Urgency and Advent

Oil and Water. Truth and Grace. Urgency and Advent. These things don’t mix. Except when God is a part of the picture. God anoints you as his child and gives you living water. God knows the real you and, by his grace, loves you anyway. But because the truth demands justice, his son came to… Read More

Noah’s advent

Noah spent 120 years in advent–that’s how long he spent waiting and “becoming”for the big natural disaster that God told him was coming. He had a few things to do to get ready–like build a boat that was as long as a football field plus half. He had to get buy-in from his wife and… Read More

coming into being

What is advent? Before this morning (when I looked it up) I would have said it was “the time before” or “a time of waiting.” But there’s more to it than that. The Merriam-Webster dictionary gives this definition (when not capitalized): a coming into being or use such as <the advent of pasteurization> or <the advent… Read More

inheritance

All humankind inherited death from Adam as a consequence of sin. When you look at history, you see that conflicts of nations are also inherited. The whole situation between Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar led to generations of hatred between Jews and Arabs. We inherit blessings as well. DNA is only one way of leaving an… Read More

Sowing and reaping and reaping …

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up… Read More

Our sins affect generations

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22, NLT Whatever we do leaves a deposit that will affect our children—for good or ill. Next time temptation hits, say out loud, “Whatever I do will impact my children and their children and their… Read More

Growing to maturity

If you are a victim of abuse, you remain a victim until you choose to enter into the healing process–which includes forgiveness. When you choose to forgive your abuser(s), it releases the hold that the abuser(s) has over you. Your choice to forgive begins to remove the pain and scars they have left in your… Read More