by David Anderson
Matthew 2:1-12 “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” Stars are everywhere at Christmas—they top our trees and stud the skies of nearly every holiday card. It all began with the visit of the Magi, royal astrologers from Babylon, who showed up in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is he who has been […]
by David Anderson 2 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Awareness, Awe, Beauty, Daily Practice, Discernment, Epiphany, Faith in Action, Faith/Trust, Guidance, Joy, Mystery, Seeing, Surrender
Luke 2: 8-14 “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory ofthe Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.” In our unenchanted world, it can be hard to take angels seriously. But if we dismiss the angels, there is no way for God to reach us. The word […]
by David Anderson 5 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Awareness, Awe, Discernment, Epiphany, LIght, Mystery, Surrender, Transformation
Luke 2:15-20 “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,which the Lord has made known to us.” I have a friend, now gone, who used to send a Christmas card every year that ended with, “I hope you make it to Bethlehem this year.” I always heard in those words […]
by David Anderson 11 Comments Filed Under: Adult Spirituality, Advent, Awareness, Patience, Reality--trusting it, Salvation, Surrender, Transformation
Matthew 22: 15-22 “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” At Advent we say, “Come, Lord Jesus.” The Lord of your life is the one who receives your highest loyalty. Who is that for you? When Jesus’ enemies asked him the loaded question about paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus asked for a coin stamped with Caesar’s […]
by David Anderson 3 Comments Filed Under: Advent, authority, Identity, Surrender
Exodus 3: 1-12 “And Moses said, ‘I will turn aside and seethis great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” The story of the Burning Bush begins with a murder. The only reason Moses is out here in the wilderness is because, in his zeal and anger, he killed an Egyptian slave master who was […]
by David Anderson 3 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Awareness, Awe, Death/Dying, Discernment, Faith/Trust, Mystery, Now/ the Present, Salvation, Silence, Surrender, Transformation
Genesis 7: 11-24 “They went into the ark with Noah, two and twoof all flesh…and God shut him in.” On Noah’s ark there was no rudder. God gave Noah incredibly detailed instructions for constructing this floating zoo, dimensions of roofs and decks, but no steering mechanism. Have you ever noticed this? Noah doesn’t need to […]
by David Anderson 14 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Belief, Discernment, Faith in Action, Faith/Trust, Letting Go, Surrender
Luke 1: 39-45 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to acity of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. In Luke’s telling, the first thing Mary does after Gabriel’s stunning announcement, is to pack a bag and head for her older cousin’s home. Elizabeth […]
by David Anderson 5 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Awareness, Belief, Choice, Discernment, Faith/Trust, Surrender
Luke 1:26-38 (The Message) And Mary said,Yes, I see it all now:I’m the Lord’s maid,ready to serve.Let it be with mejust as you say. The tales of Greek and Roman gods appearing to mortal women are almost always forceful. Whatever they want you to do—is done. You can’t say no. Yet when our God seeks […]
by David Anderson 18 Comments Filed Under: Advent, Choice, Faith/Trust, Faithfulness, Surrender, Vocation/ Calling