Biblical Studies

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14 ESV) "Made flesh," a poem by Luci Shaw: After the bright beam of hot annunciation fused heaven with dark earth his searing sharply focused light went out for a while eclipsed in amniotic gloom: his cool immensity of splendor his universal grace small-folded in a warm dim female space– the Word stern-sentenced to be nine months dumb– infinity walled in a womb until the next enormity– the Mighty, after submission to a woman’s pains helpless on a barn-bare floor first-tasting bitter death Now I in him surrender to the crush and cry of birth. Because eternity was closeted in time he is my open door to forever. From his imprisonment my freedoms grow, find wings. Part of his body, I transcend this flesh. From his sweet silence my mouth sings. Out of his dark I glow. My life, as his, slips through death’s mesh, time’s bar...

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1 ESV) "...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV) When our family gathered together in years past for Thanksgiving dinner we would sometimes ask, "what are you thankful for?" Then we'd go around the table and share our thoughts. Of course, when the children were little, favorite pets or toys would be in the forefront. As we grew, we began to see all the things that God had done and was doing in our lives. It's important not only to feel gratitude for all that God is and has provided and has promised, but also to verbalize those blessings in actual giving-of-thanks to God. He is the Fount of all good, and to him belongs all the credit and glory and thanks.  If you or your family run out of blessings to give thanks for, here's a list that may help: God exists, and he reigns ov...