The song Breath of Heaven is co-written by Chris Eaton and Amy Grant. It has a beautiful melody and has some wonderful lyrics including “Breath of Heaven be forever near me…”

As this songfacts webpage describes: “This Christmas song tells the nativity story from Mary’s perspective. It portrays the mother of Jesus as a frightened young girl, attempting to deal with the circumstances of giving birth to the Holy Father’s Son. Despite her human doubts, Mary’s faith in the goodness and mercy of God remain and help her deal with the unique situation she finds herself in.”

The songfacts webpage has embedded in it a chance to hear Amy Grant performing this song if you haven’t heard it before or if you want to hear it again. It’s near the right margin as a YouTube offering. You can also hear it on our Christian Playbook channel on YouTube with various Christmas songs HERE

As we enjoy this Advent season, may we continue to hear songs old and new with the wonder and joy of the Christian faith!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 16, 2018:

• Zephaniah 3:14-20
• Isaiah 12:2-6
• Philippians 4:4-7
• Luke 3:7-18

Steven Curtis Chapman’s “Be Still and Know” song title contains a wonderful message, especially during a season that almost demands we not be still.  Here’s a nice rendition of that song with some great pictures

ACTION: Maybe today or tomorrow you can include some “quiet time with God,” possibly even starting with listening to Chapman’s song? 🙂

May you “be still and know” this day and throughout this blessed Christmas season…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 16, 2018:

• Zephaniah 3:14-20
• Isaiah 12:2-6
• Philippians 4:4-7
• Luke 3:7-18

A favorite part of the Christmas season for many of us is the music: Handel’s Messiah, Silent Night and the list goes on and on… Each Sunday in Advent we’ll be highlighting an Advent Song.

Mary Did You Know has become a favorite and it’s done in a different, beautiful approach by Pentatonix. It is HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE) for you to listen to (and watch, if you want!)

Enjoy the day and the Advent season, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 9, 2018:

• Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4
• Luke 1:68-79
• Philippians 1:3-11
• Luke 3:1-6

Our friends at Our Daily Bread’s recently shared the A Hand Up (click HERE to read/listen). Definitely worth the 2-3 minutes of reading or listening…

ACTIONS (based on the ODB article quotes italicized below:)

• If you find yourself “flattened on the cold ice of life’s hardships, is there a helping hand nearby? If so, it might be from God.” Maybe ask for God’s help with that hardship in prayer right now?
• “Or when someone else needs a friend, could we be God’s answer to lift them up?” Who in your circle needs a friendly deed or word? What can you do today to help?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 9, 2018:

• Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4
• Luke 1:68-79
• Philippians 1:3-11
• Luke 3:1-6

I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace to this world. ~ Norman Vincent Peale, pastor and author

Christian Playbook will be highlighting a variety of songs during this Advent season. May each bring some of the joy, happiness and peace that Rev. Peale mentions…

Want a song to review and/or sing today? Check the history and commentary of the song Star-Child HERE  and listen to an arrangement HERE

ACTION: This Youtube site link now contains several favorite Christmas songs so you can go it – no sign up necessary – to listen to some favorite songs. If you have songs to suggest, please “comment” below (along with a link if you have it) and we’ll consider adding those

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 9, 2018:

• Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4
• Luke 1:68-79
• Philippians 1:3-11
• Luke 3:1-6

Guideposts has an 8 slide presentation about nativity scenes (LINK HERE.) It’s worth the few minutes to experience this – some really beautiful artwork and wonderful historical/background explanations! On the first slide they mention:

“Tradition has it that Saint Francis of Assisi created the first crèche in 1223 when he mounted a living nativity scene…”

Those attending Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati during Advent will have an opportunity to see nativities of members during coffee hour. If you get a chance, stop on by to talk with the owners about how/why they got interested! For those out of town, maybe there will be more in upcoming CP posts about this event? 🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 2, 2018:

• Jeremiah 33:14-16
• Psalm 25:1-10
• 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
• Luke 21:25-36

A number of us can complete the subject line prayer – Now I Lay Me… – in almost the same fashion. This is a famous prayer, especially for use with younger children.

Guideposts has 10 good evening prayers straight from the Bible HERE. They are a variety pack of Bible translations so hopefully one will speak to each of us.

POSSIBLE ACTION: maybe use one of these prayers or another you look up as a regular practice?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 2, 2018:

• Jeremiah 33:14-16
• Psalm 25:1-10
• 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
• Luke 21:25-36

Are you ready for Advent? This Sunday, December 2 is the first Sunday in Advent.

Whether using Lectionary verses or another devotional resource for the season, this is a wonderful time of year for Christians. We are reminded of preparations for new opportunities to love as God loves us.

This year my plans include participating in our church’s discussion group of Celebrating Abundance, an Advent devotional by Walter Brueggemann. Here’s a sampling from the back cover:

“Advent is not the kind of ‘preparation’ that involves shopping and parties and cards. Such illusions of abundance disguise the true cravings of our weary souls. Advent is preparation for the demands of newness that will break the tired patterns of fear in our lives.” ~ Celebrating Abundance (p.4) by Walter Brueggemann

POSSIBLE ACTION: Make plans to enjoy regular reading of your Bible, Celebrating Abundance or another devotional resource during Advent 2018.

May the experience of this Advent season – including the reading, thinking and acting ahead – help each of us to “break the tired patterns of fear…”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, December 2, 2018:

• Jeremiah 33:14-16
• Psalm 25:1-10
• 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
• Luke 21:25-36

“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God…” ~ proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln, written by William Seward

Worldwide there are varied observances of Thanksgiving, be it for a day, an hour, a season. In the United States, this celebration has been regional early in the union and made national in 1863. THIS ARTICLE describes more detail of the establishment of the U.S. holiday. 

For those in the U.S., we get extra opportunity for celebration with days off, gatherings, etc.. For those in the U.S. and elsewhere, let us praise God for this day and every day, whether we feel like it or not!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 25, 2018:

• 2 Samuel 23:1-7 and Psalm 132:1-12, (13-18)
• Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 and Psalm 93
• Revelation 1:4b-8
• John 18:33-37

In November of 1863, some people viewed Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address as a mistake. After all, Lincoln only spent 2 minutes delivering his speech, directly following a famous orator of his day (who talked for well over 100 minutes!) Not such a mistake in today’s lens, right?

If you have a few minutes, take a read of Edward Grinnan’s comments about mistakes HERE.

During this day (and the week ahead as the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving,) consider giving thanks for some of your self-perceived imperfections/mistakes and the positive results that sometimes occur even with this lack of perfection.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 18, 2018:

• 1 Samuel 1:4-20 and 1 Samuel 2:1-10
• Daniel 12:1-3 and Psalm 16
• Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25
• Mark 13:1-8