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Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:34,35). I remember when Mary's part in the Christmas story came alive to me: I was halfway th...
Keep Reading"'For my [Simeon's] eyes have seen your salvation...a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel...And a sword will pierce your [Mary's] soul too'" (Luke 2:30,32,35b). "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, / And ransom captive Israel Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel / Shall come to thee, O Israel." This is my favorite Christmas carol. I love its beautiful ...
Keep ReadingO come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer/Our spirits by Thine advent here, O drive away the shades of night/And pierce the clouds and bring us light. ("O Come, O Come Emmanuel," 12th century Latin hymn.) Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.He was waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him (Luke 2:25). L...
Keep Reading"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" Luke 2:25-35 We are in in-between times, aren't we? In between Thanksgiving and Christmas, in between Election Day and Inauguration Day, in between the start of the pandemic and its longed-for end. Some of us are in between jobs, or in between a diagnosis and a hoped-for cure, in between our desire to be with family and friends and the recommen...
Keep ReadingColossians 3:5-14 In high school I was a member of the marching band, and after summer band camp we were all issued identical uniforms. The uniforms came with standard care instructions and also instructions on how to conduct ourselves when wearing them. The expectations were that we would be at our very best behavior when wearing the uniform. The uniforms identified us a...
Keep ReadingTherefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12, 14) I've been six feet tall since I was 13 years old. I grew up 60 miles from the nearest mall, too, so you can imagine the challe...
Keep ReadingIf ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things upon the earth, for ye are dead and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3 KJV). During one season in my early years as a believer I participated in a small group who worshiped God to the ac...
Keep Reading"Set your minds on things aboveand be thankful" (Colossians 3:2, 15b) When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? (J. Oatman) Has 2020 left you feeling "tempest tossed" and "bear[ing]" much? We don't know how hard this virus ...
Keep Readingyou have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the image of the Creator Therefore, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity (Colossians 3:9, 10, 12, 14) When it comes to Real ID, we som...
Keep Reading"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.I will be found by you," declares the LORD, " and will bring you back to the placefrom which I carried you into exile" (Jeremiah 29:13-14). Exile is either the end of the road or the place for an unexpected, undeserved new creation. Exile is the loss of everything we've ever known and loved or the place...
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