Author: Scott Hanberry Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 190
Book Description
Previously published as Christmas Presence: An Advent Devotional by Ray Cummings and Scott Hanberry. Advent is a season of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. It traditionally encompasses the four Sundays leading up to Christmas and is centered around the four themes of hope, peace, love, and joy. This devotional is a little longer; it is a 41-day journey. The number 40 shows up often in the Bible, commonly in contexts dealing with judgment or testing. Forty-one often represents victory or an end to the trial or testing. The 41 series guides you past judgment to the deliverance, past the testing to the testimony. These forty-one days of Advent readings will help you and your family prepare your hearts for the celebration of Christ''s Nativity and the anticipation of His Return! For Christians all around the world, Advent is a season of waiting. Individually and collectively we wait for the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent is clearly tied to the coming of Christ, but what if we began to see more than just a celebration of Christmas, "The First Advent"... What if we anchored our hope in a future glance? Yes, we look forward to Christmas as a reminder of Christ''s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but few Christians invest mental energy in anticipation of His second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world. The word advent itself means "arrival" or "an appearing or coming into place." And so this season of Advent should be a time when we also wait with great anticipation for the ultimate arrival: Jesus'' Second Coming! His arrival at Bethlehem changed everything and His promise of return secures our hope. In this time of waiting the experience might be different from household to household and believer to believer. For some, Advent is an experience of joy, peace, and love while others desperately long for the same. Some will experience a time of family gatherings, festive meals, renewing friendships, and the reunion of relationships, while others experience empty baskets and empty chairs, separation, brokenness, and loneliness. Isolation and separation have marked the past year. Pandemic quarantine has brought about a nagging sense of loneliness and disconnection. However, isolation and loneliness are not modern-day problems. They are as old as human relationships and they are by-products of a much deeper issue than a pandemic...they are rooted in sin. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God, their first inclination was to hide. Simply put, sin separates. But separation was never God''s intent. The story of Scripture begins and ends with the presence of God. God''s desire and His design is to dwell with His people. In the book of Genesis, Eden is the first couple''s home but, more importantly, it is God''s sanctuary--the garden temple where the Creator and his image-bearers relate (Gen 3:8). However, their disobedience cut them off from God, Who is the very source of life. Death entered. And so, people felt the ache of separation. They felt a longing to be in His Presence. They experienced a sense of exile. And that''s where Jesus steps into history and therein lies the hope of His Arrival! His Presence equals hope! This sentiment was captured in the Christmas Carol, O'' Holy Night... Long lay the world in sin and error, pining, ''Til He appeared and the soul felt it''s worth A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn''! Emmanuel, also called the Christ, changed the world. At that moment when God became flesh, humanity watched prophecies unfold as hope was born. Jesus, our Emmanuel, provided hope that sin and death wouldn''t always win and mankind wouldn''t always feel so painfully alone. Join other believers in a 41-day journey of anticipation of God''s presence!
Author: Chris Maxwell Publisher: Higherlife Development Service ISBN: 9781935245391 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
This year, why not go through the ups and downs of the holidays season with Jesus right by your side. Find faith in the buzz of overcrowded malls or as you visit a friend in the hospital. Hear Him in the rhythm of the holiday music dancing through the air-the music of people chattering, telephones ringing, children playing, sirens blaring, horns honking...the music of the life you live. Return home to the warmth and festivities, and allow the savory twists of poetry in this book to unwrap the presence of the One who gave His life for you so that you could spend eternity with Him. The One who is called-Emmanuel (God with us).
Author: Alistair Begg Publisher: The Good Book Company ISBN: 1784981923 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 64
Book Description
A short, engaging, evangelistic book, looking at the songs sung at the first Christmas Christmas is a great time to give a non-Christian friend or church visitor a short book getting to the heart of what it's truly all about. This is perfect for giving out at church events, or with a present. Music is everywhere at Christmas-chart-toppers, carols, children's tunes... Alistair Begg takes us to four songs that were sung by people at the very first Christmas (and his favourite carol). In this short, winsome book a teenage girl, a respected priest, a group of angels and an old man bring readers to the heart of Christmas, showing them the joy and peace that comes from meeting a baby who lay in the food trough and changed eternity.
