Advent is a prime time for deepening or jumpstarting one’s devotional life. Devotional reading, contemplation, and prayer are disciplines that nurture our spiritual health in all seasons. And if you prefer to go “paperless” in your devotional reading there are many inspiring Advent resources available online.

When I was in high school the student ministry at my home church challenged us to begin the practice of a daily “quiet time.” Since those days my personal devotional time has nurtured and nourished my spiritual growth and development.

Across the years my quiet time emerged into an early morning discipline grounded inspirational reading, prayer, and meditation. My devotional life is enriched a variety of resources including classic devotionals, books by noted authors, and devotional reflections shared by church members.

A few years back, I decided to go “paperless” in my devotional time choosing to utilize online Bible apps and a variety of e-resources for my devotional time. Online resources are especially helpful during holiday travels because the resources can be accessed on any internet computer or digital device. Going paperless also keeps my desktop a lot less cluttered whether I am at home or in my office.

Most online devotional sites provide complimentary access, and the costs are covered through donations or advertising revenue. Additionally, like any digital communication, e-devotionals save paper and are friendly to the environment.

As I began preparing for Advent this year, I previewed a few good resources to share with others and to use in my own personal devotional time. I looked for resources that are easily accessible, theologically sound, and culturally relevant.

Like other online devotional resources, Advent E-Devotions may be created by churches, missional organizations, or individuals. A few of the devotional sites invite you to register your email address and they will send a daily devotional directly to your inbox. Other sites have corresponding “apps” that you can download making access easier on your mobile devices. And all online sites can be bookmarked or added to your favorites list for ease of access.

Here are a few examples of online Advent devotional options that you might find helpful:

Local churches often provide links to their Advent Devotional Booklets. Two good examples are from Vestavia Hills Baptist Church in Birmingham (http://www.vhbc.com/advent-at-vhbc) and First Baptist Pensacola (22-Advent-Devotional.pdf (squarespace.com). These booklets can usually be accessed as a PDF file, or downloaded to a tablet, Kindle, or E-reader.

D365.org is sponsored by Passport Camps and provides a daily Advent devotional that is appropriate for students or adults. (http://d365.org/)

Buckner International is a faith-based social service organization based in Dallas that serves hundreds of thousands of people each year across the United States and around the globe. Their Advent guide, written by assorted authors, can be downloaded at Advent starts today · Buckner International

Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) offers an option to read Advent devotionals online or to listen via apps such as Spotify, IHeart Radio, Alexa, or Google Home. Advent Devotions :: Lutheran Hour Ministries (lhm.org)

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary provides an Advent Devotional W-Book written by members of the seminary community. This e-book offers a read option and an audio option, and can be downloaded at http://www.pts.edu/devotional_1.

Advent Conspiracy was founded on the radical idea that we can celebrate Christmas humbly, beautifully, and generously. The devotionals, written by a variety of pastors, are available at The Advent Conspiracy Movement Homepage.

McAfee School of Theology compiles Advent devotionals written by faculty, students, and alumni and they post them online at Advent | School of Theology (mercer.edu).

Sacred Space is an online prayer site provided by the Irish Jesuits. They provide a guided Advent devotional series and an Advent Retreat option at www.sacredspace.ie.

Whether you are new to the practice of a daily devotional experience or a long-time practitioner, you may discover that an Advent E-Devotion will enrich your preparation for Christmas and deepen your faith as you learn more about the life and teachings of Jesus.

(Barry Howard serves as pastor at the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist for the Center for Healthy Churches.)

A few years ago, my wife and I spotted this folk proverb on a sign hanging in one of our favorite Smoky Mountain restaurants: “Simple pleasures are life’s treasures.”  It reminded me of an old tv commercial that proclaimed, “Life’s simple pleasures are the best.”

Whatever one’s station or mission in life, little blessings should never be taken for granted.

During this week designated to remind us to count our blessings, I will certainly be giving thanks for faith, family, friends, and freedom. But there are a few things that popped up in my gratitude inventory that some folks might label as minor blessings. For me, however, they are a big deal. Some are simple pleasures, others are personal preferences, and a few are stress relievers.

These twelve represent a longer list of blessings that add richness and meaning to life, simple gifts that I never want to take for granted:

• A hot cup of coffee on a cold November morning.
• A multi-colored sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountain or an autumn sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
• Snuggly hugs from nieces and nephews, both young and old.
• A timely phone call from a friend.
• Artwork given to me by a child.
• Immersing myself in a good book…a novel, a biography, or a little theology.
• Home-made cards or hand-written notes of encouragement.
• A song emanating from my soul.
• A refreshing Sunday afternoon nap.
• An occasional walk between 18 holes.
• The freedom to gather with others to worship.
• The honor of walking alongside others through all the seasons of life, including dedicating, encouraging, baptizing, marrying, and even eulogizing a few of them.

This week as we give thanks for the big things, let us also take time to give thanks for the simple things that bring joy, fulfillment, and affirmation to our lives.

