Son of God… Savior of the world Lord of all Creation Uncreated Unequaled Undefeated Holy and Majestic The only One found worthy Son of Man… Divinity wrapped in flesh Fully man yet no less God Touchable Knowable Relatable Tempted in every way Yet without sin The mystery and majesty of the incarnation. Beyond our comprehension, … More Our Immanuel
Incarnation. Imminent. Illuminating … IMMANUEL God with us. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. Forever. In every season. In every situation. Always present. Always faithful. Never failing. Immanuel. God has so many marvelous characteristics. His nature has so many facets. He is … Father Friend Bridegroom Savior Healer Lord of Lords, King of Kings And so much more … More Alliterating Advent, wk 4: IMMANUEL
Illuminating: 1. Giving or producing light; used for illumination. 2. Providing insight, clarity, or understanding, highly informative. “Let there be light!” These are the first words recorded from the voice of Almighty God. God spoke these words over a dark and formless world. And there was light. He has been speaking light into the darkness … More Alliterating Advent, week 3: ILLUMINATING
Last week, we pondered the wonder of the incarnation. This week, we’re adding a new word: IMMINENT Imminent: ready to take place; happening soon From the beginning of time, the incarnation was imminent. Although Jesus’ coming was imminent, it took a while to come to pass. Clearly our definition of “soon” and God’s definition are … More Alliterating Advent, week 2: IMMINENT
I love words in general, and I love alliterations specifically. I also love this time of advent and the opportunity to ponder the wonder of Christmas. So what could be better than combining these passions by doing a short four-week advent series. Each week I’ll press into a different word associated with the true wonder … More Alliterating Advent, week 1: INCARNATION
T’was the night before Christmas And all through the house Not a creature was stirring Not even a mouse I finally sat down With a cup of steaming hot tea To ponder the beauty Of what this season truly means Christmas hasn’t always been The easiest of times Deep loneliness and pain Often left me … More This Most Holy Night (a “Night Before Christmas” poem)
I’ve been busy this Christmas season. Too busy. Too busy, too often. Too busy to take notice. Too busy to dial into the wonder of it all. But it’s okay. It’s okay because over the years I’ve come to realize that this season isn’t about how many Christmasy feelings I do or do not have. … More The Enduring Joy of the Season
Another Christmas has come and gone. The busyness has passed. The gifts have been opened and the food has been eaten. Family has been gathered. Friends have been embraced. Memories have been made. Now, for a moment, it’s quiet. For a moment, there is time to reflect. There is time to breathe. There is time to … More He Stayed
May your heart be filled with wonder May your spirit soar with joy May your mind be renewed by all that is perfect and pure May your imagination explode with possibility May your life be filled with amazing grace, astounding love, and abounding hope … All because He came Immanuel – God with us – … More And He Shall be Called …
Slow down Take a moment Take one brilliant, blissful moment To breathe Quiet the turmoil Of raging emotions Release the strain and stress Churning within your soul Look up Look deeply Look beyond the temporal Look beyond your circumstances And search the eyes Of the One Whose eyes are always on you Behold His beauty … More One Brilliant, Blissful Moment
This Christmas I wish you … Wonder. May your heart be captured again by the wonder of it all. By the wonder of the incarnation–the astounding and unimaginable reality that God became a man and dwelt among us.The reality of Emmanuel–God with us. May you be awestruck again by the wonder of a God who … More Christmas Wishes
O’ come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant. O’ come ye, o’ come ye, to Bethlehem … Christmas is over, but I can’t stop thinking about these words. I can’t stop thinking about what it means to come – joyful and triumphant – to Bethlehem. To small, forgotten Bethlehem. The least likely of all locations, … More Joyful and Triumphant
I’ve been trying too hard lately. It’s kind of funny, really, because the concepts of rest and abiding in Christ are such deeply rooted core values for me. I always want to be led by his presence. I only want to do what I see him doing. But, well, sometimes I miss it. Sometimes I miss … More My Heart to Yours
Do you remember wonder? Do you remember when your heart was awakened to the marvelous mystery of the incarnation; to that wondrous feeling of finally knowing what Christmas was all about? Do you remember when the extraordinary invaded the ordinary, and the ordinary suddenly became extraordinary simply because He was there? Do you remember? Do you remember awe? Do … More Do You Remember Wonder?
It’s the most wonderful time of year! Right? For some it is, but for others … Well, not so much. For some people the holidays are hard–sometimes really hard. The reasons are varied, but people without strong ties to a supportive community (whether family, friends or both) that they actually “do life” with are especially vulnerable. Although we … More Getting Through It: Tips for Surviving the “Most Wonderful” Time of the Year
I wrote this years ago and also posted it last year on my blog. Seems like a good time to post it again. May you have a blessed and wonder-filled Christmas! Dear Father, Thank You for the priceless gift of Your Son. This Christmas I pray that the miracle of the Incarnation—that God became flesh … More A Christmas Prayer
It’s been quiet lately. It’s been quiet in my soul. God has been quiet too. And I’m okay with that. Oh don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of noise “out there.” The world has been anything but quiet. There are a hundred and one distractions–all of them literally screaming for attention. There is a … More Monday Morning Musings: Into the Quiet
Dear Father, Thank You for the priceless gift of Your Son. This Christmas I pray that the miracle of the Incarnation—that God became flesh and dwelt among us—will be birthed anew in my heart. Open my eyes to see with fresh insight. Let me come to You with the faith and trust of a … More A Christmas Prayer
The shepherds followed the glory. The wise men followed the star. Anna and Simeon followed their hearts. They had one thing in common–they were seeking him. And they found him. I imagine he didn’t look the way they thought he would look. He made his appearance as an ordinary looking child. A helpless babe–not a glorious … More Wise Men Still Seek Him
Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room … We hear the song every Christmas. Let every heart prepare him room. But do we … really? What does it mean to prepare room for him in my heart? What does it mean … really? How … More Preparing Room
Cindy Powell 