Emmanuel’s Story: Simeon’s Light

It’s been so long, Lord. You made a promise from before the beginning of time, and your people have waited. We need Messiah. We were cast out of the garden. Our fathers failed to obey. We continue to turn away from you. Your law only proved how wicked our hearts truly were. We can’t save…

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Emmanuel’s Story: We Approach the Throne

I’ve always loved the story of Cinderella. A poor, orphan girl wins the prince’s love and becomes a princess. It reminds me of my story as a bride of Christ. Before I discovered that the prince chose me, I floundered as an unwanted daughter. Without a father to love and care for me, I was…

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Emmanuel’s Story: A Gentle Whisper

Today we turn to the next person in our quick journey through the Old Testament. Remember his story? The Lord sent him to preach against the evil King Ahab and his uber-wicked wife Jezebel. During the ultimate stand-off, Elijah went against Baal’s prophets. Simple test: I’ll make an altar to my God. You make an…

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Emmanuel’s Story: Forever Shepherd King

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. Luke 1:8 Have you ever thought about why the angels appeared to shepherds? I mean, why shepherds? There must be a reason. (This is how my mind works.) Imagine those shepherds. Such a dirty job. Lonely. Nothing glorious…

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Emmanuel’s Story: Manna or a Manger–God Provides

How those Israelites could complain! The Lord had just miraculously brought them out of hundreds of years of slavery. They saw the plagues—frogs, boils, grasshoppers, even the loss of the firstborn. They witnessed firsthand how God provided a way for the angel of death to pass over their homes, sparing their sons. He split the…

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Sweet Waters: A River, A Plague, and a Savior

It all started with Joseph. Remember? He’s the one who brought the children of his father Israel down to Egypt. It was a good thing, of course. He saved their race and God used him to sustain the line of the seed of the woman (remember the promise in Gen. 3:15 of the coming savior?)…

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