Advent Devotions
All are invited as we Make Room this Advent season.
Support through hard times
Today’s author is Prince of Peace member Deb Cordes.
It’s been a tough year for me. 6 deaths. Each one felt harder to cope with. My prayers became “dear Lord, please no more” and “I can’t take anymore”. Yet, there were. Sorrow is not something I show to others. In our family, it’s assumed you just carry on. Crying is for a private space. It was hard to move forward. I can say this now but not then.
Through this time my community – my family, business colleagues and Prince of Peace stayed with me. Silently supporting. Quietly asking how things were and being OK with short non-answers. The community provided love, encouragement, and companionship when most needed – even if people didn’t know that’s what they were doing.
God’s love exists in those who wrote, walked, spoke, and just cared. There are no words to fully express how grateful I am. You provided assurance of God’s unfailing love and comfort in the hardest times.
My prayer today: May each of us understand that we are the expression of God’s love in a world of chaos, hurt, and sorrow. May our hearts be open to simply walking with others just where they are. God help us to be empathic and open. Thank you for loving us just as we are.
Previously…
Peace Be with You
Today's author is Prince of Peace member Carol Swanson. Who hasn’t seen a painting such as this of Christ knocking on the door? It is inspired by Revelation 3:20. “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come...
This is Easter Day
Today's author is Prince of Peace's Intentional Interim, Pr. Steve Sylvester. Last week’s Monday Devotional was a message from Bishop Curry of the ELCA. I am happy you were given an opportunity to hear what he had to say. I am also happy that Easter is a...
Seeing and believing
John 20:1-18 Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Steve Sveom. John 20 tells the story of Mary first, and then after her report, Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved going to the tomb. We are told that when the disciple went into the empty tomb, he saw...
For Real
Today's author is Naomi Sveholm. Naomi is a missionary with Central Europe Teachers teaching English at a bilingual Lutheran high school in Bratislava, Slovakia with her spouse and two children. John 20:1-18 The last day of school before Holy Week was a gray and rainy...