We all have to be reminded to enjoy – or even to notice – the things around us we see every day. The old saying is that “familiarity breeds contempt.” It would probably be more accurate to say familiarity creates apathy.
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Have you ever been in a situation where your stomach sank, or a moment where you felt your heart beat faster?
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Two years ago, my wife, Suzanne, and I became grandparents for the first time. What a joyful experience that has become! Two of our daughters – Selby (Blake) and Claire (Tudor) - delivered their babies five days apart in two different cities.
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“The details matter.” I have preached that to myself at least a hundred times while re-doing a household repair. I have said it to a child for everything from homework to money and time management.
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I am not always great at talking about my feelings. It is not that I don’t feel them, but for some reason I struggle to slow down and take stock of the moment. However, music breaks through to me.
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Over the last couple of years, Pam and I have had the privilege of launching our two oldest sons, Nate (Maggie) and Jacob (Grace), into marriage. The rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception for each wedding weekend gave Pam and I an overwhelming sense of one grand substantive emotion…JOY!
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In Luke 1, the angel Gabriel visits Mary in Nazareth announcing she will conceive and give birth to a son. He will be called Jesus, the Son of the Most High. Mary humbly responds, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled...” (Luke 1:38).
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Mary has just learned that she is pregnant. A virgin girl has miraculously conceived after a visit from an angel with a message from God. She had been told the baby she will carry will be called the Son of God.
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I don’t know about you, but I have made a lot of mistakes. I have been on the receiving end of the mistakes of others as well.
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Zechariah was a priest. He was a righteous man, a mature man, a sage. For years, he and Elizabeth prayed for a child. For years, the pregnancy tests were negative.
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This response from Gabriel can seem harsh, but the Lord knows the heart. His justice and discipline are perfect. It is just the right response and timing, as the angel pointed out.
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“Just one last trip to Walmart.” “You said that on the last trip.” “Well, one last trip to Walmart starting now.”
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Perhaps you find yourself in a season of transition this Advent. How do you navigate that season?
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Pride and insecurity always seem to be lurking in the shadows when it comes to the decisions of an abusive leader. In Matthew 2:16-18, the character assassins of pride and insecurity were certainly on full display in the life and leadership of King Herod in response to the birth announcement of Jesus Christ.
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Today’s passage offers a straightforward description of events in the lives of Joseph, Mary, and the Savior of the World. I find great irony in how few words are used to describe such a perilous, life-altering event which must have required an extraordinary amount of trust.
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The magi were likely scholars, astronomers, and court advisors from the Persian empire. As they watched the stars, they noticed an anomaly. In the first century, stars were highly important, and the idea that a special star heralded the birth of important people was widespread.
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We all have dreams. It could be a dream job, the perfect wedding, or to someday start a family just to name a few. Other than being a professional soccer player turned rockstar, another dream was to work in the sports industry.
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Growing up, I heard the words “magi” and “wise men” used interchangeably. I did not honestly know what either meant. Magi sounded like magician and the carols we sang about them always had an air of mystery.
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It was August of 2015, and I was in south Arkansas getting ready to begin my first day of teaching. I distinctly remember 60, sixth grade students marching into the choir room nervous but excited to start their first day of middle school.
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One of the most tragic realities of our broken world is broken families. Many different circumstances could contribute to a family being broken; neglect, moral failure, mental illness, poverty, or crime.
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My mom left a voicemail, “Kate. Call me back when you get this.” My heart sank. I called her back, prepared for anything except for what she said next…
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Dateline: 732 BC, Jerusalem, capital of Judah Outside the city was the army of Syria allied with the army of Israel, Judah’s neighbor to the north, and close relatives
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