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The Privileged Life: How to Make “Wintertime” Resolutions
“Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.” (Hosea 10:12) Snow! Who doesn’t love winter snow days? Well, everyone who has to get out in it for a living…all those who brave the cold and wet to get jobs done. I get it. But for those who get to cozy…
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The Privileged Life: The Importance of “Importunate” Prayer
“‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” (Luke 18:4b-5) The best Christmas present I received this year was an answer to prayer. When God answers our requests, sometimes He says “yes,” sometimes “no,” and sometimes “wait”—all according to…
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The Privileged Life: Five Ways Christmas Carols Bless Your Soul
“Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!” Psalm 47:6 Listen carefully to the music around you right now…did you hear them? The faint, occasional refrains of angel song and magi melody? Most of the holiday music blaring on our American radios, from our phones, and in stores is a compilation of 20th-century pop tunes…old favorites…
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The Privileged Life: The Very Best Christmas Gift—Prayer
“…[Pray] always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18 This Christmas, I’ve wrapped up a lot of “gifts”—in the form of prayers. In the past two weeks, I’ve volunteered (and been asked) to pray for close friends, church brethren, and…
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The Privileged Life: Tinsel and Truth…Looking for the Real in Christmas
“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) Our Christmas tree is a fake. A pretty good fake, but a fake nonetheless. Gone are the lush spruces that graced our home for more than…
