Relevant Reflections to Let God's Word Back Into Your Hands and Heart
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Merry Christmas!!
Fun Fact! The 12 Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day (if you’re following a liturgical calendar). As your 12 Days of Christmas begin this year, let’s take pause to explore the lyrics of some of our favorite Christmas carols. There is a richness I’m only now beginning to fully appreciate (and, as my kids tell me, “I’m old.”).
Continue reading “Day 1 O Little Town of Bethlehem” 
Eternal Word (John 1:1-14)
Merry Christmas!! I love this reading from John’s gospel. John takes a little different approach to the story of Jesus’ birth. His incarnation as a baby was not the beginning. Not even close. Jesus was with God, was God, at the creation of all that exists.
As we have journeyed together this Advent, we have read about John, the man God sent to “tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.” Jesus is that light. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” We certainly are living in times of darkness in need of a Savior!
Continue reading “December 25 Eternal Word (John 1:1-14)” 
How wonderful, how glorious! Mary Magdalene didn’t know that’s how her morning was going to play out! Can you imagine Mary’s surprise when she saw the stone was moved away from the opening.
When the unexpected happens, we often freeze. But Mary immediately ran to find help. I can almost picture what happened when she found Peter and the other disciple. She was out of breath, trying to get each word out amidst her confusion and fear. She blurted out, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
Continue reading “He Is Risen: “I Have Seen The Lord!””
Jesus asked Peter a similar question three times. It’s almost as if he wanted to hear Peter’s affirmation three times to cancel out the three denials made the night Jesus was arrested. What would your response be if Jesus asked you, “Do you love me?” It’s important that we tell Jesus exactly how much we love him.
Jesus gives Peter several commands then. One being to feed his sheep. Jesus’ sheep would be all followers to come. Jesus wanted to make sure Peter was up for the job of serving them. He would be if he loved Jesus enough. When we love someone, it’s much easier to do what they ask of us.
Continue reading “John 21:15-25 – Feed My Sheep”
That was something. Imagine breakfast prepared for you by Jesus himself. The disciple Jesus loved had recognized it was the Lord even while they were out in the boat. Yet when they were all face to face, the text says, “None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” Why would it say that?
It’s one of those details I suppose that can keep us from seeing into the depth of the passage. Our vision is often clouded when we focus on things that don’t matter. Suffice it to say, the risen Jesus had a different appearance than before. Jesus’ love for them and for humanity did not change.
Continue reading “John 21:1-14 – Be Filled”
