“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."Isaiah 60 Salvation is joining in with God, becoming partners in God's initiatives of light, justice, mercy, grace, peace, love... …
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."Matthew 6:19-21 - new glasses! …
Continue reading New glasses, and seeing clearly what we don’t need
How very good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard,on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.Psalm 133 Sunday, …
Continue reading Life: “The Lord has done it this very day!”
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;all your waves and breakers have swept over me.Psalm 42:7 - Epiphany Sunday at Hudson I am not sure where or when it started, but recently - first at WFPC and now at Hudson Memorial - Rebekah and I have looked forward with real anticipation to the "star …
When the Magi saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.Matthew 2:10-11 - NC writer Derek Maul According to Merriam-Webster, epiphany can be defined as …
Continue reading A January 6 Epiphany – grant us wisdom, grant us courage
- David and Beks with Geoffrey Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father; that will be enough for us.”Jesus replied, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been with you all this time? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I …
Continue reading A Picture of Love (understanding incarnation)
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.Isaiah 1:1-3 This may not be a Christmasy post, but it's …
“The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how terrible that darkness will be! No one can serve two masters. Either …
Continue reading My mum’s cataract surgery, Matthew 6:22, and our need to let the light in
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”John 8:12 - Derek Maul writes about hope and light Have you ever woken up in a dark bedroom, maybe …
Continue reading the solution to darkness is not artificial light
- following the Magi in the right direction... "Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the path of peace.”Luke 1:78-79 The intentional heart of the Magi - the path of …
Continue reading The “why” of Advent, and how it’s too easy to miss Christmas altogether
Derek Maul: Words and Photographs for the Journey 