Lots of connections going on in my head and heart this Advent as I let Philippians 2:5-11 be my unexpected Advent passage this year and allow the passages from my devotional to interact reminding me how very much alive and at work God’s word is. This morning I was reading John 1, Jesus is theContinue reading “A whole year of unfolding and waiting and remembering and celebrating to be done.”
Author Archives: rozandmarkarnold
Advent: Energising Sustainer
And so we come to the final, soaring words of Isaiah 40: 27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel,“My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding noContinue reading “Advent: Energising Sustainer”
Christmas, an interruption to our plans
I was struck in a conversation this morning of how Christmas is hard for bedtime routines with young children and how we all look forward to resetting the routine afterwards. That sense that Christmas is actually an inconvenience to our routine, our children’s routine and that it would be easier to skip over it.* ThenContinue reading “Christmas, an interruption to our plans”
The Peace of Christ, our mediator.
Growing up I was taught that we could go straight to God ourselves, that we didn’t need anyone to stand between us and God. I was struck this morning reading in Hebrews 9 where Jesus is called our mediator. The lesson I grew up with was only partial right. We don’t need another human toContinue reading “The Peace of Christ, our mediator.”
Who are we looking to?
My advent reading for today was on Rev 5:5 where Jesus is called the Lion of Judah. As I have studied lions with our children and learnt more about the difference between the male and female lions I have pondered and felt disconcerted by this image a number of times. The reading also brought meContinue reading “Who are we looking to?”
Advent: Strong Creator
In Isaiah 40 we have heard the call to “behold your God” – to pay attention to God. Reading Isaiah 40 is a great way to do this because it isn’t content with giving us the simple statement “God is powerful”. It isn’t content to unpack that in three clear distinct ways that tell usContinue reading “Advent: Strong Creator”
Holding a space
This morning my reading for Advent took me to Rev 1:8 I am the Alpha and the Omega. Christ is all sufficient. I was again drawn back to my Advent passage of Phil 2:5-11 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not considerContinue reading “Holding a space”
Advent: Tender Might
A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” 9 You who bring good news to Zion, goContinue reading “Advent: Tender Might”
Advent: Glory
A voice of one calling:“In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:3-5 From wordsContinue reading “Advent: Glory”
Advent: Comfort for the Heart
In this Advent season I want to reflect on various passages from Isaiah 40-55. These are some of my favourite sections of Scripture. As I do, I want to pay close attention to the texts I pick, perhaps deal with any questions they raise, and then focus on how they speak to our hearts asContinue reading “Advent: Comfort for the Heart”
Joshua's Tree Rooted 