Posts with the category “advent”

Depending on your background and life experiences, what you think of when you read the word "church" can vary. You may be thinking of Chestnut Ridge Church, or a small family church you grew up in. It...  Read More

Everyone longs for peace, but where does it come from? Where can we find it? Everything around us this time of year appears merry and bright, but if most people were honest, they'd likely say that thi...  Read More

It’s hard to imagine a time when peace did not exist. But when we look back on that first Christmas, it was a time in history that was filled with despair. The peace that God created in the Garden of ...  Read More

For me, peace is something that is hard to come by. I have twin 5-year-old boys and a 9-year-old daughter. One of the few times I get peace is that couple of hours between their bedtimes and mine. It’...  Read More

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for peace is shalom. The most basic meaning of shalom is complete or whole. Shalom refers to something that is complex, with lots of pieces, that is in a state of...  Read More

There is no state of being more desirable and yet even more so elusive in our time and culture than peace. Quiet. Stillness. The absence of conflict. All defining features of peace that our hearts yea...  Read More

I have heard it said that happiness is “because of” while joy is “in spite of.” Happiness is a direct result of our circumstances — we are only happy when our circumstances are “good.” On the other ha...  Read More

I have often imagined what it would have been like to watch the events of Jesus’ crucifixion unfold; to see Him drag that rough, heavy cross to the place of murderers and thieves; to watch Christ spil...  Read More

They, the magi, who charted the stars and attached religious significance to their movements, were intrigued. Seeing this celestial phenomenon would, of course, spark their interest. Understanding thi...  Read More

As the holiday draws near, it’s easy to find ourselves caught up in busyness and activities that exhaust our bodies and overwhelm our minds. Perhaps this Christmas season finds you feeling weary. We c...  Read More

As I look back on my life, I have had many joy-filled memories. Time with friends and family over a meal, graduations (mine as well as others), the feelings of hope and joy as I looked into the eyes o...  Read More

We are surrounded by many words during the holiday season, intended to inspire and encourage, but these terms sometimes lose their true meaning when viewed through an earthly lens. The term “Joy” invo...  Read More

When I think about that verse and living by faith, I realize that having faith is sometimes very difficult. Having faith is especially difficult if you are a very organized and methodical person, such...  Read More

Ephesians 2:8-10 provides one of the clearest explanations in the entire Bible as to how we are transformed when we place our faith in Jesus Christ: we are “saved,” we become a “new creation,” and we ...  Read More

As I sit here listening to the song Mary, Did You Know?, I am led to think about the moment when Gabriel came to deliver news to Mary. I envision her in the kitchen, doing her normal evening routine, ...  Read More

Faith is a biblical concept that is described in scripture but it is not defined. To be defined, faith needs to have evidence that establishes a fact or the truth. We are able to discover the truth on...  Read More

In 1981, the rock group Journey had a massive hit called Don’t Stop Believin'. The writer of the song, Jonathan Cain, felt called to music but was struggling, barely making it. On a call with his dad,...  Read More

During this season of Christmas, we are bombarded with the celebration and culture of Christmas that tells us to Believe. It is very materialistic. It is a belief that if you wish for it, you will get...  Read More

As an artist, much of my time is spent trying to think creatively. One doesn’t have to look far to be inspired by what God has designed — I’m constantly blown away by the depth of creativity that exis...  Read More

Christmas is a time of year when many of us reflect, myself included. And sometimes, during those moments of reflection, our joyful celebrations are accompanied by feelings of sadness and weariness, a...  Read More

Our family loves traditions and making memories, especially at this time of year. Our annual Christmas “bucket list” includes several things, like baking and decorating Christmas cookies, driving arou...  Read More

While the first whispers of a Savior sent from God were uttered in Genesis 3, they were not the last. God continued to reveal more and more about who the Messiah would be, where He would come from, an...  Read More

2022 is coming to an end. As we look to the next four weeks — the Advent season — my prayer is that we listen carefully, as the God of the Universe speaks to us through His Word. This first week of Ad...  Read More

Often when we think of hope, we think of unsubstantiated optimism. However, that is not what the Bible means when it talks about Hope. That is not what our God offers us. He presents us with a much mo...  Read More

The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come. –Dietrich Bonhoeffer The ...  Read More