At the risk of adding to all of the usual hoopla surrounding the New Year, new beginnings, and New Year's Resolutions, the Bible has a lot to tell about God and the newness of things. The newness that comes from God is unlike anything else when it comes to a fresh start. So, I thought, “What better time to take a dig into God and newness than the turning of the year?” 🪏 SHOVEL TIME! I encourage you - as you have time - to actually open each of these scriptures in your Bib

A Return to Scripture, Reality, and Reverent Unknowing As I put together these blog pieces, you all know I love including lots of images.  It's one of my really fun things about doing this; images not only convey information, but they break up the monotony of print, and they can also be soothing. What I have found really perplexing, however, is some of the many images I see where people try to depict what God looks like.  Take this one, for example: "I wish I was twenty year

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” — James 1:17   Today is the day after Christmas, December 26 , Boxing Day in the UK (woohoo!) and a day I like to enjoy quietly, nestled in with family and my gifts, trying them out, reading them, shutting out the normal events of routine life.  I think that’s fairly typical for lots of us on this day “after Christmas!”  T

Krista filmed me playing this a couple of weeks ago... recording is below... Nearly twenty years ago I found myself at my piano late one night, overwhelmed by the realization that we often speak of Jesus in fragments. We celebrate the baby. We revere the Savior. We proclaim the King. But we rarely hold them all at once. Out of that quiet moment came a piece I have simply called “Christmas Medley.”  It weaves together three melodies that, for me, represent the fullness of Ch

“He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He might have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18 Overture – From Stage to Symphony Throughout this Advent season, I’ve been thinking about Christmas in terms of a great unfolding drama—many characters stepping onto the stage at just the right moment, each with an important role to play.     I started out with Characters of the Nativity :  Zechariah and Elizabeth Simeon and Anna Mary and Joseph   Th

I was supposed to do this yesterday , and I moved right into Shepherds & Angels instead! That was probably good timing in hindsight, though. I thought I might skip over it, but, NO! - I absolutely do have to come back to this, because what King Herod represents is vitally important when it comes to understanding God and what we are celebrating as believers - not only at Christmas - but every day. So, today’s Dig  centers on Herod the Great , but not merely as a villain

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.   And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,  unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;  because he was of the house and lineage of David:  to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being

Contrary to what is commonly portrayed, the Wise Men did not visit Jesus until some time after His birth, when He and His parents were living in a house in Bethlehem. I don't picture Him as being quite that old, but we know He was somewhere between birth and two years old. Anyway! Yesterday we took a good look at the Star of Bethlehem itself; an inanimate "Christmas Player."  Today, I’d like to turn our attention to these three Christmas characters -   the wise men , or Mag

This Advent season I am curiously drawn into fascination with various aspects of the Christmas Story as told in Scripture.   The wonders of our LORD just never end, and – like so much in learning – the more you know the more you know you don’t know!    Earlier in this Advent series I took a deeper look into Zechariah & Elizabeth, Joseph & Mary, Anna & Simeon.  Now I would like to look into some of the other “Christmas Players,” starting today with THE STAR that led the wisem

Today I'd like to start with a reading of this amazing portion of scripture so we have it clearly in our minds before examining it more deeply. Well! What portion of scripture isn't amazing, given that all scripture is the very Word of God, coming directly from His mouth? However, in these short 14 verses - when you think about it - we really have the entire story of God in a nutshell. This is a stirring read - so much truth here - so please take your time and savor, allo

Today I want to delve into this very deep and, ultimately, the most compelling mystery there is. God - Who always has been and always will be - picture this! - God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, merely speaking the world into existence. This is the startling way the apostle John introduces Jesus Christ as he picks up his pen, now, after Jesus has died, risen, and gone back to heaven: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John

Before we dig in here, I just have to wonder. What must have it been like to be Isaiah? Really, any of the prophets, for that matter. NOT an upbeat occupation, for sure. God's prophets always swam against the tide. They were hated for telling the truth, because lies were so much more palatable and convenient to the people and because people are by nature rebellious, weak, and easily deceived. Isaiah, for example, as one of his prophetic assignments, was instructed by th

The word Messiah  is familiar — but often with assumed meaning rather than real understanding. Think about it. We’re used to hearing or even saying things like, “Jesus is the Messiah,”  or “The Jews of Jesus’ time didn’t understand that Jesus was the Messiah.”  But what does that actually mean? And what about Handel’s Messiah ? We know it’s all about Jesus, but… why ? What is being claimed when that word is used? Today is going to feel more like a class  than a devotional

Today we wrap up our "Daily Digs" into this majestic portion of scripture. Under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah the prophet, some 700 years before Jesus Christ would appear on earth in the form of a human, spoke these mysterious words. At the time they were spoken, their full meaning was hidden behind a veil; today, they are very familiar to many of us: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And

I don’t think I’m very likely alone in my “wondrous” perplexity of how to think of God in relationship to myself.   I tend to think of Him more as my Father when speaking with Him and thinking of Him than I do as my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Now, don’t get me wrong!  Theologically I completely “get” that my heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are One and the same; NO difference in the very essence of His being!  But… when I am talking with Him and thinking of Him,  I have

This week I am excited to take us through one of the most famous Biblical passages we associate with the celebration of the Birth of Christ:   “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish

This week I am excited to take us through one of the most famous Biblical passages we associate with the celebration of the Birth of Christ:   “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish

This week I am excited to take us through one of the most famous Biblical passages we associate with the celebration of the Birth of Christ:   “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish

This week I am excited to take us through one of the most famous Biblical passages we associate with the celebration of the Birth of Christ:   “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establis

Do you never wonder about that thought that crossed your mind and how it led you to make a decision that was smart, wise, or beneficial in some way?  And I am not talking about just the big decisions – like a life partner, a job offer, purchasing a home or a car or planning a family, which path to take in a big medical decision – I’m talking about purchasing stock for my shop from this particular vendor at this particular time only to find out they are running a one-day sale