Eight Months Pregnant and Riding a Donkey
Okay — so I am pondering the thoughts of Mary again. Consider this — she is eight months pregnant. Eight. Months. Pregnant. And Joseph walks in with news that would make any expectant mother drop her water jar. “Pack your bags, Mary. We’re heading to Bethlehem for the census.”Bethlehem. Eighty dusty miles. On a donkey.…
The Marvel of a Man Willing to Trust
Yesterday, in my blog, I focused on the news from the angel, Gabriel to Mary — and the awesome yet trepidatious knowledge of carrying Baby Jesus in her womb — “and the Holy Spirit came upon her.” (Luke 1:35) In the meantime — Joseph had plans. Good plans. Solid plans. He was established, respected, engaged…
A Father’s Love at Christmas
Every December, I set out my nativity scenes — all dozen-plus of them — but this year — something sweet caught my eye. Nearly every set shows Mary looking tenderly at Jesus in the manger or holding Him close, as any new mother would. But among all the figures, one nativity stood out from the…
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.…
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…
If I Were God, I Would Have…
Thank goodness we’re not God! Imagine the mess we’d make, driven by our own limited understanding. Garth Brooks had it right: sometimes we have to thank God for unanswered prayers. If every one of my prayers had received a “yes,” I shudder to think where I’d be now. In Isaiah 55:8, God says, “My ways…
This is Just a Chapter
“Well, this is a fine mess!” Isn’t that what we think when life throws us for a loop? Like we’ve stumbled into the wrong chapter of our own story. But hang tight, because shattered dreams are the very pages God uses to write the most incredible comebacks! We’ve all been there—broken relationships, financial upheavals, health…
Just an Ordinary Average Joe
After watching those brilliant, toned, driven Olympic athletes and their feats, it can certainly intimidate those of us without those well-trained bodies — physically AND mentally! We are just ordinary, average Joes. How could we ever excel and become so remarkable and outstanding in our “sport” or our “job” or our “family and relationships”? “Vive…
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
I am wearing “green” today! After all, it’s St. Patrick’s Day and the most important thing about this day is that we wear green, so we don’t get pinched!! NOT! I am also wearing my Celtic cross! It is said that the Celtic cross was introduced by St Patrick, who was attempting to convert the…
Stuck in a Rut?
The story behind this photo is worth a million words. With my lack of brevity, I could expound on it with that many words, but I won’t. This is my beloved son, Larry Wallace, who assumed he was far enough from the lake as he seeded his pastures, but, unfortunately, he ran over an underground…