JOY WHEN YOU GRIEVE

Handel's magnificent musical, Messiah, has been a source of joyful inspiration for me during Advent this year. Facing bankruptcy and failing health George Frederic Handel wrote with "a heart bursting with joy," The Messiah in 24 days. When he finished writing the Hallelujah chorus he said, "I did think I did see all heaven before…Read more JOY WHEN YOU GRIEVE

Sunday, Day of Joy

Sunday, happens between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The people of God gather in glorious praise from generation to generation to worship the Lord with thanksgiving and praise. This is a day of eternal priceless joy. The “joy of the Lord” is our strength and the Gospel is “good news of great joy.” (See Nehemiah…Read more Sunday, Day of Joy

Advent Hope and a Winter Wish

Our sons and their families are coming home for Christmas. We have grandsons hoping for a snowy Christmas to go sledding, build a snowman, and throw snowballs! One of them hopes that Papa and Gramma will give him a puppy for Christmas. Their hopes are wishes. It's how the word is used today. Wishes that…Read more Advent Hope and a Winter Wish

Saint Nicholas Day

“The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God’s giving by grace, through faith, and this not of ourselves.” Nicholas of Myra Today, December 6, is the day we remember a faithful pastor that our modern story of Santa Claus is based upon. Nicholas of Myra was a model…Read more Saint Nicholas Day

A Gift for Christ at Christmas

Early this morning in Dearborn, Michigan my thoughts are about the last minute things I had to do before Christmas Eve. Cards? Calls? Gifts? What’s the most important things you can do at Christmas? Among them is attending or watching our Christmas Eve Services to celebrate the birth of our Savior, as we thank Him…Read more A Gift for Christ at Christmas

Joseph: A Righteous Man

Joseph's character, faith, and God's choice of him to be the husband of Mary and a father to His Son, Jesus captivates me. Meditating on the few verses in the Bible about Joseph, I have grown to deeply appreciate his story. Joseph was a man of honor. Matthew's gospel describes him as a "righteous man."…Read more Joseph: A Righteous Man

This Time of the Year!

This time of the year is always so wonderful for me! It's Christmas! Special worship services, Christmas Eve, families and friends are getting together, parties, giving gifts, and in the middle of it all finding a quiet place by my fireplace early in the morning for quiet reflection and prayer. It's the time when I…Read more This Time of the Year!