A FAMILY CHRISTMAS

Christmas Day

EXODUS 6:7 (CEB)
I’ll take you as my people, and I’ll be your God.

1 JOHN 3:1 (NTE)
Look at the remarkable love the father has given us—that we should be called God’s children!

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Our loving God includes us in his family.

DAILY FODDER
How is Christmas an expression of God's love for us? How do we know more about him because of the events of Christmas? 

PRAYER
Loving God, thank you for sending Jesus into the world as a means of including us in your family. Help me to more completely grasp the extent of and implications of that gift. Christmas really IS all about family—your family! Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

GIVING

Christmas Eve

DEUTERONOMY 16:17 (MSG)
Each man must bring as much as he can manage, giving generously in response to the blessings of GOD, your God.

MATTHEW 2:11 (CEB)
The magi entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
A genuine response to God's generosity involves generosity.

DAILY FODDER
Would you characterize your life as "generous"? Why or why not? What do you need to take your generosity to the next level?

PRAYER
Loving Father, this Christ Eve I thank you for the most precious gift, your perfect Son Jesus. Thank you that Jesus is my Savior. You have blessed me in so many ways. In humble gratitude, I offer my heart to you. Give me a generous heart to bless others as you have blessed me.  Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

SIN AND GUILT

PSALM 51:1-3 (MSG)
Generous in love—God, give grace!
Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I’ve been;
my sins are staring me down.

1 JOHN 1:9 (MSG)
On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We're positioned to receive forgiveness from God when we are upfront about our sin.

DAILY FODDER
> Justice is when you get what you deserve.
> Grace is when you get something undeserved.
> Mercy is when you don't get what you deserve.

PRAYER
Gracious God, thank you for sending Jesus into the world to mercifully deal with our sinfulness. I regret that I still try to hide my guilt—at least to some degree. Teach me how to be honest and matter-of-fact about the way I am and what I do. I receive your forgiveness and am pushing forward to live a life defined by Jesus. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

HOPE IN OUR ERA

The Fourth Sunday in Advent

PSALM 71:5 (CEB)
You are my hope, Lord.
You, Lord, are the one I’ve trusted since childhood.

ROMANS 8:24-25 (NTE)
We were saved, you see, in hope. But hope isn’t hope if you can see it! Who hopes for what they can see? But if we hope for what we don’t see, we wait for it eagerly—but also patiently.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Our faith is expressed through hope. 

DAILY FODDER
Hope, as the Bible uses the word, is not wishful thinking. It is a matter of having such confidence that something is going to happen that you'll allow your life to be rearranged to live in light of what is hoped for.  

PRAYER
Gorious God, I'm grateful for the witness of all those who for generations lived in hope of a coming Messiah. I confess that I get frustrated with the way things are as I await his second coming. I let it all get to me more than I should. Grant me the unwavering confidence to live according to hope in my assigned time. I am honored to be among those who hope in our era. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.