Devotionals

[After Christmas, new articles in The Brook Letter by Mel Lawrenz: sign up.] After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and […]

Learn how “spiritual influence” works. See the survey. And he will be called…Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6 In ancient times, princes, whether they desired it or not, often became warriors. Rulers of nations may talk about peace, but nothing is more elusive than peace. And so, when Isaiah talked about a child who would be

This is post #17 in the Christmas devotional “Christmas Joy.” Want to read more devotionals by Mel Lawrenz? And he will be called…Everlasting Father. –Isaiah 9:6 What a remarkable string of names in Isaiah 9:6! Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Now, these were radical statements indeed, and they described the one

This is post #16 in the Christmas devotional “Christmas Joy.” Want to read more devotionals by Mel Lawrenz? And he will be called…Mighty God. – Isaiah 9:6 In the Old Testament, some of the prophecies about Christ are mysterious statements. They were so bold and so large that they were treasured through the generations, until

See “A Call for Wisdom in Washington.” For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders…and of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it

This is post #14 in the Christmas devotional “Christmas Joy.” Mel Lawrenz is Minister at Large for Elmbrook Church and directs The Brook Network. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting

This is post #13 in the Christmas devotional “Christmas Joy.” After Christmas, new articles in The Brook Letter by Mel Lawrenz: sign up. My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. -Luke 2:46-47 One of the worst things that can happen to a person is to live with a shrunken

Learn how “spiritual influence” works. See the survey. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” –Matt. 1:22-23 My wife and I have only seriously lost

This is post #11 in the Christmas devotional “Christmas Joy.” Christmas Joy as eBook HERE. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. –Luke 2:4 Bethlehem was like any other town in the

[Mel Lawrenz is Minister at Large at Elmbrook Church and directs The Brook Network. ] Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. –Luke 2:11 Some people think that “Christ” is Jesus’ last name. Jesus Christ, like Joe Johnson or Audrey Smith. If you have

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. – Luke 2:7 Sometimes a name is just a name, and sometimes a name captures someone perfectly. The ancients inclined to choose names carefully, so as to make a lifelong

She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. – Luke 2:7 (More on Facebook.) Where is the first place a baby is placed after it emerges from the mother’s womb? Today we use hyper-sterilized blankets and sanitized cribs. A Plexiglas dome, if

This is day 7 in the Christmas devotional “Christmas Joy.”  Christmas Joy as Kindle book HERE. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will

This is post #6 in the Christmas devotional Christmas Joy. Receive Christmas Joy via email. This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband

This is post #5 in the Christmas devotional “Christmas Joy.” And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night. – Luke 2:8 It may seem like a stretch of the imagination, but try it anyway: If you were God, and could announce the arrival of the savior