At the time of Jesus’ birth, Israel groaned under Roman oppression. The Israelites yearned for release from the harsh yoke, in part because an aspect of Jewish identity was bound up...

The young woman who came to see me one December was in her early twenties and obviously pregnant. As she spilled out her story, tears welled in her eyes. She had...

When God gave the law to Moses, God instructed him on how to build a tabernacle. Throughout Israel’s history, from Mount Sinai to the reign of David, the tabernacle had functioned...

A few years ago I went to a restaurant that had earned a wonderful reputation. Once seated, I learned that I had no decisions to make because the restaurant served one...

I need goals and deadlines. Whether it’s a work project, exercise habits, or writing these devotions, I do my best when I have a goal that stretches me and a plan...

The opening lines of this reading speak clearly to my heart. Jesus reads these verses aloud in the synagogue after his wilderness temptations; they set the tone for his ministry. They’ve...

My five-year-old godson dreams of things beyond any waking experiences: dragons and castles, flying trains and talking trucks, foreign lands and mighty wizards. When he wakes up, he’s always on the...

Know thyself.” In my world, this is an oft-repeated maxim. Ancient wisdom and modern psychology have taught us that self-awareness is essential for any leader, any church, or any relationship to...

The psalmist voices a joyful, hopeful poetic account of the community’s life in God. But it’s written in a curious structure. It’s hard to tell what is past, what is present,...

Many Advent calendars refer to the third Sunday as Gaudete Sunday—the Sunday of joy. In many churches, congregants will light a candle and read words that remind us to lean into...