Ponderings

This time of year, I often spend a few days re-reading one of my favorite Advent devotionals, Kneeling in Bethlehem by Ann Weems. Today, I’d like to share her poem, In Search of Our Kneeling Places: In each heart lies a Bethlehem,an inn where we

I was “pondering” this morning how easy it is, especially this time of year, to get caught in a rut of daily living. Get up. Go to work, take care of family obligations, or run errands. Eat dinner. Take care of one or two household

According to the forecast, a cold front is approaching. Single-digit days and below-zero wind chills make me want to stay inside, drink hot tea, and huddle under a blanket with a good book. There’s nothing wrong with a day or two like that, but it’s

This is the second week of Advent, and last Sunday we lit the candle of peace. Peace, from our human perspective, is an elusive feeling. When we’re busy, distracted, frustrated, depressed, angry, overwhelmed, grieving, or in pain, peace seems unattainable. But the peace Christ offers

It’s officially soup season. It’s common knowledge that I don’t like to cook and don’t do it often, but I do break down on occasion and make soup. The problem is, I don’t know how to make a little. It’s always a crockpot full of

Last Sunday, we lit the Advent candle of hope and, as we end this week’s meditations, I’d like to “ponder” on how faith and hope intersect. In our daily lives, hope is uncertain. I hope for health and happiness, for myself and others. I hope

I was thinking about my need to do some Christmas shopping and came across this online question. What should you not buy someone else for Christmas? Here are some of the answers: socks, underwear, lingerie, a scale, a cemetery plot, deodorant, kitchen stuff, exercise equipment,

Holy One of God Does the thought of God’s holiness frighten or intimidate you? The central promise of Advent is that, just as Jesus came into the world over 2,000 years ago, he will come again. Except it will be different. He came as an

Today seems like one of those “most excellent” days to stay inside, huddle under a cover, read a good book, and enjoy a cuppa (or two) of tea. But alas … This morning, when I opened the door to let Tori out, even she, who