Category: A Faith in Process

39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. *** It wasn’t by chance that Gabriel told Mary about Elizabeth. God knew that Mary would need Elizabeth as a spiritual mother and mentor because not everyone would accept as true either of their miraculous stories of God’s…

Mary (Hebrew “Miriam”) may mean “bitter,” or “exalted one.” My sister Mary prefers “Myrrh: bitter, but healing and fragrant when crushed.” *** 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph,…

I sit in quiet,My mind races ahead of me.I let those thoughts pass,Waiting. Listening in quietfor that gentle voice of God.Wondering when will I hear the whisper.Waiting. Waiting. Emmanuel, God with usCome be with me as I sit, waiting.Wondrous waiting. (Author unknown)

Born into the priestly line, married to a priest, righteous, and obedient to the Lord. But she was barren – and probably at least 60 years old. Children secured a man’s reputation, ensured his lineage, and proved God’s favor upon him. A child, especially a son, also provided for a widowed mother, preventing her from destitution…

The angel describes the child not yet born as Joy-bringing, Spirit-filled, a second Elijah. Great in God’s eyes. Turning people to the Lord. Preparing the people for Messiah’s coming! Amazed and overwhelmed, Zechariah turns from this glorious prophecy to focus on grim reality. After all, he knows how these things work. 18 Zechariah said to the…

11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are…

400 years have passed since the last prophet in Israel. No writings. Nothing. God has been silent. That’s about to change. When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah.He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah,and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and…

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth …Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!Genesis 1:1, 31 NLT But there was evil in God’s very good creation. Scholars think that the Archangel Lucifer’s rebellion and expulsion from heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-18) occurred…

Dear Lord, we come before You, resting in Your faithful love that never fails. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever, and we are grateful for the security we find in You. Your love surrounds us like a shield, and Your presence is our refuge in times of trouble. We worship You, O Lord,…

“You are blessed! God’s desire is for you. And Jesus is the incarnation of God’s furious longing. He is your supreme Lover. It’s true. You are blessed. Your soul’s winter is over. The snows are over and gone. Flowers are blooming inside of you. The season of joyful songs has come. To you. You are…