“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:1–3). God’s first command and God’s first miracle brought light into the lightless dark.   “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… In him was life, and that

Who worshipped the newborn King? Who bowed before Him? Who arrived at the cattle stall in Bethlehem to witness the wonderful Wonder? Not pastors and preachers. Not heads of state, but poor shepherds with the overpowering aroma of sheep and sweat.   After hearing the angel’s announcement, “the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the b

“ Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them” (Luke 2:4–7).   The pregnant virgin (yes, that’s an oxymoron!) and her fiancé traveled the ninety miles of rough road from Nazareth to their ancestral home in Bethlehem. It wasn’t a honeymoon or a ple

His name wasn’t Harold.   He was a herald. He and his buddies were messengers, the announcers and proclaimers of good news… the best news ever!   Hark! the herald angels sing,“Glory to the newborn King: peace on earth, and mercy mild,God and sinners reconciled … Christ is born in Bethlehem!”   Sent from Heaven’s throne, the angel choir appeared in the moonlit sky over Bethlehem’s hills, the same hills travelled and traversed by David, the shepherd-boy/king.   The symphonic so

It would be difficult to envision the interaction between Gabriel and Mary. Gabrial was a trusted angel, a messenger sent from Heaven’s glorious throne room. Mary was a simple Hebrew girl, virtuous, chaste, pure… maybe fourteen or fifteen.    “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him

Israel, God’s chosen people, had once been the world’s superpower, but the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians had ransacked, ruined, and robbed them of their glory. Now, in the first century AD, the Romans ruled.   A thousand years after David’s celebrated reign, the nation clung to the promise of restoration. They believed the promise given to their ancestral king: “I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom… M

Standing by the hospital bed of my friend, I watched his cancer-ridden frame gasp his final breathe. It was over. His lifeless body was motionless. I stood still with my friend's family, our hands clasped, fully encircling the bed. Not a word, not a whisper, until softly, slowly, my friend's family began to sing. In perfect harmony... Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see. "Twas grace that

Happy Thanksgiving … the day we imagine pilgrims celebrating a bountiful harvest in the new American homeland … the day we watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade followed by non-stop football … the day we gluttonously consume turkey and cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.    Might we take a few minutes to reflect on the goodness, greatness, and graciousness of God…   Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father; There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,Count your many blessings, name them one by one,And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Count your blessings, name them one by one;Count your blessings, see what God hath done;Count your blessings, name them one by one,And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.   I’m thankful for the cross and the empty grave, that Jesus paid the price for my doubts and denials and

The Psalmist sang with joyful thanksgiving because of God’s greatness and grace!   “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations” (Psalm 100:4–5). “Give thanks!”   “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to him with my song” (Psa