January 5 – the Eve of Epiphany! This is the end of Twelvetide or Christmastide … the last big celebration of Christmas. In the Western liturgical churches, January 6, called Epiphany, draws attention to the Magi visiting Jesus, bringing Him gifts. In Eastern churches, Epiphany draws attention to Jesus’ baptism and the announcement of God….
I reflect on the past twice a year and consider “new year” goals. One of those times is in August, mostly because I lived most of my adult life on a school schedule. The other time is now, as the new year begins. Today I’ve been thinking about what worked this past year and what…
The tree is down; the ornaments are safely boxed, and the wrapping paper is recycled. Christmas, it’s a wrap! Today, on the eve of a New Year, I wonder what’s in store! Wonder! Such a Gift!To think or speculate curiouslyto be filled with admiration,amazement, or awe; to marvel Wonder Remains In Foolsgold, Susan Wooldridge writes, “I wonder if asking, inside and out, may well be at the…
Many people think about and plan to read their Bible as the new year approaches. They hear about this or that plan or dig in with the first few chapters in Genesis. All is well until they get to the long lists in Numbers or the laws in Leviticus. Often times we run out of…
During Christmastide, there are several celebrations, feast days, and remembrances. Today, December 28, the liturgical church remembers the young boys murdered on Herod’s command. “The Holy Innocents” are those boys. When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem…
John, the beloved disciple, wrote about the light the most of any other Biblical author. Notice what John says — In him [the WORD] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. –John 1:4-5 NIV This is the verdict: Light has come into the world,…