Of all the beautiful terms that have been skewed to pejorative status, the two words “Born Again” unquestionably tower above others for its disparity between perception in our wider world and its spiritual reality.  What a pity because the image—properly understood—is so lovely.  The idea is that we’re not tweaked, corrected, reformed, trying a little harder, or beginning a 12-step program toward one day at a time, but something far more wonderful!  We are a whole new creation in Christ!  It is a revolutionary and unparalleled idea and is on God’s Christmas List. 

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. “

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’  The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?  Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.  I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?  No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven– the Son of Man.  Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:3-16).

Think about it:

• How can a person tell if he/she has been born again?  How can other people tell? 
• Why do you suppose it was so hard for Nicodemus to understand what being born again was all about? 
• Read John 19:38-42. Nicodemus shows up with Joseph of Arimathea to prepare Jesus’ body for burial.  The Scriptures intentionally remind us that Nicodemus had come at night, harkening back to the story above.  Why do you think that is?

What God wants for Christmas is…for us to be born again.

Dear Lord, Please grant that I would never be embarrassed to refer to myself as Born-Again.  May I remember and cherish always this beautiful image and appreciate what You intend by having us experience that spiritual birth into the family of Christ.  Knit me together with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  By Your Holy Spirit, may I be guided into act of goodness to bring glory to You as my Father in heaven.  Amen.

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Atop God’s Christmas List would be the First Commandment and the one like it.  Indeed, when Jesus was asked “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” this was His reply:

“The most important one is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark12:28-31)

Picturing God’s Christmas List written down as an actual list, this would have highlighting and stars next to it.  Not like what Sally (Charlie Brown’s sister) says in making her list,” Please note the size and color of each item, and send as many as possible. If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself: just send money. How about tens and twenties?”

No, these are “must haves” and there are no substitutes. Money can’t buy it.

Think about it:

• Why is there no substitute for these two commandments? 
• Why would Jesus say that there are two when the person only asked which one is the most important? 
• How does God encapsulate everything He desires in these two commandments?

What God wants for Christmas is…for us to Love God and Love our Neighbor.

Dear Lord, loving others like You require ought to be so easy, yet it often seems so hard.  It’s difficult to put aside our hurts and rejections.  Reconciling ourselves to forgiving others in order to love them with the kind of grace You’ve shown us requires more capacity than we have as humans.  Holy Spirit, lead me into the kind of love You desire, the love of God and others that brings glory to You.  Thank You for the greatest Gift of love the world has ever known:  Jesus.  May we by Your grace grow in His likeness.  Amen.

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to Him, and placed the child among them. 3 And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me.” Matthew 18:1-5

At first blush, Jesus’ comment is curious.  But did you know that babies up to the age of 3 don’t even know how to blush?  They haven’t developed the social awareness of what it feels like being judged, being embarrassed, or being ashamed.  When Jesus tells us to become like children, He’s talking about a faith so trusting, a love so innocent, and a life so free from shame that we display what freedom in Christ looks like.  In heaven, we will have that faith, that love, and that innocence and be absent of any shame because Jesus died and took our shame –paid for by His blood–to the grave and buried it.

Think about it:

• Do you live like a person freed from shame or does shame haunt you like an unwelcome shadow? 
• How do we gain access to that kind of freedom from shame? (John 8:36) 
• Read Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”  How does this display what Christ has done through His sacrifice?  Do you need to be ashamed anymore? 
• What will it take you to have that innocence of unabashed faith and love?

What God wants for Christmas is…Us to Become Like Little Children.

Dear Lord, I admit that shame seems to follow me around.  Embarrassing memories, failures I wish I’d avoided, mistakes I’ve made, words I wish I’d never said, and actions I regret doing.  Your Word tells me to live in Your forgiveness, that those whom You have set free are free indeed.  I want to live with that innocence and freedom.  Help me, Lord Jesus, not to relitigate within my heart what You have forgiven.  Holy Spirit, please teach me to recognize Your unconditional love since I know I’m not worthy to earn it.  Lord, help me to accept Your love and forgiveness and to live as a person who never needs to feel ashamed again.  Father, grant me victory over my accuser.  I thank You, Lord Jesus, that in You I am forgiven.  I praise You, God.  Amen.

