Named Before Birth – John the Baptist. “The angel reassured Zechariah, ‘Don’t fear. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you – many will delight in his birth. He’ll achieve …
Named Before Birth – Jesus. “The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that). Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things …
Named Before Birth – Josiah. “At the Lord’s command, a man of God from Judah went to Bethel, arriving there just as Jeroboam was approaching the altar to burn incense. Then at the Lord’s command he shouted, “O altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: A child named Josiah will be born into the dynasty …
Named Before Birth – Solomon. “The Lord said to me, ‘David, you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign.” (1 Chronicles …
Named Before Birth – Isaac. “God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah, which means princess. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of …
Named Before Birth – Ishmael. “The Angel of the Lord said to Hagar, ‘You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, which means ‘God Hears,’ for the Lord has heard of your misery” (Genesis 16:11). Abraham and Sarah (at that time, Abram and Sarai) were unable to conceive a …
Abraham Challenges God. “Then they turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. And Abraham came near and said, ‘Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so …
Phos Hilaron – Joy and Light. “Hail Gladdening Light of His pure glory poured Who is the immortal Father, Heavenly Blest Holiest of Holies, Jesus Christ our Lord Now we come to the sun’s hour of rest The lights of evening around us shine We hymn the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Divine Worthiest are …
Morning Prayer. “Open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again, and sustain …
The Red Heifer. “According to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22). What is this ritual? At first glance, God’s peculiar instructions to Moses and Aaron were puzzling and mysterious. There appeared to be no logical reason for parts of this ritual …
Aaron and His Unusual Walking Stick. “Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.”(Numbers 17:8). Aaron’s big walking stick, in Biblical terms …
Communion Prayer Meditations. “Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, page …