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Advent Devotional 2021
The Gospel of Luke

Day 18
Wednesday, December 15th
Read Luke 15

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“’We must celebrate, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life.
​He was lost, but now he is found.’” Luke 15:23-24
​

Hello, my name is Mark . . . and I’m a Prodigal Son.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories – of a sheep, a coin and a son – to convey God’s heart for the lost. And while we’ve most likely read or heard all three, the one that probably is the most familiar is the story of the lost son.

And it should be, for the story of the Prodigal Son is the story of us.

A young man tells his father he wants to seek fame and fortune in the world.  The father gives him his inheritance and allows him to go, and so the son sets out to experience everything the world has to offer. It doesn’t take long for the “good life” to turn bad, and when the son finds himself homeless and eating pig slop, as the scripture says, he “comes to his senses” and heads back to his father, where he finds love, forgiveness, reconciliation and joyful celebration.

Isn’t that the way it is with us? After all, aren’t we all prodigal sons and daughters at times? We may not physically leave home, waste what we have on wild living, and soon realize the error of our ways. But don’t we oh-so-often, in ways both small and large, leave our Father’s presence to go our own way rather than His?

Of course we do; after all, we believers have been saved for all eternity, and yet we sin in the here and now.        

The good news is the rest of the story: When we come to our senses and seek to return home, there He is, our Heavenly Father, joyfully running toward us, His heart filled with compassion, His loving arms reaching out, eager to pull us in and hold us close. 

“Let’s celebrate,” He then exclaims, “for this son, this daughter of mine, was lost but now is found!”
​

Mark Vasche
​
​

Prayer focus:  Ask God to reveal an area in your life you need to surrender to Him
Community prayer focus: Individuals dealing with addiction

Favorite Christmas Carol

“I Heart the Bells on Christmas Day”
“Angels We Have Heard on High”
“Mary Did You Know.”

 . . . whatever Choir is working on.

Jenner Swanson​
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Centenary Church
1911 Toyon Ave.
Corner of McHenry/Tokay
​Modesto, CA 95350
Church Office: (209) 527-5441
Fax: (209) 527-3230
Email: ​centenary@centenarychurch.net
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  • Home
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    • I'm New
    • In-Person Worship Services
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    • Cambodian Worship Service
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  • About Us
    • Our Staff >
      • Pastor's Corner
    • Leadership Teams
    • Our Mission & Vision
    • Core Beliefs
    • Membership & Baptism
  • Family Ministry
    • Family Ministry Events
    • Teens
    • Kingdom Kids
  • Adult Ministry
    • Jesus and Coffee
    • Men's Ministry
    • Women's Ministry
    • Choir
  • Resources
    • Preschool
    • Devotionals >
      • Lent Devotional 2023: The Gospel of Matthew >
        • Day 27 - Promise Keeper
        • Day 26 - Who Am I
        • Day 25 - The Messiah
        • Day 24 - New Thing
        • Day 23 - Abundant Life
        • Day 22 - Have Faith
        • Day 21 - Miracle
        • Day 20 - Courage
        • Day 19 - Share the Love
        • Day 18 - Kingdom of God
        • Day 17 - Choose Him
        • Day 16 - Why Use Parables?
        • Day 15 - Growing
        • Day 14 - Unity
        • Day 13 - Criticism
        • Day 12 Life Change
        • Day 11 A Cup of Cold Water
        • Day 10 Jesus is God
        • Day 9 Good & Faithful
        • Day 8 Good & Faithful
        • Day 7 Lord's Prayer
        • Day 6 Lists
        • Day 5 Beatitudes
        • Day 4 Temptation
        • Day 3 Prepare the Way
        • Day 2 Follow the Star
        • Day 1 Geneology
        • Introduction to Matthew
      • Christmas Devotional - 2022 >
        • Day 1 Christmas Devotional - 2022
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      • Lent Daily Devotional >
        • Day 2: Pointing the Way
        • Day 3: Follow Me
        • Day 4: Transform the Ordinary
        • Day 5: Who has Authority?
        • Day 6: God So Loved the World
        • Day 7: Worthy of Worship
        • Day 8: Everyone
        • Day 9: Signs & Wonders
        • Day 10: Rejected & Despised
        • Day 11: Do Nothing On Your Own
        • Day 12: Don't Let Go
        • Day 13: "I Am the Bread of Life"
        • Day 14: Adjusting my Expectations
        • Day 15: Learn by Doing
        • Day 16: God's Anointed Messiah
        • Day 17: We Are All Sinners
        • Day 18: I am the Light of the World
        • Day 19: Jesus is God
        • Day 20: The Work of God
        • Day 21: Hard Hearts
        • Day 22: Abundant Life
        • Day 23: Eternity With Him
        • Day 24: An Ultimate Purpose
        • Day 25: A Purpose Fulfilled
        • Day 26: A Choice to Make
        • Day 27: For This Very Reason
        • Day 28: He Proved His Love For Us
        • Day 29: Secure and One with the Father
        • Day 30: Love One Another
        • Day 31: The Way, the Truth, & the Life
        • Day 32: Order to Our Chaos
        • Day 33: Remaining
        • Day 34: You Are Never Alone
        • Day 35: Never Alone
        • Day 36: In His Will
        • Day 37: What did Jesus Pray For?
        • Day 38: Jesus Prays
        • Day 39: Complete Unity
        • Day 40: Peter's Worst Day
        • Day 41: My Kingdom is Not of this World
        • Day 42: For the Joy Set Before Him
        • Day 43: It is Finished
        • Day 44: You are Loved and Accepted
        • Day 45: Doubting Thomas
        • Day 46: Gone Fishing
        • Day 47: Follow Me
      • Advent Devotional 2021 >
        • Advent - Day 28
        • Advent - Day 27
        • Advent - Day 26
        • Advent - Day 25
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      • Summer Daily Devotional Acts >
        • Intro Summer Daily Devotional
        • Acts - Day 53
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        • Acts - Day 51
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        • Acts - Day 49
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    • Altar Flowers
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    • Centenary Prays >
      • Pray Modesto >
        • Sphere 1: Government & Public Safety
        • Sphere 2: Family & Health
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    • Church App
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    • Employment Opportunity >
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    • A Look Back at Centenary
  • Help & Care
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  • Outreach
    • MIssions: Guatemala
    • Food Bank Sunday
    • Love Modesto
    • Salvation Army
    • Operation Christmas Child
    • Gospel Mission
    • Little Free Library
    • Neighborhood School Partnership
    • Thrift Shop
    • World Relief
  • Giving