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Framed Words

We are journeying verse by verse through Psalm 139. To read last week’s reflection, click here. O LORD, you examine me and know me. You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives. You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do. Certainly my tongue does not frame a word without you, O… Read More

Everything I Do

We are journeying verse by verse through Psalm 139. To read last week’s reflection, click here. O LORD, you examine me and know me. You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives. You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do.   Psalm 139:3 Trauma can disrupt our confidence in well-laid plans.… Read More

My Motives

O LORD, you examine me and know me. You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives. Psalm 139:2   I am memorizing Psalm 139 in earnest this new year. I’ve lived between its lines since girlhood, and especially young womanhood, as I struggled to accept the embodiment of my soul in a vessel I did not love. Some portions of Psalm 139 became well-worn.… Read More

Examine Me

O LORD, you examine me and know me. Psalm 139:1 At the beginning of a new year, there is much unknown. We try to know all we can, but the fact is, we cannot. We have a complicated relationship with knowledge. We want to know but we are afraid to know. We long to know and be known. We dream of being known and loved despite it all. But we are afraid of examination. Knowing… Read More

Practice Instead of Resolution

Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice —I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. Luke 6:47-48 The word practice is so graceful. I quite prefer it over… Read More

Fourth Sunday in Advent: Wise Men Bow Down

For all the wise men and women I know across the nations. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When they saw the star they shouted joyfully. As they came into the house and… Read More

Third Sunday in Advent: When Mary Became Mary

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.… Read More

Second Sunday in Advent: The Gift of Hope

  During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.  Luke 1:5-7 They… Read More

First Sunday in Advent: Running with Rahab

This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah (by Tamar), Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of… Read More

A Better and Lasting Possession

But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of suffering after you were enlightened. At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way. For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison, and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly had a better and lasting… Read More