Habits
Lisa Schnedler
They Did What Was Right in Their Own Eyes

Each year, I listen to a daily audio Bible podcast—and complete the Bible in one year. This year marks my sixth year through the Bible.

Why don’t I stop?

Every year, I learn new aspects of the Bible because each year, I am in a different place in my life, and the Holy Spirit speaks to me where I am.

The Bible is always fresh! It is always alive!

It is the only book that has a Living Spirit within it.

Each year, when I get to Judges in the Old Testament, I say, “Oh boy!” because I know what is ahead.

They Did What Was Right in Their Own Eyes
Lisa Schnedler
What Passover Means to Christians

Passover begins this evening.

It is one of the most significant Jewish Holidays, commemorating when the angels of God “passed over” the Hebrews as the firstborn children and animals of the Egyptians were killed—all because Pharoah would not set the Hebrews free as God commanded.

With this final plague on Egypt, Pharoah agreed to free the Hebrews so they might begin their journey to the promised land.

God instructed the Jews to commemorate the first Passover, when they had marked their houses with blood, alerting the angels to “pass over” their homes.

Christians draw parallels in their faith,

What Passover Means to Christians
New/Renew
Lisa Schnedler
The Days After Easter...

This week, I was listening to a minister on the radio who noted that in the days after His resurrection, Jesus did not appear to Pilate to tell him that he had been wrong in ordering His crucifixion.

Jesus did not appear to the Jewish leaders and chastise them for not believing and demanding His death.

He did not appear to the Roman soldiers who nailed Him on the cross.

Why?

The Days After Easter...
Lisa Schnedler
Holy Week

Today, I was drinking in the beautiful hymns of Psalm Sunday. They are majestic, powerful, and inspirational!

Among my very favorites is All Glory, Laud and Honor. When I close my eyes and listen to the lyrics, I can feel all the emotions I imagine those present at Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The hope. The joy. The expectation.

As Christians, we carry the hope, joy, and expectation at our Lord’s second coming. Feel this excitement. Play this song and sing along. It is a wonderful way to enter into the spirit of Holy Week.

What are some of your favorite Holy Week Hymns/ song?

Holy Week
New/Renew
Lisa Schnedler
An Irish Blessing

My mother is Irish—which makes me Irish as well!

One of my favorite blessings is The Irish Blessing, which is a favorite benediction of my forefathers—and so appropriate for St. Patrick’s Day!

It is a great blessing for everyone—even if you aren’t Irish!

An Irish Blessing

How to Open Yourself to Renewal!

How to Open Yourself to Renewal!

The pandemic has certainly revealed idols for many of us. It also has revealed those things that are important and how perhaps we have not put enough focus on them—our faith, our relationship with God, community, family, friends.

This advent season, I plan to reflect on this. What idols are in my life? What stands between me and my relationship with God? What has prevented me from being a good neighbor? What has prevented me from being fully present in all of my relationships? What has stopped me from being the hands and feet of God? What has tarnished my reflection of Him?

Smart Giving! How to Know that the Charity You Want to Support is a Good Investment!

Smart Giving! How to Know that the Charity You Want to Support is a Good Investment!

Any time of year is a good time for giving!

As Christians, the Bible instructs us to be good givers.

Some of my favorite scripture passages that speak to the importance of giving include:

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly, or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Honor the Lord with you wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops. Proverbs 3:9

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27

The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously. Psalm 37:21

I could fill this page with all of the references in the Bible instructing us to give and to give generously.

But, I think as Christians, it is also important for us to give wisely.

December 6th? Must be St. Nick!

December 6th? Must be St. Nick!

Today is St. Nicholas Day. It is always on December 6th!

There really was a Christian Saint Nicholas. He was born in the third century in what was Greece and is now on the southern coast of Turkey His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devote Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young.

Nicholas grew up and became a priest who lived his faith in full measure—

The Importance of Ritual - Advent

The Importance of Ritual - Advent

Christmas is a magical season—Christmas trees, bright lights, garland, wreaths. In the midst of dark and winter—in the Northern Hemisphere—this season brightens our lives. There is a sense of magic—a feeling of hope for even the staunchest non-believers..

The buildup to the day is part of the magic. The ritual of putting up the tree. Of hanging the stockings. These rituals make the day itself even more special.

To those who are not Christians, it is a build up to a day of gifts, family, friends and good food.

To Christians, Christmas is so much more.