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12 Best Bible Prayers for the Morning

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

Some people love mornings. Others are sane.

Whether you’re a morning person, a night owl or something in between, the best way to start your day is with prayer, before noise, traffic and work do their worst to crowd out conversation with God.

But it often seems next to impossible to focus our hearts and minds on prayer when we’re still groggy and mostly inarticulate. That’s okay, though, because the Bible answers our need with some of the finest “morning prayers” we will ever pray. We just have to keep them handy so that we can call upon them we need them. So here is a listing of my 12 favorite morning prayers from the Bible:

1) Psalm 5:2-3, NIV
Hear my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.

2) Psalm 19:14, ESV
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

3) Psalm 25:5, NLT
Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

4) Psalm 65:8, NIV
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

5) Psalm 84:10-11, NIV
Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.

6) Psalm 90:14, NIV
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

7) Psalm 118:24, CEV
This day belongs to the Lord! Let’s celebrate and be glad today.

8) Psalm 130:5-6, NIV
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

9) Psalm 143:8, NIV
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.

10) Isaiah 33:2, NIV
Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

11) Lamentations 3:22-23, NASB
The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

12) 2 Timothy 1:12, KJV
For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

You may want to print these out and pray one each morning. Or pray through them all on your drive to work. Or pick three of your favorites to commit to memory. But whether you’re a morning person or not, you’ll never be sorry for turning your heart and mind toward God in the morning.

10 Things to Take on a Prayer Retreat

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

Regular prayer retreats have refreshed my prayer life for decades (for example, see my post on 10 good reasons to take a prayer retreat.) But the first few times on retreat, I was flying by the seat of my pants, so to speak, when it came to what to pack. I took the wrong stuff on my first prayer retreat and took too much on my second. Over time, though I learned that—whether I had carved out a few hours or a few days—some things were always good to have with me. Here’s a short list of what I consider necessities:

1. A Bible
It seems obvious, I know, but some people assume that because they’re going on a retreat with a church or at a monastery, Bibles will be plentiful. They probably will be, but it may not be a translation you’re familiar with, and you may not be able to carry it around with you. So take your favorite Bible.

2. A journal
You may never write in a journal. But you may want to take a journal or notebook (and a good pen) with you anyway. You will probably be surprised at the ideas, solutions, thoughts and questions that arise in your mind once it disengages from the noise of the world.

3. Music and headphones
Some people connect with God far better through music than through, say, silence or printed words. So take music with you—but include headphones, because some retreat centers ask you not to play music, even in your private room.

4. A water bottle
You may have 24/7 access to coffee and tea during your retreat, but a refillable water bottle will come in handy in any case.

5. Good walking shoes
Many retreat centers offer attractive paths and hiking trails. You may not be in the habit of taking a walk, but having the time—and footwear—to do so can be a boon to your prayers.

6. A good book
You know that book you’ve intended to read but never got around to it? Take it with you on your prayer retreat. I suggest a devotional or spiritual volume, such as A. W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God or John Ortberg’s God Is Closer Than You Think.

7. Layered clothing
Whatever the weather forecast for your retreat is, it is likely to change. Even if you stay indoors for the duration of your retreat, you probably won’t have control of the thermostat. Packing layers helps to make sure that the weather or temperature is not a distraction.

8. A camera
You probably have a camera on your phone. If not, pack one. You may be surprised at the photo-ready sights that greet you on your retreat.

9. A pillow or blanket
Check the information your retreat center provides, but keep in mind that even if they provide pillows and blankets, you may be more comfortable if you bring your own.

10. An expectant heart and mind
The most important equipment for your retreat is an open, expectant, grateful mind and heart. Even if you forget everything else, those items will make your retreat truly life-changing.

10 Favorite Bible Passages in Handel’s Messiah

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

I figured I’d go through and pick my favorite Bible passages in Handel’s “Messiah.” Problem is, it’s all from the Bible, either the King James Version or the psalms from the Book of Common Prayer.

At any rate, here are my selections. The real test: Can you read without humming along?

1. I know that my redeemer liveth… (Job 19:25)
The soprano sings this in the third movement and it breaks my heart every time because I’m reminded of the many funerals where it has been sung.

The middle section comes from the New Testament, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept” (I Cor. 15:20), but the core is Job.

2. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people… (Isaiah 40:1)
The tenor gets to make this statement right up front at the beginning of the piece, the promise of the coming of the Lord.

When he proclaims, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness…” the listener is naturally reminded of John the Baptist, who did indeed prepare the way of the Lord. But the text is Isaiah.

3. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…(Isaiah 9:6)
Every chorister loves to sing this. You just let your voice bounce along. It’s only when I come to the phrase “Wonderful, Counsellor…” that I wonder why there’s a comma and pause between “wonderful” and “counselor”?

Shouldn’t it be “wonderful counselor?” Maybe it was because Handel’s first language was German. But actually, the text is exactly what’s in the King James Version, with the comma (and “Counsellor” spelled with two l’s).

4. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion…(Zechariah 9:9)
Another soprano solo with giddy-making melismas. “What’s a melisma?” you wonder. It’s when you sing one syllable on several notes, and in this one the soprano goes up and down breathlessly on the second syllable of rejoice. It give both listener and singer the feeling of joy.

5. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)
Charles Jennens, who wrote the libretto, made a slight change in the Biblical text here, from “my yoke” and “my burden” to the third person, reminding the chorus that indeed Jesus’s yoke is easy. But as anyone of faith knows, and any good chorister knows, singing with such ease takes commitment and practice.

6. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…(Isaiah 53:4–5)
I don’t know whether it was Jennens or Handel who decided the chorus should repeat the word “Surely” at the front, but it makes perfect sense.

Some thoughts are so big, like the concept of atonement, that you need to underline their importance before the idea is even introduced.

7. All we like sheep have gone astray…(Isaiah 53:6)
What chorister hasn’t sung this, thinking, “Yes, I do like sheep?” Of course, “like” is a simile here, not a verb, and Handel is an exquisite word painter because he takes the chorus astray on melisma after melisma, bringing them back to the painful thought “and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

8. Lift up your heads, O ye gates…(Psalm 24:7)
Messiah wouldn’t be such a popular choral work or have survived the test of time if it weren’t so much fun to sing. In its balance of texts from the Hebrew Scriptures and from the New Testament, it reaffirms faith in the singers and the listeners. I always want to lift up my head when I sing this.

9. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed…(Isaiah 40:5)
Not for nothing is Isaiah sometimes referred to as the “fifth Gospel.” With its prophecies of a savior and its theology of a suffering servant, it was often referenced in the New Testament as a reminder of the coming of the Lord.

This chorus comes early in “Messiah,” promising musically what the text promises. “For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it!” as will the mouths of all the singers.

10. Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth…(Revelation 19:6)
This is it, the Hallelujah chorus. But look how the verses of Revelation were rearranged: “The kingdoms of this world…” (Revelation 11:15) comes in the middle and then you end with “King of kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16).

Can’t argue with that. Can’t argue with any of it.

10 Bible Verses to Help You Pray through Work Stress

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

A job is a blessing—but it can also produce high stress levels, even if we mostly enjoy or appreciate our work. Whatever the case may be for you, here are 10 verses (some revised from the original text to make them more “prayable”) to pray your way through work-related stress:

1) You, Lord, are “my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2 NIV).

2) The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1 NIV).

3) May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17 NIV).

4) [My] help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 124:8 NIV).

5) God, surely You are my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. You, the Lord himself, are my strength and my defense; You have become my salvation (from Isaiah 12:2 NIV).

6) Lord, give me grace to do as Your Word says: “Banish emotional stress from your mind and put away pain from your body” (Ecclesiastes 11:10 NET Bible).

7) Your steadfast love, Lord, never ceases; Your mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV).

8) Let not my heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (from John 14:27 NIV).

9) Let the peace of God, which transcends all understanding guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (from Philippians 4:7 NIV).

10) God, help me to remember that even if I should suffer for what is right, I am blessed. I do not fear their threats; I will not be frightened (from 1 Peter 3:14 NIV).

You may choose to repeat these Bible verses and prayers throughout your work week. You might select one a day to meditate on. You could also keep them handy for specific circumstances that bring on stress in your work life.

Whatever is most helpful to you, these—and other verses the above may suggest—can steer your attention to the God who is “always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1 NIV).

