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		<title><![CDATA[ Preparing our hearts: Why do we celebrate Advent? ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/39124</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Advent literally means the arrival.&amp;nbsp; However, this is no ordinary home from seeing Aunt Marge arrival.&amp;nbsp; The meaning here is that the arrival is one of a notable or special person.&amp;nbsp; Christ&amp;#39;s arrival on earth was much anticipated, but few noticed the Advent of Christ.&amp;nbsp;
Today we begin to prepare our hearts for the celebration and joy of the season.&amp;nbsp; I encourage you as we read to begin to reflect in your own heart the arrival of Christ.&amp;nbsp; What has His arrival meant in your life?&amp;nbsp;
Historically, Advent was celebrated first with a time of penitence and fasting.&amp;nbsp; A time of remembrance that the purpose of Jesus&amp;rsquo; coming into the world, of the &amp;quot;Word made flesh&amp;quot; and dwelling among us, is to reveal God and His grace to the world through Jesus&amp;rsquo; life and teaching, but also through his suffering, death, and resurrection.&amp;nbsp; As Advent neared Christmas, or the birth of Christ, the celbration focused more on the joy of a new born child... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Advent ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan Mose)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:51:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 40: Revelation 21:1-22:21 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38721</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ What an amazing journey it has been over the course of the last 40 days.&amp;nbsp; I am so amazed (I shouldn&amp;#39;t be, I know) at the insights that God has given so many of you.&amp;nbsp; Thank you to each one who has shared here on the blog or in Sunday School or through a testimony.&amp;nbsp; It has really encouraged me.&amp;nbsp;
A new Heaven and a new Earth.&amp;nbsp; Wow!&amp;nbsp; What a powerful image.&amp;nbsp; The earth as we know it will be gone.&amp;nbsp; In fact, even the way the world works will change. &amp;quot;Look! God&amp;rsquo;s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. &amp;lsquo;He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.&amp;rdquo; (21:3-4) God will dwell with us here on the new earth.
Yesterday, Jason posed a great question, &amp;quot;How can we be ready&amp;quot; for God&amp;#39;s return as we read John&amp;#39;s revelati... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan)</author>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 39: Revelation 1:1-20 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38702</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Revelation has always been a hard book for me to read.&amp;nbsp; I have struggled with all of the meanings and the imagery.&amp;nbsp; I remember once that one of my favorite authors was getting ready to release a book on Revelation.&amp;nbsp; I was certain that his style that I had come to know and love would finally lend that extra bit of understanding that I had been seeking.&amp;nbsp; You know what his overarching theme in the book was?&amp;nbsp; Be Ready.&amp;nbsp; Not what I had expected, but it was confirmed again to me as Nathan Covington was here in Revival.&amp;nbsp; The message was not about what we could expect or what the signs meant.&amp;nbsp; It was about being ready in my own spirit and having a broken spirit for those who weren&amp;#39;t ready.
Today as we read the introduction to John&amp;#39;s Revelation, I am again struck by the gospel message that has been so prevalent throughout our readings over the last several days.&amp;nbsp; It is a message of Victory.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;Then he placed his right hand on me and... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan)</author>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 38:  Acts 10:1-11:18 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38668</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ What an amazing passage and one that is filled with so much meaning again.
First, I am amazed as God works this out and Peter testifies in 10:34-35 &amp;quot;I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.&amp;quot;&amp;nbsp; What a promise to all who will accept and fear God through Christ&amp;#39;s death and ressurection!
Then, we see the Holy Sprit moving once again in 10:44-46 &amp;quot;While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God&amp;quot;.
Finally, Peter is questioned as to why he stayed in the home of a Gentile.&amp;nbsp; Most specifically because Gentiles were &amp;quot;unclean&amp;quot; because the Gentile was uncircumsized.&amp;nbsp; Peter&amp;#39;s response is so gracious and loving.&amp;nb... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan)</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 37: Acts 9:1-31 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38667</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Today we read about Saul&amp;#39;s conversion.
This reading continues the thought of how God chooses people who don&amp;#39;t appear on the surface to be likely candidates for His service.&amp;nbsp;I am struck by the way that God uses Ananias.&amp;nbsp; It just goes to show that when we are obedient and listening to God, He can do great things through us.
Ananias is hesitant for sure: &amp;quot;I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name&amp;quot; (v 13-14). But, he is obedient and goes to the house were Saul is staying.
This passage encourages me that no matter what we&amp;#39;ve done, as bad as we think it may be, God&amp;#39;s grace and mercy still seek us out and reaches us.
What is God saying to you today?
... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan)</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:05:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 36: Acts 2:1-47 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38644</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ As I begin today, I want to take a moment and encourage you to pray for those affected by the earthquake in Turkey.&amp;nbsp; Please check out the Links section of our website.&amp;nbsp; There is a link there to the NMI Prayer Mobilization Line&amp;nbsp;and I&amp;nbsp;am hoping that information will be shared there.&amp;nbsp; Pray that God would open doors for Nazarenes in the area to assist and that doors would be opened for the Gospel to be spread.
Today as we read, we see the coming of the promised Holy Spirit.&amp;nbsp; I can just imagine the disciples as they are gathered together, praying, but still not certain what to do next.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; But, their patience is rewarded as the Holy Spirit comes with a rushing wind and tongues of fire fall on the disciples and they begin to testify. How amazing that they all began speaking in different tongues, but they were gifted just as they needed to be to spread the message of Christ.
One thing that stood out to me today was in verse 37: &amp;quot;When the people hea... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan Mose)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:17:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Acts Chapter Two ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38654</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ I was looking into the background of Pentecost and found something interesting. Most understand this day as the &amp;ldquo;birthday of the Christian church.&amp;rdquo; The word Pentecost is the Greek translation for the Hebrew Shavuot &amp;ndash; or Festival of Weeks. Knowing something about this day from its Jewish roots provides two interesting connections with our NT understanding of Pentecost.
One, this festival commemorated the end of both the barley harvest (which began on Passover) and the wheat harvest (which ended 7 weeks later on Shavuot, or Pentecost).&amp;nbsp; Two, the festival is also the traditional date ascribed to God giving the Law to Moses and the people at Mt. Sinai seven weeks after the historical Passover. Now, I consider that context after reading Acts 2:23 &amp;ndash; &amp;ldquo;But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp; Then further in v.38-... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>jjmeyers9101@comcast.net (Jason)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 35: Acts1:1-11 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38622</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Today we begin to read about the birthing of the early Church as the disciples witness Christ&amp;#39;s ascension. What do you think the disciples&amp;#39; state of mind is at this time? I don&amp;#39;t think they fully grasped what was to come. Are we any more prepared for the moving of the Holy Spirit today? What is God showing you today?
... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan)</author>
		<pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 34: John 20:1-21:25 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38602</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Yesterday, I said, the life of Jesus didn&amp;#39;t end on a cross.&amp;nbsp; He took on my sin and yours and suffered and died.&amp;nbsp; But, today we see the victorious fulfillment of of His mission.&amp;nbsp; He rose again!
This is another passage that is rich in meaning, and I think we could write a week&amp;#39;s worth of blogs on just John 20.
Two things really resonated with me as I read today.&amp;nbsp; First, at the end of Ch 20, verse 30-31 &amp;quot;Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.&amp;quot;&amp;nbsp; That&amp;#39;s what the gospels are all about.
Secondly, the restoration of Peter in 21:15.&amp;nbsp; What an amazing picture of God&amp;#39;s grace and mercy at work.
What is God saying to you today?
... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan)</author>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 33: John 19:1-42 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38601</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ As I read today about the trial and crucifixtion of Jesus, I was first struck by Pilate&amp;#39;s recognition and fear.&amp;nbsp; At several points, Pilate tried to free Jesus.&amp;nbsp; The scripture says, partly because he could find no wrong and partly because he was afraid.&amp;nbsp;&amp;quot;When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid&amp;quot; (v8).&amp;nbsp; I wonder why Pilate recognized Christ and yet, the Jews didn&amp;#39;t.&amp;nbsp; But, then my answer came quickly &amp;quot;Jesus answered, &amp;ldquo;You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.&amp;rdquo; (v11).&amp;nbsp;
Jesus came to die for our sins.&amp;nbsp; The die had already been cast, it was God&amp;#39;s plan.&amp;nbsp;
Today, as I read about the pain, the humiliation that Jesus suffered for my sins, it brought me a new sense of appreciation.&amp;nbsp; Jesus was blameless before man and before God.&amp;nbsp; Yet, he took on my sin and suffered and died that I may be in a right re... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan)</author>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 32: John 11:1-57 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38562</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Today, we read about Jesus&amp;#39; return to Bethany to vist Mary, Martha, and to&amp;nbsp;raise Lazarus.
The first thing I see is the disciples reluctance to go back.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;But Rabbi,&amp;rdquo; they said, &amp;ldquo;a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?&amp;rdquo; (v8).&amp;nbsp; Finally, Thomas realized the seriousness and said &amp;quot;Let us also go, that we may die with him&amp;quot;. (v16).&amp;nbsp;
The next thing that jumps out at me is how some are upset because Jesus didn&amp;#39;t get there earlier.&amp;nbsp; Mary and even someone looking on made the comment that if only Jesus had been there, he could have kept Lazarus from dying.&amp;nbsp; So often, we see things not from an eternal or heavenly perspective, but from an earthly one.&amp;nbsp; I&amp;#39;m sure it didn&amp;#39;t even enter anyone&amp;#39;s mind that Lazarus could be healed, even from death, by Jesus.
