Oh Tidings of Comfort and Joy
This time of year, my heart always turns to those spending their first Christmas without a loved one. While the world sings “Joy to the World” and the air rings with goodwill and glad tidings, I know not everyone feels like celebrating. For some, the holidays bring a longing to look past the tinsel and…
Where is Jesus?
I was pleasantly surprised and joy-filled when I walked through the corridor to our apartment and saw this beautiful nativity set and the large characters displayed. It warmed my heart and soul! This nativity scene and those in our homes are more than decorations. They are invitations to reflect on the heart of the Christmas…
A Return Trip Like No Other
I’ve mastered making return trips – which isn’t a compliment to myself! Case in point – going to the grocery store and picking up all the items on my list — only to get home and realize one item was missing and I had to make the return trip. In Luke 2:41-51 we read about…
The Not-So-Perfect Christmas
It’s time for those picture-perfect Christmas photos of families in matching pajamas, along with the picture-perfect photos of our impressive Christmas décor. Suddenly the comparison doors swing wide open as we try to one-up our friends and neighbors so that we win the “Christmas Decorating” award. Leaving those comparisons behind has been a relief for…
How Big is Easter?
We’ve made it to Wednesday of Holy Week. Just three months ago, we were celebrating Jesus’ birth. During the Christmas holidays we think of Him as “the little Lord Jesus,” who “laid down his sweet head” in a manger. It’s hard to understand why people would come to hate Him, conspire against Him, and ultimately…
May the 4th Be With You
Happy 4th Sunday of Advent and Happy Christmas Eve! We can join many others who will attend church today to breathe in what all this decorating, baking, shopping, partying, and having family and friend get togethers has been all about. It is unusual for Christmas Eve to fall on a Sunday. We are making the…
Christmas Turned Darkness into Light
It’s the most wonderful tiime of the year. Well, for some, it is and for others it may be the most challenging time of the year. I’ll admit I’ve been overreacting to all I need to do — the gifts to buy, the goodies to make, the activities and events to attend. BUT, for me…
Our Prince of Peace Ensures a Peace-Filled Year
Of all the scriptures that we hear during the Christmas season, this one is like the credits at the end of a movie or even the end of an old year: “And His name shall be called Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:7 Aw! Giving the credit to Who credit is due. Our Prince of Peace.…
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
With “Joy to the World” and all the other songs of goodwill and glad tidings that describe this season, I would be remiss to think that we are all in a perky, celebratory mood. I know there are many that can hardly wait for this season to be in the “rear-view” mirror. I know it…
Letting our Christmas Joy Be About the Joy-Giver
Here we are on the other side of December’s half-time! It’s December 16th — only 9 more days until the presents are all unwrapped, we’re eating our Christmas breakfast and some of us are singing “Happy Birthday, Jesus”! For me, I’ll be driving home from my East Texas’ family’s Christmas Eve traditions to join my…