Paulo Coelho, popular author of The Alchemist, insists, “The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.”

What would you include on your list of simple blessings?

Many of us will be privileged to gather on Thanksgiving Day with family and friends to enjoy a bountiful feast and hearty conversations around the table. As one of our treasured holidays, Thanksgiving is a day set aside, not only to give thanks, but to rekindle in us a spirit of gratitude. In I Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul encourages believers to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances: for this is God will for you in Christ Jesus.”

During my college years, my faith was heavily influenced by a little book entitled, Agaperos, written by Grady Nutt. In that book, as in his sermons, Grady underscored the importance of choosing “an attitude of gratitude.”

Experiencing and expressing gratitude throughout the ever-changing seasons of life has a way of re-shaping our perspective and re-formatting our attitude.

Elie Wiesel suggested: “When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.”

In my journey of faith, I am discovering that a disposition of gratitude enriches life in several ways.

Gratitude encourages me and others around me.  When I am frustrated and tend to see the glass half empty rather than half full, I find that the practice of “counting my blessings” infuses me with encouragement, which spills over into the lives of others. Gratitude has a way of refocusing my attention on the positive and reminding me of how blessed I am.

Gratitude also promotes good health. While gratitude does not bring instantaneous healing or make us immune from viruses or exempt from accidents, a heart of gratitude promotes spiritual, emotional, and physical health in at least a couple of ways. First, gratitude serves as the antidote for toxic negativity and complaint, cleansing our perspective and renewing our focus. And second, gratitude seems to put us in a positive frame of mind which allows our body to better produce and release antibodies and restorative enzymes that work to promote health and wholeness.

A study of the psychology of gratitude is found in Robert Emmons’ book, Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier. In his research at the University of California-Berkeley, Dr. Emmons found that those who practice grateful thinking “reap emotional, physical and interpersonal benefits.” The study revealed that individuals who regularly keep a gratitude journal report fewer illness symptoms, generally feel better about their lives as a whole and are more optimistic about the future. Emmons concluded that gratitude is both a personal choice and healthy response to our life experiences.

Gratitude ultimately inspires me to serve. Gratitude is not about counting my blessings just to make me a happier consumer. Genuine gratitude motivates me to share my blessings. For me, the quality of life is best measured not by how much I have but byhow effectively I use resources I have been given to serve. Those who serve out of guilt serve for a short while. Those who serve out of gratitude serve for a lifetime.

Choosing an attitude of gratitude is a daily discipline that enriches life. Henri Nouwen wrote: “The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.”

With good reason, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Although we do not always get to choose our circumstances, we can always choose our attitude. Not just today, but every day, cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

(Barry Howard serves as the pastor of the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist for the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, reside in Brookhaven, Georgia.)

Philosopher Eric Hoffer once suggested, “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.”

I grew up in church singing the beloved hymn by Johnson Oatman, Jr., “Count Your Blessings.” What is a blessing? And when you “name them one by one,” what do you name?

In my early years, I thought a blessing was something to enjoy or consume, like a new toy under the Christmas tree or my grandparents taking me to my favorite restaurant.

As I’ve grown older and hopefully a little wiser, I understand blessings to be less consumer-centric and more life-giving, more oriented toward the common good. The dictionary defines a blessing as “God’s favor and protection.” That’s not necessarily wrong. The definition is just not big enough. Blessings run deeper.

When some individuals say, “I am blessed,” the statement seems to be a humble brag or mere religious jargon. There are other times when we or others realize we are blessed, and that affirmation emerges from a growing self-awareness or epiphanic realization of our endowment.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. As we prepare to give thanks, here are seven reflections to help us inventory our blessings:

• Blessings come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Blessings may be large or small, simple or complex, singular or plural, short-term or long-term, material or spiritual.

• To be blessed is to be endowed with a gift or resource. That resource may take the form of a capacity, a potential, an opportunity, or a sphere of influence. To say that we have been blessed is to confirm we have been equipped or empowered to do something good or something meaningful.

• Blessings are usually conveyed to us or affirmed in us via human messengers. Our blessings may originate in the heart of God, but they are most often delivered or awakened by individuals who may or may not be aware of the gift they transport.
  
  
• A blessing may be tangible or intangible. Our car, a tangible asset, is a blessing that gives us the capacity for transportation. Our spiritual gifts, intangible assets, give us the capacity to serve.
  
  
• We are blessed so that we may be a blessing. We are designed as conduits through which our blessings are to be shared, not reservoirs in which our blessings are stored. Blessings are like manna. When they are unused, they spoil.
  
  
• Neglected or misappropriated blessings may become burdens. For example, a nice house can be a blessing when it is used to nurture relationships, provide safety, host friends, and offer hospitality. However, a nice house can also become a burden that imprisons us in debt, loneliness, or despair when our priorities are misaligned.
  
