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Praise Thursday

“Through The Tears”

Today on the show we read the last two Christmas Devotionals from Our Daily Bread. We also had our weekly Bible trivia where one lucky person has a chance to win a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup.

Here are the two Christmas Devotionals from Our Daily Bread:

Through The Tears

I dreaded facing another Christmas hundreds of miles away from family. Loneliness and disappointment stirred into discontent, spewing out of my mouth as complaints when my husband suggested we unpack the holiday decorations. How could I be joyful when my heart ached?

Sipping a cup of hot chocolate, I glanced at the glass-front cabinet in our dining room. An overhead light shone on the nativity set I display year-round. A figurine of porcelain with Isaiah 9:6 carved on the front sits next to a wooden shepherd. “Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace.” As I whispered each name, I grew more and more confident that my tear-filled season could never smother the joy of knowing my Savior.

The prophet Isaiah announced the coming of the Messiah more than seven hundred years before Christ’s birth in Bethlehem (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus is Wonderful Counselor—trustworthy and able to guide us. He is Mighty God, who always was and always will be the one true God with limitless power. He is Everlasting Father, the eternal Maker of time. He is Prince of Peace, the one who restored man’s relationship with the Father.

Though believers in Jesus can’t avoid the darkness of this world, we can fix our eyes on Him—the greatest light of the world. We can rejoice in knowing Christ even through the tears.

By: Xochitl E. Dixon

O Come Emmanuel

It seems we seldom go beyond the first or second verses of our beloved Christmas carols. But, buried deep in the lyrics of one Christmas hymn—in verse seven!—are words that seem uniquely in tune with our times. “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” written in the twelfth century, pleads:

O Come, O King of nations, bind

In one the hearts of all mankind.

Bid all our sad divisions cease

And be yourself our King of Peace.

I can’t imagine a more appropriate prayer for our fractious, splintered generation. With the tone of public debate and private disagreement at what seems to be an all-time high for anger and aggression, how desperately we need the King of Peace to come to our help. The “sad divisions” we exhibit in our communities, churches, workplaces, relationships, and families can only be overcome with the help of the One who came to forgive, heal, and restore. No wonder Isaiah anticipated the coming Jesus by calling Him “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

The apostle Paul urged us to put this into practice. “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts; he wrote. “For as members of one body you are called to live in peace” (Colossians 3:15). As we allow this peaceful Prince to restore our relationships, we ourselves become agents of His peace.

By: Bill Crowder

Question: Before Jesus started preaching, what was his job?
Answer: Carpenter

Congratulations to Rachel of Gambier for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Thanks for listening!

-Dylan and Jonathon

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“The True Gift Of Christmas”

Today on the show we read some Christmas devotionals from Our Daily Bread. We also had our weekly Bible trivia where one lucky person has a chance to win a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup.

Here are the two Christmas devotionals that we read today.

THE TRUE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

“Sometimes I feel lonely, and it makes me wonder how lonely they must get out here.”

That was spoken by Asteria, director of a faith-based community group who brought Christmas to El Campamento, a makeshift tent city where many drug-addicted people live. She noted how the holidays can be difficult for those on the street. So she decided to embody Christ’s love by setting up a Christmas tree among the discarded needles; by bringing them gifts, warm drinks, and food; and by leading the singing of Christmas carols. The response was heartening, she said, with many of the homeless voicing their desire to be forgiven by their family and asking for prayer.

In serving the people of El Campamento, Asteria and her team illustrate the true message of Christmas-the gift of God coming to meet us through His Son Jesus. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law” (GALATIANS 4:4-5). Even though we all do wrong, God invites us to become His heirs and children (v.7). He calls those who live on the streets and those who live in mansions to accept His gift of saving grace.

Through Jesus, God gives us the true gift of Christmas right where we are. May we receive and share this gift of love.

By AMY BOUCHER PYE

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

It was just a few days before Christmas and my wife, Cari, was standing in the checkout line at the market. The young mother in front of her was carefully assessing the contents of her cart and slowly setting aside items one by one. Cari’s initial impatience turned to compassion as she surveyed the growing pile of items that had been removed and realized the woman didn’t have enough money to purchase them.

“I’d like to pay for those,” she told the checker. The young mother turned with a surprised look on her face: “That’s too much!” she said. Cari, prompted by God’s love and remembering how a stranger, miles away, had bought our own daughter’s groceries in a difficult time, smiled and responded, “Merry Christmas.” They both left the store with tears in their eyes.

Christmas came early to our home with a fresh awareness of God’s kindness and generosity to us through His Son. Solomon wrote in Proverbs of those who are generous: “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (11:25). In the following days we were refreshed by a renewed understanding of how God had met our greatest need of all-our need for a Savior-and how His love can unexpectedly overflow from our hearts to others in need.

