“Merry Christmas!”

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory,

the glory of the one and only Son,

who came from the Father,

full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 (NIV)

May the joy of Christ’s birth fill your heart and home with peace.

David

“But Then You Came”

[This first appeared on December 5, 2013, as a guest post on Mitzi C. Smith’s blog “Written Reality” (www.writtenreality.com).]

But then you came.

Several Advents ago, I heard a story from a sermon by Rick Ezell. As I recall the story, one day a young wife and mother snapped and ran away. She answered her husband’s frequent phone calls but wouldn’t tell him where she was. She ignored his repeated pleas to come home.

When weeks became months, he hired a private investigator to locate her. The husband booked a flight and made his way to her cheap motel room. Trembling, he knocked on the door.

When it cracked open, he said, “The kids and I love you. Please come home.”

“A Faith Like Mary’s”

A Visit From Gabriel

If I were the Virgin Mary, I’m not sure my faith would have been as trusting as hers. Do you ever wonder how you might have responded if you’d been in her sandals? How many people do you think would have believed your story?

The angel Gabriel did not deliver his world-changing announcement to a mass audience.

No video was filmed to be shown on all the major networks and cable channels.

No reporter came to take a picture and write a story for the Nazareth newspaper.

No smartphone selfie proved God’s messenger really had visited her.

And the angel didn’t even go with Mary to break the news to her parents or to Joseph. Gabriel had a private conversation with Mary and then departed.

“Five Thanksgiving Prayers for You”

Take Your Pick

Here are five prayers for your Thanksgiving dinner. 

May a spirit of giving thanks live in us year round, not just on the fourth Thursday in November.

Moravian Blessing

Come, Lord Jesus, our guest to be

And bless these gifts bestowed by Thee.
And bless our loved ones everywhere,
And keep them in Your loving care.

“Do You Give Like Cain or Abel?”

First Fruits

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil

as an offering to the Lord.

But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.

The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.

Genesis 4:3-5a

Adam and Eve’s first two sons were Cain and Abel. Cain farmed, Abel tended flocks. Each brother gave an offering, but God only accepted one of the gifts.

Why?

One brother gave God the very best, off the top.

The other did not.

“Trying to Smell the Color 9”

Nine Isn’t a Color

The wilderness stretched to the horizon in all directions. Which way was the shortest path out? Like Job, God never answered my why questions.

Comprehending God’s purpose in that situation was like trying to smell the color nine. (Thank you, Chris Rice, for releasing your song “Smell the Color 9” in 2000.)

A sister in Christ listened to me unload a tractor trailer full of disappointment, doubt, and hurt. When I finished, she leaned forward and shared her story. In her pain, she found God is big enough to absorb all the anger we hurl at heaven.

Then she said, “Today you’re in the wilderness. Tomorrow you will go even farther into the wilderness. Yes, God has you in a really good place right now.”