Our thoughts today are of the love God has shown us in sending His Son, Jesus. God’s love in human form. This kind of love has certain characteristics… unlike all other types of love. In scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments we see it’s caring and self sacrificing actions: “For the Lord your…
Heart’s Delight
Have fun making something. Little Snowbabies All you need are toddler socks, embroidery floss, craft glue, scissors, black and orange puffy paints, some tiny buttons, and this video instruction. Today’s Thoughts Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Our hearts are…
Joy for Others
John the Baptist is today’s topic. His symbol is the seashell, and we know him as the predecessor of Christ. Born shortly before Jesus, it was recorded that his mother, Elizabeth felt him leap for joy while yet unborn when hearing the sound of Mary’s greeting. Though his calling as a prophet was to warn…
A Good Kingdom
It Starts with a Good King A place where justice rules, where mercy abounds, freedom rings, and each citizen matters, these are only part of the list of a good Kingdom’s attributes. It is a place of safety, and peace rests there. Sounding like a dream, or an idealistic utopian theory. Many may doubt a…
Joy Giving
Thankfulness for joy giving, rather than joy getting. We often need to be reminded for the greater effort invested in giving because our natural inclination is to think about what we “get”. “What is in it for us?” Â we tend to think. It takes time and training to be generous and magnanimous. It stretches us…
Sensing a New Direction
Thankful for Senses We were created with senses, those abilities to feel and understand the world around us and how to make our way forward in it. With our physical senses we bother experience joy and suffer pain, and with our inner senses, as well. Are we thankful for both or do we want everyday…
Thankful for the Joy of Children
You don’t have to have your own children to experience joy from them. In fact, children can enjoy the laughter and happiness of other children just as well as anyone. Listen to a Child’s Laughter Of course, a child is not only laughing and happy. As humans they have the whole range of emotions and…
Candle of Joy 2016
Joy and laughter, gladness, and mirth are the high notes of today.This Sunday marks the ascent of the heart towards what we usually think of as the “Christmas season”. The first weeks view of the times of the history and prophetic words of the Old Testament had notes of repentance. In them we saw that…
The Peacefulness of God’s Rule
The world says it longs for peace. There are peace signs, protests, and proclamations. Yet, there is little peace to be found, and it is short lived. As the pursuit for real, lasting peace continues, the lesson is underlined over and over that such a state requires a foundation of justice and genuine care for…
David Sings of His Thankfulness
No other prophet or priest had God say of him, “a man after my own heart” like King David. He understood how God responded to thanksgiving. It became recorded in Psalms that instruct God’s people to this day. The Psalms instruct, foretell prophetic things, some lead us in worship, many exalt God. We find solace,…
