Author Archives: patellison

I had an escaped post this morning. You have seen it in your in-box. It will come again on Wednesday when it was supposed to arrive in a more ordinary way at a more ordinary time. Its escape lets me alert you and also wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with blessings. I hopeContinue reading “Happy Advent!”

A text – Isaiah 12:2-6 2 Surely God is my salvation;    I will trust and will not be afraid,for the Lord is my strength and my might;    he has become my salvation.” 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say on that day: “Give thanks to the Lord;    call on his name;make known his deeds amongContinue reading “A God We Can Trust – Isaiah 12:2-6”

A text – Philippians 4:4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, willContinue reading “Use Your Power for Others – Philippians 4:4-7”

A text – Luke 3:7-18 7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God isContinue reading “No Matter What – Luke 3:7-18”

A text – Luke 1:67-79 67 Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and he prophesied: 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his child David,70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holyContinue reading “The Tender Mercy of God – Luke 1”

A text – Philippians 1:3-11 3 I thank my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy 5 for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue toContinue reading “Discernment – Philippians 1:3-11”

A text – Luke 3:1-6 3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,  2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the wordContinue reading “Telling a Very Particular Story – Luke 3”

A text – Psalm 25 1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4 MakeContinue reading “Waiting for Someone – Psalm 25”

A text – 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may our GodContinue reading “Suspense and Joy – 1 Thessalonians 3”

A text – Luke 21:25-36 25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will beContinue reading “Wrapped Inside a Promise – Luke 21”