I met a man at church a couple weeks ago. During our meet-and-greet, he was sitting alone so my wife and I introduced ourselves. After some brief pleasantries, we asked what plans he had for the rest of the day. He told us he didn’t know. He was just struggling to get through service. He didn’t want to come to church that Sunday. He was mad at God. He is a three-time cancer survivor who lost his forty-one year old son to cancer earlier this year. It was his first Christmas se

We’ve been in the dark for while now. It’s easy to see. You can point it out. It’s in the news. It’s on our minds. It sells. It scares. It threatens. But it doesn’t have the final word. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. – John 1:5 #Advent #Bible

It couldn’t have been all roses. She had to have waddled a bit. She gained weight. She probably had stretch marks. She experienced morning sickness. Her feet hurt. Her back hurt. And then she rode an animal for 80 miles. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. –

Mary believed. How do we know? She acted. She deliberately chose to act in faith. She went and told Joseph. She couldn’t prove she was pregnant. She couldn’t prove that the baby wasn’t because of an affair. She couldn’t even convince her fiancé until an angel showed up. But her belief wasn’t unfounded. She had it on pretty substantial authority. She knew that when angels show up, you listen, Even so, there is no way Mary could have been absolutely certain. Yet, she was willin

Life can be heavy. It can be disheartening. Dreams unrealized. Longings unsatisfied. Desires unfulfilled. Questions unanswered. Wrongs un-righted. We pine for relief. We wait for deliverance. We yearn for resolution. We aren’t there yet. We’re here. Life in the dissonance. What are we to do? How are we to think? Where are we to go? Who are we to be? 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will ma

We all hope that at some point it will get better. Things will be set right. Circumstances will change. Outcomes will be different. But that isn’t always promised. In some cases it happens. In others it doesn’t. The promise isn’t dependent on the circumstances. Focus on the outcome misses the point. It’s easily overlooked, but it’s true even before everything is set right. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” – Luke 1:28 #Advent #Bib

What if it doesn’t get better? What if it doesn’t work out like you’d like? What if the circumstances don’t change? What if you’re right where you’re meant to be? What if everything you have is everything you need? What if this moment is enough? Maybe the hope isn’t far off. Maybe the promise is already fulfilled. Maybe the relief is already here. Maybe what you’re looking for is already with you. 23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emm

What have you ruled out? What have you dismissed? What have labeled impossible? What have people said about you? Where are the limitations they place? What do they think you are incapable of? Do you believe them? Do you see impossibilities? Absurdities? Futility? Failure? Maybe it won’t happen. That doesn’t mean it can’t. Just because it hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean it won’t. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the six

It can certainly be lonely. We’ve all tried to do it ourselves. We’re the ones that are making things happen. We’re the ones who get results. We’re responsible. In control. The water is leaking through the dam and we’re plugging holes. But every time we do, another hole opens up. It’s exhausting. The plates are all up, balanced and spinning but one starts to wobble. As soon as it is steadied, another wobble. It’s draining. That mole keeps popping out of its hole and you bop i

Available. Ready. Willing. Waiting. At the drop of a hat. In the blink of an eye. The moment the gun goes off. Running. Full speed. No hesitation. Here am I. 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. – Luke 1:38 #Advent #Bible