


Vocation

John 1:43-51
Jesus calls the first disciples. But these weren’t the first preachers of the good news of Jesus Christ. Remember the shepherds? We are told that after they had come to see the newborn king, they returned praising God for all they had heard and seen.
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Blessings

Romans 5:1-5
Results of Justification
There is a beautiful song called “Blessings” by Laura Story. She is a gifted musician whose career was taking off a few years ago. She wrote the No. 1 worship hit “Indescribable” recorded in 2004 by Chris Tomlin, married a handsome athlete named Martin Elvington the next year, and began working in music and women’s ministry at the 4,000-member Perimeter Church in Atlanta. After signing an artist deal with the INO Records, her 2008 national debut Great God Who Saves, won a Dove Award for Inspirational Album and earned Laura two consecutive nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year—all blessings, indeed.
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I Want To Walk as a Child of the Light

John 1:1-14
The Word Became Flesh
Epiphany is the season of LIGHT, revealing Jesus as the Son of God. One of my favorite Epiphany season hymns is “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light.” It is a song that lifts my heart, and finds hope in the midst of darkness.
In the midst of darkness and brokenness and evil in our world, all we can do is sing.
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Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

Psalm 139:1-6,13-18
The Inescapable God
To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
3 You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.
13 For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
all the days that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.
17 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
As I write today’s devotion, I am wearing an additional hat to those I usually wear. Today, I am Grandpa. Our twin grandsons needed a babysitter for the week, as our daughter-in-law heads back to work. A nanny has been hired but cannot start until later this month – so the grandparents are taking turns.
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Lamb of God

John 1:29-34
The Lamb of God
It is the first sentence I remember ever reading. I imagine that it may bring back similar memories for many of you. “Look. See Spot run. Run, Spot, run.” Sound familiar? Can anyone tell me who is running with Spot? Now turn to the youngster near you and explain just who Dick and Jane are.
Dick and Jane Readers were the first books for many of us who were educated in the American public school system. At the very core, the first written words many of us ever remember reading are these words – “Look. See!”
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Direction

Matthew 3:13-17
So, I looked at the lessons assigned for today, and decided that instead of talking about circumcision (ask your parents!), I thought I would take another day to focus on baptism.
In baptism, we believe that God is the one who acts. This is a gift of pure grace. It is the water, together with God’s Word that the promise of forgiveness, the seal of the Holy Spirit, and life forever with God is given. How cool is that?!
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Torn Apart

Mark 1:4-11
Unfortunately, some of the translations of Mark’s version of the baptism of Jesus simply say that the heavens opened when Jesus came up out of the water. More accurately Mark says, “…as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove”. “Being torn open” – that’s a strange choice of words especially since the other gospel writers are far less dramatic and say simply that the heavens opened. The words “being torn open” convey a sense of violence, energy, ripping apart, excitement, anticipation, joy, elation, casting aside what is in the way. When you think of it – much like a child ripping open a Christmas present. It’s almost as if God couldn’t wait another moment. He is so excited and rips open heaven and sends down the Holy Spirit. He has a gift for the world and can’t wait to rip it open.
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Called or Caught?

Luke 5:1-11
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
This is not the first time Jesus and Simon Peter have met. In fact, Simon Peter has heard Jesus preach, seen him heal and has spent time with him.
BUT now it is time to go to work.
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Who Will God Choose for the Team?

1 Samuel 16:1-13
David Anointed as King
David is the last one his father thought would be the one to be chosen. David? Really? Is that who God wants as king?
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Listen – God is Calling!

1 Samuel 3:1-21
Samuel’s Calling and Prophetic Activity
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