Ryan's Ramblings

Our Prayers Break On God by Luci Shaw   Our prayers break on God like waves, and he an endless shore, and when the seas evaporate and oceans are no more and cries are carried in the wind God hears and answers every sound as he has done before.   Our troubles eat at God…

Whether you like it or not, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way; else you will be a trifler all your days . . . Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to grow. Do not starve yourself any longer. Take up your cross…

Best and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own, to make amends in! “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.”                 — Ebenezer Scrooge, "A Christmas Carol" We are moving soberly…

A little guy at an orphanage in South Korea thankfully receiving a soccer ball from Santa. Jesus, you are the Messiah, the profound mystery that sets our hearts ablaze. The lowly babe, sought by shepherds on that holy night, has become our King of righteousness. Now, as we behold your glory, the incomprehensible becomes comprehensible.…

Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to visit us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace. (Luke 1:78-79, NLT)

Imagine what it would be like to be at the Father’s side one moment and struggling to sleep in a cattle trough the next. Imagine what it would be like to go from hearing the praise of angels to suffering the taunts of stupid people. The cost to Jesus is an indication of the incredible…

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11, ESV) XMAS Dayby G. K. Chesterton Good news: but…

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19, NIV) We know that in the midst of this romantic tale lies a real story of deprivation and glory, of simplicity and splendor. A small woman, a small baby, the rags of poverty, the riches of salvation—all of these elements are…

The scenery of Christmas has become too familiar and comfortable. It blocks our view into the depth of the stark mystery of it all. … What if Christmas day were both a beginning and an end? The beginning of a celebration of Jesus that would not end until the next Christmas, when it would begin…