Mary, Did You Know?
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This song blows me away!
The awesomeness of our Lord, the God-Man Jesus Christ, the Son of God...the great I AM! And yet Son of Man.
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Advent Devotions: The Mega-JOY of Emmanuel
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Joy is the flag that flies over the soul when the King is in residence!
Chuck Swindoll
Years ago, I was leading a small group of ladies through Paul's letter to the Galatians. In chapter 5, we came to a familiar passage:
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,and self control. Galatians 5:22-23
Julie was in that small group that year, and Julie was from Great Britain. I asked her about Chuck's metaphor. She assured me that it was true. When royalty is in residence at the palace, the flag flies. It's the signal to the "subjects" that their monarch is present.
Read More2nd Week of Advent: the Really Good News -- GOD with US!
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"The Good News isn't just that Jesus died for our sins. The Good News is EMMANUEL...GOD WITH US!" So declared Deb at the end of our Bible Study.
As John and I drove home that evening, we reflected on her statement. We recalled a conversation we had had years before when we were discussing what the heart of the gospel ("Good News") is. The Good News isn't just that our sins are forgiven so we can go to heaven someday (and now we just do the best we can in the meantime).
Read MoreSocial Anxiety ... Anytime but Especially this Time of Year!
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Around this time of year, I revisit a conversation I heard on Christian radio many years ago. It reminds me to lay aside myself and focus on others in any and every social situation. But not just this time of year … actually every and any day I’m with other people. I ask the Holy Spirit to remind me when I’m in the thick of it and not feeling like reaching out. It has made all the difference in the world.
May you be helped also in your situation, whether introvert or extrovert … because we are all, in our flesh, basically self-absorbed, aren’t we? Not at all like our Indwelling Lord Who will live through us as us if we let Him.
So here is help in the “letting”…
Read MoreSo here we are...at a time when it seems that all social occasions(all right, slight exaggeration) are squeezed into, at best, a four week space...your spouse's office Christmas party, the kids' school programs and parties, neighborhood open houses, family in-law, and what may be worse, "out-law" gatherings, and what did I miss? But you get the picture.
REST! Yes, in the Midst of Holiday Craziness
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Today I awoke with this thought, this scripture, and this song:
REST, enjoy His love …
Jesus came to give us His rest of spirit, so we could enjoy God’s love):
Read MoreI praise You, Father …
Of the Father's Love Begotten ... Emmanuel
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For the past several years, I have been following an Advent devotional by a British author Tim Chester. One of the unique things that the author does is quote some “unknown to me” hymns and carols. However, the other day I recognized the final lines of each stanza in the quoted hymn of the day. Sure enough! I had been listening to that very carol each year on an old Christmas CD in our collection.
Read MoreAdvent Devotions: the WITH-ness of our God {from nearness to oneness}
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Jesus Christ the Son of God became one with us, so that we could be one with Him!
This glorious truth is at the heart of the Incarnation. God became one of us! One with us! Why? So that we could experience union with God.
And that takes us back to our 3 Greek prepositions for with: (see previous post: The WITH-ness of our God (prepositions):
- para, meaning beside, nearby, in the immediate vicinity or proximity, alongside
- meta, meaning with, in close association with, in companionship with
- sun, meaning together in intimate union, inseparable from
Advent Devotions: the WITH-ness of our God {His Presence in prepositions}
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Isn't it wonderful when someone wants to spend time with us? Not just a token, obligatory, "showing up" to either fulfill an obligation, salve guilt, or ask for something...a real wanting to be with us.
As special as it is in human relationships, think how amazing it is when we realize that the Sovereign God of the universe has wanted to be with us! Yes, US! and according to the Bible words used, we see that in Jesus, our Emmanuel, He is with us on every level possible.
In the original language of the New Testament, there are three Greek words that can be translated with.
Read MoreA few Lesser Known Advent Suggestions
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I’ve been coming across more and more suggestions for Advent this year. Many are by well-known and beloved authors; many have been around for awhile. But here is my current list of lesser known resources and suggestions. Take a look and share your own in the comments section. Thanks so much!
