Be Unafraid (and Smile)

Dec 19, 2012 | Devotions

Luke 1:26-29 In this short passage, the angel Gabriel goes to Mary to foretell the birth of Jesus. Gabriel begins by excitedly telling Mary she is highly favored by the Lord. Instead of rejoicing, Mary is troubled by his words. Instead of hearing the positive greeting...

The People Who Missed Christmas

Dec 18, 2012 | Devotions | 1 comment

Matthew 2:1-2 One of my favorite Christmas books is the Miracle of Christmas by John F. MacArthur, Jr. Every year I go back to the chapter entitled “The People Who Missed Christmas,” where MacArthur writes about all the people of the time and why they missed the...

Jesus: Savior of “a People” or “All People?”

Dec 17, 2012 | Devotions

Zephaniah 3:14-20 It has been difficult for me to relate this passage from Zephaniah to the season of Advent. Yes, it is a song of joy about a loving, forgiving, and even singing God, and I especially like the idea of a singing God, but who does God love, forgive, and...

A Big Word

Dec 16, 2012 | Devotions

John 1:1-5, 14 I love this passage, because it is such a poetic interpretation of the story of Christ entering the world. It hints at tangled truths larger than we can easily articulate: God is Word and Word is Light and Light is Being and God is coming into the...

A Thrilling Promise

Dec 15, 2012 | Devotions

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 If you love Handel’s Messiah as I do, you probably cannot read these words without hearing the soaring chorus based on this passage. Though probably written in the 8th century B.C.E., these words have been embraced by the Christian Church and...