The House You're Building

  During advent season, many pastors retell the Christmas story to their congregants.  It is a blessing to hear afresh the narrative of how our Lord came to earth, answering the long-awaited hopes of His people.  After 400 years of silence, the angels sang praise of His immanent arrival to shepherds.  One my favorite decorations I set up is the nativity.  I’ve collected pieces over the years that visually express how the story unfolds in the synoptic gospels.   This year, I’m reflecting on a more distant part of the Christmas story, the one that started in Genesis 3, where our ancestors ate of a tree in disobedience and sin entered the world.  The curse was upon the earth and humanity has suffered in sin ever since.  Genesis 3:15 predicts the enmity between humankind and its oppressor to end when the Offspring will come who will crush his head, rendering the snake, one symbol of Satan found in scripture, ineffective....

The Joy of Christmas Christmas is all about joy.  Every commercial venue is selling this emotion; from model’s poses on a website selling sweaters to the latest Hallmark movie, there is an expectation in the air that life will make sense, our relationships will finally come together, and we will feel light and free, our souls wrapped in incandescent light.  In dropping off my son at a sleepover last night, my girlfriend recounted how busy she’d been shopping, how much she still had to do, and how her New Year’s party wasn’t turning out like she hopped.  I appreciated her honesty.  So many of us put on a happy face this time of year and get through the holidays, thinking that maybe that next tradition will give us the pick me up we are looking for.  I’m guilty of the perpetuating the deception of Christmas cheer.  Last night was my work holiday party.  The whole week had been filled with heaviness. ...

God I’m not trying to rule the roost I don’t want to be king of the mountain. I haven’t meddled where I have no business Or fantasized grandiose plans. I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, My soul is a baby content. Wait, Israel, for God.   Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always! Psalm 131   It’s probably no accident that God gave me this Psalm today.   Like many of you, I’m anticipating a busy and full week next week.   One of the tasks on my to-do list today is to make a list!   That’s pretty pathetic…   I’ve been longing for some quiet time to fill myself up with peace to last me through my future of shopping, cleaning, and cooking, with a few birthday parties thrown in the next few days.     I set aside time with the Lord but sometimes my heart isn’t fully quiet.   I was fascinated today by the idea of cultivating qui...