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Do you ever see a pattern in your circumstances and think, “Okay, God is trying to tell me something?”  A car bearing its name “Judge” on a truck carrying damaged cars headed for the junkyard…except this one which was a cool “muscle car” (a red-orange 1969 Chevy Camaro) maybe headed for the shop for a little clean-up or an engine rebuild before going to a car show.  A few miles down the road, a billboard for lawyers who will get you money when you’ve been wrecked.  “Judge” was the firm’s name.  A trucking company named “Judge” with a parade of 18-wheelers.  And then the Jesus billboards one after the other proclaiming, “I am returning to judge!”

My mind immediately went to the Scriptures, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done” (Revelation 20:11-13).

It’s a frightening thought unless we’ve been in the habit of honoring God’s Christmas List item of executing pure justice in our God-given role on earth. 

“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.  Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ (Zechariah 7:9-10)

Think about it:

• It was hard not to contrast these admonitions with what was news on the radio.  What do you think God thinks of what we’re doing as a culture with His truth and His justice toward our fellow man especially in the arena of politics?
• In Revelation 19:11-13 Jesus is the rider named “Faithful and True” and Scripture tells us that “with justice He judges and wages war.” How does Jesus fully administer pure justice?  What is His war against?

What God wants for Christmas is…for us to execute pure justice without favoritism or prejudice.

Dear Lord, forgive us.  In America and in our world, we have turned our backs on You.  Rushing stubbornly from Your ideas of pure justice, we have pursued selfish gain, offered deception after deception, and have oppressed and plotted evil against each other.  We confess our national and global sin and ask for Your mercy.  Not because we are good because we are not.  Because of Your great love shown to us in a Savior born in Bethlehem and Who lived a sinless life and yet was crucified because men hated You and Your truth.  Forgive us, Lord.  We thank You for Jesus’ perfect life and His perfect Word.  Remind us always that He will return to judge with true and pure justice.  Cultivate in us a holy fear that You are watching and someday we will stand before You to make an account of our lives.  Thank You for Jesus and the forgiveness He bought with His blood.  Thank You, Lord Jesus!  Amen.

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Ingratitude abounds in our culture.  Too often, we seem only to possess an appetite for more, more, more, never a refined “less.”  Hearts which know God and have known mercy from Him ought to show mercy towards others.  It’s as simple as that. God has simple things on His Christmas List.

Think about it:

• In what ways are mercy and thankfulness connected? 
• Read Hosea 6:6. Why aren’t sacrifices good enough?  What makes a sacrifice a matter of the heart? 
• Read Matthew 18:21-35 (The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant).  Why is mercy a matter of the heart, of gratitude, and of knowledge?

What God wants for Christmas is…mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6).

Dear Lord, particularly at this season of the year, help me to take a step back and look at the big picture.  If my doing things for you was what service was all about, if my checking boxes pleased You as our bean-counter-in-heaven, all this hustle would be worth it.  We thank You, however, that what You really want is for us to recognize the mercy You’ve given us, the wonderful gift of being able to approach You in Christ, to learn from Him and His Word, to be instructed and guided by Your Holy Spirit, and we might have changed hearts to reflect Your mercy.  Help me to be grateful.  Help me to seek You and desire to know You more than anything.  To taste and see how sweet Your mercy is.  We praise You!  We thank You!  Amen.

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

If there’s one thing even the most secular among us associate with Christmas, it’s gift-giving.  We’ve got that one down to a marketing plan and a future debt reduction program.  But conspicuous consumption and outdoing one another, or even the Black Friday divide-and-conquer dash from store-to-store to quickly grab all the bargains, isn’t the kind of gift-giving God has in mind.

