The first Christmas was a silent and holy night. I’m familiar with silent nights. Because they track me down and schedule dates on my calendar. You see, I lose my voice about once a year, unable to squeak out a single word. Laryngitis sets up residence in my vocal cords. But it’s never a good time. Five years ago, silence struck with a job interview the next day. And it happened once with three speaking events coming up, the first in only three short days. Still, I was rendered Continue Reading
Advent Celebrations Reinforce Significance of Jesus’ Birth {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}
The term “Advent” originated from Latin “adventus,” which means “coming” or “arrival.” The Latin term, translated from the Greek word “Parousia,” is the term used in the New Testament’s original text for the second coming of Christ. Therefore, the Advent season is observed in most Christian denominations as the celebration of Christ’s coming at his birth and the return of Christ at the second coming. Both events are found in Messianic prophecies in the Old and New Testament. The activities Continue Reading
A Christmas Dare {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
"For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11 I love a good story. It’s true – I can be so enthralled by a good book or movie that, as my family says, ‘a bomb could go off beside me and it wouldn’t faze Continue Reading
How a White Christmas Showed Me God’s Love {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
The first Christmas I spent away from my family was also my first Christmas walking with the Lord. I was living in Needham, Massachusetts. Having grown up in the deep south, my assignment to Boston out of college couldn’t have been more exotic if it’d been Mars. I arrived in early October. The beauty of the colored leaves intoxicated me. I loved the quaint town with its mixture of Victorian houses and small clapboard homes. The locals’ accents fascinated me. One student, named Barbara Continue Reading
Sometimes Tough Love Is the Best Gift {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}
The prophet Ezekiel was one of the 10,000 exiles taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar in 597 B.C. During that time, God appeared in a magnificent vision while Ezekiel was among the Jews camping by the Kebar River, located in modern-day Syria. When God called Ezekiel to prophesy to the Jews, his ministry’s central message became immediately evident. The book’s theological focus becomes unmistakable within the first chapters: the life permeated with God’s presence versus the death associated Continue Reading
3 Biblical Responses to Others {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Jesus’ words are clear: “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). We expect it. Often, though, we wish that "you" wasn't so all-inclusive. It can be harder to watch those we love struggle than it is to suffer ourselves. We don’t always know how to help. During the holiday season of 2020, this is something that might be particularly true, as many of us won't be gathering and spending time together the way we're used to. Whether we're in person or on a call, here are several ways God's Continue Reading