Read More1st Week of Advent: O Come, O Come, Immanuel
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When I was a child, I always loved Advent. There was a melancholia, a longing...but mixed at the same time with anticipation and hope. How did I get all that as a child? I'm sure I didn't, except to say that maybe all the sights and sounds and smells...all the scriptures and songs and prayers and stories of the "liturgical celebration" weren't entirely lost on me, nor on many of you. The reality of our God-Man Jesus has grown in me over the years as I've walked and talked with my Savior.
But whether you have had that sort of background as a child or not, why not journey with us these next weeks. Take it all in as if for the first time...all the sights, sounds, and smells...all the scriptures and songs and prayers and stories.
Read MoreGetting Ready for Advent
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Hi friends,
Reflect with us here at A Branch in the Vine on the God who became one of us ... not just to save, sanctify, and bring us into His glory (as crucial as that is), but also to experience humanness with His beloved creatures.
Immanuel, God WITH Us ... in every possible way.
Read MoreOnly one prayer? Give thanks!
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Do you ever feel blank when you finally quiet yourself to pray and worship the Lord? I get that. If this is where you are right now, pause with me as I remember this thought, first posted in 2014 … one of my very first “blogging Thanksgiving” posts. And move with me from blank to voicing thanks to your God and to others. Join me here even if you have “no other prayer”?
Read MoreGrow Old Along with Me . . . 48 Years!
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“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made.”
And I couldn’t help but think that this is a good theme for this stage of John’s and my marriage.
How so, you ask?
Read MoreReflections on Emmanuel, God WITH Us
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Emmanuel…a Christmas Reading
by Kathy Compton
Christmas means different things to different people. For some, it is a difficult holiday because of memories that are cherished…but they are just memories now.
There is an emptiness about Christmas.
For some, it is the delight of family and friends, of decorations and cards, of cookies and carols. There is a fullness about Christmas.
Read MoreOverflowing with Gratitude
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It's not the happy person who is thankful but the thankful person who is happy. Anonymous
Read MoreSuffering . . . Never Punishment
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Everyone suffers.
You may be suffering right now, or you have recently suffered, or you may soon suffer. But for a child of God, suffering is NEVER punishment!
Jesus was punished for us!
Read MoreEmbracing Brokenness with the Beatles and my Boy
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Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
I used to think that I had to have my act together (whatever that means) in order for God to love me and use me in the lives of others. But I’ve come to realize that God loves little ole broken me and little ole broken you. He loves to show forth His love and grace in and through us. And in our brokenness He teaches us to “do life” because we can depend on Him to be our Strength.
Read MoreWaking up Singing Too (Two!)
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What is it about two year olds? Do they all wake up singing? Or do we just not notice that they do . . . until they don’t.
Sorry for the double-speak, but I have just returned from being with my 2 year old granddaughter Claire. And she, like her now 4 year old brother William did at 2, is waking up with a song in her heart and on her lips. So again, John & I are being awakened in the guest room by the sweet sounds of darling Claire’s lilting voice.
Read More"With-ness . . ." Turns Four
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Four years ago this week, this prototype arrived in the mail. My 91 year old mom had just passed into the Arms of her Savior. So as excited as I was to see this book published, it was supplanted by the grief of losing my greatest mentor and unconditionally loving friend, my darling mother.
But as the days, months, and now even years have passed by, I have grown in amazement (a long story, because of so many obstacles) and appreciation to the Lord for using my feeble words and thoughts to produce this little volume exalting The With-ness of our God: Relationship in Every Dimension.
This anniversary would have passed me by had it not been for Facebook pointing out that the post containing the above photo was “Janet's most commented photo on Facebook of 2015.”
So I’m celebrating . . .
Read MoreThere's a Ghost Inside of Me
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This Halloween, I’m thinking about the Holy Ghost, the Giver of Life and my indwelling Source. Thank you, Mercy Me.
There's a ghost
There's a ghost inside of me
Not like those draped in old bed sheets
Saying "trick or treat"
Different
Oh, this ghost is different
Not one that leaves me scared to death
But one that puts my fear to rest
