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 […]
five minute friday
How Adoring Jesus Goes Beyond the Lyrics of a Christmas Carol
“O Come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him O come let us adore him O come let us adore him Christ the Lord.” The chorus evokes warm nostalgic memories and ecclesiastic connection to Christmas’s past as the words pour from our lips. There is reason for that: for the church and […]
Why I Am Grateful for Unexpected Blessings
Thanksgiving brought about unexpected changes to our “traditional” gathering. I use that term loosely because my family has never celebrated holidays in a specific manner from year to year. Chalk it up to a history of afflictions, work schedules, family locations, and a general recognition that “new” can be a blessing, we recognized the opportunity […]
Why “Cancel” Can Yield to “New”
Disruption to plans is not always a welcomed guest. We find comfort in familiar places. Routines provide opportunities to remember our story: individual and collective. They help inform identity as we move about this side of Heaven. However, 2020 has thrust us toward recognizing that routines and expectations may change. What then? Several years ago, […]
Why We Can Embrace Interruptions
God has always been in the business of interruption. Who could imagine a parting of a sea? A divine voice speaking to humanity from a bush or under a fig tree? A young boy defeating a giant? Subverting the image of a Kingdom? And Its Divine revelation manifested through the baby growing in the womb […]
What Doesn’t Change After We Vote
A lot of life happens in four years. Stories contribute to it all. Our stories, others’ stories, and the bigger story God is writing through them. In November 2016, I wrote my reflections about the days after the Presidential election. https://stephaniejthompson.com/2016/11/14/the-hard-work-of-being-neighbors/ My own discontent, questions and desire to lean in to hear messages in the […]