Author: Michele Cushatt Publisher: HarperChristian + ORM ISBN: 0310353025 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 241
Book Description
Where is God when life is filled with so much suffering? How can I be sure of God's presence and affection, even in my pain? Can you believe in God and still wrestle with questions and doubt? These are the questions honestly explored in Relentless. Whether in struggle, illness, death, or failure, the presence of pain causes us to question the presence of God. We pray and watch the sky, crossing our spiritual fingers for hardcore proof of God's nearness. And in the silence, we sense something more sinister: perceived abandonment. But what if we could collect evidence that God hasn't left us? What if we could be absolutely certain of God's presence and affection, strengthening our faith against any assault? Woven throughout Scripture sits a single, extraordinary theme: God is with us. Ours is a God who speaks through burning bushes and leads through pillars of fire, who responds to a broken world by giving himself. Like the Old Testament story of Joshua's altar of twelve stones, Relentless delivers twelve key biblical stories that demonstrate God's unfailing presence. Each chapter offers an invitation to identify a "stone" in your own life as tangible evidence of God's nearness. With the turn of the last page, you will have discovered twelve markers of your own, an altar of memory to carry you through questions and losses, even ones yet to come. For the truth-seekers, those drowning in impossible questions, and those who find themselves swallowed up by the dark, Relentless is an invitation to search for divine presence in our everyday stories. With Michele Cushatt's engaging narrative style, this transformational journey reassures us that God, indeed, is with us.
Author: Charles F. Stanley Publisher: Thomas Nelson ISBN: 1400238870 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 161
Book Description
This Christmas, discover the gift of Jesus and what He means for your life. What if, in accepting this most precious gift, you are met with His grace and mercy and His peaceful presence? In the midst of chaotic holiday preparations, The Gift of Jesus will remind you that Christmas is a season of joy and renewal. In The Gift of Jesus, beloved pastor and teacher Dr. Charles Stanley takes a deeply personal and inspiring look at how God gave us Himself through the birth of Christ. When He sent Jesus, He closed the separation between us, showing Himself to be intimately involved in every detail that concerns us. This book will usher you into Jesus' presence, reveal His compassionate heart, and help you treasure the best parts of the Advent season. In this book of Christmas meditations, you will: See the Christmas story and God's precious gift for you with fresh eyes Find the calm in the chaos Carve out time for reflection, prayer, and Scripture readings Know that Jesus is walking with you, whatever you're facing this Christmas season If you're searching for comfort and direction or if you'd like to embrace together with your loved ones the significance of Christ's birth, come worship the One who gave everything to walk with you each step of the way. Each entry in The Gift of Jesus includes: A thoughtful meditation to illuminate the story of Christ's birth Guided journaling questions with room to write your thoughts A "Gift for Today" statement to inspire you throughout the day Lyrics to a beautiful seasonal hymn This Christmas season, reflect on the gift of Jesus and all He wants to be in your life.
Author: Asheritah Ciuciu Publisher: Moody Publishers ISBN: 080249630X Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 144
Book Description
How to focus on Christ during Advent Most Christians agree that Christmas is all about Jesus, yet most of us spend little time preparing our hearts to celebrate Him. Why is this? Partly because we don’t know how. In Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, Asheritah Ciuciu leads readers through the four weeks of Advent (Hope, Preparation, Joy, and Love). Each week: Begins with an interactive family devotional that equips readers to celebrate Advent together Offers five daily reflections that focus on that week's name of Jesus Includes suggestions for fun-filled family activities or service projects This devotional can be used by readers in their own personal worship times or as a tool to engage in family worship during the busy holiday season. Either way, participants will gain a greater sense of awe and wonder at who Jesus is. By focusing on the person and character of Jesus throughout the Advent season, readers will prepare their hearts so that when they admire the live nativity, sit in the candlelight service, or wake up on Christian morning, they can join the faithful who sing from the bottom of their hearts, "O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!"
Author: Pope Benedict XVI Publisher: A&C Black ISBN: 1408194538 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 145
Book Description
The greatly anticipated third volume of Pope Benedict's already internationally bestselling examination of the life of Jesus Christ and His message for people today. This renowned theologian, biblical scholar and Pastor of over a billion Roman Catholics helps us to rediscover the essence of the Christian Religion.
Author: Karen Kingsbury Publisher: Hachette UK ISBN: 0759526583 Category : Religion Languages : en Pages : 116
Book Description
This collection of true stories from bestselling author Karen Kingsbury celebrates the mystery and wonder of Christmastime. A chance encounter that changes everything . . . help that appears from nowhere . . . kindness when it's least expected . . . We've all experienced miracles in our lives. Now Karen Kingsbury has collected a series of real-life stories about people whose lives were changed by the mystery and wonder of Christmastime. In each of these stories, Karen brings undeniable proof of God's presence in our lives. And with an uplifting voice, she gives us a joyous reminder of the true meaning of Christmas: the greatest miracle of all is opening our hearts to love.
Author: Scott Hanberry
Author: Marty Hamby
Author: Chris Maxwell
Author: Alistair Begg
Author: Michele Cushatt
Author: Anthony M. Coniaris
Author: Charles F. Stanley
Author: Asheritah Ciuciu
Author: Pope Benedict XVI
Author: Karen Kingsbury