Post Advent Reflection: Day 24 Tuesday, December 21 Genesis 30:1–24; Romans 8:18–30 The look on my wife’s beautiful face was priceless as we lay in the hotel room gazing at our amazing kids sleeping after an eventful day at the amusement park. We spent a few moments reflecting on the wonderful time and all the fun we experienced. It’s hard to […] Gardner-Webb University | December 21, 2021
Post Advent Reflection: Day 23 Monday, December 20 Psalm 113; Genesis 25: 9–28 Colossians 1:15–20 I love the Christmas season—the music, the decorations, the movies, the baking. Throughout the nearly two-year long pandemic I have read a number of accounts of people celebrating “Christmas in April” or “Christmas in June” just to add some joy to their lives during these trying […] Gardner-Webb University | December 20, 2021
Post Advent Reflection: Day 22 Sunday, December 19 Micah 5:2–5a; Luke 1:46b–55; Hebrews 10:5–10 The Magnificat is Mary’s song of praise. She has just been informed by Gabriel that she will give birth to Jesus. She has been sent to stay with her cousin, Elizabeth, who is now pregnant with John the Baptist. Elizabeth tells her that as Mary greeted […] Gardner-Webb University | December 19, 2021
Post Advent Reflection: Day 21 Saturday, December 18 Isaiah 66:7–11; Luke 13:31–35 “Do we want healing? What kind of God would ask us that?” Sho Baraka, a Christian rapper, asks this in his song “Pianos in Jericho,” and he calls attention to the hesitation that we have as we hope for deliverance.In Luke 13:32 Jesus is warned that he is once […] Gardner-Webb University | December 18, 2021
Post Advent Reflection: Day 20 Friday, December 17 Isaiah 42:10–18; Hebrews 10:32–39 A Call to Persevere in Faith It’s often said that the hardest step in any journey is the first step. Be it an unknown outcome, a fear of failure, or an indolent attitude that holds us back, we often fail to start. In my experience, the arduous task of […] Gardner-Webb University | December 17, 2021
Post Advent Reflection: Day 19 Thursday, December 16 Psalm 80: 1–7; Jeremiah 31: 31–43 Hebrews 10: 10–18 Much like the early Christians, we are living in a world that needs reassurance. As we begin this Advent season after another year of challenges, we need reassurance to come from somewhere and to impact everywhere. Advent gives to me, and many of us, […] Gardner-Webb University | December 16, 2021
Post Advent Reflection: Day 18 Wednesday, December 15 Micah 4:8–13; Luke 7:31–35 The Old Testament passage for today in Micah hints of a coming honor for Zion; it pointed to the glory of a coming Messiah who would reign. We know it suggested the hope of Jesus. As someone relatively new to social media (I joined Facebook when our son […] Gardner-Webb University | December 15, 2021
Post Advent Reflection: Day 17 Tuesday, December 14 Numbers 16:20–35; Acts 28:23–31 Luke’s two-volume opus is bookended by lyrical speech. His gospel begins with seemingly everyone singing—Mary, Zechariah, the host of heaven, and the devout Simeon. Singing is what we do at this time of year. We have good news to proclaim. God’s promises are being fulfilled. The Messiah is […] Gardner-Webb University | December 14, 2021
Post Advent Reflection: Day 16 Monday, December 13 Isaiah 11:1–9; Numbers 16:1–19 Hebrews 13:7–17 Every year, the holidays become more and more meaningful as our children get older and more grandchildren become part of the story. When I was a much younger parent, Christmas was more about the celebration and the gifts; now it’s more abouttime with family and The Gift. […] Gardner-Webb University | December 13, 2021
Post Advent Reflection: Day 15 Sunday, December 12 Zephaniah 3:14–20 Philippians 4:4–7; Luke 3:7–18 My wife is my favorite person! If I attempted to enumerate all the reasons why this is the case, you would grow weary and I would exceed my word count guidelines. Suffice it to say, we love spending time together and being near each other. If […] Gardner-Webb University | December 12, 2021
