(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
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
Change. Transition. “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” “God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” “It’s all the same, only the names are changed.” “When you go through the storms I am with you…you are mine.” “Not everyone likes the new things.” At this timeContinue Reading
God speaks in various ways to different people at different times. When we enter the Advent season it is as if we are going back to the time between the Old and New Testaments of our Bible. For those 400 years God seemed silent to his chosen people. They had hadContinue Reading