The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness– on them light has shined… For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:2 & … Read More

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the … Read More

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and … Read More

Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May … Read More

The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the … Read More

For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Psalm 62 We are encouraged by David in Psalms 62 to have confidence and trust … Read More

Wonderful (adjective)— inspiring delight, pleasure, or awe, sometimes flashy and in-your-face, but not always: sometimes wonderful is quiet, whispering to some subconscious understanding of the natural world and your place in it. It’s— the— most wonderful time— of the year! So goes the old song, anyway. Maybe I’m a little early; maybe that song isn’t applicable to these late fall … Read More

As a guiding instinct this Advent season, we’re borrowing from the title of a book by Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt, “How Beautiful the World Could Be.” He’s borrowing from psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl. He writes: “The Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl recounts a story from his experience in a Nazi death camp: ‘One evening, when we were already resting on … Read More