Advent Devotional: TREASURE

Adam Vitoulis

I’m not always great at “treasuring” things. I do have keepsakes, and I am grateful for so much that I’ve been given, but “treasuring” something requires one to stop (and take stock), and I’m admittedly not very good at that. I’m much more of a “river” than a “lake,” and I feel more focused and purposeful when I’m active and on the move. I’m sure that some of you can relate. However, life has been teaching me a valuable lesson lately… “stop, and treasure everything you can!” The Lord has a way of tyin...

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THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE

Craig Valentino- 2017

“It is finished,” Jesus cried out from the cross before releasing his spirit. These are the famous last words that Jesus spoke (John 19:30). What exactly was finished?

We know from script...

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LABOR OF LOVE

Joyce Amels- 2018

Easter. It’s the precursor of Spring. I walk the yard to see if the crocuses are done or if the daffodils and hyacinths are poking their stems out of the ground. It’s a time when the world around us wakes up from...

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DEATH, TAXES & JESUS

Linda Buckbee- 2019

April brings thoughts of Spring, showers and flowers, and taxes! As I was working on our Income Tax forms, the familiar quote of Benjamin Franklin-- ”But in this world nothing can be said to be certain except ...

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MAUNDY THURSDAY

Bouwe Leenstra- 2014

Growing up in the CRC all my life, I do not remember hearing that the Thursday before Good Friday was referred to as Maundy Thursday, until a few years ago. When I heard the day called Maundy Thursday, I wonde...

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FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS

Chuck and Jo Rowe- 2015

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked ou...

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A FRESH RESURRECTION

David Knapp- 2019

Easter is the time of the year we remember Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. This Easter will probably be the same as any other for most of you. You go to church and sing some hymns and songs. The pastor will...

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WHAT DOES EASTER MEAN TO YOU?

Answers by our Friendship Club- 2018

“Family” ~Mario

“Remembering HIM on that day.” ~Emily

“Remembering the sacrifice the son made to save our mortal <...

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I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH

Lisette Brown- 2017

Have you ever found yourself losing sight of Him and instead focusing on ALL of your problems? Have you felt as if you can’t get through this (whatever this may be)? That is what I felt last year when everythin...

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OUR ULTIMATE HOORAY

Jo Ann Bast- 2016

What gives a widow courage as she stands beside a fresh grave? What is the ultimate hope of the handicapped, the abused, and the burn victim? What is the final answer to pain, mourning, senility, insanity, termin...

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WHO ARE WE?

Henry Vogel- 2015

When I was 15 my essentials were a good pair of soccer cleats and a nice pair of jeans. When I was 25 the essentials became enough money to feed the family and pay the bills for another week. In my late 30’s my e...

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EASTER TREASURE HUNT

Amanda Lundgren- 2019

“The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

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THE GREATEST EASTER EGG HUNT

Taylor Knapp- 2018

One of my many favorite things about Easter time is the Easter egg hunts. There are many memories of going out and looking for eggs with family. One of the more recent memories I have of an Easter egg hunt is se...

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"GOOD MOURNING"

Brigitte Buckbee- 2017

One spring day a farmhand arrived to work and was greeted as usual with a hearty “Mornin’!” from his boss, a hard working older farmer. Work passed as usual until late afternoon, when, having told a joke, th...

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BLESSINGS IN DOUBT

Hillary Van Der Molen- 2016 

“Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, ...

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SAYING GOODBYE... CHANGING OUR PERSPECTIVE

Sharon Davis- 2015

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” ...

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THE NEW HAS COME

Julie Wildschut- 2014

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

This year we have experienced a long, cold and diff...

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GROWING UP WITH EASTER

Justin Gaucher- 2019

“What does Easter Sunday mean to you?” If you were to ask 3 year old Justin, he’d tell you bunnies and chocolate and Easter baskets full of eggs. The same question directed at a 13 year old me would give you a...

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PASS IT ON

Jeff Davis- 2018

What a wondrous time is spring, When all the trees are budding, The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming; That’s how it is with God’s love, Once you’ve experienced ...

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JESUS CHRIST IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD FOR LIFE

Hans Persoon- 2017

We lease our farm to a shepherd who has raised Merino sheep on it for about 11 years now. Through these years, we have gotten used to watching the seasonal cycle of new lambs being born each early spring during ...

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SAME

Ashley Sutter- 2016 

Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality wit...

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SUFFERING SEPARATION

Anne Amels- 2015

“Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.” Matthew 26:23

“Peter replied, “Even if a...

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THE FULL EXTENT OF HIS LOVE

David Knapp- 2014

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34

I was struck b...

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STEADFAST LOVE

Lauren Vellenga- 2015

Life is hard. So often we find ourselves saying “if only....things would get better”. If only I had a new job, if only I was on the next stage of life, if only I had more mon...

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HOPE

Terri Van Pelt- 2018

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”&nb...

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LOOKING AHEAD

Mart VanDeWeert- 2017

When Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew what was ahead for Him. The cup that He prayed for His Heavenly Father to take away was a symbol of deep sorrow and suffe...

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THE BAD, THE UGLY, AND THE GOOD

Traude Ellert- 2016

Luke 24:46-47 “He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of si...

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THE POWER OF SMALL CHOICES

Martin Van Der Heide- 2015

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every si...

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I BELIEVE THE EASTER STORY

Ron King- 2014

“Up from the grave He arose.” “He is not here, He is risen.”(Matt. 28:6) 

I can’t prove it. I didn’t see it, but I believe it. John 3:16 tel...

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HE IS STILL GOOD

Mike and Nicole Bobby- 2016

“Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

In the beloved children’s tale, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe written by C.S. Le...