Tag: John the Baptist

• Filled With Expectation

  As I read the verses for today, I think of the Johnny Carson show where Ed McMahon announced, “Heeeeere’s Johnny!!!” The expectation of the audience was raised when those words were spoken with excitement. I remember watching the Johnny Carson Show and loving hearing him announced. I think a similar response happened with the crowd around […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/18/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, awakening, belief, believe, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, example, faith, forgiven, glory, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, miracles, mission, new creation, new life, pastor, peace, praise, Prayer, preach, proclaiming Christ, reconciliation, relationships, renewal, repent, revival, Savior, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• Life Lived for Christ

  Max Lucado says, “think what you think about.” One of the things I appreciate about this is that is forces us to think about why we do the things that we do. Our life is supposed to show our love of God and love of people. Jesus said in John 13, “everyone will know you […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/17/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, belief, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, faith, faithful, forgiven, Forgiveness, glory, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, God’s grace, God’s promises, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, joy, Life, Lord, mercy, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, pastor, praise, Prayer, preach, preaching, reconciliation, relationships, renewal, repent, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• Wilderness & Crooked Paths

  Advent is a season we prepare our hearts and lives for the coming of the Christ child and anticipate His return. As we look into the process of preparing our lives, we can see how crooked and off the path we have gotten at times. It seems to be human nature to look after only […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/09/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, anxiety, belief, believe, bible, bible study, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faith, forgiven, Forgiveness, gift, glory, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, healing, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, new creation, new life, pastor, peace, Prayer, preaching, preparation, prepare, proclaiming Christ, reconciliation, repent, revival, Savior, Spirit, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, travel, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, worship, writing, youth ministry

  bible study, changing our hearts, Christian life, coming out of the desert, God, Good News of Jesus Christ, gospel of Jesus Christ, Gospel of Luke, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, new life in Christ, prepare our hearts, prepare the way, Trust God, Trust Jesus

• Proclaiming God’s Forgiviness

  We have several topics of conversation during the Christmas holidays. We’ll talk of love, family, weather (good or rough), relationships, parties, gifts, etc. Our conversations are around the goodness of the season. Yet, this is one of the most stressful times of the year. During this season, it seems we are more likely to be […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/08/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, belief, believe, bible, bible study, body of Christ, calling, challenge, charity, children, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, eternal life, evangelism, faith, forgiven, Forgiveness, gift, glory, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, God’s grace, good news, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, Holy Spirit, invitation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, ministry, new creation, new life, pastor, Prayer, prayer life, preaching, preparation, reconciled, reconciliation, renewal, repent, revival, sharing our faith, Spirit, Spirit led, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized, witness, worship, writing, youth ministry

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• John the Baptist

  John the Baptist is one of my favorite biblical characters because he definitely stands out and people take notice of him. He is memorable, not only of his message, but of his clothing and food choices. Though the Gospel of Luke does not mention him wearing camel’s hair and eating locusts and wild honey, Matthew […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/07/2015

  Advent, advent devotional, attitudes, belief, believe, bible, bible study, calling, Christian Life, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas story, church, daily devotionals, devotionals, disciples, evangelism, faith, faithful, forgiven, Forgiveness, glory, glory of Christ, glory of God, glory to God, God, God’s grace, gospel, Gospel of Luke, grace, heart, Holy Spirit, humanity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus’birth, Life, light, Love, mercy, methodism, methodist, new creation, new life, new year, passion, pastor, plan, planning, prasie, pray, preach, preparation, prepare, reconciled, reconciliation, relationships, repent, repentance, revival, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, spiritual transformation, Spirituality, transformation, trust, Truth, Uncategorized

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• December 11: Prepare (Advent Devotional 2014)

  Luke 1:67-80 John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, “Bless the Lord God of Israel because he has come to help and has delivered his people. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house, just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago. He has brought […]

  Ryan Stratton

  12/11/2014

  Advent, bible, Christianity, devotionals, faith, God, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, new life, Prayer, preparation, Spirituality, trust, Truth

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