ADVENT
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After an uncomfortable and very painful journey to Bethlehem, labour was finally behind her and her baby lay snugly wrapped up in the manger. It seemed a strange place for him, but it was the best she could do out here with the animals. At first she had slept like a log, but his first
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The grazing was good in the fields around Bethlehem, but the nights were just as dark and cold as anywhere else in Judea. He envied the others their rest as they lay snoring softly, but it was his turn to be awake and on guard against the constant threat of wolves. He shifted position on
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He’d been lying awake night after night since Mary first broke the news of her pregnancy. He knew he was not the father. Her weird claim that “God did it” only added fuel to the fire of his feelings of betrayal and anger. Doubt, confusion, frustration, disappointment, shame, bitterness – these were the fierce emotions
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They looked more like grandparents, this elderly man and his wife. Yet here they were cradling their newborn son, just as the angel had said it would be. Zechariah was filled with nine months of bottled-up awe and wonder. Struck dumb as a consequence of his unbelief, he had spent Elizabeth’s entire pregnancy communicating with
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Many of the key moments on our scriptural journey to Christmas are encounters between individuals and God (usually represented by His angel). In these one-on-one moments, the veil between heaven and earth seemed to open for an individual to see and hear the glory of God’s plan for the coming of His Son. But today’s
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On this second day of our journey to Christmas Eve, let’s be a fly on the wall as God initiates an encounter with someone we know very well – a young woman named Mary. In this encounter, God continues to set the stage for the birth of His Son, our Saviour and Lord. Let’s ask
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From today, I invite you to join me in a series of eight readings that will take us on a journey to Christmas Eve. Let’s be a fly on the wall as we watch God initiating encounters and events that set the stage for the birth of our Saviour and Lord. And let’s ask the
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Daily Reading: James 5:7-10 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! James writes these words to believers who were suffering greatly. They experienced persecution and poverty because of their faith
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Daily Reading: James 1:27 Jesus has come into our world. First in the flesh, and now by His Spirit. This week we’re reflecting on the importance of recognising the presence of Jesus in our world and then of making His presence real to others, through living His Life in our world. James 1:27 is a
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Daily Reading: Isaiah 35 In context, Isaiah 35 was a message of hope to God’s people in exile in Babylon. Into their state of weakness, fear and despair, God spoke His word of promise and hope: “Be strong! Do not fear! I am coming to save you!” And then He gave them the wondrous poetic
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