CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS

PSALM 21:13 (NLT)
Rise up, O LORD, in all your power.
With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.

1 TIMOTHY 3:16 (MSG)
This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough:

He appeared in a human body,

was proved right by the invisible Spirit,

was seen by angels.

He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,

believed in all over the world,

taken up into heavenly glory.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Get ready to celebrate the glorious incarnation.

PRAYER
God, it is fitting that so much of Christmas is about the music. Forgive me for allowing the abuses of the season to jade my heart to the glory of what you have done by sending your Son into the world. Set my heart free to truly celebrate. I may be a bit off-key but I'm not going to let that stop me from singing about the glory of Christmas. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

BE ENCOURAGED!

PSALM 69:32 (MSG)
Oh, you God-seekers, take heart!

LUKE 1:40-41 (ABP)
Mary entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's voice the baby in her womb leaped as she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Be encouraged at the coming of Jesus.

PRAYER
Wonderful God, as we again prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus we're filled with wonder. Even though we don't fully grasp the magnitude of what happened that Christmas we know that it was awesome. Refill us with your Holy Spirit so that we can welcome Christ and fully join the party. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

FEARS

PSALM 34:4 (ABP)
I looked to GOD for help and he responded, neutralizing my fear and anxiety.

LUKE 1:13 (CEV)
But the angel told him:
     Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayers.
     Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Look to God and give him the fears that haunt you.

PRAYER
God, you listen for us to call out to you -- and you respond. Forgive me for harboring unnecessary fear and anxiety because I don't turn to you with my problems. I'm good at talking about how you erase fear but I don't live fear-free. So, I call to you and ask that you'd save me from the fears that haunt me. I'm looking to you. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

FAITHFULNESS

GENESIS 6:8 (MSG)
Noah was different. GOD liked what he saw in Noah.

LUKE 18:8 (MSG)
How much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Will God recognize faithfulness in us when he examines our lives?

PRAYER
Gracious God, you are faithful even when our faith is deficient. I'm grateful and beg your forgiveness for my failure to trust you. Rebuild my faith so that when Christ returns he'll like what he sees in me. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.