Christmas and the holiday season are not always times that are cheery and bright. Loneliness and loss can have a sharper edge in December because of the contrast of times remembered or the contrast of times hoped for, but seldom known. Pray for all who undergo hardship. Look for those around you who may need […]
Music is one of the most wonderful aspects of the Christmas season. The songs of hope, joy and love span centuries and countries, and when we sing these words or listen to these carols, we join with other believers who in other times and in other places worshiped God with the same music. “Lo, How […]
When I was growing up we attended a church with a large music program, and I first sang in a choir as a young child. In December our minister of music had all the choirs sing the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah. The adult choir was at the front of the church behind the ministers, […]
A few years ago I came across an article by Dr. John S. Uebersax, National Days of Prayer: A Historical Comparison, in which he makes this significant observation: Since 1952, the President of the United States has, by law, annually issued a proclamation recommending a National Day of Prayer. This seeks to revive a similar […]
Several days after Thanksgiving of 2010 I wrote the post, Gratitude. I’ve edited it and reposted it several times as Giving Thanks, Grateful Hearts, and Thanksgiving. Here it is again. November 28, 2010 ◊ Gratitude Thursday is the American holiday of Thanksgiving, and for some of you giving thanks to God will be easy because […]
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.’” Matthew 26:31 – – Men scattered by their fears to bleakest grief; Mourning without hope; despairing sorrow. Locked in two days […]
When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling […]
“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:22–23 Psalm 118 is in Book V of the Psalms and is the last psalm of the ‘Egyptian Hallel’, Psalms 113–118, a group of psalms used at Passover. Derek Kidner wrote: […]
When I was growing up we attended a church with a large music program, and I first sang in a choir as a young child. In December our minister of music had all the choirs sing the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah. The adult choir was at the front of the church behind the ministers, […]