Tag: Advent
Let the Weary World Rejoice! Advent Reflections for Runaway Lives
The Advent season refers to the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas Day. In a season cluttered with busyness and distractions, Let the Weary World Rejoice is a devotional for individuals or families who desire to be more intentional, move more slowly, and make room for the coming of Jesus not just as a child ...
An Advent Prayer by Henri Nouwen
Lord Jesus, master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so ...
The Attentive Life
“The secret of waiting is the faith that the seed has been planted, that something has begun. Active waiting means to be fully present to the moment, in the conviction that something is happening where you are and that you want to be present to it. A waiting person is someone who is present to ...
Christmas – The Initiative of God
“When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son….” Gal. 4:4 “God comes to us like the sun in the morning…when it is time. We must assume an attitude of waiting, accepting the fact that we are creatures and not the creator. We must do this because it is not our right to ...
Winter in Our Soul
Last night we witnessed a total eclipse and today is the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere…the shortest day of the year. We often live in similar moments, even seasons, when the darkness seems to overtake the light. Darkness that has settled in our souls can overshadow any glimmer of hope. Living by faith ...
Waiting in the Midst of Our Fears
“Waiting is not a very popular attitude. Waiting is not something that people think about with great sympathy. In fact, most people consider waiting a waste of time. Perhaps this is because the culture in which we live is basically saying, “Get going! Do something! Show you are able to make a difference! Don’t just ...
Re-Gifting
Everyone’s done it. Few are willing to admit it. Yet, we might as well come clean. At some point or another we’ve all…re-gifted. For whatever reason, it became more expedient to “pass on” a gift given to us. There’s no shame in that. In fact, it’s Biblical! The fact is, all of life is a ...
Two Names
Did you realize when God sent His son, Jesus to come to this earth, He gave him TWO names? One was…Jesus, which means “Savior” (Matt. 1:21). The other was Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). The pairing of these names signals a reversal in our typical understanding of salvation. We usually think of ...
Gail Johnsen 