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A Daily Purpose

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Bible Study & Devotional (January 2, 2021)

Guiding Scripture: Luke 2:11 “Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” 

Suggested Additional Reading: Luke 2:1-51, John 3:1-36

🔴 KNOW THE HISTORY BEHIND THE CELEBRATION!

In December, we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
It was not until the fourth century that Christians decided to celebrate the birth of Christ to replace the Roman Saturnalia with a Christian holiday. Use of the date of December 25 was chosen by Pope Julius. On December 21, 2020, Pagans celebrated the winter solstice. This is not new information and is available to read with a quick Google search. 
 
  • What is the true meaning of Christmas for you?
  • How do you celebrate the birth of Christ?
 
While you are checking out additional information on-line, take the time to read Luke chapter two. For further insight, read John chapter three and look in the concordance and explore other passages concerning Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection!
Both Hanukkah and Kwanzaa have also pulled from the winter holiday luster even though having different sustainable reasons and goals celebrate a new birth.

 

 

 

 

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, your love for us in the expression of your willingness to leave heaven and to be born on sinful earth is unimaginable, yet you did! Thank you. We pray that we will willingly seek your love. Increase our obedience, prayers, study, and closer relationship with you and give ourselves in service and to your glory and honor. Amen

This devotional was submitted by Diana L.W. Coleman, a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose. Edited by Torrie Slaughter the founder of Our Given Purpose® in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

🔴 The Bible In A Year Daily Reading Plan

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 1:7-9

Download or Print the One Year Bible Reading Plan

Join us on the YouVersion App

 

 

Daily Bible Study With Purpose

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BETTER NOT BITTER!

Proverbs 3:5-7 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”


In the late 1970s, I passed the required exam for the State of Virginia to receive my Realtor’s License. However, to use it, I had to have a licensed broker Real Estate Company sponsor me or “hang my license.” It was
not an easy undertaking. Using the Yellow Pages telephone business section, I called every Real Estate firm. I started with “A.” Finally, I was hired by the time I reached “M.” The local newspaper ran an article announcing me as the first Black licensed realtor for the City of Lynchburg by the Virginia Association of Realtors.

As if this in itself wasn’t challenging enough, attending meetings for the
Lynchburg Chapter of Realtors, depending on where they were held, presented even more hurdles. Permanently etched in my memory is one local meeting at a notable country club.

 

I was instructed to make my “delivery or entrance” from around back at that door. My heart sank, and I felt the weight of my skin color. I stood before the attendant appropriately dressed in navy blue pumps, navy blue mid-calf tailored skirt with a crisp white collared shirt, pearl necklace, the brightest blue company blazer with insignias, my name badge, and a Realtor pin. Yet I was told to use the back door? Did I mention that I had recently been awarded the “Million Dollar Salesman” pin for listings and sales for my first year by my Real Estate Broker? I stood at the entrance of the country club, frozen with panic, anger, and grief.

The power of prayer!

A fellow associate with the same blazing blue company blazer appeared and asked if we could sit together. We both walked through the front door.

Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

My request was and still has to be “Lord Jesus, make me
better and not bitter“! When we pray with sincerity, we do not have to go into long requests. God knows what we need, and when we most need it. His promises are sincere, and His timing is always perfect! The more we seek Him, learn of Him, and make it a decided choice to make Him our Savior and Lord, we will become better!

 

“Pain insists on being heard. God shouts to us in our pain. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” -C.S.Lewis

 

~ A devotional written by Diana L.W. Coleman

Ask Yourself

  • What physical characteristics are you most self-conscious? How can you make peace with those?
  • What is your greatest strength? Describe a time this strength served you well.
  • Who does God say you are? 
  • Have you let the views and opinions of others shape how you see yourself?
  • What phrases and sentences usually follow your “I am”? I am_________. Do they align with your true identity? 

 

This devotional was written by Diana L.W. Coleman a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose® Edited by Torrie Slaughter in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose ®, 2020.

 

 

Daily Bible Study with Purpose

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🔴 Suicidal Tendencies?!

 

Colossians 4:2-6 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

 

 
 Extremely dangerous, hopeless, miserable, morbid, desperate, unhappy, or anxious tendencies, however, stated or categorized, still sums up a defeated attitude of having given up! While not classified as a disease, you can be sure that it is dis’ ease!
Just as a disease needs a cure, a vaccination, and medical attention, so does dis’ ease.  
 
