In today’s episode we jump forward from shortly after Jesus was born to right before Jesus starts His public ministry. In Matthew 3 and 4 we read about two interesting events that happen back to back. The first is the baptism of Jesus where the Father declares Jesus to be His Son and affirms His…
Hopefully you took time to celebrate the birth of Jesus just over a week ago. It’s hard to imagine all the emotions and thoughts that Mary and Joseph had as Jesus was born into this broken world. How would they be able to parent the Son of God? Without God’s help, it would have been…
As we look at the Christmas story the time has come for Mary to give birth! In Luke 2:6-7 we read, “So it was, while they were there (in Bethlehem for the census) the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths,…
Today we look at Joseph’s side of the Christmas story! Can you imagine the emotions he must have gone through? We know that Joseph was betrothed to Mary. At some point he finds out she is pregnant. We don’t know how, but one might hope that Mary told him. And if she did, can you…
Last week we looked at the story in the Gospel of Luke where the angel Gabriel appears to Zachariah when he is burning incense in the temple. Today, we find the same angel, Gabriel, showing up six months later in Nazareth, about 80 miles or more to the north. This time he appears to a…
Over the next five weeks we are going to look at a series of angelic encounters that people had around the time of Jesus’ birth. With each one we will share a passage from Matthew or Luke where you can read the full story. This week we are looking at Luke 1:5-25, 39-56. Have you…
*This week’s blog is only in a written format. There will be a video and written blog again next week.* Today we continue to be challenged by the wisdom in the Psalms. The first two verses of Psalm 127 describe many of us when we have our priorities misaligned. We run to and fro, giving…
*This week’s blog is only in a written format.* Today we continue to glean from the depth of wisdom found in the Psalms. Psalm 90 starts out with, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.” Another way to say that is, “God, you are our home. Wherever you are, when we are…
*This week’s blog is only in a written format.* Today we jump into Psalm 68. Here David calls on God to “Arise, scatter His enemies, and drive them away like smoke.” Two days ago, we had smoke here in Salt Lake City, Utah from fires in Idaho that are almost 300 miles away. And then…
*This week’s blog is only in a written format.* Today we jump into Psalm 63. When David wrote this Psalm he was in a physical wilderness. He was in a “dry and thirsty land.” He uses this as a metaphor for the longing of his soul. In the second half of verse 1 David says,…
