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   That, too, is strength. God put us into the body of Christ to be dependent   
   on one another. That's strength in weakness,   
   because it draws on the strengths of others.   
      
   So when God says, "My power is made perfect in weakness," we can believe it.   
   When I learn to rely on God's grace, instead of my own strength, God works   
   in me. I leave matters in God's hands. I wait upon the Spirit (Acts 1:4).   
   I trust that God is working out his plan (Rom. 8:28). He is "able to do   
   immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." (Eph. 3:20). God said it.   
   That should settle it.   
      
   Prayer: Lord, teach us to know that our weak moments are so often   
   the times when your strength is at work in us. Amen.   
      
   9 (Php 4:13; 2Co 12:10; Isa 40:29-31) But He said to me,   
   "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."   
   Therefore most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses,   
   that the power of Christ may rest upon me.   
      
   2 Corinthians 12:9   
      
   From Follow the Story by Marva J. Dawn   
      
      
   Fulfilling Service   
      
   ... They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple'   
      
   -Luke 1:22b   
      
   My title is meant to have double meanings.   
   Zechariah indubitably completed his service in the Temple, and he   
   certainly found it gratifying as he did so. Subsequently, his wife   
   and he consummated their marriage, and she praised God for looking   
   favourably upon her and taking away her disgrace for not yet having borne   
   a child.   
      
   Moreover, those who waited for Zechariah at the Temple discerned   
   another aspect of the priest's service-that he had seen a vision.   
   What else could they deduce when he returned later than expected   
   from offering the incense and reappeared stricken with muteness?   
   Nevertheless, his face must have displayed great bewilderment   
   and perhaps bliss at the thought of having a child in his old age.   
      
      
   To what service has God called you? Have you experienced any moments   
   of fulfillment lately? Have you received from anyone (representing God?)   
   good news that refreshed you with wonder? Has a member of your family   
   encountered any situation that nourished him/her with great exhilaration?   
      
   prayer   
      
   Generous God, thank you for the gifts of service. Amen.   
      
      
   Read Luke 1:21-25.   
      
   21 The people waited for Zechariah, and wondered why he waited   
   so long in the temple.   
   22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived   
   that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he made signs to them   
   and remained speechless.   
   23 As soon as the days of his service were fulfilled,   
   he departed to his own home.   
   24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months   
   she hid herself, saying,   
   25 "Thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked on me,   
   to take away my reproach among men."   
      
   From the Ah-HAs of Advent by Rich Bimmler   
      
   FIRST FRIDAY   
   AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ADVENTure!   
      
   9 (Lk 2:14; Mt 23:39) The crowds that went before Him   
   and that followed Him cried out:   
   "Hosanna to the Son of David!   
   "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"(Ps 118:26.)   
   Hosanna in the highest!" MATTHEW 21:9   
      
   Advent is a great ADVENTure. Just like Christ's adventure into Jerusalem   
   on Palm Sunday As you read today's Scripture, what is it about this   
   ADVENTure that stands out for you? If you had beer there as part of the   
   crowd in the Palm Sunday parade, what would you have been thinking?   
      
   I am reminded of the story about the little girl who home from   
   worship and asked her parents. "Who's Anna?" When neither Mom nor   
   Dad could understand what she was asking, they queried, ''Why are you   
   asking that question?" The girl simply responded, "In church we're always   
   singing, 'Who's Anna? Who's Anna'?l' And I don't even know her!"   
      
   Advent reminds us that any time we are in the presence of "he who comes   
   In the name of the Lord," we are on an extraordinary ADVENTure! In many   
   ways, the beginning of our Advent journey this week is similar to Christ's   
   journey on Palm Sunday: from Jerusalem .. . through the streets and   
   villages . . . to the cross . . . and finally to the empty tomb! Because of His   
   ADVENTure, we are able to shout. "Hosanna--save us,. Lord!" during our   
   ADVENTure to Bethlehem. .. and then beyond to Good Friday and 'Easter'!   
   enjoy your ADVENTure in the Lord today!   
      
   PRAYER: Lord, we all love a parade. especially when we know how your parade   
   leads to an empty tomb! Encourage us this day to be ADVENTurous   
   people as we humbly follow you. We are blessed because you have first   
   blessed us. In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!   
      
   Read Matthew 21:1-11   
      
   Matthew 21   
      
   The Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem   
   Mk 11:1-11; Lk 19:28-38; Jn 12:12-19   
      
   1 (Mt 24:3; 26:30) When they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage,   
   on the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,   
   2 saying to them, "Go over into the village opposite you,   
   and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.   
   Untie them and bring them to Me.   
   3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them.'   
   And he will send them immediately."   
   4 (Mt 1:22; Jn 12:15) All this was done to fulfill   
   what was spoken by the prophet, saying:   
   5 (Isa 62:11; Ge 49:10) "Tell the daughter of Zion,   
   'Look, your King is coming to you,   
   humble, and sitting on a donkey,   
   and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'Zec 9:9."   
   6 The disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.   
   7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their garments on them,   
   and He sat on them.   
   8 (2Ki 9:13) A very large crowd spread their garments on the road.   
   Others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.   
   9 (Lk 2:14; Mt 23:39) The crowds that went before Him   
   and that followed Him cried out:   
   "Hosanna to the Son of David!   
   'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' (Ps 118:26.)   
   Hosanna in the highest!"   
   10 When He entered Jerusalem, the entire city was moved,   
   saying, "Who is He?"   
   11 (Lk 7:16; Jn 6:14) The crowds said, "This is Jesus,   
   the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."   
      
   Conclusion:   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to know His Salvation is for all humanity and   
   there is no condemnation because of wht HE did for Salvation.   
      
   Pray to the Lord: "Thank You, Jesus, that I don't have to strive   
   for something that can never satisfy. I have the treasure of knowing You."   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to know eternity starts now.   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to the Lord for Him to teach you prosperous ways.   
      
   Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as protector.   
      
   Pray for in Newfoundland and Labrador   
      
   - The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims   
   in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.   
   - Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding   
   Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.   
   - for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim   
   students on the university, college and trade school campuses.   
      
   Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective   
   discipleship movements among Muslim people.   
      
   - Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you   
   - Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving   
   Christ among Muslim people -   
   Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."   
   - When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims   
   throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!   
      
   Pray for new Canadians, that they will have opportunity to hear   
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)