God’s presence
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I Get Knocked Down, But I Get Up Again
During the season of Advent, when the world holds its breath as it waits for a miracle to restore order, we review ways to rise when we fall to the ground. Part of our cleaning work includes a fearless… Continue reading
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The Joy of the Season
Can there be joy in a season when God calls us to work very hard to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child? The answer is a resounding yes. Our work during this time of the year is… Continue reading
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I Am Tired of Cleaning My House
Oh Lord, I am tired of cleaning my house. As I sweep the floor, I must move furniture with other layers of dirt and grime underneath the surface. When I started preparing my spiritual home for Advent, I thought… Continue reading
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The Most Incredible God in the Smallest of Voices
While we prepare for Advent, it is essential to realize that God does not simply wait to respond but continues to work in the world. The Divine designs his most incredible work in our hearts’ still, small recesses. In… Continue reading
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What Does it Mean to Ransom Someone?
In the famous Christmas Carol, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel pleads to “ransom captive Israel.” When I think of ransoming someone, there must be money involved. While the Merriam-Webster Dictionary does include the idea of a monetary payment in… Continue reading
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How Well Do I Know My Expected Guest?
Many of us know that Advent is a time of preparation, a season to clean our spiritual house to make way for Jesus, the guest, to come into our homes. Who is this Jesus that we should take such… Continue reading
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Rejoice, My Friends!
For some, the season of Advent brings sorrow. Tragic events from the past seem to overwhelm us, much less leave us feeling anxious and ill at ease. The psalmist spoke of pain when asked to sing the music of… Continue reading
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I Will Keep You in My Prayers (and I mean it)
I often say to people, “I will keep you in my prayers.” This saying has been with me since my earliest years in church. Sometimes, it is an immediate response without thinking about what I mean. My prayer life… Continue reading
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Doing Spiritual Work Brings Spiritual Joy
As I sweep my spiritual floor clean, I notice something that gets my attention. Laying in a corner of my soul is a list of those who have hurt me. I want to go over and sweep with everything… Continue reading
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How Long Must We Wait?
During this season of Advent, I cannot help but wonder how long God expects us to wait for His presence. The people of Israel lived in a ridiculously lengthy period of Advent, as they waited for hundreds of years… Continue reading
From a Pastor's Point of View 