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MTS Weekly Devotional 
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Say what you will, but hearing Karen Carpenter’s buttery voice just makes every Christmas song better. Especially when she sings,

“Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays
'Cause no matter how far away you roam
When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze
For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet 
home

That song, in all its cheesy glory, perfectly captures one of the most wonderful parts of Christmas - the ability to experience home with family. As I get older, this song continues to become even more relevant.

In less than two weeks, our oldest daughter, Josie, and her husband Casey, who both live in Fort Worth, will arrive in DC. That same day, our daughter Libby, who lives in St. Louis, will land at Reagan National. All of our family will finally be home (at least until they return to the place they call home)!

While they are home we will watch our favorite Christmas shows together, bake cookies, open presents, and do a puzzle. And as much as we all love each other, and enjoy being together, we will probably argue and stress each other out just a bit. Then they will leave, again. Nonetheless, we will cherish every single moment we are together in our home.

There will also be many people missing from our home this holiday. My mother, who has passed away, will be missing for the 10th painful year. Most of the rest of our family will be in their homes in Iowa. This includes my wife's parents and my dad who no longer travel, and my younger brother and his family. Sadly, there are also broken and estranged relationships that will make being home for the holidays a time of remembering those who are missing.

I have come to realize, as much as I love the song, that the statement, "O, There's no place like home for the holidays," is only partially true - at least for now. 

However, a home, even better than the one the Carpenters sing about, is something that we have been promised by our Father.

The Incarnation of the Son of God, over 2000 years ago, was part of the unfolding proclamation of our Father's mission to bring God's people, to God's place, under God's rule. In other words - HOME!

The birth of Immanuel (which means: "God with us") proclaimed once again that the dwelling place of God was with man. His ministry proclaimed not only the wholeness that will result when we are finally home, but also the unbelievable diversity of our brothers and sisters who will dwell there with us. Finally, his death and resurrection proclaimed the certainty of our hope in being brought safely, and finally, home.

The Apostle John writes these words of comfort to Christians waiting for the restoration of all things when in the Book of Revelation,

21 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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 

Oh, there's no place like home! 

[PRAYER]
Father, give comfort to those who are unable get home for the holidays and those for whom being home will be less than enjoyable. As many prepare to travel home, enable them to be lights of our true home with you. 

We are here to serve you.

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