Please read devotional #52 taken from Revelation 21:3. I would like to rewrite the first sentence with different emphasis; (Now! The dwelling place of God, is with men!) Now there, is a thought to carry us into the New Year. We have sung Emmanuel, God with us, and we have welcomed the birth of the Savior. The dwelling place of our Savior is no longer the manger, but with us. For those of us who have received Him; our breathing, our living, our inspiration is now influenced by God, as He indwells our lives through the Holy Spirit.
A chorus comes to mind taken from Philippians 1:6. "He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it. He who started the work will be faithful to complete it in you," Some things come into our lives and zap the good strength from us like a bad cold. But our Lord Comes to enhance our living, with an enabling strength toward completion. The dwelling place of God is with us, glory to His name.
Please look to the Journey booklet and the inserts to follow for continued focus upon prayer.

Week #50 taken from Luke 2:10-11 tells of the great joy in store for all the people, a Savior has been born to you! Many of the Jewish people believed that God was exclusively their God, a Jewish God. But the angel announced that the Savior was coming for all the people. The savior was for every tribe and nation. Luke 2:17 says; they spread the word they had been given.
The good news is too good to be kept for ourselves. It is intended to be shared with all people, everywhere; your neighbor and mine. News papers proclaim, for the most part, poor or bad news to millions of readers. We are told the people will not buy a paper filled with good news. I am convinced that there are people who are longing to hear the good news. Perhaps the good news is best shared over the back fence or over a cup of coffee. After all, it is a personal proclamation; "Unto YOU, a savior was born", and the YOU is inclusive. Jesus is, the reason for the season.

Please read devotional #49 Taken from Isaiah 7:14. Miracles were afoot in the birth of the Son of God as prophesied in the Old Testament in bringing about the delivery of the Messiah into the realm of a very needy world. The Son of God would put on the skin of a man and endure 9 months in the cavity of a young woman. While surprises occur daily, even the scholars of the Old Testament didn't quite expect the way God entered our world. There were those who were anticipating the coming Messiah, like Anna and Simeon in Luke 2:21-38 who were seemingly waiting for the arrival of the Savior at the Temple of the Lord and confirmed the Messiah as the Redemption of Israel and the Gentiles. But few recognized the long awaited Messiah. The Holy Spirit enabled Simeon and Anna to perceive the work of God, much like Peter when he declared Jesus as the Messiah. There is such hope for mankind as we have our spiritual eyes opened by faith in the sent one of God. Immanuel, God with us, is our need in a world prone to sin and despair. Enjoy the nearness of Immanuel in this season of hope, not only at Christmas, but all the year through.

Please read devotional #48, which is a week behind the Advent season. The emphasis of the devotional is upon the gift of God "to us". The gift of Jesus was to the world and every people group of the world. John 11:25-26 describes Jesus as "the life", that whoever lives in Him or through Him never dies, but really experiences "life"! My perception is not only life that is never ending but life that is fulfilling and full of purpose.

I have noticed that some T.V. commercials portray diamonds as a forever gift. However, diamonds are often lost from their settings and at times can be stolen. It is my opinion that raw diamonds are not much to look at. But put them in the hands of a master stone cutter and the facets they cut reflect light and beauty. Jesus intends for our lives to sparkle with hope that may be useful to draw others to the "life" He offers. Our Lord is working on our "facets" to bring light and life.