A New Year’s Prayer By Stephen A. Macchia Throughout the New Year 2018, may the Lord grant you the courage and strength to… Dream more Complain less Listen more Talk less Love more Argue less Forgive more Divide less Hope more Fear less Relax more Worry less Help more
Happy Christmas to all! Christmas day is traditionally known as the beginning of “the twelve days of Christmas” concluding on January 6, which is called Epiphany. During the 12 days of Christmas, we join the chorus of Christ followers in commemoration of those who so faithfully loved Jesus the Messiah.
25 Fulfilled Promises of Christmas: Advent Reflections for those who Wait, Watch, and Wonder Once More Compiled and composed by Stephen A. Macchia Promise #25 – the Messiah has come to us as Jesus, the Name Above All Names (Luke 2: 1-20). The birth narrative is a miraculous glimpse into
25 Fulfilled Promises of Christmas: Advent Reflections for those who Wait, Watch, and Wonder Once More Compiled and composed by Stephen A. Macchia Promise #24 – the Messiah’s coming will be reason to praise, for salvation has arrived (Luke 1: 68-79). Zechariah’s song reveals the heart of a godly father
25 Fulfilled Promises of Christmas: Advent Reflections for those who Wait, Watch, and Wonder Once More Compiled and composed by Stephen A. Macchia Promise #23 – the Messiah’s coming will be hopeful, prayerful and expectant (Luke 1: 46-55). Mary’s song of praise is a prayerful response to the Lord’s favor
25 Fulfilled Promises of Christmas: Advent Reflections for those who Wait, Watch, and Wonder Once More Compiled and composed by Stephen A. Macchia Promise #22 – the Messiah will be called Emmanuel, God with us (various texts). The promise of the Messiah spans the Old Testament and the fulfillment is
25 Fulfilled Promises of Christmas: Advent Reflections for those who Wait, Watch, and Wonder Once More Compiled and composed by Stephen A. Macchia Promise #21 – the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2 and Matthew 2: 1-6). Bethlehem, the least of the clans of Judah, would become the
25 Fulfilled Promises of Christmas: Advent Reflections for those who Wait, Watch, and Wonder Once More Compiled and composed by Stephen A. Macchia Promise #20 – the Messiah will be called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1 and Matthew 2: 13-15). Joseph was the human father God ordained to care for
25 Fulfilled Promises of Christmas: Advent Reflections for those who Wait, Watch, and Wonder Once More Compiled and composed by Stephen A. Macchia Promise #19 – the Messiah will be born among sorrow and the object of a murderous plot (Jeremiah 31:15 and Matthew 2: 16-18). When the Magi outwitted
25 Fulfilled Promises of Christmas: Advent Reflections for those who Wait, Watch, and Wonder Once More Compiled and composed by Stephen A. Macchia Promise #18 – the Messiah will do life-affirming, redemptive deeds (Isaiah 61: 1-3 and Luke 4: 17-21). Offer good news to the poor. Bind up the brokenhearted.
The Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Macchia is founder and president of Leadership Transformations, Inc. (LTI), a ministry serving the spiritual formation, discernment, and renewal of leaders and learners since 2003. For more than 20 years he has been the Director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Doctor of Ministry Program. From 1989-2003 he was the president of Vision New England, the largest regional church renewal association in the country. Earlier in his ministry life, Steve was a member of the pastoral staff of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts for 11 years. He is the author or co-author of 17 books, including The Discerning Life (Zondervan Reflective), and Crafting a Rule of Life, Becoming A Healthy Church (LTI), and Broken and Whole (IVP). He and his wife Ruth live in the Boston (MA) area and are the proud parents of two married children and grandparents to three adorable grandchildren. Steve’s personal website is www.SteveMacchia.com.
“My soul comes alive singing the great hymns of the church and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. I’m in awe of God for fulfilling the dream for LTI that he birthed in my heart, for the team he has assembled, and the transformational impact experienced in the leaders and teams we serve.”
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Mitzi started her professional life as a high school social studies teacher. She and her husband Jerry then served cross-culturally for ten+ years, living abroad first in India and then Kurdistan, N. Iraq. In addition to being a Spiritual Director, she now serves as a Formation and Care pastor in her local church in Houston, TX. She has graduated from LTI’s Selah Spiritual Direction training as well as LTI’s Emmaus Formational Leadership Program.
Mitzi enjoys engaging conversation, reading fiction, doing jigsaw/crossword puzzles, ocean gazing and exploring the world with Jerry through food and travel.
God has two main callings in Mitzi’s life: to care for those who care for others and to be a guide in helping others have a healthy relationship with the Trinity – recognizing God’s loving presence and activity in their lives and how to faithfully respond.
“Selah was a transformative experience for me – allowing the contemplative within to emerge and to beautifully co-exist with my extraverted personality.“