Finally, the end result is that because of the miracle, many believed in Jesus.&amp;nbsp; However, the Sanhedrin, wasn&amp;#39;t... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan Mose)</author>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ John 11 - The Penultimate Miracle ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38588</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Okay, trivia time: what is the shortest verse in the Bible?&amp;nbsp; If you said John 11:35, &amp;ldquo;Then Jesus wept,&amp;rdquo; well you&amp;rsquo;re wrong!&amp;nbsp; It is actually Luke 20:30: &amp;ldquo;So the second brother married the widow, but he also died.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp; Remember, the Bible was not written in English &amp;ndash; wink, wink!&amp;nbsp; Which leads me to ask what the Greek says in v.39.&amp;nbsp; The King James Version says that Lazarus &amp;ldquo;stinketh,&amp;rdquo; which I don&amp;rsquo;t know about you, but always makes me snicker.&amp;nbsp; So I looked it up and the concept in the original writing is that Lazarus is decaying.
&amp;nbsp;
I really like John&amp;rsquo;s culmination here to the ongoing progression in documenting Jesus&amp;rsquo; miracles.&amp;nbsp; He starts with Jesus&amp;rsquo; first public miracle at Cana with the water to wine.&amp;nbsp; That one was easy, huh?&amp;nbsp; Yeah, that sounds silly.&amp;nbsp; It should.&amp;nbsp; But it is clear by the recorded reactions to the series of Jesus&amp;rsquo; miracles (chapters 2-11) tha... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>jjmeyers9101@comcast.net (Jason)</author>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:01:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 31: Luke 9:1-36 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38560</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ As we read today, I see all that Christ was doing in a new way.&amp;nbsp;
First, he gives the disciples power to &amp;quot;drive out demons and cure diseases&amp;quot; (v1). But, more than that he sent them to &amp;quot;proclaim the Kingdom&amp;quot; (v2).&amp;nbsp; Once again we see a picture of God&amp;#39;s glory being shown, not through human efforts or endeavors, but through the glorious movement of God&amp;#39;s power.&amp;nbsp;
Next, they are posed with the daunting task of feeding 5000 (or more).&amp;nbsp; I have to laugh as I imagine the expression on the disciples&amp;#39; faces as Jesus said &amp;quot;You give them something to eat&amp;quot; (v13).&amp;nbsp; Again, the disciples were only focused on what they had in thier human efforts, 5 loaves and 2 fishes.
This gets me thinking: Are we prepared for this today?&amp;nbsp; Or, are we content in our human efforts and things we can manage?
&amp;nbsp;
What is God saying to you today?
&amp;nbsp;
&amp;nbsp;
... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan Mose)</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:07:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 30: Luke 15:1-32 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38526</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ I can&amp;#39;t believe we are on Day 30 already.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; I hope that God is creating a new hunger in your heart for His Word and that you are seeing the truly transforming power of God&amp;#39;s word.
Today, we read in Luke about those who are lost.&amp;nbsp; We see parables regarding lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son.
What great pictures of the lengths that God will go to &amp;quot;find&amp;quot; us.&amp;nbsp; As I was reading the passage today, I was thinking about all of the meetings that God has ordained with various people in the lives of people at our church. It seems like more and more, people are &amp;quot;running into&amp;quot; people that they haven&amp;#39;t seen in years.&amp;nbsp; The common thread that I see in these parables is the rejoicing that takes place when the one who is lost is found.
What an amazing vision that each and every week (or day) we could be having these celebrations of lost souls being found.&amp;nbsp; Is there anyone who is lost in&amp;nbsp; your life?&amp;nbsp; Begin praying for those w... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan)</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 29: John 9:1-41 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38525</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ As we read today about Jesus&amp;#39; healing of a blind man, this passage is rich in meaning for us today.
The first thing that jumps out at me is in verses 6-7 &amp;quot;After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man&amp;rsquo;s eyes. &amp;ldquo;Go,&amp;rdquo; he told him, &amp;ldquo;wash in the Pool of Siloam&amp;rdquo;. So the man went and washed, and came home seeing&amp;quot;.&amp;nbsp; Jesus used a different means of healing this man.&amp;nbsp; He didn&amp;#39;t just say &amp;quot;be healed&amp;quot; and the man&amp;#39;s blindness was gone.&amp;nbsp; Instead Jesus used the mud and then told the man to go wash.&amp;nbsp; It required a level of obedience from the man.&amp;nbsp; But, you we can see that his obedience was rewarded.&amp;nbsp; I am again amazed (I shouldn&amp;#39;t be, I know) that God uses different means each time and that He gets the glory in every situation.
