A New Word for Advent It’s officially everyone’s favorite time of year – Thanksgiving (in the US) is in the rear-view mirror and wait – the Christmas lights and trees have been...

God with us ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’). Matthew 1:23 (NIVUK) Christmas is supposed to be the time when...

  Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Part three of a series on Christmas songs Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,  “Glory to God in the...

Silent witness – joy to the world “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” Luke 1:31 (NIV) The Christmas festive season is with us and you may be...

Highly favored Mary’s initial response to Gabriel wasn’t any different than any of us would have responded. Luke tells us she was greatly troubled at the greeting. Another way of saying this would...

Forgiveness and freedom Part eight of a series of studies on the Lord’s Prayer “ ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.’ ” Matthew 6:12(NIV) This second part of the...

The witness of Christmas music Can you imagine the Christmas season without Christmas carols? The music of Christmas is one of my favorite parts of the season. And I feel sorry for anyone who...

Swaddled hope When you read the Old Testament, which primarily tells of the Messiah and secondarily the story of God’s people, you can see why Israel hung all their hopes and prayers on the...

Joy to the world … “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” Luke 1:46-47 (NIV) I find the beginning of the biblical books of Matthew, Luke and John very exciting....

Breath of Heaven Part two of a series on Christmas songs ‘…I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…’ (Galatians 2:20 NIVUK) The song Breath of Heaven1 tells the story of the Nativity from...

Go tell it on the mountain! The stories of Christmas fascinate me. Don’t we discover a kinship with the shepherds as we rehearse the birth narrative? Aren’t we just ordinary people like them who...

The autumn of our years! Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18 (NIVUK) The poet...

Food for thought Part seven of a series of studies on the Lord’s Prayer “ ‘Give us today our daily bread.’ ”  Matthew 6:11 (NIV) The fragile human bodies we inhabit need constant...

The sunrise of peace One of my favorite sunrise experiences was on a beach in Florida. As I looked across the Atlantic Ocean, there was just a faint glimmer of light on the watery horizon. It started...

Sending words of hope One of my hobbies is making greeting cards. I’m not artistic, but I’m pretty good at copying (so thankful for Pinterest). I enjoy creating something beautiful out of...

Prepare ye the way of the Lord For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet [Isaiah], saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight....

Santa Claus is coming to town   Part one of a series on Christmas songs …it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by...

Wounding friends Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Proverbs 27:6 KJV) I was 21 years old when my father died suddenly and no one in my family knew how to...

Christ is surely coming “…why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11...

What on earth… Part six of a series of studies on the Lord’s Prayer “‘…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’” Matthew 6:10 (NIV) There are several...

Hope is the final word When we think of passages to read for Christmas, we usually don’t flip straight to Jeremiah. The “weeping prophet” spent most of his career watching Israel be brutally and...

Gifts of love Have you ever received a gift, and instead of saying thank you, you told the giver, “I don’t deserve this”? If you’ve said that, you’ve probably heard a...

How to wait for the return of Jesus ‘…keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief...

The power of the Holy Spirit For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)   Anyone who has witnessed a lightning bolt and loud...

Man’s insatiable desire for knowledge “The secret things belong to the Lord our God…” Deuteronomy 29:29 (NKJV) In 2004 the European Space Agency launched a mission to land an investigative...

Love in action Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:9-10 NIV) This section of scripture is...

The kingdom and the King Part five of a series of studies on the Lord’s Prayer “ ‘…your kingdom come…’ ”  Matthew 6:10 (NIV) “Give us a king to lead us” was the demand the...

Living your best life You’ve heard the phrase, ‘Don’t settle for less!’ It’s a well-meaning attempt to motivate you to not give up on the best life you have envisioned for yourself. You’ve...

Seeing as Jesus sees It’s getting harder and harder to watch the news. Horrible things happen every day – shootings, stabbings, drug overdoses, bombings and many other examples of...

What’s in a title? There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Luke 23:38 (NIV) Why are titles so important to people? In a way it is like ‘instant...

It’s great to give Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) Times are very...

Give us a clue “Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that...

Sought and restored Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with...

What’s in a name?  Part four of a series of studies on the Lord’s Prayer “ ‘…hallowed be your name…’ ” Matthew 6:9 (NIV) To know a person’s name – to be introduced to them – is...

Memorial Day During the second and third centuries A.D., the church would meet in the catacombs and bury the dead in a ritual of remembrance. The term to describe these ancient resting places...

Awakened to gratitude Many of us wake up in the middle of the night, minds racing with fears, worries and/or things we need to do. We toss and turn, hoping to go back to sleep for a little while, with...

God’s comforting presence “…make up your mind not to worry beforehand…” Luke 21:14 (NIV) It can be exciting imagining that we are part of a key moment in history, and that the return of...

We will remember them  …They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more....

Peace, peace, peace! “They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace.” Jeremiah 6:14 (NKJV)  Is there peace in this world today? Even...

Reflecting his light And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 (NIV) This is an invitation...