What We Take With Us

Christmastide 1A texts from textweek.com Isaiah 63:7-9 Psalm 148 Heb. 2:10-18 Matthew 2:13-23 I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all that the Lord has done for us...  that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.Isaiah …

Living the Nativity: Peace

Christmas Eve/Day texts at http://www.textweek.com Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless …

Giving Thanks to the One Who Brings Peace

Proper 28 texts at http://www.textweek.com Isaiah 65:17-25 Malachi 4:1-2a 2 Thes. 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth... Be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.Isaiah 65:17a, 18 (This …

Palm Sunday/Passion Week: Something Old, Something New: The Lesson

Palm/Passion Sunday texts at http://www.textweek.com Isaiah 50:4-9a          Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29          Psalm 31:9-16 Phil. 2:5-11          Luke 19:28-40          Luke 22:14-23:56 Morning by morning [the Lord] wakens--wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.  Isaiah 50:4b While the Passover tells …

Lent 3: Something Old, Something New: The Feast

Lent 3 texts at http://www.textweek.com Isaiah 55:1-9         Psalm 63:1-8          1 Cor. 10:1-13          Luke 13:1-9 "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?" (Isaiah 55:2) God's invitation in Isaiah 55 doesn't read …

Epiphany 1: “Your Light Has Come”

The lectionary of scripture readings for the church year runs in a three-year cycle, which means that in 2019 we'll be following the same texts that I wrote devotionals about three years ago, the last time Year C rolled around, for the Baptist Women in Ministry blog. As an experiment--and a way of bringing those devos …

Advent, Week 2: The Luxury of Peace

I realize I've totally bailed on my regular writings, but my energy and emotions have been wrapped up in preparing this meditation for today's weekday Advent worship service at our local church. It was incredibly challenging to work on this in a season when I feel admittedly Grinchy about "hope, peace, joy, and love"--it's hard …

Advent 2014, Day 2: Being clay.

Today's reading: Isaiah 64:1-9Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)I took pottery classes for awhile; I wouldn't say I was particularly good at it, but it was good for me. I learned to get my hands …

Advent Day 18: In That Day

Today's reading: Isaiah 12: 2-6And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. (v. 4)There are days that it is just plain hard to praise. (There are weeks, months, years, lifetimes that it may be …

Advent, Day 16: How joy grows

Today's reading: Isaiah 61:8-11I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God...  For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. …