Category Archives: encouragement

Perspective; December 23, 2024

Posted on December 24, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. This is such a familiar passage, I knew which verse I was going to write … Continue reading →

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Justice; December 22, 2024

Posted on December 23, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 42:4 “He will not falter or be discouragedtill he establishes justice on earth.    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” I was a little surprised that the Japanese translation I currently use said “judgment,” rather than “justice,” in this verse, and … Continue reading →

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The Christmas Story; December 21, 2024

Posted on December 22, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 2:4 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. From the standpoint of the world, Joseph and Mary … Continue reading →

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Seeking God; December 20, 2024

Posted on December 21, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 27:8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”    Your face, Lord, I will seek. I have long loved this verse, and have written on it countless times. However, it still resonates within me every time I read it. Different translations … Continue reading →

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Evangelism; December 19, 2024

Posted on December 20, 2024 by jgarrott

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,    and the one who is wise saves lives. I just checked with my wife, who drew up the reading list for this month, and even she has no idea … Continue reading →

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Rejoicing in Salvation; December 18, 2024

Posted on December 19, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 118:14 The Lord is my strength and my song;    he has become my salvation. This is an absolutely joyful, triumphant Psalm. It expresses the response of someone who was in a very difficult situation, but God brought him through. The thing is, we … Continue reading →

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Learning Obedience; December 17, 2024

Posted on December 18, 2024 by jgarrott

Hebrews 5:8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered. The Japanese connects this with the next two verses as one sentence, but this is certainly worthy of meditation all by itself. The Japanese also plays with the … Continue reading →

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Praising God; December 16, 2024

Posted on December 17, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 107:1-2 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;    his love endures forever.Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. This says, very simply, “If God has blessed you, say so!” There are many reasons … Continue reading →

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Faithfulness; December 15, 2024

Posted on December 16, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 49:4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;    I have spent my strength for nothing at all.Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,    and my reward is with my God.” I feel sure I’ve written on this before, because … Continue reading →

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Righteousness; December 14, 2024

Posted on December 15, 2024 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 33:16 “In those days Judah will be saved    and Jerusalem will live in safety.This is the name by which it will be called:    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’” The physical blessings of Jerusalem mentioned in this chapter are partially fulfilled, but the Lord being … Continue reading →

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