And so, we know that God loves the whole world and we know that Jesus taught the people of earth so much and that we are still learning. And we know, that Love is Good and God is good. We know and have come to believe that God does not shame people into obedience – God calls people and releases them from disgrace, from shame, from pain by loving them, without conditions. Our greatest struggle is to learn how to…..
Why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Luke 1:43 NIV)
Here is a third question in Luke’s narrative surrounding the stories about the birth of Jesus. Again, I think it is one worth asking. Angelic appearances, visions, a pregnancy late in life, notes from a spouse rendered mute and a young cousin comes to visit with some pretty exciting, wonderful, frightening news. Yes, even though the angel Gabriel keeps telling everyone not…..
We’ve all asked these questions when we’re told that something we have hoped for that seems impossible is about to happen. Or when we think what someone is telling us sounds a bit outlandish and strange. These two questions, asked by key characters in the Gospel of Luke can help us step into the Luke’s story about the Birth of Jesus.
How can I be sure is the first question asked, and it’s asked by a priest named Zechariah with…..
One of the most challenging things during Christmas is to mourn the loss of the people we love who are no longer with us.
I know, because I’ve done this for many years. I remember being in Jr. High when my Grandmother (Mom’s mom) passed away. And I remember going to church during the Holiday Season and missing seeing her sitting in the front pew. I remember missing many other people throughout my lifetime. I remember helping my father mourn…..
It might not be surprising that many people have a difficult time in accepting the Christmas Story, the story about the birth of Jesus , the One whom we call the Son of God. There is so much talk of strange and mysterious things happening, angels, prophecy, people following stars – admit it, some of this does sound a little hokey…..
What’s on your Christmas Wish List this year? What if instead of making a Wish List you created a Christmas Blessing List.
The Sermon on the Mount has been floating through my head for a few days now. Yesterday I wrote the “How Long?” post. Some people who are wondering How Long before they receive the blessings outlined in the Sermon…..
Do you remember playing tug of war as a young person? People are assigned sides, or two people get to choose who is going to be on their team. When we are very young everyone just grabs the rope and starts pulling their hardest to see if they can outpull the other side and drag them over the center line. When…..
“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31
Questions are great when asked by the right person at the right time! I’ve heard people teach and preach on this verse and story that surrounds it many times. Most often I’ve heard them focus on the fact that so many of us have such ‘little faith and so much doubt.’ But I want you to think about it differently…..
Yesterday, November 1, 2019 I picked up my book Praying Our Way Through Stress, and looked at page 53. I mulled it over for the day, slept on it (not literally) and sorted through my thoughts this morning. The Chapter opens with a reference to something written in Matthew 4: “First Satan attempted to induce doubt (If you are who you…..
In the Book of Genesis there is mention about how God put a rainbow in the sky to remind himself that he would never again destroy the earth. Some people tend to stress the words ‘with a flood’ – But I am one who thinks God doesn’t want to destroy the earth or anything that our Good Lord has created. At…..
