{"@attributes":{"version":"2.0"},"channel":{"title":"CPH Blog - Read","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read","description":"Find encouraging and thought-provoking reads to keep you focused on God\u2019s Word every day. Get insights into the best Bibles, devotions, and Christian books to help you grow in your faith.","language":"en-us","pubDate":"Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:00:00 GMT","item":[{"title":"How We Can Practice Listening like Christ","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/listening-like-christ-did","description":"
\n \"How <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Often, listening to music is a passive activity. Parents absentmindedly turn on music playlists<\/a> while cleaning, or drivers may flip to the local music station while on their commute. In these examples, music fills space more than it forms a relationship with the listener. While music can be enjoyed intuitively, deeper excitement and understanding come from active engagement with its elements, from hearing not just sound but structure, tension, and resolution.<\/p>","category":"Featured","pubDate":"Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/listening-like-christ-did"},{"title":"Understanding God\u2019s Will for Our Lives","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/understanding-gods-will-for-our-lives","description":"

\n \"Understanding <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

\"Everything happens for a reason!\" It\u2019s one of those phrases people say when they don\u2019t know what to say. When we say it about a positive situation, it\u2019s usually a lighthearted acknowledgment of a blessing or achievement.<\/p>","category":"Featured","pubDate":"Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/understanding-gods-will-for-our-lives"},{"title":"Read These Books with Your Children for Easter 2026","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/read-these-books-with-your-children-for-easter-2026","description":"

\n \"Easter <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

The Easter season is full of stories of sorrow, hope, and joy that can capture any child\u2019s imagination. This season, consider reading books to help your child explore Holy Week and the resurrection. Reading together provides a chance to reinforce what they hear in church and Sunday School and allows you to discuss the meaning behind each part of the story. Choosing a few titles from your bookshelf or adding new ones can help your child understand the events of Jesus\u2019 life, death, and resurrection and why Easter is such an important part of the Christian faith.<\/p>","category":["Easter","Arch Books","Featured"],"pubDate":"Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:59:59 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/read-these-books-with-your-children-for-easter-2026"},{"title":"Should Christians Be Afraid of Judgment Day?","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/should-christians-be-afraid-of-judgment-day","description":"

\n \"Should <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Judgment Day has an ominous sound. We likely have images of a bolt of lightning splitting open the heavens and then a frightening interrogation at the gates of eternity. The line is long, not moving, and we are at the very end. But we have little to no hope anyway. If there is a recounting of our lives, we are doomed. Even though these images prevail in society, should Christians be afraid of Judgment day?<\/p> \n

This blog post is excerpted from <\/em>Myth or Faith: Clearing Up Common Misconceptions About Christianity. <\/a><\/p>","category":"Featured","pubDate":"Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:59:59 GMT","author":"none.2@cph.org (Concordia Publishing House)","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/should-christians-be-afraid-of-judgment-day"},{"title":"Traveling God\u2019s Chosen Path","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/traveling-gods-chosen-path","description":"

\n \"Traveling <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Travel exhilarates me. Airport people-watching is a pastime. Hmmm, that\u2019s an interesting outfit. Why is she in such a hurry?<\/em> Scanning the departure board for my own gate number, I ponder why my fellow travelers are going to Bogot\u00e1 or Missoula or Queenstown. I flew for the first time before my first birthday, and my current role as an LCMS missionary<\/a> has made me the kind of jet-setter who has a laminated packing list. Sure, I\u2019ve dealt with my share of lost bags, crew time-outs, and comped hotel rooms, but thankfully, I have relatively few travel horror stories. Nevertheless, travel, especially air travel, calls for a certain degree of letting go; I\u2019m powerless to incentivize a grounded\u2014or MIA\u2014plane to take off on time \u2026 or ever.<\/p>","category":"Featured","pubDate":"Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:00:04 GMT","author":"erin.mackenzie@cph.org (Erin Mackenzie)","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/traveling-gods-chosen-path"},{"title":"5 Myths About What Happens When You Die","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/5-myths-about-what-happens-when-you-die","description":"

\n \"5 <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

What actually happens when the Christian dies? What do we have to look forward to (or to fear)? Can we look toward death with confidence, with trust in God?<\/p>","category":"Featured","pubDate":"Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:00:01 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/5-myths-about-what-happens-when-you-die"},{"title":"Ten Lies Satan Uses to Pull You from God","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/ten-lies-satan-uses-to-pull-you-from-god","description":"

