angels – Be Still…

Hebrews 1:1-14 – Meet Jesus

We are not in one of the gospels, and yet here we meet Jesus and learn more about him. When we see Jesus, we see God. “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God.” To know Jesus is to know God.

The author of Hebrews is unknown or unverified, but scholars do agree that the author had a good grasp of the Old Testament and who Jesus was. It is unlikely that the author was one of the original twelve disciples. We may pick up more clues along the way, but there must be a reason his identity is not given. The authority of God and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit are still present in a mighty way. Continue reading “Hebrews 1:1-14 – Meet Jesus”

Thanksgiving 2025 – Giving Thanks

What are you thankful for? Thank God right now for the top three things that came to your mind.

Perhaps you live in the United States, and you’re off work today because you’re celebrating Thanksgiving. Perhaps you’re surrounded by family and friends. Perhaps you’re looking forward to new beginnings. Perhaps you’re remembering what Jesus did for you on the cross.

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know we have been reading through the New Testament, starting in the book of Mark. We’re taking a break today to focus on gratitude and giving thanks. We’ll pick up Mark soon.

Let’s start by reflecting on Psalm 100:4-5, which says:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
    go into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

When we come before God, we should gladly bring our praises and offerings of thanksgiving. Look around at the bounty God has given. The LORD loves it when we give him the honor and glory he deserves.

Did you know that when you are busy focusing on your gratefulness, your sadness, loneliness, or despair just floats away. The two emotions can’t co-exist. I think God knew that, and so did the psalmist when he encourages us to remember God’s goodness and unfailing love that lasts forever.

I’d like to share a few more Bible verses that speak to our thankfulness using the acronym THANKS. I am thankful for all of these things, especially God’s Word.

T – for Truth, for God’s Word, alive and life-changing, the sword that protects us is part of the armor of God. Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17

H – for Heroes of faith, like Moses and Daniel and Paul, together with those gathering in the great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 12:1.

A – for Angels that protect us and bear messages from God. Hebrews 2:1-4 speaks of the message the angels brought to us to heed.

N – for being No longer slaves to our sins. We have a Redeemer who has taken away our sin. 1 John 1:9 reminds us to confess those sins and not keep them inside.

K – for Kindness and the ability to be kind. When we let the Holy Spirit work in our lives, kindness is one of the great benefits we can be given. Galatians 5:22-23

S – for Songs that praise the name of God. The book of Psalms is a great place to find lyrics you’ll recognize in many contemporary praise songs, as well as hymns we sing. Our opening Psalm 100 above speaks to that privilege we have to show God our gratitude.

My Thanksgiving prayer includes you as you read these verses, allowing the gratitude to sweep over you. May you feel God’s loving touch on your life in exactly the right place, where you need it most. He knows–I don’t have to.

Have a happy Thanksgiving, and if you’re reading this from outside the USA or on a day other than the 4th Thursday of November, then remembering to be thankful is an exercise we should do daily. God deserves our giving thanks in every prayer.

Let’s pray. Father God, my heart overflows with gratitude as I look at my life and what you have done with it, and are continuing to do with it. Help me get out of my own way when I need to, and show me what that looks like. I want to represent you well in this world in all I say and do. Thank you for walking with me through each new challenge, helping me to lean in to your help more often. Thank you for being my all in all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark 16:1-8 – Jesus is Alive!

Read Mark 16:1-8

What would have been your reaction when finding the empty tomb? Shock. Fear. It’s hard to put ourselves there truly because we know how the story plays out. We know the empty tomb is exactly what we should have expected. Jesus told us after all. But where was Jesus now?

I’m not going to dive into the “why we have different endings” discussion. Neither of the added endings say anything contrary or surprising in light of what we know about Jesus’ life on earth, both before and after his death. Hallelujah, Jesus is alive!

Zechariah 4:1-14 – A Lampstand and Two Olive Trees

Read Zechariah 4:1-14

You’re not alone if this fifth vision of Zechariah left you perplexed. It’s not only strange but hard to understand. I’m hoping we can unpack it a little and let the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts the intended message for our reflection. Even the angel’s explanation left me scratching my head.

It helps to remember that this section of the book is focusing on who is leading those exiled people now returning to Jerusalem. This vision points to the new governor, and kingly descendent, Zerubbabel. You may recall Haggai mentions Zerubbabel—now it’s Zechariah’s turn to shine the light on the leader God had chosen.

Zechariah 1:7-17 – World Peace, Really?

Read Zechariah 1:7-17

We’re told Zechariah waited three months for this new vision. Do you think he wondered if he was going to hear from God again? Now comes a vision that seems a bit complex. It doesn’t appear that the color of the horses has any significance nor does the location among the hedgerow of the evergreen shrub, myrtle, indigenous to the region.

The message would be timely for the people were floundering after returning to their homeland. You know, there is always that awkward period of adjustment and transition. My husband and I are heading into a new season, which includes moving our residence across town. There will always be upheaval amid change.