Rejoicing Alongside Lament
Read: Ezra 3:10-13 The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping. (v. 13) We like to think that our worship of God is emotionally simple. For example, when we are happy, we sing loud, joyful songs. When we desire intimacy with God, we sing slower, quieter […]
It Starts with Praise
Read: Psalm 148 Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. (v. 5) Out of the silence of the darkness of nothingness, God spoke . . . and creation happened. Every sound and color exploded into being, shouting “Alleluia!”—a holy ruckus of praise to God. But mountains and snowflakes, […]
Gods of Plastic and Circuits
Read: Habakkuk 2:18-20 Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. (v. 19) Yesterday I wrote that silence is an important part of worship. It’s tempting to think that […]
A Prism Splitting Pure Light
Read: Revelation 8:1-5 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (v. 1) One of the most important parts of any song is the moment right before it starts. The silence before a song is the precious cup into which the song is poured. It is a […]
Pleasing Sacrifice
Read: Hebrews 13:15-16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have. (v. 16) Respectful. Responsible. Kind. The school my children attended used these three words to help students think about their behavior. There were rules for classroom behavior and how to stay safe on the playground and for many other situations, but […]
Christ Alone
Read: Hebrews 13:8-9 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (v. 8) When I was a baby, my doctor told my mother that it was best to lay me on my stomach to sleep. He said that babies were happier on their stomachs and were less likely to choke if they spit up. […]
Simple Love
Read: Hebrews 13:1-7 Let mutual love continue. (v. 1 NRSV) When I had two children in elementary school, I was constantly signing student homework planners to keep track of what was happening in class and receiving quarterly reports of all of the assignments my kids had or hadn’t turned in. Report cards came home regularly to […]
Peace Be with You
Read: Hebrews 12:14-15 Strive for peace with everyone. (v. 14) Each year we plant a small garden in our back yard. The kids can pick cherry tomatoes for snacks and I have fresh herbs for my cooking. Tending a garden, though, requires some vigilance. If we don’t give the garden some attention regularly, it will soon […]
Training Regimen
Read: Hebrews 12:3-13 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees. (v. 12) I’m wonderful at making plans to get in shape. Following through on them? Not so much. But I’ve found that the few healthy habits that have stuck have something in common—they fit into my life and become a part of my […]