\n \"Ten <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

In our day-to-day life, Satan constantly works to trick us into falling away from our Savior. There are plenty of pitfalls and traps he makes for us, hoping that we will turn away from God and embrace more of our own sins. Fortunately, we were given the beautiful, soul-saving Word of God to fight back against Satan\u2019s lies. Read below ten lies that Satan loves to tell<\/a> (or whisper, or yell) into our ears. Then, see how God\u2019s Word shows us the truth, and cling to specific verses from His Word when you feel yourself falling prey to the lies. <\/p>","category":["Featured","Spiritual Warfare"],"pubDate":"Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:00:01 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/ten-lies-satan-uses-to-pull-you-from-god"},{"title":"Don\u2019t Overlook God\u2019s Provisions in the Wilderness of Life","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/dont-overlook-gods-provisions-in-the-wilderness-of-life","description":"

\n \"Urban <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

My teenage daughter loves taking pictures of sunsets; her phone\u2019s camera roll is filled with them. Here in the suburbs of Washington, DC, though, we often admire a beautiful, pink-streaked sky not surrounded by nature but while driving on the highway or walking out of the grocery store.<\/p>","category":"Featured","pubDate":"Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/dont-overlook-gods-provisions-in-the-wilderness-of-life"},{"title":"Why the Cross Is Central to Christian Spirituality","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/why-the-cross-is-central-to-christian-spirituality","description":"

\n \"The <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

A better term for \u201cLutheran\u201d spirituality is \u201cevangelical\u201d spirituality. The term <\/em>evangelical is simply a term derived from the Greek word for \u201cGospel,\u201d which in turn literally means \u201cgood news.\u201d To be \u201cevangelical\u201d means focusing on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Good News that Christ, through His death and resurrection, has won forgiveness for sinful human beings and offers salvation as a free gift.<\/em><\/p> \n

<\/em><\/p>","category":["Lutheran","Featured"],"pubDate":"Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/why-the-cross-is-central-to-christian-spirituality"},{"title":"4 Tips for Navigating Advent As Christians","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/4-tips-for-navigating-advent-as-christians","description":"

\n \"Every <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

I sat with some friends back in October, talking about when we put up Christmas trees as kids. Everyone in the group said \u201cthe day after Thanksgiving\u201d except one. She had grown up putting up her tree on Christmas Eve. Where she was from, Advent was Advent and Christmas was Christmas. But that\u2019s not so easy today. <\/p>","category":["Advent","Christmas","Featured"],"pubDate":"Sat, 29 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/4-tips-for-navigating-advent-as-christians"},{"title":"5 Reflections on Giving Thanks to God","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/5-reflections-on-giving-thanks-to-god","description":"

\n \"Woman <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Our homes are adorned with decor inscribed with \u201cThankful\u201d and \u201cBlessed.\u201d We often utter \u201cThanks be to God!\u201d in worship. We have holidays dedicated to giving thanks. But do we truly have gratitude in all of this? This blog post, adapted from Portals of Prayer Devotional Bible<\/em><\/a>, offers five reflections to help you ponder and give thanks for God\u2019s gifts. <\/p>","category":["Thanksgiving","Featured"],"pubDate":"Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:59:59 GMT","author":"none.2@cph.org (Concordia Publishing House)","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/5-reflections-on-giving-thanks-to-god"},{"title":"Hands-On Christmas Resources for Kids","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/hands-on-christmas-resources-for-kids","description":"

\n \"Little <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Ahh, Christmastime as a parent. Christmas is a busy time of year for anyone, but as someone with young children, there\u2019s an added pressure in the air. There are all the things to remember\u2014buying gifts for your children\u2019s teachers, bringing cookies after the Christmas concert, and perfectly coordinating schedules so you can attend as many Christmas parties and family gatherings as possible.<\/p>","category":["Christmas","Featured"],"pubDate":"Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/hands-on-christmas-resources-for-kids"},{"title":"What Disagreements Led to the Nicene Creed?","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/what-disagreements-led-to-the-nicene-creed","description":"

\n \"Detail <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

The controversy over the relationship between the Father and the Son (and, later, the Spirit) broke out in the first half of the fourth century AD, but the source of the controversy goes back 1,700 years before that, to Moses. <\/p>","category":["Church History","Featured"],"pubDate":"Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/what-disagreements-led-to-the-nicene-creed"},{"title":"From 1838 to Today: A Reflection on American Lutheranism","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/from-1838-to-today-a-reflection-on-american-lutheranism","description":"

\n \"German <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

The Concordia Publishing House team recently took a field trip to Perry County, Missouri. This place is as much the original home of The Lutheran Church\u2014Missouri Synod (the LCMS, our parent church body) as is St. Louis, Missouri, though not as well known.<\/p>","category":["Lutheran","Featured"],"pubDate":"Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:03:43 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/from-1838-to-today-a-reflection-on-american-lutheranism"},{"title":"Five Favorite Christmas Activities for Families","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/five-favorite-christmas-activities-for-families","description":"