  
• Blessings are not always easily recognized and ready to use. Blessings do not usually glitter like gold. Janette Oke suggests, “Blessings sometimes show up in unrecognizable disguises.” Sometimes blessings, like products from Ikea, arrive with “assembly required.”

When you count your blessings, don’t just name the possessions you have acquired or accumulated. Name the life-giving resources and relationships that give meaning and purpose to your existence.

Someone once said, “Don’t just count your blessings. Be the blessing others count on.”

(Barry Howard serves as pastor of the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist with the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, live in Brookhaven, Georgia.)

I had the privilege of spending a part of my summer sabbatical in Europe in 2012.

Just before beginning a summer term at Oxford University, I visited several historic sites from the ancient Roman Empire, trying to brush up on my knowledge of the history of Western Civilization. Just to make a full disclosure, the only “D” I made in college was in the “HY101: A History of Western Civilization.” And I’ve been trying to improve my understanding of that part of the world ever since.

Our group tour started in Istanbul, Turkey, continued through the Greek isles, and culminated in Athens, Greece. We visited three of the sites of Wonders of the Ancient World: The Temple of Diana, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Mausoleum.

We saw monuments and statues with tributes to the provincial governors and to one of the many Caesars. After dinner each evening, I would try to catch up on the news of the day by watching BBC or reading an online paper from the U.S.

Reading about Caesar by day and the upcoming U.S. election by night, the simple but daunting reality dawned upon me: citizens in the ancient Roman world had no voice in choosing their governmental leaders, but the U.S. does, and that is still a rare and treasured privilege, even in today’s world.

Only a small percentage of the world’s population has ever had a voice in choosing government officials. Even today when more nations than ever enjoy some form of democracy, only a fraction of the world’s citizens have any say in choosing their elected leaders.

How would life have been different if citizens in the ancient Roman Empire had been given the opportunity to vote on their government leaders?

In a crucial election year, characterized by inflammatory rhetoric and partisan polarities, it’s important to remember that choosing leaders by “voting your conscience and conviction” is a privilege and a responsibility.

I returned home from my summer travels that year with a greater awareness of my national and spiritual heritage, and a greater appreciation for our many freedoms. 

However, as a pastor and as a citizen of these United States, this year I am weary of partisan propaganda-driven politics by both major parties. I am disturbed by the rumormongering, name-calling, and conspiracy theories that are “shared” via social media, blogs, and emails. 

And I am bothered that many in the name of faith are attacking the personal character and the religion of candidates they have never met, all the while avoiding serious dialogue about the most pressing issues of our day.

Maybe more of our time and conversation should be aimed at developing constructive and rational strategies for addressing our national and global challenges.

As the election approaches, here are four ways we can exercise responsible citizenship in times like these, regardless of our party affiliation or religious conviction:

• Do your homework. Research the candidates and amendments. Do the hard work of wading through the propaganda. Don’t let anyone else tell you how to vote…not your mother, not your father, not your favorite superstar, and certainly not your preacher.
  
  
• Practice civil discourse. Elections are a time to speak your conscience, vote your conviction, and engage in civil discourse. Evaluating and critiquing the issues is much harder work than assailing and attacking a candidate. Dialogue with trusted friends about the pros and cons of a candidate’s track record, leadership style, and long-term vision is constructive. Spouting personal attacks is immature and childish, and it diminishes the electoral process.
  
  
• Vote for your preferred candidate.  Discern and determine which candidate best represents your values and your vision, and then cast your ballot. Do not be deterred or dissuaded by polls that talk about which candidate is leading on a given day. The election is not complete until your vote is cast. Realize that neither candidate is the devil or the messiah, and that each candidate’s position has strengths and weaknesses. Running for public office is demanding and exhausting. Be grateful for those who are willing to run, even those with whom you disagree. It is difficult for those of us who have never campaigned to identify with the personal toll that is exacted on a candidate and his or her family.
  
  
• Pray for whoever is elected. On the morning after the election, someone will win and someone will lose. As a person who is learning to walk by faith, I am convinced that we need to pray for whoever is elected, whether they are my candidate of choice or not.  In a partisan culture, I find it troubling that often the losing party declares that their mission is to defeat the elected candidate by subverting all attempts at his or her successful leadership. After all, the person who is elected will soon discover that the job requires more than a campaign slogan. I find the words from I Timothy 2:1-3 to be relevant to the way we respond to our elected leadership: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior.”

Yes, we do live in uniquely perilous times. However, the major dilemmas our country faces were not created by leaders of one party but by both. The resolution and resolve to correct our course will not be provided by one party or one leader, but by courageous, visionary leaders and responsible citizens from across all party lines.

The upcoming election is important but the election itself will not repair the state of the union, no matter which candidate is chosen. 

My Bible does not say, “If my people who are called by my name shall elect the right candidate, I will heal their land.” 

The Bible does say rather emphatically that, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14)

If as followers of Jesus we began heeding these powerful words, we could ignite in our country a movement toward real recovery.

(Barry Howard serves at pastor of the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist for the Center for Healthy Churches.)