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      • Lent Daily Devotional >
        • Day 2: Pointing the Way
        • Day 3: Follow Me
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        • 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
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Christmas Devotional Revisited 2022
December 21st
Centenary Christmas Devotional - 2009


Read Matthew 2:1-8
“ . . . and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’” Matthew 2:2 (NIV)​​​

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There is on old saying that “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. In this passage, King Herod is informed by the Magi that a baby has been born “King of the Jews”. This greatly disturbed Herod as he thought of what this would mean to his kingdom. After confirming that this child was in fact the Christ, he became resolved to retain his power by any means necessary.
​
If we were to be honest with ourselves and God, would we be in the same boat as Herod? I’m not asking if any of us has ordered the slaughtering of young children before (see vs. 16), but do we have problems letting go of what we want? Do we place our own wishes above what God would want for us? It is only when we surrender our lives to God that we can truly find peace and fulfillment. Apart from Christ, this is impossible.
 
Digging Deeper
  1. Can you identify an area of your life you struggle surrendering to God? (e.g. your anger, your family, your social media use)
 
  1. Pray and ask God to help you truly surrender this area. Find someone you trust to talk to about this area that can pray with you and encourage you.

Suggested Prayer: Pray for those being persecuted for their faith.

A Special Christmas Memory from Sue S.
Another Christmas, not so long ago, we were RVing in Southern Nevada for the Christmas holiday. Accustomed to going to church on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Christ, we sought out a church holding Christmas Eve Services. We did find a church to attend, however, the people were not very friendly. The service was nice, but not the same as being at home. Since that experience, I make sure we stay in Modesto to attend Christmas Eve services at Centenary. It's a special time ... celebrating the birth of Jesus ... singing carols ... seeing friends ... seeing family ... experiencing God's presence. The experience at Centenary makes my Christmas. Without the experience, Christmas is just not the same. 

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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
        • Day 15 Christmas Devotional - 2022
        • 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
        • 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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        • Acts - Day 7
        • Acts - Day 6
        • Acts - Day 5
        • Acts - Day 4
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        • Acts - Day 1
    • 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