Bible Gateway Blog

As we begin a new year, many of us take an opportunity to reflect on and reset our rhythms of spiritual health. Our prayer lives, Bible reading habits, how we can encourage others—and where we might need encouragement as well.

One of the ways we at Bible Gateway can help? With all-new episodes of the Bible Connection Podcast. Join us for conversations with authors, musicians, storytellers, and church leaders that will help you see:

• The place of rest in a chaotically busy world
• How God positions and equips us to point others to Jesus
• The way art, creativity, and storytelling teach us something about God
• How to maintain a sense of wonder in a world that wants us to see everything as ordinary

By Kathie Lee Gifford & Rabbi Jason Sobel

Rabbi Jason

God chose perhaps His most unlikely vessel to set into motion the salvation of mankind: a teenage girl named Mary. Mary thought she was waiting for a wedding to a carpenter named Joseph, but something came to her that was far different—an improbable event she never would have dreamed of. A holy interruption. Much about Mary and her relationship with God is revealed when we read about her response to the angel when she was told she would give birth to the promised Messiah (see Luke 1:26–38). Mary showed tremendous humility of heart—the same humble quality we find in Yeshua (see Philippians 2:6–11).

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By R.T. Kendall

I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. (John 1:32–34) 

John the Baptist’s reference to the dove has become a symbol of the Holy Spirit. We see the dove imprinted in stained glass windows in church buildings and we see pictures and paintings of doves in Christian literature and art.

The dove is a very shy bird—a wild bird. You cannot get close to a dove without it flying away. The dove is gentle, loving, and peaceful. It barely makes a sound—only a soft and sweet “coo, coo.” You probably won’t find a dove where there are lots of people or lots of traffic. You will more likely see a dove in a park where there are trees or outside of town.

By Ann Voskamp

Eucharist [thanksgiving] is the state of the perfect man.

Eucharist is the life of paradise. Eucharist is the

only full and real response of man to God’s creation,

redemption, and gift of heaven.

Alexander Schmemann

The face of Jesus flashes. Jesus, the God-Man with His own termination date. Jesus, the God-Man who came to save me from prisons of fear and guilt and depression and sadness. With an expiration of less than twelve hours, what does Jesus count as all most important?

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