Friday, December 6, 2024 Advent: Hope, Day 6 Reading: “The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.” [1] Meditation: It is written, and I agree, … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas
Author: Greg Hildenbrand
I am a contemplative spiritual director, author, and a leader of contemporary and blended worship at First United Methodist Church in Lawrence, Kansas. I am a happily married father of two awesome, adult children. I write a blog, Life Notes, every week and have published numerous books and music CDs, all of which are available on my website and other typical outlets. I enjoy writing, both music and text, and exploring and experiencing where spirit meets matter, in both seen and unseen ways.
Contemplative Christmas
Thursday, December 5, 2024 Advent: Hope, Day 5 Reading: “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” [1] Reflection: The theme of Hope is a subtle, but profound illustration of the Advent season of waiting. Indeed, … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas
Contemplative Christmas
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 Advent: Hope, Day 4 Reading: “…now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” [1] Reflection: Two traditional attributes of Advent are waiting and hoping. We wait expectantly for … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas
Contemplative Christmas
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 Advent: Hope, Day 3 Reading: …it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep…the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. [1] Reflection: The birth of the Christ-child within is a much … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas
Contemplative Christmas
Monday, December 2, 2024 Advent: Hope, Day 2 Reading: “A liminal space is the time between the “what was” and the “next.” It is a place of transition, a season of waiting, and not knowing. Liminal space is where all transformation takes place, if we learn to wait and let it form us.” [1] Reflection: … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas
Contemplative Christmas
Sunday, December 1, 2024 Advent: Hope, Day 1 Reading: “…suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us...” [1] Romans 5:3-5 Reflection: Hope, the first theme of Advent, is not the same as wishing. We may wish for good weather on Saturday, something we have no control … Continue reading Contemplative Christmas
Thanksgiving, Day 3
Saturday, November 30, 2024 Thanksgiving: Day 3 Reading: “Are not five sparrows sold for one penny? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.” [1] Reflection: A helpful exercise for growing our gratitude is to stop overlooking the ordinary in search of the miraculous in order to find the miraculous in the ordinary. … Continue reading Thanksgiving, Day 3
Thanksgiving, Day 2
Friday, November 29, 2024 Thanksgiving: Day 2 Reading: “The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And … Continue reading Thanksgiving, Day 2
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving: Day 1 Reading: “Gratitude can transform any situation. It alters your vibration, moving you from negative energy to positive. It’s the quickest, easiest, most powerful way to effect change in your life...” Oprah Winfrey [1] Reflection: The focus of Thanksgiving is (supposed to be) Gratitude. Developing a sense of gratitude is a key to … Continue reading Thanksgiving
Contemplating Grace 