Author: Administrador

Topics: Advent; Christmas; Death; Grief; Light; Loneliness; Loss; Mourning; Peace; Redemption References: Matthew 4:16; John 8:12 It looked like Stella Thornhope would be alone at Christmas. Her husband had died of cancer a few months before. Now she was snowed in. She decided not to bother with decorating the house. Late that afternoon, the doorbell … Continue reading “RETRIEVING
THE JOY”

Topics: Anticipation; Christmas; Hope; Light References: Matthew 4:16; Luke 2:32 A house near the entrance of our subdivision kept its Christmas lights burning long after the season was past. They burned through January and then into February. Finally, I became a bit caustic. “If I were too lazy to take my Christmas lights down, I … Continue reading “KEEPING
THE LIGHTS ON”

Topics: Advent; Christmas; Humility; Incarnation References: Isaiah 40:1–11; Philippians 2:5–11 In London, looking toward the auditorium’s royal box where the queen and her family sat, I caught glimpses of the way rulers stride through the world: with bodyguards, a trumpet fanfare, and a flourish of bright clothes and flashing jewelry. Queen Elizabeth II had recently … Continue reading “PRICING
A ROYAL VISIT”

Topics: Easter; Holy Week; Hope; Jesus Christ; Kingdom of God; Patience; Resurrection; Second Coming; Waiting on God References: John 20:1–18; Romans 8:18–25; 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 Good Friday and Easter Sunday have earned names on the calendar. Yet in a real sense we live on Saturday, the day with no name. What the disciples experienced in … Continue reading “LIVING
IN THE SATURDAY”

Topics: Advent; Attitudes; Celebration; Christmas; Happiness; Holidays; Joy References: Matthew 8:17; Hebrews 2:4 I was waiting to see my doctor in June when an older couple arrived. “Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!” the gentleman said to everyone in the waiting room. His enthusiasm was infectious. Most of the patients ignored the outburst, but I decided to … Continue reading “CELEBRATING
CHRISTMAS ANYTIME”

Topics: Christmas; Healing; Miracles; Supernatural Occurrences References: Matthew 8:17; Hebrews 2:4 Patti White Bull, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was in a coma for sixteen years. But on Christmas Day, she awoke and resumed normal activities: she dressed herself, walked without support, and talked in complete sentences. Unlike most coma patients, who awaken gradually, White Bull … Continue reading “WAKING
UP ON CHRISTMAS”

Topics: Children; Christmas; Desires; Gifts; Grace; Humanity; Manipulation; Prayer; Will References: Isaiah 55:6–9; Hebrews 5:7; 1 John 5:14–15 A small boy was writing a letter to God about the Christmas presents he wanted. “I’ve been good for six months now,” he wrote. After a moment’s reflection, he crossed out “six months” and wrote “three.” After … Continue reading “REVISING
THE WISH LIST”

Topics: Humanity; Significance; Worth References: Job 7:17; John 3:16; Romans 8:31–32 Many years ago, I purchased a Christmas plate for my wife, Judy. The price was $21.95. It was the first Christmas plate produced by Hummel in Germany, and the store clerk assured me it would increase in value. Recently Judy and I attended an … Continue reading “BREAKING
THE MOLD”

Topics: Christmas; God’s Sovereignty; Hope; Incarnation; Providence; Salvation Reference: 2 Corinthians 1:18–20 Songs, good feelings, beautiful liturgies, nice presents, big dinners, and sweet words do not make Christmas. Christmas is saying yes to something beyond all emotions and feelings. Christmas is saying yes to a hope based on God’s initiative, which has nothing to do … Continue reading “SAYING
YES ON CHRISTMAS”

Topics: Advent; Christmas; Freedom; Grace; Hope; Waiting Reference: Luke 1:76–79 A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes, does various unessential things, and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside is not a bad picture of Advent. —Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison … Continue reading “OPENING
THE DOOR OF ADVENT”