I had decorated for Christmas. I had been to a sweet, festive Christmas gathering among members of my extended family whom I see usually only for funerals or weddings. I had read and listened to Luke and Isaiah and other pertinent scriptures related to Advent and the...
It has been said that to learn from one’s own experience is “smart”; to learn from the experience of others is “wisdom.” One valuable feature of living within a faith-informed recovery community is testimonies. We gain strength and confidence in our journey as we hear...
Fourth Sunday of Advent Reflection- Sunday, December 22, 2019 CBByrd Just pondering…… Tossing, turning, and experiencing a stomach ache last night, I found myself awake and uncomfortable. But something else had discomfited me, too….. some wandering...
Earlier this week I had a conversation with a friend about metaphors for thinking about the triune nature of God. After several minutes of discussion, for the sake of our physical time-and-space bound intellects, we settled on the image of vapor, ice, and water as...
What’s on my mind? ……Delighting in a lovely, unique Christmas card, the design of which is made using banana bark! On first glance one might see Madonna and Child with Dove….. but somehow it suggests to me, as well, Hagar with Ishmael as refugees in...
Experiencing Christ…..Each Friday I gather with 4 other women for fellowship, Bible study, and accountability. What a joy it is to “know and be known, love and be loved, admonish and be admonished, serve and be served, and celebrate and be...
I have fond memories of time spent with family. Being together with cousins and siblings and other extended family for a holiday gathering reminded me of how those memories came about…….through time spent together…. through meals shared over the family table, through...
12-1-2019 Advent sermon, First Church of God-PC CBByrd HOPE, PEACE, JOY, LOVE Romans 15:13-17- “May the God of HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This week we...
Thinking About Real Love Two Essential Elements of Love In God’s Image I’ve had several opportunities recently to reflect on the subject of “love”.. mostly in regard to Advent themes and the love of God for us and the call for us to love God AND love...
