(We have been working our way through the Christmas Story in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1. Mary and Joseph have been visited by angels, endured very challenging circumstances, and finally watched the birth of the God of the Universe in a shelter for animals, before being visited by local shepherdsContinue Reading
(We have been working our way through the Christmas Story in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1. Mary and Joseph have been visited by angels, endured very challenging circumstances, and finally watched the birth of the God of the Universe in a shelter for animals, before being visited by local shepherdsContinue Reading
[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