Sometimes the reminder of why we celebrate Christmas looks like nothing expected. In fact, it may feel like the sting of sin in the midst of dazzling decorations. And that’s when we sit in the tension of living in a place that is aching toward reconciliation and restoration. Weary souls are still seeking their soul’s […]
Advent
Jesus’s Birth was Not Reason for All to Rejoice
Not everyone was happy. “In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,[b] and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard […]
Holding on to a Generational Deep Hope in our Brokenness
The wounds cut deep; both physically and figuratively. Several Decembers ago, I fell down the stairs. People sometimes talk about traumatic events as experienced through a surreal slow motion reality at the time. That would perfectly describe how it played out for me. Returning from a late church meeting, I longed for rest. While snuggling […]
What the Shepherds Teach Us About Responding When God Speaks Into Our Lives
I resonate with the shepherds. God’s manifestation in our lives can be terrifying at times. Oh, they would have been familiar with the various ways God’s presence is revealed: God spoke in a whisper to Elijah, appeared as a cloud to lead the Israelites, and spoke through a burning bush. God’s use of special effects […]
What I'm learning about living between the "Now" and the "Not Yet"
Profound. Hard. Defining. Jesus’ prayer for his disciples spoke of a new reality. “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” (John 17:15). Life as a citizen in his kingdom unseen by the human eye has its challenges. Its values defy those of the […]
Overcoming Restlessness on Those Long Detours: Learning From Mary
Several years ago, my preschool son drew a picture of Mary and Joseph. Not just any picture, mind you. Usually, the manger scene as represented through the eyes of a child wielding a crayon finds its place on a paper canvas. But Eli’s mind captured a different scene in the narrative. He captured what he believed to be […]