How to Make Halloween a Holy Day

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

The annual celebration of Halloween approaches. Some people enjoy the costumes, decorations, and trick-or-treating. Others dread the darker side of the festivities. But for centuries, Christian tradition has observed the last day of October as a day to acknowledge and pray against the forces of evil.

Whatever your view may be, you can turn Halloween into a holy day by praying against evil wherever it’s found. In that spirit, here are seven prayers—six from Scripture and another from Scottish lore that is one of my favorites—for praying against evil:

  1. I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You  prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows (Psalm 23:4-5 NIV).
  2. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
    I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”
    Surely he will save me
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
    He will cover me with his feathers,
    and under his wings I will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be my shield and rampart.
    I will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
    nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
    A thousand may fall at my side,
    ten thousand at my right hand,
    but it will not come near me.
    I will only observe with my eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked (Psalm 91:1-8, slightly revised from the NIV).
  3. Deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13 NIV).
  4. Shield me with “the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16 NIV).
  5. Lord, you are faithful. As your Word says, establish and guard me against the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV).
  6. In faith I say with Paul, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18 NIV).
  7. From ghoulies and ghosties
    And long-leggedy beasties
    And things that go bump in the night,
    Good Lord, deliver us! (traditional Scottish prayer)

The above have been proven over many centuries—millennia, even—as helpful and effective prayers against evil at any time, not just around Halloween.

How to Grow Your Prayer Life in 4 Easy Steps

Posted on by The Editors

Growing your prayer life doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Here are four easy steps that will help you deepen your relationship with God through prayer. Prayer is one of the most important ways we commune with God, and yet it is often one of the first things to fall by the wayside when our lives get busy. If you’re looking to grow your prayer life, here are four easy steps that can help.

Set Aside Time Each Day for Prayer

Setting aside time for prayer each day is an important part of maintaining focus in one’s spiritual journey. It is vital to devote at least a few minutes each day to religious practices, allowing one to remain connected to the divine and appreciating the power of prayers. While the duration can be varied depending on individual needs, even a short period of daily prayer can have a tremendous impact. Acknowledging that time dedicated to divine connection is essential will help one focus not only on personal prayer, but also on the relationships with others is further strengthened when showing reverence and gratitude in one’s prayers daily.

Make a List of People or Things You Want to Pray For

Even in times when we may not have the words to express our prayer needs, prayer lists can provide a tangible way to remember those things and people to be prayed for. Writing or typing out names or objects that should be thought of in prayer, can help ensure that nothing is forgotten. From family members and friends, to natural disasters and world events, prayer lists can provide a physical reminder of what needs prayerful attention. When the list is gathered, take it with you on the go or place it somewhere special as a meaningful sign of faithfulness. Praying for specific things provides purpose and direction when engaging with prayer requests. So create your prayer list today!

Find a Comfortable Place to Pray

Finding a comfortable and dedicated place to spend time in prayer is essential to any believer’s faith journey. When seeking out a comfortable location, it helps to establish a regular prayer routine that one can devote their time and energy to on a daily basis. It might be the perfect quiet corner of your home, an outdoor spot with a relaxing view, or even an ever-changing oasis away from the hustle and bustle of life – whatever place you find special for your prayerful pursuits should facilitate your connection to God and make communicating with Him comfortable. Finding that comfortable spot for prayer each day will not only help you remain consistent in your relationship with the Lord but also remind He will always be there for you when needed.

Be Patient and Don’t Give Up

It can be a challenge to remain patient and keep on track when working towards any kind of goal, but patience and focus are the keys to success. When you find yourself feeling defeated, it can be helpful to remind yourself that patience is not just an ability of the strong and powerful, it is a characteristic of those who will eventually achieve great things. Patience allows us to take stock, reassess if we need to and make necessary corrections along our journey, because success isn’t always linear; it requires tenacity and patience not just in moments of difficulty but also as part of overall goal-attainment perseverance. Keep going on your path with patience as your companion and don’t ever give up.

No matter how you choose to pray, setting time each day to commune with God is a great way to stay mindful of His presence in your life. By following the tips above, you’re sure to be on your way to a more fulfilling prayer life in no time!

Do you have any other suggestions for building a stronger prayer life? We would love to hear from you! Shoot us a message and let us know what works for you.