\n \"Christmas <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Concerts, shopping trips, gatherings, and other tasks often take up a lot of our time during the season of Advent. None of these activities are inherently bad, but they can take our attention away from the real reason to celebrate Advent\u2014the birth of our Savior, Jesus. We\u2019ve assembled a list of five activities that busy families can use this Advent to intentionally focus on Christ. <\/p> \n

<\/h3>","category":["Christmas","Featured"],"pubDate":"Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:00:01 GMT","author":"none.2@cph.org (Concordia Publishing House)","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/five-favorite-christmas-activities-for-families"},{"title":"Why Do We Need the Lutheran Confessions in a Secular World?","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/why-do-we-need-the-lutheran-confessions-in-a-secular-world","description":"
\n \"Architectural <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

At the end of October every year, Lutherans all over the world celebrate Reformation Day. In protestant reverie, they think gratefully of the first time they heard of salvation by grace through faith in Christ and faith alone, grace alone, and Scripture alone<\/a>. Beyond this, a great number of Lutherans would struggle to explain what it is that makes the Lutheran faith distinctive. I studied the Lutheran Confessions at Concordia University Chicago and Concordia Theological Seminary. Yet I wonder just how much exposure the average lay Lutheran has to the teachings of the Lutheran tradition.<\/p>","category":"Lutheran","pubDate":"Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:28:59 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/why-do-we-need-the-lutheran-confessions-in-a-secular-world"},{"title":"What Are the Propers in Worship?","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/what-are-the-propers-in-worship","description":"

\n \"Looking <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

The content of the service we look forward to this coming Sunday morning really does come down to us through millennia. This blog post, adapted from Carl C. Fickenscher II\u2019s book Looking Forward to Sunday Morning: Reflections on the Church Year<\/a> <\/em>outlines the structure of the church year and the rich, interconnected content we experience in the liturgy.<\/span><\/p>","category":["Church Year","Featured"],"pubDate":"Mon, 06 Oct 2025 13:02:06 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/what-are-the-propers-in-worship"},{"title":"How Jesus Welcomed the Lost","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/how-jesus-welcomed-the-lost","description":"

\n \"Jesus <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Time and again in his Gospel account, the evangelist Luke<\/a> draws our attention to Jesus\u2019 practice of welcoming people to dine with Him. As might be expected, His disciples regularly ate meals with their rabbi, but Jesus welcomed a much greater circle to His table. Luke reveals that the downtrodden and the outcast were often guests where Jesus dined.<\/p> \n

The following blog post is adapted from Kristopher Whitby\u2019s book Come and Be Filled: Feasting with Jesus in His Word<\/a>. <\/p>","category":"Featured","pubDate":"Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:08:29 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/how-jesus-welcomed-the-lost"},{"title":"An Overview of Christian Creeds","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/an-overview-of-christian-creeds","description":"

\n \"Art <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Why do we need creeds? That might be a question you have asked or that a family member or friend has asked you after finding out you speak a creed in the Divine Service. However, in reality, there is no Christian without a creed.<\/p>","category":["Church History","Featured"],"pubDate":"Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/an-overview-of-christian-creeds"},{"title":"Knowing Jesus Is More Than Knowing Facts","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/knowing-jesus-is-more-than-knowing-facts","description":"

\n \"Woman <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

One of the delights of parenting older kids is watching them discover and enjoy their individual interests. My daughters often start conversations or change the subject by brightly saying, \u201cFun fact!\u201d<\/p>","category":"Featured","pubDate":"Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/knowing-jesus-is-more-than-knowing-facts"},{"title":"Helpful Bible-Reading Resources for Families","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/helpful-bible-reading-resources-for-families","description":"

\n \"Child <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Reading the Bible is a joy that Christians are called to continually, with the Word dwelling in us richly, as Colossians 3:16 states. Although the Word of God is powerful and never returns void, many Christians may feel challenged by not knowing how to read, understand, and apply Scripture with confidence. Continue to discover resources that meet readers where they are, from those opening the Bible for the first time to those seeking deeper study. Each tool is designed to illuminate context, help us see Law and Gospel more clearly, and draw us closer to Christ.<\/p>","category":["Bible Reading","Parents","Featured"],"pubDate":"Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/helpful-bible-reading-resources-for-families"},{"title":"Reflecting Jesus\u2019 Love as Grandparents","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/reflecting-jesus-love-as-grandparents","description":"

\n \"Teenage <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

\u201cOne generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your<\/em>
mighty acts.\u201d (Psalm 145:4)<\/em><\/p> \n

