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First Friday Prayers: Christmas Gift

December 2, 2022 by Lauren 10 Comments

Well, I don’t need to tell you that Christmas time is upon us.  Obviously major retailers starting putting out Yuletide decorations in October, but December takes it to an entirely different level.  Every street we turn onto is adorned with lights and blow ups.  Each and every store is having a sale.  In addition, every school and town square advertises holiday activities while red and green hued  tv commercials try to convince us they all have the perfect Christmas gift.

 

It’s easy to get caught up in it all.  “Parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting,” and the whole nine yards.  Not to mention present wrapping, Hallmark Movies and Christmas carols.  Maybe you feel it’s the most wonderful time of the year – maybe not.  But for many it is definitely the busiest time of the year (except maybe the month of May for parents of school aged kids.  Regardless, that’s a discussion for another time.)

 

For our prayer time together this month, I’d like to ask you a simple question.  Would Christmas still be magic for you without any lights or tinsel or packages under the tree?

 

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”  2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV

 

God gave us the best Christmas gift of all in Jesus.  Because He is the gift that NEVER stops giving. This is my prayer in this season – and every season:

 

Christmas gift

Praying for you in this.  And if you aren’t sure why I would call my Savior Jesus a gift, I would love to talk with you about Him.  Send me a message to lauren@laurensparks.net.

 

Don’t forget to share on social media or with a friend who could benefit.  It would mean so much to me.  And if you don’t want to miss a Praying God’s Word post, subscribe over on the right hand side of this page.

Lauren

And now for this week’s featured post from the link up.

 

I don’t know if it’s because I am enamored of Christmas or because I just set up a little nativity featuring an inn keeper, but Saturday Morning Devotional:  A Look at Christmas from the View of the Inn Keeper hit the spot for me.  Give the Christmas story a second look with this article.

The Link Up

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Praying Glory to God in the Highest #5

December 29, 2021 by Lauren 8 Comments

Glory to GodChristmas day may be past, but we are still praying glory to God in the highest.  The Christian calendar still observes Christmastide until Thursday January 6, Epiphany.  Also called Three Kings Day, Epiphany commemorates the Wise Men finding Jesus after their long journey. May we still seek Him as they did.

 

“After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”  Matthew 2:11 NIV

 

In this account, the Child is mentioned before Mary.  Ordinarily, attention would have been brought to the mother first.  But this Child is special and must come before all else.  So special is He, that the men fell down to the ground in awe and worship.  And then they presented Jesus with costly gifts.  From the Believer’s Bible Commentary:  Second Edition:

The treasures they brought spoke volumes.  Gold is a symbol of deity and glory; it speaks of the shining perfection of His divine Person.  Frankincense is an ointment or perfume; it suggests the fragrance of the life of sinless perfection.  Myrrh is a bitter herb; it presages the sufferings He would endure in bearing the sins of the world.  

 

Oh, what a Savior!  My prayer from this passage today:

 

Glory to God

 

Don’t let this season end just because the calendar turns.  Comment below on who He is to you.  And share this on your favorite social media platform using the icons below.  Invite others to join in giving glory to God in the highest.  And if you don’t want to miss any of the party, subscribe using the form on the right hand side of this page.

 

Praying for you in this.

Lauren

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About Me

I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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