How Regular and Repeated Prayer Promotes Healing

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

Have you ever prayed for healing? Whether we feel a cold or flu bug coming on or get an alarming test result, it’s natural to turn to God in prayer. King Hezekiah did; he was close to death, so he prayed, and God healed him (see 2 Kings 20). The psalmist David sang, “Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me” (Psalm 30:2 NIV). Praying friends of mine have been miraculously healed from multiple sclerosis, cancer, and severe depression.

But the healing power of prayer is much bigger than our prayers for healing. While a life of prayer is not a guarantee of health and well-being—many factors contribute to health and healing, from genetics to behavior, and more—a growing body of evidence indicates that people who pray regularly access the healing power of prayer even when they’re not sick or struggling.

Several studies conducted by Dr. Harold G. Koenig (director of Duke University’s Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health) and others have indicated that private spiritual practices such as prayer and regular attendance in public worship promote health and prolong life. Another study, published in the Journal of Psychology and Theology, showed that prayer and prayer experiences have measurable, positive effects on the general health of those who pray.

In other words, there are reasons to believe that when you pray—whether you’re praising and thanking God, confessing your sins, or interceding for others—you’re accessing the health benefits of prayer. Like the three Hebrews whose eating habits made them stronger and healthier even when they weren’t at the table (see Daniel 1), regular and repeated prayer habits can promote better health and longer life when you’re praying for yourself or for someone else, and even when you’re not praying at all.

Sure, it may not change things overnight (then again, it may!). Praying as a lifestyle is an ongoing process. But it’s a process that, over time, can bring about greater health, wholeness, and well-being in your life. Try it. Access the healing power of prayer. Just pray. And then pray some more. And have the faith to believe that the peace—and health—of God will heal and strengthen you when you’re aware of it, and when you’re not.

Yom Kippur—A Good Way to Get a Fresh Start

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in Judaism. Having grown up in the Christian faith, I have never known much about it beyond the notion that it’s a day dedicated to fasting, atonement and repentance.

This year it falls on October 8 and like all Jewish holidays its commemoration begins at sundown the evening before. That’s a Tuesday night, the evening my wife, Carol, and I have a class at church.

I had volunteered to lead prayers for the class and I wondered, was there something from the Yom Kippur services I could use? After noodling around on the internet, I felt completely at sea and did something more useful: I called a rabbi.

Lauren is a mom with four children and a rabbi trained in the Reformed Jewish tradition. I told her I was looking for a prayer from Yom Kippur to use with a group from church. Did she have any suggestions?

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We ended up having a great conversation about the traditions of Yom Kippur, how it falls ten days after the beginning of the Jewish new year, how it is about seeking forgiveness from God for our sins.

“One of the important aspects of Yom Kippur is that you are expected not only to ask God for forgiveness,” she said, “but to reach out to the person or people you have offended. To ask for their forgiveness. You have to do that at least three times.”

That reminded me of when Jesus said that if you were offering some gift at the altar and then remembered that your brother had something against you, you needed to go and be reconciled with your brother first.

“Exactly,” she said. Not for nothing was Jesus called Rabbi.

Together we found a passage from the Talmud that I could read with my friends at church on Yom Kippur. She also recommended a passage from the book of Isaiah, chapter 58. I thanked her profusely and turned to my Bible.

Isn’t this the fast I choose: releasing wicked restrains, untying the ropes of a yoke, setting free the mistreated, and breaking every yoke?

Isn’t it sharing your bread with the hungry and bringing the homeless poor into your house, covering the naked when you see them, and not hiding from your own family?

Then your light will break out like the dawn, and you will be healed quickly. Your own righteousness will walk before you, and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.

A day of fasting and atonement, a day to seek God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of those we’ve wronged. A good way to start the new year.

Why You Should Give Up Your Cellphone for Lent

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

I hadn’t made any intention of giving up anything for Lent or taking on something, but right after Ash Wednesday, I was heading home from work and halfway there I looked for my phone—but wait, where was it?

Did I leave it at work? As soon as I got home, I emailed a colleague who happened to linger longer at the office than I had. “I think I left my phone on my desk…”

She emailed me right back. “I put it in your drawer. Under a piece of paper. You can get it tomorrow.”

