I love how Christmas Eve invites us into a holy pause. The lights feel softer, the world feels quieter, and our hearts lean in toward wonder. It echoes the first Christmas, when the earth was still, and a heavenly choir arose. Angels, a host of […]
Tag: Advent
I Wonder If
After our children were born, I began praying for their future spouses. I was praying for women that I would wait years to meet. I had no clue how, or even if, my prayers would be answered. A few times, I would see someone and […]
Prepare Our Hearts
Like a reporter, Luke begins his Gospel with a careful investigation. Because of him, we have the accounts of Elizabeth and Mary’s miraculous pregnancies. Through their personal stories, we glimpse the wait for the Messiah and see how we can prepare our hearts for His […]
From Confused to Confident: A Look at Mary
We meet Mary as a young teen in the gospel of Luke, suddenly swept into God’s redemptive story. She is “confused and disturbed,” before she declares, “my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”. In her story, we see one of Scripture’s most beautiful progressions of […]
What Brings You Joy?
What brings you joy? In this third week of Advent, we continue counting down to Christmas with a spirit of Joy. His joy in us has the power to make our joy complete. Biblical joy is more than a happy feeling. For the psalmist knowing […]
A Recipe For Peace
I just started reading Tabitha Brown’s cookbook, Cooking From the Spirit. In this inspirational book, none of the recipes have to be followed as written; she gives a list of ingredients, but the final result? Well, honey, as Tab would say, “That’s your business!” As […]
Seven Ways to Hope
As we settle into the first week of Advent, I’ve noticed seven ways to hope in Him. I’ve used these words in reflecting, praying, and meditating. Each day, as I walk, I choose one and ponder its depth and significance. Types of Hope Confident. Romans […]
The Gift That You Cannot Buy
It’s that time of year when we check our lists against our available funds to determine who gets what. But what about the gift you cannot buy? The gift that is a sacrifice and not an item on your to-do list. As we count down […]
Did They Know?
A Canaanite, a prostitute, a Moabite, and a wronged wife. These four women, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba, are listed in Matthew’s account of the lineage of Christ. This week I’ve been contemplating the advent story, and I wonder what did they know about their […]
React or respond?
I confess that I often react when I should respond. Especially when I feel someone is being critical. But this morning, as I was about to lift a heavy weight, a woman said, “Don’t think about it; just do it.” I wanted to explain the […]