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A prayer for the new year
A simple prayer I picked up from Richard Foster in his latest book, Learning Humility. It’s a good one for reflection this year. My personal goal is to turn to this prayer often in 2023. Loving Lord Jesus, I humbly ask you would: Purify my heart, Renew my mind, Sanctify my imagination, and Enlarge my soul. AMEN
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Two forgotten heroes in the early Jesus narrative
Two people I am fascinated with in the early narrative of Jesus: Simeon and Anna. Both waiting. Both longing. Both rewarded after decades of waiting.
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Pope Benedict XVI — 1927-2022
“Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life. Even though, as I look back on my long life, I can have great reason for fear and trembling, I am nonetheless of good cheer, for I trust firmly that the Lord is not only the just judge, but also the friend and brother who himself has…
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This is the day I look for
I am always glad the daily office readings end in Revelation as the New Testament reading. It makes me homesick every time. There will be a time when war will be no more. A time when heaven and earth are truly joined together. A time when our King will finally be known in fullness to all and what we know…
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Divine appointments
I had a friend who loved the opportunities he found along the way. He called them “divine appointments.” He would meet someone on a trip and a conversation would spark and after awhile it was clear the Holy Spirit had set something up. What was special about this friend was he didn’t run on a clock. If a conversation began,…
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Remembering the innocents
Jeremiah 31:15–17 (NIV): This is what the Lord says:“A voice is heard in Ramah,mourning and great weeping,Rachel weeping for her childrenand refusing to be comforted,because they are no more.”16 This is what the Lord says:“Restrain your voice from weepingand your eyes from tears,for your work will be rewarded,”declares the Lord.“They will return from the land of the enemy.17 So there…
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One more book
The Religion of American Greatness by Paul D Palmer is one I am adding to my “year in books.” I just listened to it on Audible and WOW! Palmer gets at the heart of Christian Nationalism and calls it out. He digs into the deep roots of our American problem. It is a clear call not only about Christian Nationalism,…
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Feast of St. Stephen
In my upbringing in a Pentecostal denomination, Acts 6 wasn’t about “deacons.” I’ve learned in the Anglican tradition that they hold those chosen in Acts 6 to be deacons.
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The hope of the world
Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with and the same Spirit be honor…
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The ones not with us
We remember the ones not with us in times and seasons like these. This will be my first Christmas without my dad. He passed away in May of this year. Those firsts are such a mixture for me. The first Father’s Day without him. Mom’s first birthday without him. This Christmas.
