Christmas
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Father’s View of Christmas. Profound
The Christmas story as told from the Throne room. My child, settle in with Me in this hour. Imagine yourself climbing upon My lap as a small child. You are welcome in My house, upon My Throne and into intimacy with Me. Let me tell you a story. Long ago, before you were born, My…
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Advent – A Season of Longing!
Photo courtesy of lil artsy from Pexels.com Hello, Ian here from sunny Sydney. It’s summertime here and we’ve had a lovely few weeks of great sunny weather. It’s incredible how quickly the year has passed as we’re now only 2.5 weeks away from Christmas. For many of us 2022 has been a tough year, perhaps…
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The Puzzle of the Gospels
By Ann Hutchison Jesus. There is so much swirling disagreement about him that my eyes sometimes widen at that. But this is all part of the package. Long ago, at Jesus's birth it was prophesied by a man called Simeon (Luke 2:34-35) that Jesus would be a "sign that would be spoken against." And so…
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Be Present – some thoughts on Advent
Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net I’ve always loved December. Living in Australia, it’s summer, the end of the school year so we always had our long summer break over December/January. It’s also my birthday month and … it’s Christmas. I still recall those days approaching Christmas when the presents used to begin to pile up under…
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May We Cling Tenaciously to Jesus
Dear friends, Ann here. With only a couple of days until Christmas I wanted to wish you a special time with your loved ones. And I know I speak on behalf of the rest of the team — Lynn, Ian, and Tiffany — in saying a heartfelt 'Merry Christmas' from us! Here is a beautiful…
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Oh, the Sweetness of a Friend!
Hi everyone — Ann here, and a happy Advent season to you all! In the spirit of Christmas, I'd wanted to pick one of the stories from the Gospels to talk about today, but which one to choose? These stories are all so full of wonder. After some thought, I finally landed on a favorite…
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Waiting in the Dark – some thoughts on Advent
I’ve always loved December. Living in Australia, it’s summer, the end of the school year so we always had our long summer break over December/January. It’s also my birthday month and … it’s Christmas. I still recall those days approaching Christmas when the presents used to begin to pile up under the tree. Most of…
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Your Everyday- A Sign and Wonder
This ordinary girl finds herself in with the sheep as she struggles through her labor. She isn’t assisted by the angels through delivery, nor while she rode nine-months-pregnant on the back of a donkey. She merely went about life when she left Elizabeth as any other woman of her day. She washed clothes, made the…
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She’s A Lot Like Me
So, will you go with me into this beautiful story about a teenaged girl named Mary. I want to share two things about Mary that I learned just this year. Perhaps you already received these gifts, but for me, what I uncovered is new and it changes me.
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God’s Voice: The Faintest Whisper
Two Christmases ago, I was sitting alone in a spacious old church in Edinburgh, enjoying a family service. I’d been visiting that city on a solo trip, and it was a treat to go to a new church. I chose one I’d like to visit and as I took my seat it warmed my heart…
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When God gives us a Promise
One of my favorite stories is that of Elizabeth in Luke chapter 1. We probably all know her story, but there’s a curious detail within it that is currently hitting me, and it’s this: Her promise had a plot twist. It took the form of her baby having a surprise name.
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Advent – An Invitation to Go Deeper
Photo courtesy of LiturgyTools.net The Christmas season comes around every year and for many of us it’s kind of the same-old-same-old. Yes, the specialness of the season are the traditions of it and doing the same things every year. We put up the same tree and decorations, listen to the same Christmas music, have the…
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Because of the Manger… Birth of the King!
From my prayer time this Christmas: December 2018 From the Father: In the quiet before the early light of Christmas traditions, My child, rise and sit alone with Me. Press into My heart and travel with Me through the ages, back to a tiny town in the Judean desert. This village, Bethlehem, shelters a teenaged,…
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The Difference Between Zechariah and Mary
We are nearing the time and the town of Bethlehem. Last week in the comments Cindy, brought forward an interesting observation. And today as I’m reading the story of Christmas from the first chapter of Luke, my eyes are drawn again and again to the angel Gabriel and his proclamation of the birth of the…
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Because of the Manger. This One is BIG
Joseph & Jesus I’ve been reading the Christmas story in the Gospels the past two weeks. My time in the Word has been utterly revelatory. Father, God has been speaking to me in His kind voice and uncovering treasures of the Christmas story that I didn’t even know were there. Such was the post from…
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Because of The Manger… Our Voice Is Restored!
While reading the Christmas story in the book of Luke on Monday, I pondered Zechariah’s story. The Holy Spirit began to speak to me about Zechariah’s angelic encounter, his response, and the significance and similarity in many believers lives today. Let’s read it together and then I will share the revelation that could very well…
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Advent – A Season of Waiting …
Photo courtesy of 9comeback/FreeDigitalPhotos.nety/FreeDigitalPhotos.net I received a call that I wasn’t expecting. From my sister. It was Saturday night, two weeks ago. She was relaying some information she’d received about our brother, John. He had been admitted into hospital that afternoon, had an MRI that found he had a ‘mass’ in his head. Oh…
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Because of the Manger… Shrug Off The Ugly Sweater
SUMites, I’m so excited for Christmas this year. I went extra crazy decorating the house. Take a look. Within me remains a wide-eye small girl who still marvels at the wonder and whimsy of this season. I miss the snow so much this time of year. So much so, that I created a snowscape outside…
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The Great Gifts of the Unequally Yoked
Hello SUM Nation: I just wonder…… Can you perhaps come to understand the unique and special blessings of the unequally yoked? I bet someone just read this and rolled their eyes? Anybody??? As a woman who has walked this journey now for more than two decades, I truly understand how very difficult it can be.…
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The Voice of Hope This Christmas
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will…
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Advent – Jesus Came to Bring us Life!
Image courtesy of samarttiw at FreeDigitalPhotos.net So here we all are. The week before Christmas with still lots to do. Work to finish off, shopping, cooking, cleaning, wrapping, travelling and hosting just to name a few things. It’s exhausting just reading that list. Besides all of this we may have the added stress of having…