It’s the moment. That moment of beautiful anticipation. Tomorrow is Christmas! Our Advent Season is coming to completion. It’s a sacred moment, a quiet moment, a hold your breath kind of moment, because even the whisper of breath disturbers the stillness. It is time for Christ’s Candle. the people living in darkness have seen a […]
When A Broken Body Brings Life
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 As I am sitting here, I am very aware of every hour ahead of me this coming week, aware that my body will be broken. I’m […]
As the World Shakes in Fear, Can I Still Hope?
It hurts, watching the world splintering in fear. It hurts so much, and I grieve over so much pain. I get online and it’s the first thing I see in the morning, more fear: Another shooting. I’m not shocked, I’m horrified and grieved but not shocked. I hate that I’m not shocked. And I feel the […]
Job: Why Righteousness is Not Enough
Job is a man of righteousness, and yet he is suffering! His life has fallen to shreds. He has lost everything. Have you ever gone through “hell?” Pain, raw, intense. Grief, agonizing and unrelenting. Paralyzing. Job is caught in the middle of grief and depression and sorrow. It is one of the reasons I find […]
Book Review: Jesus Was An Airborne Ranger by John McDougall
The idea of the wimpy Sunday school Christ is one that has always irritated me to no end, and a complaint I often have is that this culture doesn’t seem to understand the strength of a Savior who chooses to lay down His life for us. Given these facts I found the book Jesus Was […]
Tossing No Stones
My heart aches inside me, it breaks. I see such hate, such disgust, so many pointed fingers. But most of all, I see pain. A person, genetically male, has called himself female. One side rises, in triumph, in rejoicing over freedom of expression of self. The other side rises vehemently in disgust and condemnation. And […]
The Ever Offensive Cross
What do you think about when you think of the cross? Do you think of church? Christians? Jewelry? Does it mean anything to you? Perhaps it feels like a pretentious symbol to you, offensive in its religiosity. Maybe it is a sacred image, symbolizing peace, and hope. Maybe you think of Jesus. But what is […]
Come to the Garden
Come to the Garden A Poem, By Joy Aletheia Stevens ~ Step into the Garden near, And breathe the fullness of the air. Come with awe and hope, and a little fear, And see the site that you’ll find there. ~ Let your gaze fall on gaping hole, Empty in the earth, And to your knees, […]
A Holy Mite
A Holy Mite A Poem, By Joy Aletheia Stevens ~ Starlight in the Night Looking down on the Holy Mite, A Little Bitty, A Tiny Thing, But in this Babe, Hope, a King! ~ All our worries, all our cares, Hinge, now, in a stable there. A Mighty Lord, who is Just and Right, Has […]
A Child is Born
At this moment, this very moment, somewhere in the world a baby is being born. A child is letting out their very first cry. A woman is becoming this beautiful amazing thing: a mother. Every child, every last one, changes the world around it. This woman? Her life will never be the same after she […]