Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Michael Card singing … Immanuel … poignantly singing of the greatest gift from God to all mankind to live in the hearts of all believers forever.
Sinterklaas Day in the Netherlands
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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 1:22-23 [ESV] ... 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: … 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”
… A declaration, by Matthew, of God’s prophesy of the coming Messiah (see Is. 7:14).
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 1:18-25 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Matthew’s account of the birth of The Christ.
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Reference Passage : … Isaiah 7:14 [NLT] … 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
… The prophesy of the coming Messiah to save God’s people.
Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:6-11 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul relates the wondrous Advent of The Christ, Who set aside His heavenly glory and majesty to become a man, as our Abba Father’s greatest gift to save mankind.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, uses a seasonal and historical story of St Nicholias, “Father Christmas,” to highlight God’s greatest gift of all. … The ODB author wrote: According to an old story, a man named Nicholas (born in ad 270) heard about a father who was so poor that he couldn’t feed his three daughters, much less provide for their future marriages. Wanting to assist the father, but hoping to keep his help a secret, Nicholas threw a bag of gold through an open window, which landed in a sock or shoe drying on the hearth. That man was known as St. Nicholas, who later became the inspiration for Santa Claus. [see photo]
When I heard that story of a gift coming down from above, I thought of God the Father, who out of love and compassion sent to earth the greatest gift, His Son, through a miraculous birth.
Today in my wife’s country, The Netherlands, the Dutch will celebrate Sinterklaas Day [see photo], … that day, according to legend, when “Father Christmas” comes to bring gifts to the Dutch children, … much like we in the US on Christmas Day celebrate “Santa Claus” coming to bring gifts. And many countries have legendary celebrations during the Advent season to highlight God bringing the greatest gift of all to His children, … His Son, … to live in the hearts of all those who would receive His wondrous gift … to be our “Immanuel.”
That’s why the account of the coming of The Christ in Phil. 2:6-11 is my favorite Advent Scripture passage; … my favorite because it relates what God did for mankind, giving His son as a man to live in the hearts of all who receive Him as The Christ, … as Lord and Savior. Oh, how I pray that all reading here have received our Immanuel, as the linked song relates.
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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for the Advent of Your greatest gift of all, … our Immanuel.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to celebrate … with a robust “HALLELUJAH” … for our Abba Father’s gift of Messiah … to live in our hearts forever as our Immanuel. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.</ span>
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