God’s idea is that we would see the gift we’ve been given in Christ, His gift of freedom, and to share Him abundantly with others.  Share the Gift Who keeps on giving.

Think about it:

• When we take our final breath, will the diamond pendant that says “I love you” or the big screen TV truly matter?  What about the gift of salvation?
• How does charity reflect gratitude?
• In the song “Grown Up Christmas List” that we’ve been using for this devotional series, how do these lyrics reflect what God wants?  So here’s my lifelong wish/ My grown-up Christmas List/ Not for myself, but for a world in need/ No more lives torn apart,/ Then wars would never start/ and time would heal the heart/ And everyone would have a friend/ And right would always win/ And love would never end, oh/ This is my grown-up Christmas List/ As children we believed/ The grandest sight to see/ Was something lovely wrapped beneath the tree/ Well heaven surely knows/ That packages and bows/ Can never heal a hurting human soul.

What God wants for Christmas is… for you to share Him with others.

Dear Lord, Help me to see the greatest gift ever given is Jesus.  Thank You for Your amazing Gift of love, a Savior, a brother, a friend, a sacrifice, a guide, and a way back home to You, our God.  Open my eyes, Lord, to see Your goodness and open my heart and encourage my heart to share You with others…to share You abundantly…because Your gift is eternal.  I praise You!  Amen.

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

God wants nothing more on God’s Christmas List than for you to return to Him and receive His pardon.  It’s why He sent Jesus and the Word became flesh.  It’s the reason for a pregnant virgin and O Little Town of Bethlehem with a manger.

It’s too hard for us, indeed impossible, for us as unforgiven sinners to be acceptable to God.  We needed a Savior named Jesus, the One and Only Son of God.

Think about it:

• Years ago, I wrote something that I’m convinced was a profundity arrow from God, straight to my heart.  “God could have given us a million pregnant virgins without once giving us Himself.” 
• Do you see how the miracle of Christmas was not that Mary was pregnant as a virgin, but the miracle of love was the One her womb contained?
• Is it too much to ask that we return to our Father who loved us this much?  He’s ready to pardon us.  Are you ready to receive it?
• If not, what stands in the way?
• Read Proverbs 6:16-19. Some of them are listed there.

What God wants for Christmas is…you to return to Him and receive His pardon.

Dear Lord, I praise You for the immense love You have for us.  I’m sorry that I’ve grieved You as my Father in heaven.  I know I have done this.  Even if unintentionally, I’ve grieved You.  I’ve hurt You and like the story of the “prodigal son,” I know Your forgiveness is waiting for me at home with You.  Help me to see that home with You is the only place I need to be this Christmas.  Stir my heart this day with the true Miracle of Christmas: Jesus.  Amen.

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

This season of the year, plenty of good-hearted folks go from one holiday stress to another.  Hurry online.  Hurry in traffic.  Hurry in the stores.  Hurry in the supermarkets and farmers markets.  The clock is ticking down … stress, stress, stress.

Frankly, that is no way to go about the holiday season, but I’ll admit, I’m guilty as much as the next guy or gal.

I’ve got to believe that Mary of Nazareth probably felt a bit stressed.  Telling Joseph?  Yeah, that’s a biggie.  What she was going to say when she began showing?  She probably began steeling herself for the whispered comments and sideways glances.  How she was going to tell her parents?  Even if she’d been truthful and perfect every day of her life, I wonder if they’d still find reasons not to believe her than to believe her story.  Just too far-fetched.

I’d imagine Mary had to develop an insular self.  A place in her heart where she could go to turn off all the outside noise and find strength when everything of the world outside her disbelieved, ridiculed, rejected, and maybe even taunted or threatened her.  If her song is any indication, she knew her place of strength:  The Lord.  He is the One she turned to and He strengthened her inwardly for the task at hand.

