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an 8-day guide for advent “IF YOU...KNOW HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO YOUR CHILDREN, HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM!” (MATT. 7:11, NIV)

The countdown has begun! The season of Advent has arrived, and Christmas will be here in no time! These four weeks will fly by as you purchase gifts, make travel plans, prepare food, go to parties, and juggle kids’ activities.

Before you lose your patience in the check-out line, take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Be still.

Allow yourself to embrace the season of Advent, a time of remembrance, expectation, and preparation. It is an opportunity to push aside the “stuff ” of Christmas and reflect on the heart of Christmas. To shift your focus from your gift list to the perfect Gift. To worry less and worship more. To remember with gratitude all that occured on the very first Christmas.

Mary and Joseph walked almost 100 miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. When they finally arrived, there was no family reunion. No one welcomed them with hot chocolate and warm embraces. Their accommodations were fitting for their donkey, not a husband and wife.

Their circumstances would have been overwhelming for most people, especially expectant parents. But Scripture doesn’t show a young couple in chaos. Not much is mentioned about the labor and delivery at all, as if it were some run-of-the-mill birth in a hospital, not in a stable smelling of hay and horses.

“While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough because there was no room for them at the lodging place.” —Luke 2:6-7

Without a doubt, Mary and Joseph did not enjoy a stress-free holiday season. They were exhausted new parents. Yet, on that first Christmas, their faith in God’s sovereignty overshadowed the chaos, and they welcomed God’s miraculous gift into the world and into their lives.

This devotional guide will help you remember what truly matters in this season. The twice-weekly readings focus on different aspects of God’s great gift to the world. Let the truth of God’s love for you envelop you. As you experience the magnitude of God’s love for you, share it with others. Let God’s perfect Gift inspire your own generosity. gobgr.org/catalog DAY 1

When Mary learned she would carry the Son of God in her womb, her excitement was likely “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and accompanied by confusion and bewilderment. the power of the Most High will overshadow What the angel had promised was impossible, but you. Therefore the holy One to be born will Mary trusted God to do this miracle even if she be called the Son of God... For nothing will didn’t know how. be impossible with God.” —Luke 1:35-37

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem in the middle of the census, they had no place to rest or deliver a child. But then God provided a manger.

He left nothing to chance when He gave His perfect gift. He had a plan.

He still does.

For many women around the world, pregnancy and childbirth are life-threatening. There is little-to- no access to medical care and sanitary conditions necessary for new life to flourish.

When Azita’s blood pressure spiked in her eighth month of pregnancy, she and her baby faced imminent danger. But God had a plan for her too. Azita was one of several women who attended childbirth classes, where she learned how to stay healthy during her pregnancy, how to develop a game plan for the birth, and how to feed her newborn. PRAYER

Because of this program, Azita was also surrounded Father, thank you for the opportunity by people who leapt into action when her situation to know You, learn from You, and became critical. They connected her with doctors minister through You. Show me how to and helped her get to a medical facility. When she participate in your plan for my family, delivered a healthy baby, it was part of God’s plan. my community, and people around the world I may never meet. Guide me as I That plan includes you. You can be part of the share your plan of love this Christmas. life-changing, life-saving outreach to women and children. Your gifts and prayers can be the difference between life and death.

gobgr.org/catalog God is calling you to simple faithfulness. A DAY 2 trough used for feeding animals became the crib for the Son of God. Just imagine what your gift of a blanket or food could become When Labib and Bushra fled with their young sons for someone in need. in the middle of the night, they took nothing with “While they were there, the time came for them. Their town was being invaded, and their her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her only option was to run. When they arrived in a firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly neighboring country, they had no possessions, but in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough they did have a new name—refugee. because there was no room for them at the As the family members tried to rebuild their lives, lodging place.” —Luke 2:6-7 they ran into hardships they hadn’t anticipated. They had few rights as foreigners. The crowded schools barely had room for their children. What work they could find did not pay nearly enough to support a family. The family scraped by with no furniture, no blankets, and very little food. That’s when a member of a local church dropped by. Seeing the conditions in which they were living, the volunteer returned with blankets, pillows, sleeping mats, and a carpet. The resources were available through a refugee ministry supported by people like you. The gifts this family received were not extravagant. They met basic but essential needs. On the night of Jesus’ birth, his parents were also seeking refuge. Mary and Joseph had arrived in Bethlehem with no place to stay, no friends to call on, and no hospital to go to. Like Labib and Bushra, Mary and Joseph had nothing, but God provided what they needed. The PRAYER stable wasn’t elaborate. There was no midwife or epidural. There was no spare room for the birth. Father, thank you for providing refuge The couple delivered the baby on their own with the for Mary and Joseph. Thank you for few supplies they had, namely cloths and a feeding giving my family shelter and for inviting trough. Blankets and a crib. The provisions were us to do the same for others. Lord, take simple but met a need. my simple gifts and multiply them. I You can be a part of someone’s miracle this trust you to use even the smallest gifts Christmas. A blanket, a box of food, a gesture of love to do more than I can imagine. can make a huge difference for a refugee family. You are showing the downtrodden that they are loved, they are known, and they are not forgotten. You are giving them hope for tomorrow. gobgr.org/catalog DAY 3

When Mary first learned she would carry the Son of God, she asked, “How will this be?” An angel told “Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this be?’” Joseph that Mary would give birth to Jesus, who —Luke 1:34 would “save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). The news they had both received was unbelievable, and they didn’t know how God would carry out His plan. How could this all be true?