Okay, so I didn’t have to worry about it. But could I live without it?

No Instagram, no texts, no news updates buzzing in my pocket, no phone calls. We don’t even have a landline at home anymore. My wife had her cell phone so we were reachable for emergencies. And there was my computer. But that was it.

It was like I was living back in say…2005. I couldn’t check the weather when I woke up in the morning. Couldn’t listen to a podcast when I worked out at the gym. Couldn’t check Instagram for any cute photos while eating breakfast. Couldn’t see the latest news.

I’ve never thought of myself as a phone addict, but I realized in the space of those phone-less hours that I was more present, more aware of what was going on around me, more ready to see God in the everydayness of life.

On my morning subway commute I read some Bible passages on my Kindle, as always, but I was more focused than usual. I closed my eyes and went into my prayer place—without having to wonder who might be emailing me or texting me. It would have to wait until I was at work.

By the time I was there—digging my phone out of my drawer—I knew what I was going to give up for Lent. Not for always, not for every day, but there are long stretches when the world won’t fall apart if I’m not on my phone. Better yet, I won’t fall apart.

When Jesus talked about praying and fasting He said “Go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)

No phone necessary at all.

Who Stole My Joy?

Posted on by Dave Beckwith

It happened three weeks before Christmas. My wife, Joanne, and I had just decorated the house. The family down the street had an inflatable Santa Claus. Our next-door neighbors had icicle lights. Us? Three big wooden signs strategically placed and illuminated with spotlights: Love, Joy and Peace, they read. The gifts of the Holy Spirit.

What can I say? I’m a pastor. My decorations had to mean something! People loved our display, a tradition since 1982. We were known as the Love, Joy and Peace House. Strangers would drive by all month to take pictures. Some would even leave us thank-you notes.

So I couldn’t believe it when I opened the front door one morning and discovered that the Joy sign was gone. The wires attaching it to the eaves had been clipped. Why on earth would someone do that?

“Maybe the thief was depressed and thought stealing Joy would cheer him up,” Joanne said.

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I had to laugh. But I also wondered. Why would God let someone steal my Joy? I didn’t have the time—or the heart—to make a new sign.

By Christmas Eve, I still had no answers. Though I did get a good sermon out of the story—how to find joy in a sometimes crazy season. After the service, one of my parishioners, Edyie, approached me, a tall man with shaggy brown hair at her side. She introduced him—her ex-husband, Tom. I’d heard a lot about his troubled past. Edyie had been hauling him to church recently in the hopes that it would do him some good. Now she wanted to know if I was available for couples counseling. I was happy to help. Tom didn’t say a word until the very end.

“Pastor, I can make you a new Joy sign if you’d like,” he said. “I’m a carpenter, you know.”

“That’d be great,” I said. “Let’s talk more after Christmas.”

We started the counseling sessions in early January. Week after week, Edyie and Tom would come and sit in my office. It was clear that Tom would rather be anywhere else. He was a man broken down by life. A grade-school dropout, an ex-con, a compulsive gambler and drug user. Underneath it all, though, I sensed that there was a tender soul that yearned to be free. He was the kind of guy who would give his last dollar to a stranger. And he sure loved Edyie, I could tell. But he had no interest in God, in forgiveness or in any other message of redemption I offered. After three months, I was ready to give up.

Tom didn’t forget the Joy sign, though. In April, he called to let me know that he’d completed the project. I took him out for dinner to thank him. Tom seemed nervous. He fiddled with his menu, then put it down and blurted, “Pastor, I get it.”

“Get what?”

“The key to love, joy and peace.”

“Yes?”

“It’s God.”

The revelation had come a week earlier. Tom had been cutting the wood for the Joy sign when a strange thought crossed his mind. Where do love, joy and peace even come from? And then it hit him: There is no love or peace without God! And that is the very key to joy. He was so convinced of the message that he used some extra plywood to make a fourth sign. One that said simply God.

I couldn’t have been more shocked if he’d told me he wanted to become a cake decorator. The Tom who sat before me—humble, repentant, full of awe—was not the same Tom who’d been dragged in for couples counseling. Before I could respond, he bowed his head, right there in the middle of the restaurant.