 
 
 
During this Covid-19, we may not be surprised when we get the phone call or hear of family, friends, loved ones, and others who have contracted the disease and have not lived with so many deaths. Yes, it hurts, and yes, it is with compassion that we broke for even those we do not know. This disease may or may not have been preventable. But, what about dis’ ease? How do you handle the phone call telling you that a close family member or friend has committed suicide? Death is death!
 
 
When dealing with dis’ ease that has been made final, I have only one solution: to pray that they believed in Jesus Christ. Pray for all those who will mourn for the loss of life by their choosing. Pray that they were given every resource to have come to a different conclusion.  
 
Remember, these are challenging times. Reach out to the lonely and to those who live alone. You might be the person that they need to make a difference in their decision. Be vigilant!

~A Devotional by Diana L.W.Coleman

 

Psalm 24:4-5 “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the people You have divinely placed in my life who speak holy truth, love, and words of wisdom. Give me a heart of discernment to know when You are using someone to speak instruction into my heart and my circumstances and give me the strength and courage to follow through with that advice, even when it’s hard. Fill me with peace in knowing that even if I take a wrong turn, Your purpose will prevail. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
– Tracie Miles

Suicide Prevention Lifeline  800-273-8255

Recognize the signs: Suicide Prevention Help Guide

 

This devotional was written by Diana L.W. Coleman a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose® Edited by Torrie Slaughter in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose ®, 2020.

 

 

 

 

Daily Bible Study with Purpose

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🔴 In Alignment With God

Colossians 3:23NLT  “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. “

 

 
 God’s approval should be our main objective and goal. When we seek His best way, pray, and ask Him to lead us to accomplish a task, we can be sure of the best outcome.
 
I had the privilege of doing a task for a dear friend in a very brief amount of time. Our friendship goes deep and has grown even more profoundly over the years. Some might call us the “ride and die” country girls’ duo! We both know what it is like to have and to have not.
 
Growing up poor but so rich in God’s Word, family, church, and community love. We both love to give, and we both love to bless others with what God has blessed us. Our extreme delight is to participate in growing and prospering and sharing our God-given pearls of wisdom and resources.
 
It’s naturally easy for us because we learned in Psalm 24 that; “1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.”
 
We both know that everything turns out for the good when we have gotten it right; even the weather is beautiful! In our growing up, we learned to love God and hate evil in every form and give Him the glory in and for all things.

“Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.” Psalm 97:11

~A Devotional by Diana L.W.Coleman

 

This devotional was written by Diana L.W. Coleman a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose® Edited by Torrie Slaughter in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose ®, 2020.

 

 

 

Daily Bible Study with Purpose

Bible Study, Teen Bible Study, , , , ,

 

 

A Devotional written by Diana L.W. Coleman for Our Given Purpose®

 

Bible Reading: John 3:16

 

🔴 Godcidents

I believe in divine appointments from God; nothing happens without His knowledge. I affirm that He has us where He wants us to be. The Holy Spirit provides us with a “feeling” or “urging,” telling us to wait or go a different way. It is His Holy Spirit working within those who accept and trust Him. It happens to non-believers; however, they don’t recognize God as the Holy Spirit. The relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ is the evidence of faith, a personal connection.

I’ve had many God cidents! Missing an accident and avoiding a vehicle pileup. An insistence to recheck my home led to turning off running sink water that would likely have caused much damage.
Or another time, when staging a house, finding affordable items. There are countless moments of being in the right place to comfort and minister to others through service and prayer. I could retell incidents for hours of how God, through His Holy Spirit, guided my steps. I know God is in control of everything!
Jesus was briefly humbled when He was made, “a little lower than the angels, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9)


Not only is God, but the creator of all things He is also our redeemer.
Who controls you? Saying and believing no one does is an accident! There are confidence and safety in Godcidents. I pray that you will ask God to manage and protect your life for Him and believe in Godcidents too!

~A Devotional by Diana L.W.Coleman

 

This devotional was written by Diana L.W. Coleman a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose® Edited by Torrie Slaughter in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

© Torrie Slaughter, LLC, Torrie Slaughter Photography, and Our Given Purpose ®, 2020.