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        • Day 12: Don't Let Go
        • Day 13: "I Am the Bread of Life"
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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
        • 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
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        • Day 33: Remaining
        • Day 34: You Are Never Alone
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        • 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
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Advent Devotional 2021
The Gospel of Luke

Day 6
Friday, December 3rd
Read Luke 3

Picture

One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” 
Luke 3:21-22 (NLT)

At Christmas time we celebrate the birth of Mary’s son, Jesus. In Luke Chapter 3, we see the beginning of His ministry, the first steps toward the fulfillment of the promise of that birth.  
John the Baptist makes it clear that the Messiah is at hand, but John is not the Messiah.  He says, “someone is coming who is greater than I am . . . I’m not even worthy . . . to untie the straps of his sandals.” At Jesus’ baptism by John, God Himself declares from heaven, “You are my dearly beloved Son, and you bring me great joy.” Jesus is Messiah, “the salvation sent from God.”
But John didn’t preach to bring comfort and assurance.  He asks his followers to “prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”  

Let’s remember this Christmas that the Messiah came to help us live His way, following Him. 
Duane H.



Prayer focus: Strength to daily follow Jesus
Community prayer focus: Grief support groups in our community  

Coping with Loss during the Holidays
While few of us “want” to deal with grief during the Christmas season, it’s just a reality for many of us. But, it helps tremendously to acknowledge it, accept that it’s going to happen, and then intentionally prepare to deal with it in advance.

For me, being intentional about it and preparing for it to hit really helped.

I set up a few extra appointments with my Christian counselor, I talked with trusted friends, and I started a few new Christmas traditions to help me not focus too much on those that had been lost. I also took a very intentional approach to strengthen my spiritual life, as I was tempted to “do more for Jesus,” instead of being with Jesus. I added a specific prayer time to each day and a new Bible reading to help me focus on Jesus. I daily spent more time with God and in His Word, and was able to find peace even in the midst of pain.
​

Brian Ralston
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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
  • Visit Us
    • I'm New
    • In-Person Worship Services
    • Live
    • Cambodian Worship Service
    • Easter
  • 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
        • Day 2 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 3 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 4 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
        • Acts - Day 52
        • Acts - Day 51
        • Acts - Day 50
        • Acts - Day 49
        • Acts - Day 48
        • Acts - Day 47
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    • Altar Flowers
    • Celebration Sundays
    • 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
    • Church Calendar
    • Church Community Builder
    • Redwood Christian Park
    • Employment Opportunity >
      • Custodian - Employment Opportunity
    • A Look Back at Centenary
  • Help & Care
    • Stephen Ministry
    • Serving Opportunities @ Centenary
  • 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