It’s Saturday and there are only 13 days that separate you from Christmas. What are the plans for today? Shopping? Cleaning? Baking? Sitting? Whatever your plans, or combination of plans might be, the reality is that most of us don’t expect our world to get turned upside down. If, however, we do find our worldContinueContinue reading “sitting quietly”
Category Archives: Encouragement
The Magnificat | A Declaration
46And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50His mercy extends toContinueContinue reading “The Magnificat | A Declaration”
The Quiet
The Quiet Zechariah has been visited by the angel. Elizabeth is expecting a child. For everyone else though it must seem like everything is still normal. The Judean countryside is still occupied by Roman soldiers. Herod is still working on the Temple, and it’s costing more every month. Food demand and supply seems the same.ContinueContinue reading “The Quiet”
Living Out Hope
Elizabeth is over the moon when she finds out that she is expecting a child. When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn’t long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. “So, this is how God acts to remedyContinueContinue reading “Living Out Hope”
Not Now Please
Starting today we will begin to look at the characters that begin to make an appearance prior, and during the first few years of Jesus’ life. as we approach our celebration of his birth. It is my prayer that the reality of each of these individuals will cause us to remember that it is theContinueContinue reading “Not Now Please”
A Welcoming People
To truly embrace the idea of Expectation we let’s think for a few moments on hospitality and welcoming others. When our church hosted the Bethlehem Live for so many years we always included the part where Joseph and Mary are shown to a stable. Exclusion stings. I’ve often wondered exactly what that meant for Jesus’ContinueContinue reading “A Welcoming People”
People of Light
To fully learn about expectation, we must find ourselves going back to the garden. Down under the tree, that surely bordered the river, and there we find quite a group. First we see Adam and Eve disgusted with themselves. Disgusted with the tempter. Ultimately disgusted with God, for if we’ve learned anything on this earthContinueContinue reading “People of Light”
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”
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”
Seek Understanding 