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        • Day 2: Pointing the Way
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        • Day 17: We Are All Sinners
        • Day 18: I am the Light of the World
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        • Day 20: The Work of God
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        • Day 37: What did Jesus Pray For?
        • Day 38: Jesus Prays
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        • Day 42: For the Joy Set Before Him
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        • Day 44: You are Loved and Accepted
        • Day 45: Doubting Thomas
        • Day 46: Gone Fishing
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Christmas Devotional Revisited 2022
December 19th
Centenary Christmas Devotional - 2009


Read Luke 2:25-35
“ . . . so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
​Luke 2:35 (NIV)

​​​

Picture

Billy Graham is an evangelist that was used by God to lead many people around the world to Christ. When he met his wife, Ruth, he was not sure the direction God was taking him. Ruth had believed she would return to Asia to serve God where she had grown up with her Missionary parents. She had hoped that Billy would want to work as a Missionary, too. God had different plans.  The plans included preaching the gospel to millions of people all over the world and often being away from home.
Simeon’s praise to God and blessing about Jesus must have been exciting for Mary and Joseph to hear. Simeon also told Mary that “a sword will pierce your own soul too. (vs. 35)” Like Ruth, Mary and Joseph may have had expectations of how their family would serve God. Sometimes our service to God requires incredible sacrifice. Ruth spent a great amount of time without her husband and Mary would see her son die unjustly.  Both of their sacrifices brought life-changing good to the world. 
 
Digging Deeper
  1. How may Jesus have caused the “falling and rising of many in Israel (vs. 34)?
 
  1. How was Jesus spoken against in his ministry (vs. 34)?
 
  1. What have you had to sacrifice in your service to God?

Suggested Prayer: Pray for the spouses and families of individuals serving in ministry.

A Special Christmas Memory from Emily B., age 16
On Christmas Eve every year, my brother and me make cookies for Santa (even though we don’t believe in him anymore). We make a whole bunch of icing and end up with the icing everywhere.
 
A Special Christmas Memory from Steve C.
I enjoy looking through each of our ornaments and the memories of where they came from.

Day 18
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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
  • 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
  • Resources
    • Preschool
    • Devotionals >
      • Christmas Devotional - 2022 >
        • Day 1 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 2 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 3 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 4 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 5 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 6 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 7 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 8 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 9 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 10 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 11 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 12 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 13 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 14 Christmas Devotional - 2022
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        • Day 16 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 17 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 18 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 19 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 20 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 21 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 22 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 23 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 24 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • Day 25 Christmas Devotional - 2022
      • 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
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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
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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
  • Giving