Faith

Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 12:1-9 + Genesis 15 + Genesis 18:1-15 + Genesis 21:1-7 With much of his story recorded in the book of Genesis, we get a front-row seat to Abraham’s life. Abraham’s story is rich in lessons on faith and obedience. But after waiting twenty-five years for the birth of Isaac, …

Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Psalm 34 Advent is a season of waiting. It’s a time to anticipate the physical coming of Christ into the world. Just as we decorate our house for Christmas, Advent gets our hearts ready for Jesus. But that doesn’t mean the waiting is easy. …

Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Micah 5:1-5a + Matthew 2:1-6 + Colossians 1:15-17 When I think of being saved or rescued, what comes to mind is heroes in capes. Our culture loves the imagery of a good guy fighting the bad guy. Millions of dollars have been spent and made on these images. …

Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 17:3-8 + Exodus 13:17-22 + 2 Peter 3:8-9 In my working life, I’ve had a lot of jobs. I worked retail and restaurant, dance teacher and after school counselor, phone banker and Montessori teaching assistant. I’ve hustled my way through multiple nonprofits, including affordable housing and education. …

Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Jeremiah 32:36-41 + Romans 8:18-25 Have you ever decided something that, at the moment, seemed terrible but with time, ultimately worked out for good? Jeremiah 32 opens with Jeremiah in prison, confined within the walls of king Zedekiah’s house. As a prophet, Jeremiah had received a …

Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 8:13 – 9:17 + Revelation 22:1-6 As a kid, I know I made promises I couldn’t keep. “We’ll be best friends forever.” “I’ll sit with you at lunch every day.” “I promise to let you borrow that book tomorrow.” Even last month, I found myself …

Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 2:15-17 + Genesis 3:1-8 + Hebrews 12:7-11 Ten years ago, I was barely a year out of college. Living at home and working a retail job, I was still finding my place in the world. I had my friends and regular routines, including a practice of attending …

Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 1:1-5; John 1:1-5 My memory isn’t great. I’ve forgotten many things, and often I rely on a combination of journaling, photographs, and someone else’s retelling to remind me of past events. Even though I don’t remember specifics, I know there was a time I …

Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Reading: Psalm 145 As a child, my family didn’t celebrate Advent. There was no candled wreath, no calendars, no nightly traditions. But, in our own way, we still created space. We put together our ancient artificial tree, sprinkled fake “snow” over the tops of bookcases, …