Tag Archives: hope
Very few of us who are poetry fans do not recognize the name of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, America’s poet of the 19th century, but many people do not realize where his inspiration came from for his poem, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” I have often wandered why I am so inspired by the tolling of bells at any time of the year but particularly on Christmas Eve. Their sweet tones welcome in the birth of Christ on Christmas…..
America and the entire world is worn out from so many problems: continuing pandemic issues, political upheavals, war, economic problems, growth in acts of violence, storms of all kinds have become plagues upon the land. We crave hope and redemption from the negativity of the world. For the Christian, most of us keep putting our oars into the water to keep our boats moving through treacherous shoals and dangerous white water. We keep praying, trying not to lose hope, and…..
We all have images of Christmas that we think describe what Christmas is. Some say they like making vows to lose weight after the holidays, which they quickly break after a month or so. Others see trees beautifully decorated, Santa Claus coming down the chimney leaving gifts under those trees, caroling around the neighborhoods, family gatherings and telling old stories about members of those families, building snowmen and snow ball fights, and Creches depicting Mary and Joseph smiling at Jesus…..
God sees our homes as holy and sacred. The people of those homes may be different but the importance of home is not. In the Garden of Eden, Adam was given the job of naming all of the animals, birds, and insects, but he asked God for mate for himself. God created the perfect mate and companion for Adam by taking one of Adam’s ribs to make Eve. Thew family was God’s idea from the very beginning in that a…..
I hope my love is genuine so that I can hold onto what is good. I try to treat others as I want to be treated and show honor towards them. I am ardent in the spirit of the Lord and try to always stand up for right not wrong. I rejoice in hope, am patient in suffering, and persevere in prayer. I give to the needy, support organizations for the good of many, and show hospitality to strangers. I…..
As our streets are once again running in blood and unrest, I wonder what God is saying as His children are letting the sins of racism, misogyny, and lying eclipse anything that most Americans are trying to do for their brothers and sisters affected by COVID-19. None of us deserve the hatred, violence, and cut-throat negativity that have reared their ugly heads in recent days in Minnesota. These three sins need to be destroyed forever. Only Christian love and true…..
According to Lutheran liturgy, this is the second Sunday of Easter, but last Sunday didn’t feel like Easter because of COVID-19. I wasn’t in church, wasn’t singing the glorious hymns of Resurrection, and wasn’t hearing God’s word from the minister. As with churches across the nation, my church was closed, and I was struggling with my computer speakers to get any sound from them. Somehow, sitting in front of a computer screen, trying to lip-read what’s going on in a…..
In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, we learn there is a season to everything and a time for every purpose under heaven. There’s a time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to harvest; a time to kill, a time to heal; a time to break down, a time to build up; a time to weep, a time to laugh; a time to mourn, a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, a time…..
Where is America being led and who is doing the leading? Are you concerned about whether either party, Republican or Democrat, is headed in the Right direction; ever wonder if an independent party would run the country in a more positive way? I just re-watched an older movie entitled, “The Postman,” and suddenly, I realized America is not much better off than the story line for this movie that took place in 2013. In the movie, our country had suffered…..
We are all given the ability to paint our life’s purposes and values on a blank canvass. Someone looking at that beautiful life painting can see who we are. I am a child of God, and I will raise my praises to God, the Almighty King, in faith, hope, and charity. Praises to God, the Almighty King Let us rejoice and be on our way. Christ has conquered and destroyed every foe. Christ is our security; Christ is our heart……