Emmanuel shows up one time in the Newer TestamentOne time!It points back to the Older TestamentAnd comes after the genealogy of Jesus Emmanuel“God with us”Right after all those names that led to himMeaning God is with them too The kingsAnd those they abused The...
I always chuckle a little to myself when I hear the carol, “Silent Night.” It is a beautiful song, but I doubt that the lyrics accurately describe the first Christmas night. Silent night … all is calm … ‘round mother and child. I have been around...
Three times, the Psalmist says in Psalm 80,“Restore us, and let your face shine...”“Restore us, and let your face shine...”“Restore us, and let your face shine...” When a community is restoredThe face of God is reflected in it.Whose face is reflectedIn our...
After God chooses Mary to be the mother of Jesus, she sings, “… my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for God has looked with favor on the lowliness of God’s servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me...
ObedienceI must admitI recoiledReflexively at the word Obedience doesn’t sell wellThese days, nor sit wellRebellion even for the sake of rebellionSeems to rule Who wants to be obedient?Certainly not to any figureOr institutionReligion But what Paul teachesTo the RomansIs to be...
I wish this word was “listen,” rather than “hear.” To hear is easy. We hear things all the time. Noise is pretty much a constant part of our lives. We hear noise regularly without even thinking about it. To listen, however, is much more...
There must be an almost universal impulse to ask for a sign.Maybe there are a few among us who never needed one,But for the rest of us, a sign, here and there, now and then,Would be nice. We are told not to ask for themNot to put God to the test.And maybe some of us steer clear of askingBecause...
When I hear the word purify, I first think about water. I think about being out in nature and needing to purify the water before drinking it … to rid it of anything that could be harmful to my body. What if we were to apply that same concept to the rest of our lives? What...
Isaiah talks about the majesty of two places, Carmel and Sharon, and the majesty of God. Think of that, the majesty of places reflects the majesty of God.That is a compliment and invitation. Where is your majesty?What part of your being reflects God’s majesty?Oh, it’s in...
I think there are two types of travelers in this world – the planners and the non-planners. I am definitely a planner. When I travel, I have reservations made months in advance. I have detailed itineraries for each day of the trip, with contingency options should...