When Ameir couldn’t attend his church due to severe seizures, he could not find a single doctor or health professional with the proper equipment to diagnose and treat his condition. Ameir was facing a life of isolation and defeat, unable to participate in his heart’s greatest joy—singing with his church choir.

But when donors provided funds for a BGR team to mobilize and utilize a solar-powered EEG machine, Ameir (along with hundreds of others) received a second chance at life.

Doctors diagnosed Ameir with epilepsy and gave him medication to manage his condition. Soon, he was singing in his church choir once again. He got his life back because caring, knowledgeable professionals were equipped with the tools necessary to treat people like him.

Today, thousands of health care workers have PRAYER dedicated their knowledge, skills, and lives to care for people in underdeveloped areas of the world. Father, thank you for allowing me to Their effectiveness, however, depends on access be your child. Thank you for weaving to adequate medical equipment and supplies. Like me into your beautiful, intricate plans. Mary and Joseph, they need a “how” to carry out Lord, please show me how You want to God’s plan. use me as an instrument of your grace, peace, and mercy. Give me the same Maybe you are that “how.” Perhaps you can be the attitude as Mary, who said, “May it be bridge between someone’s desire to serve and those done to me according to your word” in need of service. You could equip the caregivers by (Luke 1:38). stocking a medical clinic or sending a medical kit. Your gift could meet someone’s need. gobgr.org/catalog DAY 4

When Mary set out on her journey to Bethlehem, she rode on a donkey. When her baby was born, “In the same region, shepherds were He was surrounded with hay and troughs and barn staying out in the fields and keeping watch animals. When angels broke the news of Jesus’ at night over their flock. Then an angel of birth to the shepherds, the sheep were in the fields the Lord stood before them, and the glory of nearby. the Lord shone around them.” —Luke 2:8-9a Animals aren’t just arbitrary bystanders in the Christmas story. They are intricately woven into every scene. All of us can picture the animals in the nativity. With our imagination, we can hear and smell them. We can feel their coats and watch them graze. They give us a way to immerse ourselves in the story.

God still uses animals and agriculture to demonstrate His immense love and kindness. With just a few animals or seeds, families can feed themselves. With the right training, farmers can launch businesses that support their families. It takes so little to transform lives, families, and entire communities.

Erwin is 13-years-old, but with the chickens he received through BGR, he has a flourishing poultry business and can pay for his school supplies. Mineta is an elderly widow, with few opportunities to make money. She received a cow and now can sell milk and cheese for income. PRAYER

Erwin and Mineta. Two lives changed because God Father, thank you for being so near to used animals to meet their needs. me. Thank you for wrapping Your Son in flesh so He could experience the same God knows our needs and delights in providing for ups and downs I face. Thank you for His children. He invites us to experience the joy knowing what I need and for providing that comes from helping others. a way to meet those needs. Help me see the needs of others and give freely as you have given to me.

gobgr.org/catalog “After they were gone, an angel of the Lord DAY 5 suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Get up! Take the child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until If you’re a parent, chances are you have spent more I tell you. For Herod is about to search for than one night with a furrowed brow over the crib the child to destroy Him.’ So he got up, took of a sick baby. You make your kids wear a helmet the child and His mother during the night, when they ride a bike. You watch with fear as your and escaped to Egypt. He stayed there until son gets tackled or your daughter collides with Herod’s death, so that what was spoken another volleyball player. And you dread the day by the Lord through the prophet might be when your kids starts driving. Why? Because you fulfilled: ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son.’” love your children fiercely. You would do anything —Matthew 2:13-15 to keep them safe. Even though Jesus came to earth to become a sacrifice for all, God protected Him as a young child. Not long after Jesus’ birth, God sent an angel to Joseph to warn him of Herod’s plot to kill Jesus. The Lord told Joseph to flee to Egypt, where they stayed in safety until Herod’s death. Countless children, women, and men desperately need a safe place. Human trafficking victims need security, support, shelter, and love to begin the healing process. They need a safe place to rebuild their lives. Chahna was in desperate need of help. While enslaved in a brothel, she developed appendicitis. She didn’t receive any care until she was finally freed from captivity. She found her way to a BGR- supported safe house where staff took her to the hospital. After a surgery to remove the infected appendix, the doctors confirmed a startling truth: PRAYER she would have died had she not gotten medical help soon. Father, thank you for knowing every Chahna’s story is one of many. When she found danger I face. Thank you for your divine freedom, her body was failing. Others leave brothels protection in my times of need. Allow with broken hearts and minds. Still, others are at me to be sensitive to the dangers others risk of being enslaved and have few resources to may encounter, and guide me to do what escape the looming threat. I can to rescue the most vulnerable. You can provide refuge for the exploited and abused. You can change the future of these battered souls. By supporting safe houses and medical care for trafficking victims, you offer the priceless gifts of safety, security, and protection. gobgr.org/catalog DAY 6

