The Call To Give
The flurry of opening presents is often the center of Christmas morning, but once the wrapping paper is cleared, we should let our thoughts settle on the ultimate transaction of the season: God giving His Son.
Yesterday was about receiving the gift of Christ. Today is about reflecting on what that gift calls us to do in return.
The Apostle Paul challenges the early church with this question, which is just as powerful for us (John 1:12, KJV, paraphrased for context): "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
The Joy (and Confusion) of Substitutions
Living in rural Wales has its challenges, and one of them is grocery shopping. Thankfully, we live in an age where I can order my groceries online and have them delivered right to my door. What a blessing! No more trudging through the aisles with my wonky joints or trying to manage heavy bags with my fibro-weary muscles.
But there's one quirky aspect of online shopping that never fails to amuse (and sometimes befuddle) me—the substitutions. When an item is out of stock, the store attempts to provide a suitable replacement. Sometimes these swaps make perfect sense, like exchanging one brand of butter for another. However, there are times when I'm left scratching my head and wondering if perhaps the substitution algorithm has gone rogue.