Monthly Archives: December 2015

And you shall call his name Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”  Today we celebrate the greatest gift we have ever received – the presence of God with us.  The ultimate destiny of every life is to live in communion … Continue reading →

Today’s praise comes from two faithful followers of God who had lived many long years in expectation of God’s promises.  Both Simeon and Anna spent their days in the Temple, where they were no doubt familiar faces to the worshippers … Continue reading →

You sit in the inky black darkness of night.  You feel as if you’ve sat there all your life and will probably do so for the rest of it.  In the quiet and dark you hear only the background noise … Continue reading →

After Elisabeth gives birth to her son, they are asked what they wish to name their child.  Elisabeth and her husband Zechariah respond that he is to be named John.   For the past nine months Zechariah has been mute … Continue reading →

Yesterday we read Elisabeth’s praise when Mary comes to visit her.  Today we hear Mary’s joyous response to God’s provision in her life. My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked … Continue reading →

Our praise today comes from the voice of Elisabeth, older cousin to Mary and the mother of John the Baptizer, who prepared hearts for the coming Messiah.  I love Elisabeth’s story.  She was an elderly woman who loved  and served … Continue reading →

Our first praise of Advent starts at the beginning; reminding us of the eternal in this moment, of the stakes of the promise. In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He … Continue reading →

    Today I pretended I was a migratory bird as I made my way south to spend Christmas with my family in Texas.  It’s a toss-up whether the birds or I made faster time, but the trip only took … Continue reading →