When Joy Sneaks In
Here we are — the third Sunday of Advent. The Sunday of Joy. This candle on the Advent wreath symbolizes rejoicing because Christmas, the arrival of Jesus, is getting closer. Time to REJOICE! It’s not the loud, confetti-throwing kind of joy (though I’m not opposed!) — but the kind that sneaks in quietly, right when…
Advent: Holidays or Holy Days?
I spoke about Advent yesterday but I am leaning in even more! By the way, Happy Advent, dear friends! There’s a sweetness in the air this time of year that no scented candle can replicate — a hush, a hope, a holy expectancy drifting right into our homes like a soft winter breeze. But before…
Advent: When Heaven Comes Home to Us
Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent — the doorway into the most beautiful story ever told. And while the world around us seems to sprint toward December 25th, Advent gently invites us to slow down — to breathe — to look up — and to remember the holy journey to Bethlehem that changed everything.…
If You Can’t Lick ’Em… Join ’Em
It’s beginning to look a lot like — well, both. Thanksgiving and Christmas are currently sharing the stage like two headliners who showed up to the same concert. And honestly? It’s okay! Just last week, I wandered into Hobby Lobby (dangerous territory for anyone with a pulse and a credit card), and there it was:…
Lord, Make Me a Ponderer!
Picture this: I’m wrapped in the warm twinkle of our Christmas trees, surrounded by tiny village churches, my mom’s beloved ceramic tree with its colorful little bulbs, and my cherished Nativity sets. The air is filled with the sweet aroma of Maple Sugar Scentsy wax melts, and everything feels just right. I am pondering. And…
From Animal Control to Crowd Control
Picture the nativity scene: sheep bleating softly, a donkey nuzzling hay, cattle lowing. No opulence for the Prince of Peace. God chose for His Son, a humble and lowly stable — precisely where His plans unfolded. God’s ways might seem off-course, but His ways far exceed our ways. From animal control in the stable to…
Nesting for the King
Oh, how vividly I remember “nesting” like those mama birds, tirelessly fluffing and preparing for their baby birds to hatch! It’s in our mama DNA, isn’t it? We wash, fold, organize, and somehow manage to cram the equivalent of a department store into one tiny nursery. Those moments of preparation were filled with anticipation, excitement,…
Stop, Look, Listen and Be Blessed
Tomorrow is the second Sunday of Advent, when the second candle — the Faith candle — is lit on the Advent wreath. We have purposed to slow down and breathe in THE REASON for this miracle season. We are looking for the sights, sounds and gentle nudges of Father God. Then I’m sure He wants…
In the Waiting Room
Waiting rooms test our patience, don’t they? Whether it’s anxiously waiting for the doctor to call your name, a baby to make its grand entrance, or a red light to turn green, waiting always feels like a stretch of eternity. But here’s the thing — while we’re waiting, something is happening. Surgeries heal what’s broken.…
The First Sunday of Advent: A Season of Hope
Advent. The very word stirs up a sense of anticipation, doesn’t it? It means “coming” or “arrival,” and for us as believers, it’s a season to reflect on the most glorious arrival in history—our Savior, Jesus Christ, leaving Heaven to dwell among us. This Sunday, the first candle of the Advent wreath, the HOPE candle,…