Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Matthew 11:1-19 + Luke 3:18-20 There’s a lot about this year that didn’t go as planned. Trips and vacations called off. Family gatherings postponed. Many families have felt an uncomfortable tightening of household finances. Others have said unexpected goodbyes. We all have mourned and …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Exodus 12:1-12 + Luke 2:1-5 + Matthew 2:1-2 If I step back and look at any given day, most of the goings-on feel ordinary. Of course, random and unexpected things pop up. We make decisions and deal with things that come up. But …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Isaiah 9:2; 6-7 + Matthew 2:1-12 If you’ve been watching or reading the news, I’m sure you’ve heard about the upcoming ‘Christmas Star.’ This evening, Jupiter and Saturn are coming together in what scientists call a “great conjunction.” From Earth, the two …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Psalm 8 This week’s Psalm has some powerful imagery in it. As he writes, David praises God for his majesty, glory, and strength. Our God is a big God. He made the universe, setting the moon and stars in their places (v. …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:13-17 + Luke 1:67-80 + Mark 1:1-8 John the Baptist is a fascinating person. He’s known as a wild man, living in the wilderness and subsisting on honey. But John also has a unique origin story, which undoubtedly drew attention to his family. …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:39-56 When I married my husband, I knew I would have to move. He was living and working south of my hometown. For the first time, I would be uprooting. I lived in my hometown for nearly 30 years before I was …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:26-38 I am not a particularly good decision-maker. I can decide, but I don’t like when things need an answer time-yesterday-hurry-up-already. To feel confident about a decision, I usually need lists, research, some what-if wonderings, a few sleepless nights, and a partridge …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Matthew 1:18-25 + Matthew 2:13-23 Growing up, my family didn’t regularly attend church. As I made my way through college, I started attending services. I especially love services for holy days – Ash Wednesday, Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, and Easter. As major …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:5-7; 23-25; 57-66 I have several secret writing mentors. Although we don’t know each other personally, these are people that I watch and follow. I want to know how they do things. One such writer is Annie F. Downs. I pay …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:1-22; 62-80 As I was reading for today, the first image that popped into my head was from kindergarten. Hang with me here. At that age, one of the most coveted duties, at least as I recall, was line leader. The line …
