Click on the image to the right to see today’s Advent doodle. For the last seven years, I have put up an online Advent calendar during the season of Advent. It featured pictures suitable for the season, matched with passages of Scripture. This year, I’m doing an online Advent Calendar once again, but with some exciting new content. I am using Advent Doodles by my wife, Linda. She has a unique ministry of doodling, combining her drawings with Scripture, inspirational... Read more
Advent is coming. It’s time to get ready. You might be wondering, “How do I get ready for Advent? There aren’t any presents to buy. No parties to throw. No decorations to put up. So what am I supposed to do to get ready?” It is true that, compared to its more popular cousin, Christmas, Advent requires relatively little preparation. In fact, part of the point of Advent is to carve out time for quiet, reflection, and renewal. So, getting... Read more
Reflection for Thanksgiving Day Psalm 100:1-5 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4 On this Thanksgiving Day, Americans are encouraged to pause and give thanks to God. In his Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln wrote: “The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that... Read more
Part 9 of series: Thanksgiving: Not Just a Day, But a Season Do You Want a Happy Thanksgiving? A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day Do you want a happy Thanksgiving? According to John Tierney, writing for the New York Times, “A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day.” And more than just the day. It may save your well-being, your enjoyment of life, and even your long-term health. On Monday, I put up a post entitled “Want a... Read more
Be Thankful in All Circumstances 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the United States, so I have set apart this whole week for reflections on gratitude. Today, I want to consider a verse from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (5:18).... Read more
Part 9 of series: Thanksgiving: Not Just a Day, But a Season Dear God, Thank You For This Crummy Job I just read a wonderful and timely piece on being thankful for a job even if it’s a crummy one. David Rupert begins his article for The High Calling this way: I remember the days when I bounded out of bed, ready to seize the day. Back then, work was a joy. My coworkers banded together as we found new... Read more
God Helps Us to Remember Psalm 111:1-10 He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our LORD! Psalm 111:4 When I actually take time to think about God’s grace in my life, when I actually remember the ways he has saved, healed, and transformed me, then gratitude flows quite easily. For me the formula is simple: Time + Remembering = Gratitude. If I’m going to have adequate time for thanking God, I need to put... Read more
Part 8 of series: Thanksgiving: Not Just a Day, But a Season How Can I Be Thankful When . . . ? The Bible instructs us to be consistently thankful. In writing to the Thessalonian Christians, the Apostle Paul said, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thes 5:18). This sounds nice enough, until you find yourself in difficult, even painful circumstances. Then, inspired biblical truth can feel like... Read more
Thanks for God’s Love and Wonders Psalm 107:1-43 Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Psalm 107:8 This coming Thursday, residents of the United States will stop as a nation for Thanksgiving Day. It is a day for us to express our gratitude to God for his many blessings. At least that’s the idea. But, for many of us, Thanksgiving Day is filled with activities besides pausing to... Read more
Mark D. Roberts
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Wedged Between Glenn Beck and The Christmas Dog
First, I want to say thanks to those who have purchased my new (and first) e-book, Discovering Advent: How to Experience the Power of Waiting on God at Christmastime. And for those who would like to buy the book but do not own an e-reader, I apologize for not having a way to distribute the book in another form. My guess is that by next year, there will be more options. I’m just getting started in the e-book world. A... Read more