The important question though today is found in verse 39 &amp;quot;Jesus said,&amp;ldquo;For judgment I have come into this world, so that t... ]]></description>
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		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:35:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 27: Matthew 5:1-6:4 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38494</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Today&amp;#39;s reading is the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount.
I read a commentary or heard a sermon once on this passage, focusing on the Beatitudes.&amp;nbsp; I forgot who it was, but they&amp;nbsp;said&amp;nbsp;that so much is lost in the translation of this text.&amp;nbsp; For example, one thing that has really been resonating in my mind is 5:3 &amp;quot;Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven&amp;quot;.&amp;nbsp; That&amp;#39;s such a starting point in our search for Christ.&amp;nbsp; We have to come from a place that we are truly poor and realize that we are broken and undone.&amp;nbsp; It&amp;#39;s humbling to realize the depths from which Christ rescued us.&amp;nbsp;So,in this case, the word &amp;quot;poor&amp;quot; doesn&amp;#39;t really capture the full meaning.&amp;nbsp; We have to be broken and realize that we can&amp;#39;t do it on our own.
As we read on, Jesus proclaims that the Law is not done away with, but that &amp;quot;For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not t... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan)</author>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 26: Matthew 3:13-4:17 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38480</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Today, we read about Jesus&amp;#39; baptism and temptation.
I think as I read today, I was struck by the seriousness of temptation.&amp;nbsp; Going back to our reading about the fall of man in Genesis, we have seen throughout the Bible how seriously temptation must be taken and the consequences if we fail to take it seriously.
Just as in the Genesis account, we see that the devil knows scripture well.&amp;nbsp; In fact, he tries to twist the scriptures as he presents them to Jesus just as he did to Eve. But, something important is emerging here.&amp;nbsp; Jesus uses scriptures to fight off temptation.&amp;nbsp; So, if we are in God&amp;#39;s word, we are better able to fight and resist temptation. I was challenged as never before as I read 4:4 &amp;quot;It is written: &amp;lsquo;Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.&amp;quot;&amp;nbsp; This is a reference back to Deuteronomy 8, when the Israelites were in the wilderness and being fed with Manna every day.&amp;nbsp; Am I hungerin... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan Mose)</author>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/38480</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 25: Luke 3:1-20 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38446</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Is this guy for real? Imagine the surprise of people as the began to hear and see the message of John the Baptist.&amp;nbsp; It really stood the religious community on its head.&amp;nbsp; Today we read about John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus.
This passage contains a fulfillment of prophecy in verses 4-6.&amp;nbsp; Isaiah prophesied about John the Baptist in Isaiah 40.
Secondly, it calls out the ways of the people. It&amp;#39;s an honest assesment, if you will, of the people at the time.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, &amp;lsquo;We have Abraham as our father.&amp;rsquo; For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (verses 7-9).
Finally, it contains a call to action.&amp;nbsp; He calls everyone to begin bearin... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan Mose)</author>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/38446</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 24:Luke 2:1-40 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38418</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ I can&amp;#39;t believe we&amp;#39;re over half-way through our 40 days of reading God&amp;#39;s Word.&amp;nbsp; I hope that this time has created a hunger in you to read God&amp;#39;s Word daily.&amp;nbsp; I know that it has been exciting for me to hear how God is speaking to several as they have shared on this blog.
Today, we read about Jesus&amp;#39; birth. Traditionally, this is a passage that we read about during the Christmas season.&amp;nbsp; But, I got a new perspective on this passage as we read it in the context of all that we have been reading, as part of a thread.&amp;nbsp; Yesterday, I was struck by Mary&amp;#39;s humility and obedience as it was announced that she would carry God&amp;#39;s child.&amp;nbsp; Today, it is the humble birth of Jesus.&amp;nbsp; I suppose many people of the time were expecting the Messiah to be born from a royal lineage (He was).&amp;nbsp; I also suppose they were looking for a Messiah that would bring about sweeping changes to the system and finally restore Israel to its&amp;#39; rightful place.
God l... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan Mose)</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/38418</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Day 23: Luke 1:1-80 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38391</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Today we read about Mary and the coming birth of Jesus.
I am amazed at Mary&amp;#39;s obedience in verse 28 &amp;quot;I am the Lord&amp;rsquo;s servant,&amp;rdquo; Mary answered. &amp;ldquo;May your word to me be fulfilled&amp;quot;&amp;quot;.&amp;nbsp; What a picture of grace.&amp;nbsp; I was thinking about all that Mary had been told, and her response is just simply humble.
It&amp;#39;s amazing to me as we read how God is using people and their obedience to His call.&amp;nbsp; I am also moved by Mary and Zechariah&amp;#39;s songs as we read in verses 46-79.
What is God saying to you today?
&amp;nbsp;
... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ Engage the Word ]]></category>
		<author>mose34@sbcglobal.net (Bryan)</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 01:37:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.shermannaz.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/38391</comments>
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