And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 (KJV) Christmas was a big holiday when I was growing up, but there is one tradition in particular that stands out to me. Every year before our Christmas dinner,
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By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV) In years past, my wife and I enjoyed restful summer vacations at the lake. We still go, but now that our family has grown, our time away has become more activity-filled and kid
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He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV) I can’t believe it, but I did it again. It seems every couple of years I throw my back out, and find myself out of commission for a day or two. It usually happens in the spring when it first starts to warm up
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In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:14 (NIV) Spring is right around the corner, and with it comes an event I like to call The Freeing of the Roly Polys. It goes like this: My kids and their neighborhood friends scrounge in the dirt around the yard looking for Roly Polys and other bugs and creatures.
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The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights. Proverbs 11:1 (NLT) We hadn’t been in our new home very long when I went down to the basement one evening to retrieve some laundry. To my surprise, I discovered a puddle on the floor and drips coming from under the water meter. The meter looked
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You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being…. Philippians 2:5-7 (NLT) Recently a well-known Christian entertainer came to our
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Everyone’s from somewhere and most of us like to think that where we’re from is about the best place on earth. I’m from Chicago. Well actually I’m from a Chicago suburb but its name never rings a bell with people I meet so I just say, “Chicago.” There’s really nothing glamorous about my hometown except that while I was growing
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But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) Last week I was having one of those down weeks. “What is a down week?” you ask. It’s
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He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29 (NIV) A few years ago on a spring morning, I woke up and began my day as usual. As I made my way into the kitchen, however, it felt as if the ground began to move under me. I braced myself as I slammed into
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My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19, 20 (NIV) One of the most destructive forces in any relationships is anger. By itself, anger is not sinful. However, when we allow ourselves
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