The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted… Isaiah 61:1 Advent – Day 5: Read: Luke 5 Today I became reaquainted with the term “compassion fatigue.” It is what happens when you spend a large portion of …

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has …

But in that day, the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious; Isaiah 4:2a Advent – Day 3: Read: Luke 3 As I read this chapter, it seems to me it can be summarized in one word: preparation. John the Baptist is preparing the way for the Messiah preaching repentance from sins and baptizing with …

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. Isaiah 11:1-3a …

Today I read an Advent challenge; something that will prepare my heart for Christmas and the celebration of this magical season. Beginning today, read one chapter of the gospel of Luke every day. There are twenty-four chapters, so you will finish the day before Christmas with a fresh and deeper understanding of the reason why …

And just like that we are at the end of November, headed right into the next holiday. Perhaps Christmas spilled over into your Thanksgiving celebration in a Thankmas gathering. As Christmas television specials abound, offering a heart-warming rendition of the magic of Christmas, I keep reminding myself of the real magic of Christmas. For a …

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15 Black Friday! Are you a die-hard Black Friday shopper? Do you wait until Cyber Monday? Do you like to shop at all? No matter where you find yourself today, remember that having more “things” will …

Thankful: conscious of benefits received; expressive of thanks Thankfulness: the quality or state of being thankful HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Today as I write in a local coffee shop, I can’t help hearing the conversations around me. Shhh…don’t tell anyone I am listening. I hear all kinds of holiday plans. These cousins coming in, those people going there, destinations near and far, family in to sort through dad’s things, conflict anticipated, nerves already on edge. …

Last week as I waited to be called back for an appointment, I browsed the magazines spread out on the coffee table in front of me. One in particular caught my attention, so I reached for it and quickly browsed several recipes, snapping photos of them to try later. Turning the page, a boxed quote …