As I mentioned last week, another Advent seasonthe first part of the Church calendaris here. In the Collect for the first Sunday of Advent, we prayed that God would prepare us for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Collect for the second week of Advent continues this prayer by asking Almighty God to comfort us through His Word as we patiently await Christ's return. I...

Once again, another year in the life of the global Church has come and gone, and a new year begins this Sunday. Like us, the Church follows a calendar that provides structure and rhythm, helping us experience the life and ministry of Jesus. The Church's new year begins with Advent, a word derived from the Latin "adventus," meaning "arrival" or "coming." It is a season that...

The last Sunday in the church year is designated as Christ the King Sunday. The collect for the day reminds us thatJesus is "King of kings and Lord of lords".It is good to remind ourselves of this facet of our savior's character.Part of our fallen human nature is to put ourselves on the throne of our life. We want to do what we want when we want to.So did Adam and Eve in t...

As I shared last week, the purpose of a "Collect" is to direct our hearts toward God's attributes and actions. Through them, we offer petitions, recognize the eternal unity and sovereignty of the Holy Trinity, and conclude the prayer with an "Amen." This week's collect reminds us that the Lord will reward our good works. However, this does not mean that our good works rede...

Often, the devotions I write come from one of the weekly collects appointed for Sunday worship. For those who may still have questions about what exactly a "collect" is, let me give a quick explanation. A collect is a short prayer, usually no longer than two or three sentences. Collects are designed to draw our hearts and minds toward God's eternal and majestic qualities. ...

In His Sermon on the Mount, among the many exhortations spoken by Jesus, two are found in Matthew 6:19-34. Jesus' first exhortation in these verses emphasizes the importance of storing treasure in heaven rather than on earth. He says: "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 y...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) On Tuesday, I took a quick trip to South Florida to see my mother. Although the drive was smooth and the visit was positive, I was reminded once again how fast life can change. It seems like just yesterday that my mother was a sharp, successfulmom,wife, and real estate brokerwho now lives in a memor...

Our Refuge and Fortress 1Whoever dwells in the shelterof the Most Highwill rest in the shadowof the Almighty.2I will say of theLord, "He is my refugeand my fortress,my God, in whom I trust." 3Surely he will save youfrom the fowler's snareand from the deadly pestilence.4He will cover you with his feathers,and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be you...

1Praise the Lord.Praise the Lord, my soul.2I will praise the Lord all my life;I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.3Do not put your trust in princes,in human beings, who cannot save.4When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;on that very day their plans come to nothing.5Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,whose hope is in the Lord their Go...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whateve...