The opening lines to my favorite Christmas carol are simple, repeated constantly during the month of December: ‘O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant.” As a little girl, I loved singing those words – and usually quite loudly. Oh, because didn’t I just feel like the embodiment of that faith and joy in the heady midst of childhood? Happy, … [Read more...]
Intentional Christmas – Guest Dineen Miller – 40 Days of Holiday Encouragement
Do you feel like Christmas rushes in so fast sometimes that just as you get in the groove to enjoy the festivities, it’s over? With Thanksgiving landing so late this year, there’s a good chance Christmas will feel even shorter. And sometimes we just get so bogged down with the demands and trials of life that we only have the energy to react to this … [Read more...]
Are You Stuffed? – 40 Days of Holiday Encouragement
Stuff. We all have it. Make no mistake about it, our houses, cars, bedrooms, cupboards, garages and purses are filled with it. Things you once loved or didn't, now stuffed in a closet, behind a chair, under a bed or overhead in the attic. If you were to make a list of all the stuff you have in boxes, stacked in the garage, or tossed beneath a … [Read more...]
A Sunday Giggle – 40 Days of Holiday Encouragement
As you can tell, I'm a little late on the post today. Life was happening over here and I dawdled. Not only was I late here, I was late for church this morning, too. Yeah, we were that family. After church we stopped by and saw our daughter at work, then we took our new pup fora walk ... I made a chocolate cake ....and my niece came over for … [Read more...]
Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing – Guest Lindsey Bell – 40 Days of Holiday Encouragement
Maybe you’ve heard the popular quote by Stephen Covey, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” The only problem with this great quote is that it doesn’t tell you how (although I’m sure Mr. Covey expands on the quote in one of his books!). Keeping the main thing the main thing is especially hard during the holiday … [Read more...]
Candygrams – 40 Days of Holiday Encouragement
"For God so loved the world that He gave..." John 3:16 Unfolding a piece of paper, Grace began reading off a list of names. “Jaden, Michael, Jake, Brittany, and Jessie...” “What are you doing honey?” I asked. “Our school is selling candygrams. For $1.00 I can send a message and have a candy cane delivered to someone’s home room.” She … [Read more...]
A Child is Born – 40 Days of Holiday Encouragement
Silent Night – Guest Elaine Olsen – 40 Days of Holiday Encouragement
Silent Night. It’s been one of those for me. I tried to fill it with a few phone calls and text messages to friends while waiting in my car for my kids to emerge from their youth group meeting. No one answered. All was silent, and the hush filled my heart until I could no longer suppress my reality. The pain inside of me was going to find its … [Read more...]
What are the Odds? – 40 Days of Holiday Encouragement
While flipping through the TV channels before leaving for church. I was sad to hear a pastor of a very large church begin his teaching about the gospel of Matthew, the very beginning of the New Testament. He told his congregation, “The first chapter of Matthew is pretty boring, all of those begots and all…Abraham begot Isaac, and Isaac begot … [Read more...]
O Holy Night – 40 Days of Holiday Encouragement
We each have favorite holiday songs. What's yours? Since, it's Sunday, I just have to share a song that brings me to tears in church, just in case you see mascara running down my face. My Mom loved this Christmas album. Her favorite song? O' Holy Night. I'ts my favorite, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PmI1yGKvQg This version … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- …
- 99
- Next Page »
