Category: advent
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Advent Reflections: Shadows of Joy
Something amazing happened at our house one December day–we opened the blinds on our front door to let some sunshine into the house. No, that’s not the amazing part, though we are rarely home during the day to do this. I’m sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a mid-morning cup of coffee when Nancy says,…
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Advent Reflections: Peace by Piece
The following story is historical fiction: straight out of my imagination but inspired by actual events. During World War II, Matsuko and her family were among the many Japanese Americans forcibly interned in camps. For three years she longed to return to the farm near Salinas, California where her husband Hayato’s family had grown strawberries…
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Advent Reflections: The Power of Hope and Love
A favorite *story of mine that pairs well with the first Sunday of Advent is about a woman who leaves anonymous notes of encouragement throughout her city. Elizabeth, a recovering drug addict, wants to help others by spreading hope, something she once desperately searched for herself. So, she writes uplifting notes and tucks them under…
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The Modern Distraction: A Call to Lift Our Heads This Advent
A table full of young soldiers at the food court appeared to be praying together over their noon meal. “How refreshing,” I thought. “They are giving thanks to God.” Tis the season. As I drew closer, I realized they were all staring down at their phones. It was indeed reverence, but of a different sort.…
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Turning the Key
I am intrigued with something Deborah Marie wrote on her blog, Great is God’s Faithfulness. The title of the post was, The Key to Life, and it was all about the choice set before God’s people in Deuteronomy 30:19-20. Moses challenged them to love, obey and commit totally to God–to choose life over death and…
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When Light Surprises
Most of last week, leading up to the first Sunday of Advent, the weather here was overcast and gloomy. This is unusual for our part of the country, which gets around 250 sunny days per year. Delightedly, the Sabbath dawned bright and clear. It was an ideal beginning to the first Sunday of Advent. Speaking…
Davids Daily Dose 