“Fear thou not, for I am with thee …” Isaiah 41:10 It was getting close to Christmas again. Normally, it was time to bring out the candles, decorations, and mementos of Christmas past. Maria would have started early baking and he would have begun to scrounge around for a new recipe for fudge. John sat down in his easy chair and began to count the days. He took out a pad and pen and started to make a list. Shop for Sally, Sid, and Skippy. He had to do that.

The Jesus Journey - The Journey Begins. The early days of Jesus’ journey here remind us that he invites us to join him on his journey and takes our journeys with us. It is often a circuitous route. There are dangers, but there is always purpose. Matthew 2:12-21 on YouTube

Galilee - Bethlehem-Egypt - Nazareth --- Matthew 2:12-21

What defines greatness?

Against a Lamb? Photo by Paul Seling on Pexels.com When God gets the last word, who can stand?Fall on us, rocks! It would be better than to come under the true judgments of God! It would be better …

Against a Lamb? Photo by Paul Seling on Pexels.com When God gets the last word, who can stand? Fall on us, rocks! It would be better than to come under the true judgments of God! It would be better than to face the wrongs we have done to God's people! God speaks and pulls back the curtain to assure those who are persecuted that the rulers and powers of the earth did not get and do not get the last word. Empire shall crumble under the awesome judgment of God.

The Day of Renewed Blessing - Zechariah 8

An Overview

From Zechariah 7 and 8

Photo by Athena Sandrini on Pexels.com Read the Full Text The Visible Kingdom What does it look like? If we pray for and participate in the prayer, “Thy Kingdom come,” how does that play out in the day-to-day? What does the Kingdom of God look like? How does it play out when it becomes visible? The obvious theological answer is that it is the reign of God. But the question remains, “What does that mean?” How do we recognize it? How do we work for it, welcome it, and participate in it?

Reflections from Plum Village on healing our world's pain

The truth is that I got to where I am by asking or anticipating certain questions and steps over and over and over and over until I was weary of the word, “over,” and then some more. Ho…

The truth is that I got to where I am by asking or anticipating certain questions and steps over and over and over and over until I was weary of the word, "over," and then some more. How I Got Where I Am destination #success #successstory #journey

What We Can Lear from 10 Brides

Be Watchful  “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom and five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The…

Be Watchful “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom and five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them …” – Matthew 25:1-13 When I had to learn memory verses as a child, “Jesus wept” was a wonderful standby. That was simple and there were only two words to remember. Here is another, more to the point: As a Boy Scout, our motto was as easy, “

There are two doors in Revelation 3.

“…but her leaf shall be green …” – Jeremiah 17:8 There are days and years when our leaves wither. Or influence evaporates. Our joy is diminished. Our hopes and dreams come to naught. Such wer…

“…but her leaf shall be green …” - Jeremiah 17:8 There are days and years when our leaves wither. Or influence evaporates. Our joy is diminished. Our hopes and dreams come to naught. Such were the days that Isaiah prophesied and Jeremiah both lived and prophesied. But a better day would come with repentance and renewal and Jeremiah foretold it for “the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” That is the key. To stay green and fresh, full of life and giving life, one must do two things: trust in God and hope in God.

“My heart is stirring with a noble song…” – Psalm 45:1a

I have been trying to be more consistent and outspoken about current events, feeling somewhat frustrated, thinking that it’s just more of the same.

Acts 5:12-16

Photo by Boys in Bristol Photography on Pexels.com Matthew 24:15–21 (ESV) “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place… then let those …

Photo by Boys in Bristol Photography on Pexels.com Matthew 24:15–21 (ESV) “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place… then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains… For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” Introduction: A World That Feels Scattered There is something deeply human about the desire to be gathered. To be known.To belong.To feel rooted rather than scattered.

Psalm 52