The holiday season is wonderful, but it can be very challenging for many people as well. The absence or loss of a family member, depression, anxiety, stress shopping and financial hardships can take a huge toll on everyday life. But, through it all we must step back, collect our thoughts and redirect our focus to “The Real Gift”–Jesus Christ. Where would we be without the sacrifice and love of Jesus? In Jesus we find peace and hope for today and tomorrow. My prayer is: Thank you Father for 1) your unconditional love; 2) sending your Son– Jesus Christ; and 3) leaving us with the Comforter–Holy Spirit. Amen! During the season of Advent, it is most appropriate to express gratitude and take time to meditate on the word of God. I hope the following scripture readings will provide insight and feed your spirit daily. Read additional verses and chapters to enhance your understanding of the Word.
THE BIRTH & MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST
SCRIPTURE READINGS for
Sunday, November 28 through Saturday, December 25, 2021
November 28, 2021
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” _Luke 1:26-33
November 29, 2021
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. _Luke 2:1-7
November 30, 2021
Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” _Luke 2:21-24
December 1, 2021
So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,“…He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” _Luke 2:27-32
December 2, 2021
Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. _Luke 2:52
December 3, 2021
One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” _Luke 3:21-22
December 4, 2021
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days… When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came. _Luke 4:1-2, 13
December 5, 2021
Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them. But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea. _Luke 4:43-44
December 6, 2021
For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. _Matthew 20:28
December 7, 2021
Who do people say that the Son of Man is?…But who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” _Matthew 16:13-16
December 8, 2021
Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. _Matthew 18:1-3
December 9, 2021
“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. _Luke 6:46-48
December 10, 2021
But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” _Luke 6:49
December 11, 2021
“I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. _Luke 12:8-9
December 12, 2021
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. _Romans 5:8
December 13, 2021
“Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’ _Acts 22:14-16
December 14, 2021
When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. _Romans 4:4-5
December 15, 2021
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. _Romans 5:1-2
December 16, 2021
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. _Romans 5:3-5
December 17, 2021
And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. _Romans 6:9-11
December 18, 2021
Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God…So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. _Romans 6:12-13
December 19, 2021
For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs…But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. _Romans 8:16-17
December 20, 2021
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. _I Corinthians 13:1
December 21, 2021
If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. _I Corinthians 13:2
December 22, 2021
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. _I Corinthians 13:3
December 23, 2021
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice, but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. _I Corinthians 13:4-6
December 24, 2021
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. _I Corinthians 13:7
CHRISTMAS
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
_I Corinthians 13:13
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