Think about it:

• Psalm 105:4 reminds us to “Seek the Lord and His strength.”  When your strength is failing, is He where you turn?  Why would this be on God’s Christmas List for us?
• Who layers all the stressors on at Christmas?  God?  Self? Or perhaps others?
• When we care about all the world’s problems all the time and worry ourselves sick about it all, Who are we ignoring? Who actually has the power to resolve these problems?
• Imagine creating an insular self, not a place of apathy, but an inner retreat of the heart where you can de-stress at the throne of God.  You’ll be glad you did.

What God wants for Christmas is…you to seek Him and His strength to get you through.

Dear Lord, I don’t know why I take on more than I ought to and worry about tomorrow when Jesus told us today has enough.  Help me to find a place of silence and peace, to unburden myself at this time of year, to allow the ministry of the Holy Spirit to draw me close to the Father, and to receive His strength and His peace in true wisdom.  I cannot do this on my own.  I need You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

How wonderful that the Messiah was born long ago!  That He lived back then and not now…in a culture far more respectful of life in general–and life in the Lord specifically–than we know today. 

Ages prior to the pro-life community’s appealing to God’s Word to choose life, the Lord held out His hands to His people, and offered life to any who would seek it, see it, value it, and choose it.  They didn’t have to climb mountains or swim oceans to find it.  It was right in front of their eyes.

“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:11-20)

Think about it:

• Do you welcome the life the Lord gives, the true life worth living found by listening to God and obeying Him?
• Think about Mary (a virgin) and her cousin Elizabeth (old and barren) now pregnant with John the Baptist. How did they choose life?  Was persevering in pregnancy the only way they experienced choosing life?
• What types of things stand in the way of our finding that life?  How does rejection of true life, maybe following some of those things instead, ultimately lead to our destruction? 
• How does finding life begin with a choice, followed by setting our compass on God, and leading to life?

If God had a Christmas List, what His Word says He wants (not just for Christmas) is
… for us to choose life.

Dear Lord, please help me to see the life in You which You have set before me.  Help me to reject all other pretenders and poor substitutes.  Please give me eyes to see my bad choices and how they led to bad outcomes so that I might learn and not repeat them.  And forgive me, Lord.  I am prone to wander and don’t intend to break Your heart.  I’m sorry, Lord, for any ways I’ve grieved You.  Show me the meaning of life in You and how to live it.  In Jesus’ precious Name.  Amen.

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

If God’s Christmas List contains what He wants, not just at Christmas, but always, then fearing the Lord instead of man would be a big-ticket item.  Joseph knew that. 

In the Christmas story, Joseph heard that Mary was pregnant and that meant shame.  In their culture, Mary would be stoned to death for being pregnant out of wedlock. Joseph would have remained ashamed of her pregnancy, fearing what other people would think, and in the end, it would destroy his lifetime achievement of righteousness.  He could divorce her publicly and put it all on her.  Or the other option would be to marry her anyway and be the father of a child who was not his… with a lifetime of pretending.  No good alternatives.  Only different levels of fear and ruin.

Enter an angel of the Lord.

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:20-25).

Think about it:

• How did Joseph’s encounter with the angel change his heart and conquer his fear of men?
• How is fearing the Lord different from fearing people?
• Did his following the angel’s encouragement and command take away his fear of how people would view him since Mary was pregnant?
• Why does Scripture state clearly that he didn’t consummate the marriage?  What might some men in that situation do, masking the reality, to save their reputation in the eyes of man?

What God wants for Christmas is… for us to fear the Lord and serve Him.

Dear Lord, Remind me why fearing You is always good and fearing man a far lesser concern.  You are faithful and we praise You.  You are all goodness and light!  There is no darkness, hiding, or pretense in You.  Help us to live authentic lives in the full freedom Jesus died to give us.  Grant that we would never forget the miracles You alone can work and the redemption and freedom You give when we fear rightly and serve wholeheartedly.  Amen.  

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.