-
Recent Posts
- Thoughts on the Fourth of July July 4, 2019
- Red shirt and blue shorts June 26, 2019
- What I want to tell Finn June 23, 2019
- It lives May 13, 2019
- All children born this night February 8, 2019
- “What are you thankful for?” November 23, 2018
- I wish I knew him September 12, 2018
Key Thoughts and Writings
About the Scriptures
Tag Archives: Joy
“What are you thankful for?”
My brother didn’t ask the question “What are your thankful for in this last year?” If he had, I could have spoken about the wonderful connections I have had with old friends, the time spent with family, the great staff I have to work with and some of the high points of the year. I could have spoken about the people I love, including those around the table. But he didn’t ask this question; he asked the more existential question, “What are you thankful for?” Continue reading
Posted in Easter, Grief, Hope, Thanksgiving
Tagged Christian Faith, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, Easter, Gratitude, Hope, Joy, Promise, Religion and Spirituality, Sorrow, Thanksgiving
2 Comments
Thinking in stories
We are creatures who think in stories. Confusion and anxiety reign when we can’t figure out the story line. It locates us. It gives meaning to our past, shapes our understanding of the present and gives direction for the future. Continue reading
Posted in Christianity
Tagged Anna Bonde, Christian Faith, Christianity, Compassion, Courage, Hope, Joy, Story, The Biblical story, Witness
Leave a comment
Praying Good Friday
O thou who art the voice in the eternal silence, the light in the spreading darkness the warmth in the growing cold, the peace in the rising fear, the truth in the crowded confusion: Wounded, you heal. Broken, you restore. … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, Prayer
Tagged Christ Jesus, Christian Life, Death of Jesus, Easter, Good Friday, Hope, Joy, Prayer, Religion and Spirituality
Leave a comment
Where the heavens bend
It seems like we are marching again towards Good Friday, towards the death of kindness and mercy, to the triumph of naked power, to a paroxysm of the Father of Lies. And with what do we stand? Simply the promise that Christ is risen, that the darkness cannot prevail, that death itself yields to the author of life. Continue reading
Posted in American Society, Christianity, Worship
Tagged Christian Faith, Christianity, Gloria Bonde, Grief, Hope, Isaiah 5, Jesus, Joy, Kindness, Life, Light, New Creation, Our broken world, Psalm 24, Worship
Leave a comment
Perpetual summer
The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. –Isaiah 60:19 Continue reading
Posted in Advent Devotions, Christianity, Hope, Reflections on the Scriptures
Tagged Hope, Isaiah 60, Jesus, Joy, Life, Light, New Creation, Summer, The Incarnation, Winter
Leave a comment
Creating joy
Through the prophet God invites us to rejoice in what God is creating – and declares that what God is creating is joy. Continue reading
Overflowing Joy
“I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” — John 15:11 Continue reading
Posted in Advent Devotions, Christian Life, Christianity, Reflections on the Scriptures
Tagged Christian Life, Jesus, Jesus' teaching, John 15, Joy
Leave a comment
A parade
“For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” – Isaiah 55:12 Continue reading
Bucketfuls
“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” –Isaiah 12:3 Continue reading
Posted in Advent Devotions, Christianity, Hope, Reflections on the Scriptures
Tagged Christian Life, Hope, Isaiah 12, Joy, Justice, Mercy, Psalm 30, Salvation
Leave a comment
Everlasting joy
While the children presented the Christmas story this morning in worship I wasn’t thinking about this election cycle or the troubles in the Middle East or the medical problems of family or the family problems of friends. There were just children in the spotlight dressed in sweetness and a deeply familiar story of Mary and Joseph, a journey to Bethlehem, and the heavens radiant with the song of angels. Continue reading
