Marked with what we will become,
Wearing the weight of where we've been—
The words we've spoken,
The seasons we’ve endured,
The roads we’ve traveled. …

While we are just reaching the end of February, January may feel months away. And, if you are someone who sets goals at the beginning of each year, you may be coming to terms with the fact that you are already behind on your reading goals. Well, we’re not here to judge, but we would like to help, so we came up with this list of five short(ish) books that might just help you get back on track.

Daily Lectio is a daily resource created by  CommunionArts to help you slow down and meditate on Scripture. Each day's meditation will guide you through praying a portion of Scripture in the style of Lectio Divina, an ancient spiritual way of reading Scripture.

When I look at the church and the body I belong to in Grayslake, IL, I am so thankful. We are blessed with many kind, hardworking, compassionate brothers and sisters who know the Bible and love Jesus. Then, when I step back and ponder the big “C” worldwide Church, I am…

And then, waiting became welcoming,
as creation’s cry was answered.
All that came before led to the moment
when far came close,…

“Mom, can we leave now?” my four-year-old whispered (Thank God!) to me as the Sunday sermon began. “No, not yet,” I whispered back. “Ugh, waiting is sooo haaaaard,” she responded. This is a response she has been dolling out a lot lately—when I can’t stop…

This Advent, we invite you to follow along with Pastor Anthony Celia as we spend time meditating on God's word, daily from December 1-Dec 25. Join us!

Before you know it this life will come to an end.
 

Today will slip away with the questions and pain as your eyes close and memories fade. 

You’ll go as you arrived…

Holy Spirit,
You have descended time and time again
both to confuse and elevate language.

Marked with what we will become,
Wearing the weight of where we've been—
The words we've spoken,
The seasons we’ve endured,
The roads we’ve traveled. …

Heavenly Father,
May I find joy
in the ordinary, mundane good works…

As Adam left the Garden
With Eve close by his side,
As inward, hearts were hardened,
And eastward, daylight died…

Disrupting the garden,
He stirred up the ground,
breathing life into the dust:
God’s image became us…

when i feel like
i am
less…

A long time ago, in old Israel dwelling
There lived a man Jonah, whose story I’m telling.
Now Jonah was special, what they call a prophet,
Who spoke with the Lord, not a person to scoff at…

God gives us more than we can handle
Be it grief, pain, loneliness, scandal…

God of Light and Life,
As we prepare our hearts this Advent,
at the end of a trying year…

Oh, come, ye unfaithful
Broken and polluted!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye…

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. We sing in full voice, though it be in a minor key. We sing rejoice. Lord Jesus, quickly come. Amen.

Words & Music by Kip Fox and Matt Arcaini

Hymn text translated by John Mason Neale

Arrangement, additional text & melody by Kristin Schweain

Words & Music by Blake Flattley

Written by
Michael Praetorious
& Blake Flattley

Words & Music by Paul Elliott & Kip Fox

Words & Music by Shelly Schwalm

Performed by Blake Flattley

Music and adaptation by Matt Preston
Words Aurelius Clemens Prudentius
tr. Henry Williams Baker & John Mason Neale

Words: Nelson Koscheski

Music: Ryan Flanigan

Words & Music by Kip Fox

Thomas Helmore & John Mason Neale
Performed by Blake Flattley