With the memories of Christmas Day still fresh in our minds, we carry with us into the coming days and new year much emotion, a touch of exhaustion, and a most valuable truth – God loves us! For all the prophecies given by God about the Messiah’s coming, Jesus fulfills each and every one ofContinueContinue reading “Embraced by Love: Power and Pursuit”
Category Archives: Embrace
Embraced by Love: Pardons and Praise
As I hold my new granddaughter, I find myself regularly speaking my love over her. Out loud I tell her, “You are so loved.” When she looks contentedly up at me, I kiss her forehead and say to her, “I love you.” When she hollers hungrily, I speak the words, “I love you.” When herContinueContinue reading “Embraced by Love: Pardons and Praise”
Embraced by Love: Pronouncements and Perceptions
Humble. Awake. Watchful. Vigilant. Faithful. Five words that describe the shepherds who were living in a field not far from where Jesus was born (Luke 2:8). To be honest, I never really gave the shepherds a whole lot of thought as I would read and reread the Christmas story. Mostly because they’ve always been thereContinueContinue reading “Embraced by Love: Pronouncements and Perceptions “
Embraced by Love: Promises and Peace
Nothing could have prepared my husband and me for the love we feel for our brand new granddaughter – even though plenty of our friends tried to make us ready for it. But the moment we saw her, our hearts beat differently. I remember feeling this way when our sons were born. I marveled atContinueContinue reading “Embraced by Love: Promises and Peace”
Embraced by Love: Prophecies and Preparations
My house is fully decorated and Christmas music hums throughout – let the Advent season commence! In all seriousness, there’s something comforting and hopeful about entering into rhythms of this season, rhythms that give me life, like adorning my home with the greens and reds, the sparkly and sentimental. I hold dear the songs ofContinueContinue reading “Embraced by Love: Prophecies and Preparations”
Advent Series Introduction
Hello! Those of you who follow my writing regularly know that I don’t usually do a Saturday post, but I wanted to do a bit of an introduction to the Advent series that launches tomorrow. This series is a little different from anything I’ve ever done before, so I wanted to do a set-up beforeContinueContinue reading “Advent Series Introduction”
Embracing Grace: Gratitude
As I outlined this series back in mid-summer, I got to a place in the process where I had a list of all twelve topics, but wrestled with their order. When I paused long enough to see the bigger picture that God was painting, an out-loud “duh!” escaped my lips. Gratitude – the week ofContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Gratitude”
Embracing Grace: Freedom
First century Jews longed for the freedom deliverance would bring. They actively looked for the long-awaited Messiah to arrive – to save them from their oppressors, to free them from all that the Romans held them captive to. Social control. Religious restraints. Political autonomy. And who can blame them? Isn’t that a core longing ofContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Freedom”
Embracing Grace: Weakness
The upside-down ways of God’s kingdom flash brightly in contrast to our world’s obsession with people who are exceptional. In our world where money opens doors, the famous always find the spotlight, and those with extraordinary talents or looks or abilities are very nearly worshiped, strength is elevated. Weakness is looked down upon, ignored, shamed,ContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Weakness”
Embracing Grace: Trust
We’ve begun reading through the Bible together at our church. As we made our way through Exodus, it struck us how impatient and even irritated we could be toward the Israelites as they made their way through the wilderness. Most of us struggled with understanding how a group of people, who are meant to beContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Trust”