10He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a …
1“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Malachi 3:1 6God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7to tell about …
12Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Here is the man called the Branch. He will branch out from where he is and build the Temple of the Lord. 13Yes, he will build the Temple of the Lord. Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve …
1Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. 2And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will …
1Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” 2But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of …
1“Comfort, comfort my people,”says your God. 2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.”3Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,“Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our …
8When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” 11“Who told …
7How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! 8The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for before their very eyes they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem. 9Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, …
Yesterday, November 29, was the first Sunday of the Christian Advent season. The word advent is the English translation of the Latin word for coming. Old Testament prophecies pointed to the first coming of Jesus as a baby; today Christians celebrate his birth and anticipate his return during the days of Advent. Every day this …
I am that grandma. If I see things my grandchildren would like, I buy them and hide them in the drawer. At just the right time, I bring them out. My oldest granddaughter has learned to ask about the surprises. Her birthday also happens to be on December 21. Recently, when she asked for a …