I remember one year when my mom received a devotional book on the names of Jesus. We used that book in family devotions, and often wrote out the names of Jesus in calligraphy, and I recall how meaningful that was. How I was forced to slow down, while carefully writing out each fancy letter, and…
There is almost no busier time of year than Christmas. I have often found it ironic that as we echo the angel’s tiding “peace on earth”, we are tangled up in knots of stress, to-do lists, and calendars overflowing with appointments. We lay in bed at night anxious about getting the “perfect gift” for our…
The word “redeemer” in the context of a person isn’t a word we use much outside of Christianity. Many times I wonder just how many disciples of Jesus Christ truly understand the power and significance of Christ as our Redeemer. When I first heard my dad preach on the power of Christ as our Redeemer,…
Are you stuck in a rut? By rut I mean, a rut of discouragement, frustration, and negativity? It’s not hard, you know. All you need to do is watch the news and you’re already discouraged: discouraged by the racial divide in our nation, frustrated with the political environment that seems to always be only in…
Have you ever noticed that we don’t naturally live thankfully? Sure, there are the “glass-half-full” people who tend to be more sanguine, and therefore think more positively. But that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the fact that we don’t naturally live in a way where we are continually aware of the little…
Over the past several years, it seems Thanksgiving has been swallowed up by Christmas. For retail, the holiday season begins with Halloween, almost skips right past Thanksgiving, and goes right to Christmas. Thanksgiving is given a small section, that is also considered autumn decore. In my home, I purpose to keep Thanksgiving in November, saving…
