Author Archives: Daniel M Harding

Expectation over Perfection

Perfection! Ah the glorious thought. The Perfect Tree. The Perfect Gift. The Perfect Movie. The Perfect Store. The above are just a few of the things that we say and think around Christmas. Less often said, but certainly in the forefront of many of our minds is whether or not we will be The PerfectContinueContinue reading “Expectation over Perfection”

Christmas/Advent Resources

Here is a list of the books that I am utilizing for the devotions and ideas that will be posted this December. The first three books were bought through Hearts and Minds Bookstore in Dallastown Pennsylvania. A few years ago I stumbled across one of Byron Borger’s BookNotes, a monthly newsletter that he writes, andContinueContinue reading “Christmas/Advent Resources”

Hope Has Arrived

In his song, So, This Is Christmas, John Lennon pens these words: So this is ChristmasAnd what have you done?Another year overAnd a new one just begun Following a year that has been full of insecurity, suffering, and general discontent these lyrics bring the emphasis to us; our ability, our effort, and our worth. ThisContinueContinue reading “Hope Has Arrived”

A Thanksgiving Exercise

Last night in a conversation with my teacher daughter (Wow! Age slips on by) we discussed some exercises in thankfulness. I was reminded that the official proclamation for the US to designate and celebrate Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday came during the Civil War. In a time of great loss and suffering there areContinueContinue reading “A Thanksgiving Exercise”

Changing Diapers

October has 31 days. At an average of 8 diapers a day that’s 248 diapers or about $65 at Sams. Thankfully there are wonderful daycare caregivers who can help change so many of those. 31 nights. Over those 31 days a child might wake up on average 3 times a night. That’s 93 times thatContinueContinue reading “Changing Diapers”

Uncomfortable

We’ve all been there. Family. Friends. Circumstances. Places we’ve been.  Someone says something. Asks a question. Says something that you know will provoke others. And we start to shift a little in our seat.  Someone is wearing something; a rival team’s shirt, a slogan that is provocative, or something out of place. Something that justContinueContinue reading “Uncomfortable”

A Sunday Prayer

Almighty God; you are holy. You are separate, apart from us. You are not tainted by our self-centeredness, our self-promotion, and our self-amusement. Yet, you seek us. You seek to join yourself to us. As we gather today it is our acknowledgement that we need your presence and your provision. You want and walked inContinueContinue reading “A Sunday Prayer”

Jesus’ Faith

Luke 4:1-13, James 2:18-19 God is present. God is enough. For just a few moments let’s consider both of those phrases as we think of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. In Matthew 4, Mark 1, and Luke 4, we are told of Jesus going to the wilderness alone following his baptism by John. At theContinueContinue reading “Jesus’ Faith”

Traveling Light

Reading through the Gospel of Luke we come upon a story that we’re not quite sure why it exists; the story of Jesus not traveling with his parents and at the age of 12 staying behind in Jerusalem and being found three days later sitting in the Temple courtyard conversing with the religious leaders. DidContinueContinue reading “Traveling Light”