(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
“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm 96:1-3 NIV). Christmas is an interesting time, isn’t it? In a world that generally seems to be moving at such a paceContinue Reading
Shalom: “The ancient Hebrew concept of peace, rooted in the word ‘shalom,’ meant wholeness, completeness, soundness, health, safety and prosperity, carrying with it the implication of permanence.” ** So, how’s your Christmas preparation season going? Is your “to do” list getting longer or shorter? Are you more of a “Martha”Continue Reading
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT) “Prosper” – to succeed in an enterprise or activity (especially economic), to become strong and flourishing, to thrive (Merriam-WebsterContinue Reading
I have started to read a book on spiritual discernment and the author mentioned that we can use both our five natural senses and our spiritual senses to know what God is saying. But she did suggest that your spiritual eyes may need to be opened in ways that mayContinue Reading