I spent a little time this past weekend pondering the impact Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Since I was born in 1963, my firsthand memory is only of a post-legal-segregation world. That doesn't mean our world was truly integrated by any measure; it simply means the laws had changed and the courts were forcing compliance. So, I went to integrated public schools, and I, thank God, never remember seeing Colored Only or Whites Only signage. There was still plenty of separation, to

Georgia is pretty well in the deep pocket of the American South, and Fort Valley, the town we live in, is just about smack dab in the middle of the state. You didn't have to ace Geography class to know that means we don't make many snowmen around here. In fact, we get a lot more tornado warnings than forecasts for anything frozen to fall from the sky. Humid subtropical , I believe, is the official classification for our climate. That's best described as a place having long, h

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being gre

Christmas Eve 2025   All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Jesus. Matthew 1:22-25, English Standard Version   My focus the last 24 days has been on these four

Tuesday December 23, 2025   When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Jesus. Matthew 1:24,25, English Standard Version   Well, there you go. Joseph wakes up and does what he’s commanded to do. Matthew is just so matter of fact about it, as if instant obedience is the most natural and obvious thing in the world.   Reading this 2000 years after Joseph

Monday December 22, 2025   But as he (Joseph) considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20,21, English Standard Version   Faced with a monumental decision, Joseph opts to . . . sleep on it . Yep. He

Sunday December 21, 2025   And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame,  resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things . . . Matthew 1:19-20a, English Standard Version   Meanwhile, back in Nazareth, the focus of the story shifts from Mary to her intended husband, Joseph. We move from the book of Luke to Matthew’s Gospel which put the emphasis on the story from Joseph’s perspective.   Joseph knows a few things at this point.

Saturday December 20, 2025   And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. Luke 1:62,63, English Standard Version Zechariah ain’t no dummy. He’s not disobeying Gabriel's orders, and he doesn’t leave his wife hanging out to dry. He grabs a pencil and lays down the law-the kid will be named John , and that settles it.   But Luke tells us that “they all wondere

Friday December 19, 2025   And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” Luke 1:59b-61, English Standard Version   I remember when our son, Cole, and his wife, Alecia, said they were considering the name Hazel  for their daughter. In my late 50s at the time, I hadn’t known many Hazels in my lifetime. All of them were born before me. Long

December 18, 2025   And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. Luke 1:59a, English Standard Version   This is exactly where you would expect Zechariah-a priest-and Elizabeth to be, and it’s exactly what you would expect them to be doing. They are good, observant Jews who have just been blessed with a baby boy, so the little guy is going to get circumcised when he’s eight days old.   Two great truths jump out at me here. The first, as we’ll see in tomorrow’s read

Wednesday December 17, 2025   And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. Luke 1:58, English Standard Version   Some things are meant to be experienced together. Grief and loss and trials are best faced with caring people surrounding us, supporting us, even carrying us. Likewise, the great celebrations of life are not solo affairs.   We gather a crowd for a wedding, for a graduation, for a baptism. No team want

Tuesday December 16, 2025   Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Luke 1:57, English Standard Version   Gabriel’s prophecy comes true! Zechariah and Elizabeth’s quiet home is filled first with the cries of a newborn, soon with the babble of a growing infant, then with the words and laughter of a toddler. Their prayers have been answered.   It’s so easy to just bounce right over this news of the fulfillment of God’s promise. Of course, the baby wil

Monday December 15, 2025   And Mary remained with her (Elizabeth) about three months and returned to her home. Luke 1:56, English Standard Version   Mary sticks around out in the hill country for three months or so, and then it’s time to return to the family and her fiancée back home in Nazareth. I’m intrigued that Luke makes sure to include this sentence in his account.   The three months’ duration is important because it takes us up close to Elizabeth’s due date. It makes s

Sunday December 14, 2025   And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brou

Saturday December 13, 2025   And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Luke 1:41-43, English Standard Version   I flat-out love Elizabeth! It’s a shame when she gets overlooked in the all the hustle and bustle of the Chr

Friday December 12, 2025   In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country to a town of Judah,  and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. Luke 1:39,40, English Standard Version   Arose and went with haste . We might say she “jumped up and ran.” Or she “beat it.” Let’s just leave it that young Mary wasn’t wasting any time.   Into the hill country to a town of Judah . This place is so small it doesn’t even rate a name. “It’s out there,” on

Thursday December 11, 2025   “. . . let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38b   The second part of Mary’s statement to Gabriel comes as no surprise. “I belong to God,” she said. “Therefore, I’ll do as directed.”   I picture here a quarterback looking to the sideline for the coach to signal the play. Upon receiving the sign, the quarterback-knowing his place on the team and respecting that he is under the coach’s authority-relays the call to the team and then leads t

DAY 11 Wednesday December 10, 2025   And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord . . .” Luke 1:38a   Gabriel gives the explanation. He knows she’s a virgin, and she will remain one, at least for the time being. All this will take place through the power of God, through the Holy Spirit. And just to offer her some reassurance, he tells her that her cousin Elizabeth is also having a son, even though Mary and the rest of the family had given up hope of that ever happenin

Tuesday December 9, 2025   And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:34, English Standard Version   Mary has obviously already had The Talk with her parents. They’ve explained the birds and the bees to her, so she knows that there’s a little hitch in Gabriel’s plan.   “Hey, Gabe,” she seems to be saying. “Could you fill me in on the details of how headquarters is going to pull this thing off? I mean, just in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not t