In each heart lies a Bethlehem,
An inn where we must ultimately answer
Whether there is room or not.
from the poem In Search of Our Kneeling Places by Ann Weems
Christmas Blessings
Prayer for Election Day 2024
For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted. ~Psalm 47:7-9 NIV
Behold: A New Thing
“Behold, I am doing a new thing.” –Isaiah 43:19 ESV
Yes! God is indeed doing a new thing!
I am excited to tell you: I have been accepted into a program for training spiritual directors. In case the term is new to you, a spiritual director, in broad terms, is a companion or witness to another person’s spiritual journey. Also called a spiritual guide or spiritual companion, the director meets with a person (or group) to explore together how and where God is working in the person’s life. Spiritual direction provides a safe space to pray, listen, and reflect.
Good Seed/Bad Seed
Scripture
Mark 4:26-29 ESV
And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Consider
Speaking to an agrarian culture, Jesus often used images of farming in his teaching parables.
In-Between Time
Scripture
Hosea 6:1-3 ESV
Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Consider
The Lord’s word through his prophet Hosea was a promise of forgiveness and restoration to his rebellious people Israel. Their sin caused them to suffer, but after two days God would revive them as if from death to a new life lived in his presence. As Christians we recognize this “third day resurrection” as a foreshadowing of Christ’s triumph.
