, A Four Week Devotional on the Incarnation, Week 3: The Manifestation, Day 5: Burial and Resurrection

December 14, 2012
| No Comments
| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

Lotto, Lorenzo, Nativity, 1523

  15nativi                

Matthew 27:59-60

59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.

John 20:11-16

“15 Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him,…

Read More

Beyond the Nativity, A Four Week Devotional on the Incarnation, Week 3: The Manifestation, Day 4: Suffering and Death

December 13, 2012
| No Comments
| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

Honthorst, Gerrit van, Adoration of the Child, c. 1620

 06adorat

Luke 22:41-44

“41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Matthew 26:67-68

“67 Then they spit in his face…

Read More

Beyond the Nativity, A Four Week Devotional on the Incarnation, Week 3: The Manifestation, Day 3: Submission, Obedience, Menial Acts, and Serving

December 12, 2012
| 2 Comments
| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

Greco, El, The Adoration of the Shepherds, c. 1610

 1907grec

Luke 2:46-51

46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”…

Read More