26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the … Continue reading In Awe and Wonder: kingdom
In Awe and Wonder: expect
The very last words of the last book of the Old Testament read:“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, … Continue reading In Awe and Wonder: expect
In Awe and Wonder: time
As we’ve been reading scripture through this advent season, the Bible is telling one story leading to the coming of the Messiah, the birth of Jesus. The stage has been set, in fact the plot put in motion since creation and the fall. Sin brought brokenness to the world, separation between God and humanity, constant … Continue reading In Awe and Wonder: time
In Awe and Wonder: rescue
During very difficult situations it can appear there is no possible way that light will come in the darkness. And Israel faced many years of darkness when they were held captive in exile. The promises of God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob seemed so long ago… the reign of the kings over… the nation shattered…. … Continue reading In Awe and Wonder: rescue
In Awe and Wonder: rise
On the windowsill by my kitchen sink sits this tiny orchid. For months it sits with beautiful blooms, which require minimal care to maintain its gorgeous color. And then one day it happened. A shriveled flower made an unexpected appearance. The normally in perfect bloom plant was experiencing the unavoidable life cycle. Each day brought … Continue reading In Awe and Wonder: rise
In Awe and Wonder: light
Darkness changes things.It changes a beautiful woods into a scary scene.It changes a promising sunny afternoon at the pool into a disappointing change of plans.It changes a house into an obstacle course full of pinky toe-biting monsters. Darkness changes things, perhaps most significantly is how it impacts our perception. When night falls and dusk creeps … Continue reading In Awe and Wonder: light
In Awe and Wonder: purpose
Remember when you were younger and the biggest question it seemed you would ever face was, “What am I going to be when I grow up?” Then again… maybe you just asked yourself that question yesterday. Any way around it, knowing our purpose in life is one of the core questions for developing our sense … Continue reading In Awe and Wonder: purpose
In Awe and Wonder: persevere
Some days the attacks just keep coming, its almost as if you can’t catch a break. Even the night offers no rest. And you’re growing beyond weary, thinking, “I can’t fight this battle on every side for much longer.” Where does strength come from when you’ve exhausted every resource and it seems your enemies are … Continue reading In Awe and Wonder: persevere
In Awe and Wonder: ablaze
It is intriguing how much joy and frustration building a fire can bring. Over my years in camping ministry I’ve taught many campers and staff the necessary tools to build a campfire. Once a frustrated fire builder exclaimed, “How are there so many house fires when I can’t even get one fire to light when … Continue reading In Awe and Wonder: ablaze
In Awe and Wonder: heart
I never liked when we had to pick teams in gym class. Standing in line with the masses it is hard to not feel judged; after all, the captains are trying to choose a winning team. I really didn’t like to be a captain either. So much pressure to pick the right team?. What if … Continue reading In Awe and Wonder: heart
Thin Moments 