[Side note: Happy Winter Solstice! Today the northern hemisphere is tilted away from our sun the farthest of any point of the year – resulting in short days and long nights. Tomorrow we begin the slow journey toward the long days of summer as we gradually tilt back towards theContinue Reading
(We continue our look at the Christmas Story in Luke 2. Yesterday, we focused on Joseph’s response to Gabriel’s announcement that he was supposed to take Mary for his wife, even though she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.) Let’s go back to Joseph. Joseph could have chosen to doubtContinue Reading
(We continue our look at the Christmas Story in Luke 2. Yesterday, we focused on the angel Gabriel’s messages to Zechariah and to Mary and their responses.) Even after Mary’s answer, Gabriel wasn’t done speaking yet. Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she became pregnant withContinue Reading
(Today I begin a series of posts that examines the Christmas Story found in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. My prayer is that this helps us all understand more deeply that Story and keep it as our focus over these last days of Advent.) Let’s take a few minutes toContinue Reading
“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.”Continue Reading
Joyful God, How your world needs a huge infusion of JOY right now! The darkness of these last few years has been so severe – so much pain, hurting, chaos, upheaval, and angst. But you are the same yesterday, today, and forever; you never change and you always call usContinue Reading
What do you do when God calls you to a new place and you don’t understand why? What did Noah do when God’s said to him, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely goingContinue Reading
I don’t remember exactly how we came to the book Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story – probably it was in a list of recommended books for reading aloud to children. After repeatedly checking it out of the local library year after year, I finally purchased my own copy. TheContinue Reading
I have two Christmas-related books I remember from my childhood. One is a vividly illustrated version of the poem “The Night Before Christmas” and the other is The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazwell. I have love, loved, loved! reading books with my children and, over the years, we have foundContinue Reading
Father God, As we look toward the celebration of Christmas, we remember the important role that Joseph played in fathering Jesus. We thank you for Joseph’s heart of love and obedience to listen to the voice of the Lord as he protected and provided for Mary and Jesus. Today we prayContinue Reading