Just sharing.

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Winter Storm Blair took at least ten lives this week in her icy trip across the U.S.​

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The system, propelled by a polar vortex—an area of cold air that typically encircles the Arctic—put more than 60 million Americans under winter storm warnings and brought record snowfall to areas across the Plains and Midatlantic, with some areas receiving 18+ inches in a single day. ​

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Road conditions were deadly, runways closed (disrupting about 6,000 flights), and power went out for nearly 350,000 customers from Illinois to Kentucky. As of Tuesday, seven states had declared states of emergency. Unusually cold temps will linger for the rest of the week as power companies race to turn the heat back on. ​

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Meanwhile, America’s southern half is trading flip-flops for boots in preparation for Winter Storm Cora. ​

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Massive weather events remind us that all of the world has been broken by sin. But Christians can look forward to an eternity where there’s renewal not just for people but for creation itself. ​

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“For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.”
Romans 8:20-21 (CSB) (read full passage)​

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LA Wildfires​

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Los Angeles County is engulfed in its costliest wildfire battle in history. ​

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What’s happening?
As of last night, five active wildfires (see map) were burning in LA County. The blazes had claimed at least 10 lives and forced nearly 180,000 people to evacuate.​

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Where are the fires?
The largest, most destructive fire—the Palisades Fire—has scorched nearly 20,000 acres (31 square miles), destroying thousands of homes (see video) between Santa Monica and Malibu. ​

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Just north of the Palisades fire, the Kenneth Fire broke out yesterday afternoon, spreading across nearly a thousand acres in a matter of hours.​

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North of Pasadena, the Eaton Fire has burned more than 13,000 acres, destroyed 4,000 buildings, and caused “significant injuries.”​

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Further north, near Santa Clarita, the Lidia Fire and the Hurst Fire have together torched over 1,100 acres. ​

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Over 7,500 California first responders and 160 engines from other states have been deployed to combat the fires. As of writing, the Kenneth and Eaton Fires were 0% contained, the Palisades Fire was 6% contained, the Hurst Fire was 40% contained, and the Lidia Fire was 60% contained. ​

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How did the fires start?
The cause of each fire is under investigation, but wind gusts up to 100 mph, dry air, and vegetation-covered hills created a situation “about as bad as it gets.” ​

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What’s the response been?
Governor Newsom (D-CA) issued a state of emergency Tuesday, and President Biden met with firefighting officials in LA on Wednesday, directing a “full federal response.”​

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President-elect Trump noted that some fire hydrants had run dry, saying government mismanagement of water contributed to the crisis. ​

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Californians are on alert as strong winds continue in the region, increasing the risk of new fires starting through “ember attacks” and the spread of smoke-polluted air. ​

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BE DOERS
As we wait for the redemption of creation itself, believers can share our hope through radical generosity and service. ​

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Join us in supporting disaster victims in California’s Wildfires. We’ll match the first $2,000 given to Operation Blessing*, a faith-based non-profit with boots on the ground and a record of doing great work.​

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“For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.”
Romans 8:20-21 (CSB) (read full passage)​

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“The power of his resurrection.”

Philippians 3:10

The doctrine of a risen Saviour is exceedingly precious. The resurrection is the corner-stone of the entire building of Christianity. It is the key-stone of the arch of our salvation. It would take a volume to set forth all the streams of living water which flow from this one sacred source, the resurrection of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; but to know that he has risen, and to have fellowship with him as such — communing with the risen Saviour by possessing a risen life — seeing him leave the tomb by leaving the tomb of worldliness ourselves, this is even still more precious.




The doctrine is the basis of the experience, but as the flower is more lovely than the root, so is the experience of fellowship with the risen Saviour more lovely than the doctrine itself. I would have you believe that Christ rose from the dead so as to sing of it, and derive all the consolation which it is possible for you to extract from this well-ascertained and well-witnessed fact; but I beseech you, rest not contented even there. Though you cannot, like the disciples, see him visibly, yet I bid you aspire to see Christ Jesus by the eye of faith; and though, like Mary Magdalene, you may not “touch” him, yet may you be privileged to converse with him, and to know that he is risen, you yourselves being risen in him to newness of life.

To know a crucified Saviour as having crucified all my sins, is a high degree of knowledge; but to know a risen Saviour as having justified me, and to realize that he has bestowed upon me new life, having given me to be a new creature through his own newness of life, this is a noble style of experience: short of it, none ought to rest satisfied. May you both “know him, and the power of his resurrection.” Why should souls who are quickened with Jesus, wear the grave-clothes of worldliness and unbelief? Rise, for the Lord is risen.

 

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“Fellowship with him.”

1 John 1:6

When we were united by faith to Christ, we were brought into such complete fellowship with him, that we were made one with him, and his interests and ours became mutual and identical. We have fellowship with Christ in his love. What he loves we love. He loves the saints — so do we. He loves sinners — so do we. He loves the poor perishing race of man, and pants to see earth's deserts transformed into the garden of the Lord — so do we.

We have fellowship with him in his desires. He desires the glory of God — we also labour for the same. He desires that the saints may be with him where he is — we desire to be with him there too. He desires to drive out sin — behold we fight under his banner. He desires that his Father's name may be loved and adored by all his creatures — we pray daily, “Let thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven.”




We have fellowship with Christ in his sufferings. We are not nailed to the cross, nor do we die a cruel death, but when he is reproached, we are reproached; and a very sweet thing it is to be blamed for his sake, to be despised for following the Master, to have the world against us. The disciple should not be above his Lord. In our measure we commune with him in his labours, ministering to men by the word of truth and by deeds of love. Our meat and our drink, like his, is to do the will of him who hath sent us and to finish his work.

We have also fellowship with Christ in his joys. We are happy in his happiness, we rejoice in his exaltation. Have you ever tasted that joy, believer? There is no purer or more thrilling delight to be known this side heaven than that of having Christ's joy fulfilled in us, that our joy may be full. His glory awaits us to complete our fellowship, for his Church shall sit with him upon his throne, as his well-beloved bride and queen.

 

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California Fires​

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The greater Los Angeles wildfires continue to bring devastation. ​

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The death toll has surpassed 16 and is expected to rise; at least 13 people are missing. The Palisades Fire—spanning over 22,600 acres—is 11% contained, while the Eaton Fire northeast of Los Angeles—covering 14,100 acres—is 27% contained. ​

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Over the weekend, shifting winds pushed the Palisades Fire inland toward the San Fernando Valley, forcing additional evacuations. Over 200,000 people have been displaced, and more than 12,300 structures, including some historic landmarks, have been destroyed. With strong winds continuing this week, 8 million people remain in the critical fire risk zone. ​

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Investigators are looking into the fires’ causes, and a newly formed regional task force led by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is working to determine a connection between the blazes.​

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(We’re also covering this story on Thursday in Decaf, The Pour Over for Families. Sign up—for free—here.)

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RADIATE HOPE
Massive natural disasters remind us that all of the world has been broken by sin. But Christians can look forward to an eternity where there’s redemption not just for people but for creation itself. ​

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“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… Then the one seated on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new.’”
Revelation 21:1-2, 5 (CSB) (read full passage)​

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Eternal Thanksgiving!​

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twentyfour elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever.

Revelation 4:8-10 NIV


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We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Revelation 11:17-18 KJV





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And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

Revelation 7:11-12 NASB


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Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.