Spirit: Advent Day 18
SPIRIT Two years ago on Christmas Eve, Logan (age 7 at the time) gave me the card pictured above. No wonder Jesus admonished his disciples to become like little children. At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked,……
Author: Stacey Nalean-Carlson
Dream: Advent Day 17
DREAM How does what you dream form and shape your life? This was the question that was posed at Grace Institute1 in November, following a presentation by Rev. Dr. Craig Nessan. It’s a question that has been working on me……
Righteous: Advent Day 16
RIGHTEOUS Luke 5:30-35 30 The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who……
Found: Advent Day 15
FOUND Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he……
Restore Us, O God
This sermon was preached at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church and Aase Haugen Home, Decorah, Iowa on December 15, 2019. Those following the lectionary will note that it’s based on texts for the 4th Sunday of Advent: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 and……
Least: Advent Day 14
LEAST Today marks the seventh anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting. Of the twenty children killed that day, none were older than seven. Most were six. Can we even begin to let that sink in? These beloved ones were some……
Greater: Advent Day 13
GREATER I resist today’s word, because to use it seems to be asking for trouble. I could say, for example, that dark chocolate is greater than milk chocolate, and I probably wouldn’t offend too many people. Although, maybe more folks……
Messenger: Advent Day 12
MESSENGER The moment always comes–I should be used to it by now–when I wonder why in the world I’ve committed myself to writing daily reflections during what is already a very full season. The answer, it seems, is that daily……
Blessed: Advent Day 11
BLESSED May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth. –Psalm 115:15 May you be blessed by the laughter and by the tears. May you be blessed by the courage and by the fear. May you be blessed……
See: Advent Day 10
SEE I’m turning to the psalms again today. Psalm 10 begins with a challenging question of God: Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do your hide yourself in times of trouble? The psalmist recites the actions of……