“God, I know I’m a really big sinner,” he prayed. “I’ve sure made a mess of my life. I need you to take over.”

That night, joy returned in more ways than one.

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What Kind of Prayers Do We Make in Advent?

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

The word “Advent” might mean “to come,” but this season feels like it’s all about waiting. I recall as a kid, waiting for Christmas, waiting for the decorations, waiting for the tree, waiting for our stockings, waiting for Santa. Eternal waiting.

Advent says that we know what we’re waiting for. The coming of God’s Son. The ultimate proof of God’s love for us. The One who showed us in His coming how we are all the children of God.

As I write this, my wife and I eagerly await the arrival of a second grandson due any day now. (By the time you read this, that baby might be here on earth cradled in his mother’s arms.)

The thing about having children is that you never know exactly what to expect. The doctors can tell you whether it’s a boy or a girl. You can see in a sonogram what that baby in the womb looks like. You can think of what you were like as a kid and project all sorts of expectations.

But there’s no telling how that baby will turn out. My wife and I are both writers. Word people. Who would have guessed that our eldest son, William, would be such a math whiz? Where did that come from?

In high school our second son, Timothy, looked like he’d be a rock star. He had the hair for it. And the demeanor. Who would have guessed that he would hear a call for the ministry and is now attending seminary?

Well, maybe there were hints. One of his favorite Bible verses as a kid was “I am the alpha and omega…” a reference to first and last letters in the Greek alphabet (Revelation 21:6). He’d ask me to read it to him from my Bible.

These days he tells me what he’s learned in his Greek class, translations of some of the original Greek from the gospels.

The angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her what she should expect. “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:31-33)

If you heard words like that, wouldn’t you be ready to put on your fancy clothes? Wouldn’t you expect your child to live in a castle, wear a crown and sit on a throne? Mary didn’t know yet what kind of kingdom her Son would bring.

All of this is to say, my prayers at Advent are ones of expectation. Something’s coming. Something big, something bigger than I could ever guess. I wait and I pray.

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What Is Pentecost? The Church’s Birthday

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

It happened to me years ago, in Europe on a Sunday in May, and a French friend said to me in French, “Bonne Pentecôte” which means “Happy Pentecost.” I wished her the same but observed to myself: Does anyone ever wish anybody else “Happy Pentecost” back in the States?

Nope. It’s never happened to me. Not yet. And it’s too bad because Pentecost is a major holiday, a big feast day, an occasion to observe with much celebration. Think of it as the church’s birthday. Imagine a cake at your church with nearly 2000 candles on it and sugared writing, “Happy Pentecost!”

Read More About the Meaning of Pentecost

Jesus didn’t leave behind him a massive organization. He didn’t create a lengthy constitution with a long list of rules. He didn’t build a magnificent building. He didn’t even leave behind a book (that would have to be created by others).

What He gave His followers were stories that they shared endlessly, sayings that they mulled over (and we continue to contemplate), the practice of breaking bread and drinking wine in community and the vivid–and sometimes painful–memories of His Crucifixion and Resurrection.

He kept promising that in his absence He’d send them the Holy Spirit to guide them. I don’t doubt they must have been mystified by that. What was this Spirit He promised? How would they know when it arrived? And how would it help them?

They found out on Pentecost. Christ had died and risen and come back on earth before leaving for good. Now that he was gone they were scared. What were they going to do? How were they going to put the life-changing love they’d gotten from Jesus to work? How was it going to happen?

According to the book of Acts, they were gathered together in Jerusalem, when a sound from heaven like a fierce wind filled the house and “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4).

This gift of “tongues” was a means of communication. They could suddenly speak to their fellow Jews in Jerusalem who had come from every different nation. They could be understood. They had power that they didn’t know they had, and they could spread the good word that they had heard.

Because of them, the good news spread to a few hundred and then thousands and over the years to millions and now billions. This was the beginning of the church. This is why that day, Pentecost, has been celebrated over the centuries and is celebrated today.

It’s the birthday of the church, the place where you worship whether it’s a magnificent cathedral, a school auditorium, a gathering of believers on a sandy beach or in a friend’s living room. “Happy Pentecost!” we can say to one another. “Happy Birthday, church!” Because of the Spirit, because of Jesus, because of His love, we’re here.