DEVOTIONAL:
Have you ever had that feeling when you just don’t know if you are going to survive what is ahead of you? The stress of homework, work, exams and just plain busyness gets to be too much and all you want to do is fall asleep and wish for it to all be over. I’m in the middle of this right now as I look to the stresses of semester finals in the coming days. There may not be time for it, but God is calling me to rejoice.
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DEVOTIONAL:
“Proclaim” is not a word I often use. In fact, it’s not a word I hear much at all. Nevertheless, it’s a word that seems to hold a very powerful and significant meaning in Scripture. (more…)

DEVOTIONAL:
Prepare the way of the Lord. Outside of the opening song in the play Godspell, we hear this passage from Luke, and the Old Testament Scripture to which it alludes (Isaiah 40:3-5), almost exclusively during the weeks leading up to Christmas, when we celebrate Jesus’ birth. Yet this chapter of Luke jumps us ahead about 30 years, to shortly before Jesus’ baptism. John the Baptist is not proclaiming Jesus’ birth but rather Jesus’ imminent ministry. And once Jesus comes on the scene a few verses later, he too prepares for what is to come with baptism, prayer, fasting and self-imposed exile into the desert. (more…)

DEVOTIONAL:
At Christmastime we celebrate the incarnation, God becoming flesh and walking among us. In the years following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the apostle Paul modeled following Jesus for fledgling churches across Asia Minor, putting on the mind of Christ, explaining the Good News, exhorting and encouraging new believers to faith, love, knowledge and righteousness.
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DEVOTIONAL:
“Blessed be the Lord.” Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, began this song of praise and thanksgiving to the God of Israel. And yet, Zechariah’s song does not seem to be about his son John, but about John’s role in preparing the way of the one to come after him.
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DEVOTIONAL:
Today’s passage speaks to me from a place of personal struggle. And yet even in the warning about enduring the messenger’s arrival, there is a kernel of hope.
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DEVOTIONAL:
I am a person that likes to prepare. I like to plan and prepare for my day, week and sometimes month ahead of time. With school, this is very easy to do as all I need is my planner. I carry my planner almost everywhere and color-code my schedule. I’m known among my friends as a planner, who likes to have everything in order and prepared, so there are no surprises.
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DEVOTIONAL:
The sun burst forth again this morning!

It began with a glimmer of light. Then came the brightening of the sky and a coloring of the eastern clouds – followed by the dramatic rising of the familiar orb. Signs of its presence were all around: reflections in ponds and wetlands, golden light on tree trunks, sparkles on the frost, and a deepening blue in the sky.
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DEVOTIONAL:
Traveling is such a funny thing. Two summers ago I went to Senegal in West Africa for Goshen’s three-month Study-Service Term (SST). During my time there, I experienced an amazing transition from stranger to family member; from American to adopted Senegalese. What an incredible blessing it was! Despite language and cultural barriers galore, I formed deep connections to the people who welcomed me into their lives.
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DEVOTIONAL:
Advent bursts in upon the autumnal rhythms of ordinary time. Fallen leaves, the last hurrah of overripe bounties, are rustled about by breezes and blowers. The nose of every sentient creature tingles with the scent of things to come. I invite you now to pause, and peer towards time’s first wrinkle.
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