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“His Law is Love and His Gospel is Peace” – Advent Week Three
Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother; And in His name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy name. Won by Love Though I grew up in a Christian home, I did not become an official follower of Jesus until I was in middle school. Sure, I had begged Jesus many times to come into my heart to save me from Hell, but that fear-based decision wasn’t a conversion at all. It wasn’t until I was an…
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7 Christmas Songs that Make me Cry
Music has always been an essential part of the Christmas season. While I like some of the fun, classic songs of the season, my favorite Christmas songs will never be heard on the radio. The songs I revere most are the ones that move me, whether for the gorgeous instrumentation, the vocals, or the text to which its set. Here are seven Christmas songs that make me cry. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel This is my favorite Christmas hymn. I love the mystery of it. This arrangement by The Piano Guys is so beautiful and mysterious and simple, it moves me. O Nata Lux I am a…
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“Amid the Cold of Winter, When Half Spent Was the Night” – Advent Week Two
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming From tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming, As men of old have sung. It came, a flow’ret bright, Amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night. Darkness Eight years ago, I went through a dark night of the soul. As a result of an unusual circumstance in which my safety was compromised, I began to descend into a deep valley, one overgrown with anxiety, loneliness, and doubt. The worst of it was around Christmastime. Instead of the love, hope, joy, and peace characterized with the season, I was experiencing incapacitating fear, hopelessness, depression, and unrest. And I endured…
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“Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room” – Advent Week One
The Christmas story is familiar to many of us. We know that Mary delivered Jesus and laid in him a manger because there was no room for them. This reflection is focused on what it means to make room in our hearts for Jesus.
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Why and How to Celebrate Advent
I love the Christmas season. I get giddy thinking about twinkle lights, peppermint-mocha lattes, and a Michael W. Smith Christmas album. The days are filled with sending and receiving Christmas cards, shopping for loved ones, wrapping gifts, cutting out paper snowflakes, watching movies, making cookies, attending festive events, and excitedly anticipating the actual day. But I’ve had years when I’ve woken up on December 26th with guilt falling in my soul like a heavy snow. Amid the sadness of the season’s passing, I’ve realized I hardly reflected on Christ’s arrival. Sure, I had fun. But did I even take the time to appreciate what the whole season means? Advent…
