Archive for December, 2009
« Previous EntriesLiving Christmasly, Part 7
Thursday, December 31st, 2009READ 1 Corinthians 6:9-20
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do our bodies matter […]
Living Christmasly, Part 6
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009READ Romans 12:1-2
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Romans 12:1
Do our bodies really matter? Or are […]
Living Christmasly, Part 5
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009READ Hebrews 4:14-16
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:16
If we’re sinful people, are we free to come into the presence of a sinless, perfect God? And if we’re permitted […]
Living Christmasly, Part 4
Monday, December 28th, 2009READ Hebrews 2:10-18
Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
Hebrews 2:18
Does God understand us? How does God regard us when we struggle? When we’re discouraged? When we’re tempted? Hebrews 2:10-18 offers an encouraging answer to these questions.
As we saw in yesterday’s Reflection, […]
Living Christmasly, Part 3
Sunday, December 27th, 2009Part 3 of series: Living Christmasly
Permalink for this post / Permalink for this series
READ Hebrews 2:10-18
Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had […]
Living Christmasly, Part 2
Saturday, December 26th, 2009READ John 1:15-18
No one has ever seen God. But the one and only Son is himself God and is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
John 1:18
Introduction to A Series of Reflections on Living Christmasly
For most of us, Christmas is over. It’s still okay to play Christmas music and leave […]
Christmas Day: The Word Became Flesh
Friday, December 25th, 2009Christmas Day: The Word Became Flesh
READ John 1:1-14
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
John 1:14
The prologue of John’s Gospel tells the story of Christmas, but not in […]
Advent Calendar for December 25
Friday, December 25th, 2009Click here to see today’s Advent calendar entry
Happy Birthday to Jesus!
Friday, December 25th, 2009We Celebrate the Birth of Christ
In the season of Advent we have used the Advent wreath and its candles to help us get ready for this great celebration of the birth of Christ.
When we lit the first purple candle, we asked God to come and be our Good Shepherd. God our Shepherd has come in […]
Advent Calendar for December 24
Thursday, December 24th, 2009Click here to see today’s Advent calendar entry
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” – The Carol That Shouldn’t Exist, Part 2
Thursday, December 24th, 2009Part 3 of series: Christmas Carol Inspiration
Permalink for this post / Permalink for this series
In yesterday’s post I explained that the beloved carol, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was originally penned with a different opening line, “HARK how all the welkin rings.” The author’s original was changed and published by a friend, though without his […]
Advent Calendar for December 23
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009Click here to see today’s Advent calendar entry
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” – The Carol That Shouldn’t Exist, Part 1
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009Part 2 of series: Christmas Carol Inspiration
Permalink for this post / Permalink for this series
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is surely one of the most popular and beloved of Christmas carols. Each year, it is sung in thousands upon thousands of churches at Christmastime, not to mention being played in countless stores across the world, […]
Advent Calendar for December 22
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009Click here to see today’s Advent calendar entry
Christmas Carol Inspiration: An Introduction
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009Part 1 of series: Christmas Carol Inspiration
Permalink for this post / Permalink for this series
For several years I have wanted do a series on Christmas carols, one that would include some interesting bits of history as well as a theological examination of the lyrics. And for several years I have found myself distracted by other […]
« Previous Entries