Everyday Beautiful

  Strength arises from a crimson covering made mine by One whose love I could never earn. Strength grows out of grace. Strength often lacks beauty. It goes unappreciated, unseen when facing enduring bitter cold. Strength builds itself upon integrity, understanding one answers for oneself- did I remain faithful when no eye saw, when others misunderstood, when I stood alone? The One who matters never left nor forsook me. Strength holds grief, joy, pain, thanksgiving, wrestling, peace, confusion, certainty, brokenness, healing... acknowledging these dichotomies for they drive me to the Holy One whose nature is paradox. Strength clings to hope, knowing the Living Hope. He is the Vine who never runs dry; the Father a Gardener ever nurturing. Growth hurts for it requires pruning, frigid rains, unfiltered heat. Strength leans into the growth, knowing fruit comes in its proper time. Strength clings with all its strength to One immune to my vapor-span life and fragility. Strength focuses no...

  Have you considered the faith of the magi? They left their homes in the faith of Abraham... on a journey for an unknown destination, over an undetermined span of time, unsure whether they would return. They pursued the promise of God, a word softly shared since the birth of Israel: a star would rise from David's house. The magi valued God's promise with awed reverence, seeking to worship a king born to a foreign people. Yet they believed the unmatched, indescribable, unfathomable greatness of this King. Thus, they followed a star. Ponder how ludicrous that sounds. Bizarre, foolish, risky, pathetic, hopeless. Imagine the mocking taunts of their countrymen as they left. Or did they sneak away at night, leaving family and friends because the group knew no one else would understand the desperation, urgency, passion planted in their hearts by a word best described as alive . Consider the stir of Jerusalem which greeted the Magi. The people of God imitated a pagan king's respon...

  Egypt A land of lies hidden identity. A land of exile crippling slavery tears of anguish watering sand barren ground growing profit for exploiters. A land of empty promises, splintered reed piercing those who look in hope.... ...An infant cry begins redemption claiming broken land as safe haven- a place of death for children now sheltering refugee child from slaughter. O Egypt, salvation reaches beyond the river banks of Cush calling your people to Immanuel God among you.