The angels forgot to appear—or at least, they weren't sent down the aisle for the Christmas pageant when all the children processed down in the beginning. Sitting at the piano, I didn't notice. And neither did the director, until it was time for the first angel solo. “Where are the angels?” came the ... read more
Crawling toward the Manger: Day 19
"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him . . ." (Luke 1:76) John the Baptist is one of the funny characters of scripture. He wears odd clothes, eats a strange diet, and when he opens his mouth, words come out that ... read more
Crawling toward the Manger: Day 18
She’s going now, on the threshold of this life, looking across the Jordan. It’s the dusk of my grandmother’s life, and she’s waiting. Waiting for Christ’s coming . . . to take her home. And I’m waiting . . . also for Christ’s coming, to celebrate the Incarnation, the greatest coming of all. In the ... read more
Crawling toward the Manger: Day 17
When life flips you upside down and shakes the hope from you and dreams fall like coins to the sidewalk, clattering, scattering . . . In that moment, what do you do? Mary found herself in such a moment. The future she’d imagined for herself was suddenly nothing more than past thoughts. Do you ... read more
Crawling toward the Manger: Day 16
Scandal, shady characters, rumors, and ruined reputations infuse the Christmas story. Then a few years after Jesus's birth, Herod swoops into Bethlehem and murders all the baby and toddler boys. You don’t see that part of the story in your normal Christmas pageant. But as I look at the battle in ... read more
Crawling toward the Manger: Day 14
An entire community of journeyers exists out in the blogging world, and today I encourage you to let their words stir the beauty of the season in you. In need of a miracle? Ann Voskamp, When Your Heart Hurts For a Miracle this Christmas. Celebrating with lots of guilt and comparison? Jennifer ... read more
Crawling toward the Manger: Day 13
What do you think of when I say "King." Do thoughts of grandeur fill your mind? The color purple, perhaps? Wealth, castles, lords and ladies at court, old European history? I'm back in Matthew chapter one today, and am overwhelmed by what an ugly genealogy I see. The kings in the later half aren't ... read more
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