Seven Fish, One Lights an adult, many of my Christmas Eves were spent with my wife and children at our small, local church service. The kids and I would hang up our coats, grab a candle out of the box, and proceed to the pew closest to the piano....
Devotional
Christmas Cards and Open Hearts
Christmas Cards and Open Heartsy recently married cousin called the other day to ask if she needed to start sending Christmas cards now that she was officially an adult. She liked receiving cards but wasn’t sure that she was ready to get on board...
Light Work
Light Workhated the idea of hanging Christmas lights outside of our home. I thought it was a waste of time to put up lights only to take them back down a few weeks later. My wife, on the other hand, had trouble imagining Christmas in our home...
The Wonder of Advent
The Wonder of Advents a child, I would eagerly await the arrival of December 1, the day we could start opening our Advent calendars. The thick, paper calendars – imported from Europe by my mom who’d spent most of her childhood there as a missionary...
Mary His Mother
Mary His Mother he Easter story runs a mother’s heart through the sewers of what humanity is capable of. Years ago I saw a movie about a man sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. In the days leading to her son’s execution, his helpless...
Joseph of Arimathia
Joseph of Arimathia ife is a tapestry of so many incredible, extraordinary moments. There are moments that move us, moments that shape us as people, and moments that change the direction of our lives. We celebrate weddings and mourn at funerals. We...
The Roman Soldier
The Roman Soldier e'd lost count of how many crucifixions he’d witnessed. Too many. It wasn’t something a person ever got used to – the visceral brutality of the Roman death penalty ensured it left an impression – but after participating in so many...
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate t the height of the drama of the Easter story you’ll find Pontius Pilate. After Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested, he appeared before Pilate who would decide his fate. Each of the Gospel writers records Pilate questioning...
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot t’s not uncommon to celebrate spy stories. The names James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Carmen Sandiego all come to mind. Even in the Bible, we find captivating spy stories like the twelve Israelites (Numbers 13) who are sent to explore...
Mary of Bethany
Mary of Bethany lone young woman in a room full of men approaches Jesus with a box. The box held a perfume so valuable and expensive that it represented this young woman’s total life savings. This box held enough money for her to live comfortably...
The People At The Temple
The People at the Temple n the Monday immediately following Palm Sunday, Jesus entered the temple area of Jerusalem. At that time, the temple was enormous, dominating the city, covering an area larger than most American football stadiums today. ...
The Crowds In Jerusalem
The Crowds in Jerusalem The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:“Hosanna!‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’The...
Day 25: Coventry Carol
Lullay, lullayMy little tiny childBy-by, lullay, lullay Oh, sisters two how may we doFor to preserve this day? This poor youngling of whom we do sing Herod the King in his ragingCharged he hath this day His men of might in his own sightAll children young to slay Then...
Day 24: O Holy Night
Oh, holy night! The stars are brightly shiningIt is the night of the dear Savior's birthLong lay the world in sin and error piningTill He appeared and the soul felt its worthA thrill of hope the weary world rejoicesFor yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Fall on...
Day 23: Mary Did You Know
Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you knowthat your Baby Boy has come to make you new?This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you. Mary, did you...
Day 22: O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem O come and behold Him, born the King of Angels O come, let us adore Him Christ the Lord O sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation O come, o come ye to Bethlehem O Come and...
Day 21: Handel’s Messiah
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The kingdom of this world Is become the kingdom of our Lord And of His Christ, and of His Christ And He shall reign for ever and ever And He shall reign for ever and ever And He shall...
Day 20: Away In The Manger
Away in a manger No crib for His bed The little Lord Jesus Lay down His sweet head The stars in the sky Look down where He lay The little Lord Jesus Asleep on the hay The cattle are lowing The poor Baby wakes But little Lord Jesus No crying He makes I love Thee, Lord...
Day 19: Breath of Heaven
I have traveled many moonless nights Cold and weary with a babe inside And I wonder what I've done Holy father you have come And chosen me now to carry your son I am waiting in a silent prayer I am frightened by the load I bear In a world as cold as stone Must I walk...
Day 18: Do You Hear What I Hear
Said the night wind to the little lamb Way up in the sky, little lamb Do you see what I see Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy Do you hear what I hear Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king In your palace wall, mighty...
Day 17: Joyful, Joyful
Joyful, Joyful, we adore TheeGod of glory, Lord of loveHearts unfold like flow'rs before TheeOpening to the sun above Melt the clouds of sin and sadnessDrive the dark of doubt awayGiver of immortal gladness,Fill us with the light of day! All Thy works with joy...