\u201cThank you. I love you.\u201d Can that five-word text capture eighteen years? Yes, if those words come from a grandson who has just moved into his college dorm. A grandmother\u2019s heart is shaped like a helping hand. If that picture is puzzling, I understand the confusion; you might be skeptical too.<\/p>","category":["Featured","Grandparents"],"pubDate":"Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/reflecting-jesus-love-as-grandparents"},{"title":"Seeing God\u2019s Love in Long-Lasting Marriages","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/seeing-gods-love-in-long-lasting-marriages","description":"

\n \"Sweet <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

 <\/p> \n

My cell phone rang early on the day after Christmas, and I knew. 
Just a few weeks before, Dad\u2019s health had worsened, and he ended up in the hospital. He was now in a rehab center, trying to get well enough to go back home. On Christmas morning, my mom wheeled my dad from the rehab center down the sidewalk and into their little cottage on the senior living campus. Dad was in great spirits. He loved Christmas.<\/p>","category":["Marriage","Featured"],"pubDate":"Sat, 23 Aug 2025 15:59:42 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/seeing-gods-love-in-long-lasting-marriages"},{"title":"Times Change, but God Is Unchanging","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/times-change-but-god-is-unchanging","description":"

\n \"Changing <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Recently, I\u2019ve noticed a change in myself. I am fifty-two years old. Normally, I shave every day, usually in the morning. On occasion, I will skip shaving if I know I won\u2019t have to be presentable for a few days. I have noticed that the stubble that covers my face is no longer the reddish blonde it was in my twenties; it\u2019s not even black. In fact, the whiskers are white!<\/p>","category":"Featured","pubDate":"Mon, 18 Aug 2025 13:07:32 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/times-change-but-god-is-unchanging"},{"title":"Start Your Child\u2019s School Year on Christ\u2019s Path","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/start-your-childs-school-year-on-christs-path","description":"

\n \"Start <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)<\/span><\/em><\/p> \n

God\u2019s children are preparing to go back to school. That means the back-to-school shopping season has arrived. Prepping children for the coming school year is not only time consuming and costly but exhausting. If you are running ragged, you aren\u2019t alone: You\u2019re among 3.1 trillion families with children who are making last-minute treks to the store.<\/p>","category":["Parents","Featured"],"pubDate":"Mon, 11 Aug 2025 12:24:23 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/start-your-childs-school-year-on-christs-path"},{"title":"Is This What God Wants?","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/is-this-what-god-wants","description":"

\n \"Is <\/a> \n<\/div> \n


\u201cIs this what God wants for me?\u201d<\/em>

It\u2019s the question that keeps us up late into the night or runs through our heads during morning commutes. We might ask this question when choosing a college, when interviewing for a job, or when wondering whether the place we\u2019re planted is where we\u2019re supposed to be. 
<\/p>","category":["Young Adults","Featured"],"pubDate":"Mon, 04 Aug 2025 11:00:00 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/is-this-what-god-wants"},{"title":"Thinking About God in a Thunderstorm","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/thinking-about-god-in-a-thunderstorm","description":"

\n \"Thinking <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

Watching thunderstorms is one of my greatest joys in life. Every time a good, Midwest storm rolls into my college town of Seward, Nebraska, I abandon my half-finished homework, hurry outside, and watch gleefully as the sky flashes with lightning. My friends know the drill. There\u2019s no way I\u2019ll be able to focus on anything else, so I\u2019ll be back when the storm blows over.<\/p> \n

I consider my love of lightning more than a random infatuation. Yes, it\u2019s a beautiful part of nature, but it\u2019s more than that to me. Every lightning bolt reminds me of God and His promises.<\/p>","category":"Featured","pubDate":"Mon, 28 Jul 2025 11:28:48 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/thinking-about-god-in-a-thunderstorm"},{"title":"Real Connection in a Virtual World","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/real-connection-in-a-virtual-world","description":"

\n \"Real <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

A few weeks ago, at my sister\u2019s high school graduation, the commencement speaker gave several pieces of what he believed to be crucial advice. One of these encouragements was for the graduates to make real friends<\/em>.<\/p>","category":"Featured","pubDate":"Mon, 21 Jul 2025 11:34:17 GMT","guid":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/real-connection-in-a-virtual-world"},{"title":"Lessons on Prayer from Samuel","link":"https:\/\/blog.cph.org\/read\/lessons-on-prayer-from-samuel","description":"

\n \"Man <\/a> \n<\/div> \n

The other day I was listening to a pastor speak about the priority of prayer. He said the following:<\/p> \n