Practice Makes Progress: Day 5 – Living a Life of Worship
Today’s Scripture: “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” – Romans 12:1 The Spiritual Practice of Worship When we think of worship, many of us immediately picture a Sunday service with singing, […]
Practice Makes Progress: Day 4 – Feasting on Scripture
Today’s Scripture “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105 The Spiritual Practice of Engaging with Scripture In a world filled with constant noise, opinions, and distractions, it’s easy to feel lost or overwhelmed. But in the midst of this chaos, God has given us a […]
Practice Makes Progress: Day 3 – Escaping the Trap of Seasonal Gratitude
Today’s Scripture “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 The Spiritual Practice of Gratitude After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we might feel like we’ve done our due diligence in being grateful. We’ve likely shared our thankfulness over a […]
Practice Makes Progress: Day 2 – Embracing Silence and Solitude Scripture
Today’s Scripture “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” – Luke 5:16 The Spiritual Practice of Silence and Solitude In a world full of noise—constant notifications, the hum of background chatter, and the pull of social media—it’s easy to forget the importance of silence and solitude as a spiritual practice. I’m an introvert […]
Practice Makes Progress: Day 1 – Prayer Practice
As we enter into this new year, we’re excited to embark on a 7-day journey digging deeper into spiritual practices. Today is all about prayer. Let’s dive in. Today’s Scripture “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the […]
Echoes of Emmanuel – Promise Fulfilled
What Do the Lyrics of “Joy to the World” Mean? “Joy to the World” is a timeless hymn that can instantly fill a room with hope and celebration. Beyond the melody and tradition lies a profound message about Jesus’s arrival, His reign, and the unshakable joy He brings to the world. Let’s unpack the meaning […]
Echoes of Emmanuel – Winter’s Gift
What Is “In the Bleak Midwinter” About? Beginning with a stark description of winter, this carol is a study in contrasts. The author and poet Christina Rosetti uses vivid imagery to draw us from the weight of spiritual darkness before Christ’s birth, to the majesty of heaven, and back down to the reason Jesus left […]
Echoes of Emmanuel – A Quiet Arrival
Where Did “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Come From? “O Little Town of Bethlehem” began as a poem, written by Rector Phillips Brooks in 1868 for his church’s Sunday School class in Philadelphia. The church organist Lewis H. Redner set the poem to music, and congregations have sung about the town’s “deep and dreamless sleep” […]
Echoes of Emmanuel – Heralding Hope
What can we learn from “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”? As the Christmas season draws near, the timeless carol “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” echoes in churches and homes, inviting us to pause and reflect on the incredible gift of Christ’s birth. Written by Charles Wesley in 1739, this hymn holds a much needed message […]
Who Was James, the Brother of Jesus?
James played a foundational role in the early Church; as the brother of Jesus, he was uniquely positioned to be a leader of early Christians. As we prepare to dig deeper into James’ life and message in our upcoming series, The Book of James, let’s shed some light on some of the most common – […]