Kindness is contagious! Because of what Jesus has done for us, may God give us grace to make a generous, practical difference in others’ lives.

By JAMES BANKS

Question: In Genesis, what catastrophe did Joseph predict by interpreting the Pharaoh’s dream?

Answer: A seven-year famine.

Congratulations to Karen of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Thanks for listening!

-Dylan and Jonathon

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“Laundry Day”

Today on the show we talked about how it is the last day to get registered to win a turkey from Smith Hisler Meats. We also read devotionals from Our Daily Bread. We had our weekly Bible trivia where one lucky person has a chance to win a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup. We talked about some details related to Food For The Hungry.

Dylan’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Laundry Day”. You can find the link here.

Jonathon’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Serving The Least”. You can find the link here.

Question: How many books have the name John in them?
Answer: Four

Congratulations to Dawn of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Justin of Mount Vernon for being registered to win a turkey from Smith Hisler Meats!

Thanks for listening!

-Dylan and Jonathon

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“Living In The Branches”

Today on the show we talked about the devotionals that we picked out from Our Daily Bread.

We also talked about how there will be no NZ Top 10 tomorrow due to the MVNU Women’s Basketball game.

We also did our weekly Bible Trivia.

We also played Tom’s Turkey gobble that enters two people for a chance to win a Turkey from Smith Hisler Meats.

Dylan’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Living In The Branches”. You can find the link here.

Jonathon’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Our Reason For Joy”. You can find the link here.

Question: Who is the mother of Samuel the prophet?

Answer: Hannah

Congratulations to Lydia of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Here are the people who were entered for a chance to win a turkey from Smith Hisler Meats:

Clarence of Howard and Heather of Mount Vernon

The winner will be announced next Friday morning on the Morning Thing at approximately 7:30am.

Thanks for listening!

-Dylan and Jonathon

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He’s By Your Side

Today, Dylan and I shared our favorite worship music while also sharing devotionals for Praise Thursday!

Dylan shared his devotional from Leslie Koh called Plans Disrupted. Read it here!

Jonathon’s devotional comes from Jennifer Benson Schuldt and is called “A Divine Duet”.

Who were the first two disciples to be called by Jesus?

Answer: Andrew and Peter

Congratulations to Linda of Utica for correctly guessing our Bible Trivia and winning a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Thanks for listening!

Jonathon and Dylan

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“A Great Ending”

Today on the show we talked about how Clergy Appreciation Month is wrapping up tonight.

We also talked about how we have games coming up this weekend.

We also shared some devotionals from Our Daily Bread.

This week, Dylan’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled, “A Great Ending”. You can find the link here.

This week, Jonathon’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled, “Where Choices Lead”. You can find the link here.

Question: How many days was Lazarus dead before Jesus came to visit?
Answer: Four days.

Congratulations to Nancy of Fredericktown for guessing the correct answer! She wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Thanks for listening!

-Dylan and Jonathon

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“Never Too Sinful”

Today on the show we read some devotionals from Our Daily Bread.

We also talked about Clergy Appreciation Month.

We also talked about how basketball season is starting up very soon.

Dylan’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Never Too Sinful”. You can find the link here.

Jonathon’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “God Is There”. You can find the link here.

Question: How many Beatitudes are there?
Answer: Eight

Congratulations to John of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! He wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Thanks for listening!

-Dylan and Jonathon

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“Now, Then Next”

Today on the show we shared devotionals from Our Daily Bread.

We also had our weekly Bible trivia.

We also talked about Clergy Appreciation Month.

We also talked about how you can win a CD prize basket by guessing correctly on the Dove Awards prediction.

Jonathon’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Ripple Effect”. You can find the link here.

Dylan’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Now, Then Next”. You can find the link here.

Q: What is the meaning of the Hebrew name Ezra?
A: Helper

Congratulations to Daniel of Mount Vernon for correctly guessing the answer! He wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Thanks for listening!

-Dylan and Jonathon

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“Facing Fear”

Today on the show we read some devotionals from Our Daily Bread.

We also had our weekly Bible trivia.

We also talked about some upcoming events that are coming up.

We talked about Clergy Appreciation Month that is going on through the end of October.

We will also be at the Johnny Appleseed Apple Festival this weekend.

Dylan’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Lies With Truth”. You can find the link here.

Jonathon’s devotional from Our Daily Bread is titled “Facing Fear”. You can find the link here.

Question: What was the first town where Jesus began his ministry and was rejected?
Answer: Nazareth

Congratulations to Mel of Mount Vernon for guessing the correct answer! He wins a $5 gift card to Everlasting Cup!

Thanks for listening!

-Dylan and Jonathon

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