OUR DAILY BREAD : GOD'S SPECIAL PLACE

[cimi]

December 24
Thursday


GOD'S SPECIAL
PLACE

READ:
Luke 2:1-7
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[Mary] brought forth
her firstborn Son,....
and laid Him in a
manger, because there
was no room for them
in the inn. __Luke 2:7
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As a young girl in the late 1920's Grace Ditmanson Adams often traveled with her missionary parents through inland China. Later, she wrote about those trips and the crowded places where they stayed overnight--village inns full of people coughing, sneezing, and smoking while babies cried and children complained. Her family put their bedrolls on board-covered trestles in a large room with everyone else.

One snowy night, they arrived at an inn to find it packed full. The inn-keeper expressed his regret, then paused and said, "Follow me." He led them to a side room used to store straw and farm equipment. There they slept in a quiet place of their own.

After that, whenever Grace read that mary "brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn' (Luke 2:7), she saw the event differently. While some described the innkeeper as an example of uncaring sinful mankind who rejected the Savior, Grace said, "I truly believe that Almighty God used the innkeeper as the arranger for a healthier place than the crowded inn--a place of privacy."

Through eyes of faith, we see God's provision for Mary." Look for the ways He provides for you. __David McCasland
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```````````````````Wait on the Lord from day to day;``````````````
``````````````````Strength He provides in His own way;````````````
````````````````There's no need for worry, no need to fear,`````````
````````````````He is our God who is always near. __Fortma````````
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Those who let God provide will be satisfied.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 2:1-7***************

1 And it came to pass in
those days that a decree
went out from caesar
Augustus that all the world
Should be registered. 2 This
census first took place
while Quirinius was
governing Syria. 3 So all
went to be registered,
everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from
Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judea, to the
city of David, which is
called Bethlehem, because
he was of the house and
lineage of David, 5 to be
registered with Mary, his
betrothed wife, who was
with child. 6 So it was, that
while they were there, the
days were completed for
her to be delivered. 7 And
she brought forth her
firstborn Son, and wrapped
Him in swaddling cloths,
and laid Him in a manger,
because there was no room
for them in the inn.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Jesus was called Mary's firstborn Son (v.7) because Jesus had other
siblings (Matt. 12:46; Mark 3:31; Luke 8:19; Jon 2:12). He had
four brothers--James, Joses, Simon, and Judas. He also had sisters,
although we do not know how many or what their names were
(Matt. 13:55-56; Mark 6:3). His siblings did not believe at first that
He was the Messiah (John 7:5). In fact, they thought he was insane
(Mark 3:21). But after His death and resurrection, His brothers were
seen praying with the disciples (Acts 1:14). And James, to whom
the resurrected Christ personally appeared (1 Cor. 15:7), eventually
became a leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13; Gal. 2:9). He
also wrote the epistle of James. ___SIM KAY TEE

[Lani]

Those who let God provide will be satisfied.

He will give us all we need, if we seek His will each day.

Peace and Luv in Christ,
Lani