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Tag: Nativity

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…

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Beyond the Nativity: Becoming Flesh

November 27, 2013
| 14 Comments
| Categories: Jesus

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Each week leading up to Christmas…

I will be posting one devotional from the four week Christmas devotional I wrote last year.

Click here for the link to a free pdf download of the entire book:

cover for beyond the nat

Will you join me in making Christ the center of this Christmas?  This is a tool to help you do that…

Each week’s focus is a bit different:

Week 1: The Description

Week 2: The Purpose

Week 3: The Manifestation

Week 4: The…

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Christmas In July – Free E-book!

July 31, 2013
| 18 Comments
| Categories: Jesus, Spiritual Growth

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Does Christmas bring out the crazy in you?

Do you give what you don’t normally give? Create what you don’t normally create?  Think about Jesus a bit more than you normally think about Jesus?

Well…I was filled with a little last-minute Christmas-in-July crazy this morning.

I was inspired early this morning to compile and finalize the Christmas devotional that I wrote last year on my blog, in order to get it on my website once and for all.

Do you need a mid-year pick-me-up?  Would you benefit from a reminder of the deep purposes of…

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

December 21, 2012
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| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

Vasari, Giorgio, The Nativity, c. 1546

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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…

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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
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| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

Tiepolo, Giovanni Battista, Nativity, 1732

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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…

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

December 19, 2012
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| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

Pierre, Jean-Baptiste-Marie, Nativity

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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? …

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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

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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…

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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

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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…

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

December 14, 2012
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| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

Lotto, Lorenzo, Nativity, 1523

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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,…

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

December 13, 2012
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| Categories: Beyond the Nativity: A 4 Week Devotional on the Incarnation

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

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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…

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