Koko was on his way home from working the fields “When they saw the star, they were when the earthquake struck. Each step he took on overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the the rumbling ground led him closer to home. house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they There he discovered his worst nightmare come worshiped Him. Then they opened their true. Everything and everyone was gone, including treasures and presented Him with gifts: his wife and child. For days, he was inconsolable gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” and felt a loneliness he had never known before. —Matthew 2:10-11

In the following days, BGR partners arrived to provide critical supplies–tarps for shelter, food and water, and hearts of compassion. The nature and timing of the group’s arrival were not lost on Koko. Despite losing his entire family, he allowed the comfort of Christ to surround him and penetrate his heart. And amidst his pain, he praised our God of peace and comfort.

Like Koko, Mary and Joseph had visitors. Magi came with gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Bible doesn’t explain what happened to those first Christmas presents, but they were a tangible sign to the couple that God would take care of their needs.

No food box, blanket, or tarp can undo disasters like the one Koko experienced. However, the gift of a tarp, a new home, or a cooking set can comfort those who have lost so much. You play a vital role PRAYER in helping these victims make the arduous journey from grief to hope. Father, thank you for being the God of comfort. Thank you for knowing what I need before I do. Help me as I reach out to others who have been devastated by disasters. Let them see the love of God through my gifts and sense His presence through my prayers.

gobgr.org/catalog DAY 7

Perhaps the most iconic image of Christmas is the “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and nativity scene. Shepherds, a donkey, angels, sheep, peace on earth to people He favors!” Mary and Joseph, and of course, the baby Jesus in —Luke 2:14 the manger. Later on, the Magi join the scene. The cast is large, diverse, and relatable. The gift of God’s Son was never reserved for a select few. God gave Jesus to the entire world, from the lowly shepherds to the wealthy wise men to you and me.

The shepherds were invited to see the new Messiah. They were not an afterthought. When the angel appeared in the night for the holy birth announcement, the Bible tells us the shepherds were scared. Understandably so! They found themselves surrounded by a heavenly host and heard that this good news—this perfect gift—was for all people, including them. Their fear turned to joy, and soon they were sharing the news of this miraculous event.

When an African community received a functioning, clean water well, the 2,000 people living there were overjoyed. Empowered and equipped to maintain the water source, the people quickly learned the value of safe drinking water, sanitation, and good hygiene.

Just one year later, BGR partners revisited the community and discovered that not only was their PRAYER well still functional, but it had also become a way for the community to generate income. With the Heavenly Father, thank you for giving money they raised, they helped fund two more the perfect Gift to imperfect people. wells in communities near their own. Thank you for not creating barriers around your goodness. Day by day, The gift of clean water is like God’s love. It is show me how to tear down the walls inclusive. It doesn’t discriminate based on gender, I encounter, even those I have built political views, age or religion. It is for the greatest with my own hands. Father, bless the and the least. gifters and the recipients of precious, life-saving water. May it be given and received with a spirit of humility and unconditional love. gobgr.org/catalog DAY 8

If the Christmas narrative ended in the stable with “When they had completed everything the arrival of the shepherds, it would be a great according to the law of the Lord, they story. The good news is, the story did not end there. returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The boy grew up and became When Mary, Joseph, and Jesus arrived back at their strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace home in Nazareth, the Bible says Jesus grew in was on Him.” —Luke 2:39-40 wisdom. Fast-forward 30 years, and Scripture tells of Jesus’ miracles, His healing, His teaching, and ultimately, His death and resurrection.

Jesus was the gift. And He kept giving and giving.

You can give gifts that keep on giving, too.

Lualhati received such a gift. The 54-year old mother, wife, farmer, and secretary received training through programs BGR supporters funded. She learned how to make cleaning and bath products, among other things. She was able to sell those goods to support her family.

But her story doesn’t end there! She is now the manager of the same training program from which she graduated. She is helping others achieve financial stability and self-empowerment on a wider scale.

When you give good gifts this season, strive to spend your money on things that will stand the test PRAYER of time. Give generously, believing your gifts will go far beyond a single recipient or a single generation. Father, thank you for giving your Son. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of redemption’s Story. Lord, please let me be a part of someone else’s story. Let my gifts open the door to training or education that will ultimately feed a hungry family, heal a broken community, and give someone the dignity and pride of providing for their families. Thank you for allowing me to play a part in your unfolding Story of healing the nations. gobgr.org/catalog Print and cut these 4x6 bible verse cards.

gobgr.org/catalog Print and cut these 4x6 bible verse cards.

gobgr.org/catalog Print and cut these 4x6 bible verse cards.

gobgr.org/catalog Print and cut these 4x6 bible verse cards.

gobgr.org/catalog