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        • Day 31 - Do We Deserve More?
        • Day 30 - Heaven
        • Day 29 - Children of God
        • Day 28 - Deeper Faith
        • 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
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        • Introduction to Matthew
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        • Day 2: Pointing the Way
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        • Day 7: Worthy of Worship
        • Day 8: Everyone
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        • Day 10: Rejected & Despised
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        • Day 12: Don't Let Go
        • Day 13: "I Am the Bread of Life"
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        • Day 15: Learn by Doing
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        • 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
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        • Day 23: Eternity With Him
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        • Day 25: A Purpose Fulfilled
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        • 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
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Advent Devotional 2021
The Gospel of Luke

Day 21
Saturday, December 18th
Read Luke 18

Picture

Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” Luke 18:6-7 (NLT)​

I have been praying the same prayer for over twenty years.  It has yet to be answered. 

In the past, I wondered if God was tired of me asking for the same thing over and over again. Obviously, He has chosen not to answer the way I want Him to answer. Right? If he were human, he would tell me to give it rest. 

But, the Parable of the Persistent Widow teaches us that God is okay with my persistent request. “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up (18:1).”

The widow was so persistent that the unjust judge gave her justice just so she’d go away and stop yammering at him.

God is our Heavenly Dad who loves us. The judge said the widow “is driving me crazy!” He sure didn’t love her. Isn’t our Heavenly Dad going to do better for us than a corrupt judge who doesn’t “fear God or care about people?”

Jesus said, “But when the Son of Man (Jesus) returns, how many will he find on Earth who have faith?” (18:8)

I don’t know why God hasn’t answered my prayer yet. Maybe in His infinite wisdom, He knows the perfect time has not yet come. But, for now, I need to have tenacity and faithfulness. Jesus Himself taught that we “should always pray and never give up.” (18:1)

Do you have a prayer for which you need to have the faith to keep on praying? Ask God for the faith you need. And keep on praying. Heavenly Dad wants to hear from you.  He chose you. He cherishes your “yammering” and wants you to keep it coming. 

Kari S.
​

Prayer focus: Bring God the impossible prayer requests in your life right now, ask God for guidance around that important request
Community prayer focus: Families that are served by Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus (the food bank that receives Centenary’s monthly donations)

Hymn: Love Came Down at Christmas

Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus,
but wherewith for sacred sign?
​

Love shall be our token;
love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and others,
love for plea and gift and sign.

Author: Christina Georgina Rossetti (1885)

Picture
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
  • Visit Us
    • I'm New
    • In-Person Worship Services
    • Live
    • Cambodian Worship Service
    • Christmas
    • 150th Celebration
  • About Us
    • Our Staff >
      • Pastor's Corner
    • Leadership Teams
    • Our Mission & Vision
    • Core Beliefs
    • Membership & Baptism
  • Family Ministry
    • Family Ministry Events
    • Teens >
      • Student Ministry Participation Agreement
    • Kingdom Kids >
      • Children's Ministry Participation Agreement
  • Adult Ministry
    • Jesus and Coffee
    • Men's Ministry
    • Women's Ministry
    • Choir
  • Help & Care
    • Stephen Ministry
    • Serving Opportunities @ Centenary
    • Care Team
  • 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
  • Resources
    • Preschool
    • Devotionals >
      • Lent Devotional 2023: The Gospel of Matthew >
        • Day 46 - Go and Tell
        • Day 45 - He is Risen
        • Day 44 - Jesus is God
        • Day 43 - Remember
        • Day 42 - Sting
        • Day 41 - Betrayed
        • Day 40 - Our Actions
        • Day 39 - Sheep and Goats
        • Day 38 - Only the Father Knows
        • Day 37 - Trust
        • Day 36 - Serving Others
        • Day 35 - Love Others
        • Day 34 - Parables
        • Day 33 - Triumphant Entry
        • Day 32 - Go Forth & Serve
        • Day 31 - Do We Deserve More?
        • Day 30 - Heaven
        • Day 29 - Children of God
        • Day 28 - Deeper Faith
        • 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 >
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        • Day 22 Christmas Devotional - 2022
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        • Day 24 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
        • Advent - Day 24
        • Advent - Day 23
        • Advent - Day 22
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      • Summer Daily Devotional Acts >
        • Intro Summer Daily Devotional
        • Acts - Day 53
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    • Altar Flowers
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    • Centenary Prays >
      • Pray Modesto >
        • Sphere 1: Government & Public Safety
        • Sphere 2: Family & Health
        • Sphere 3: Citywide Church & Ministries
        • Sphere 4: Education
        • Sphere 5: Business
        • Sphere 6: Arts/Entertainment/Sports
        • Sphere 7: Media
    • Church App
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    • Redwood Christian Park
    • Employment Opportunity
    • A Look Back at Centenary
    • Sanctuary Crosses
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