I’m pretty sure Mary did not have in mind to give birth to the Savior of the world in a dirty, dusty stable miles from home, but babies come when they are ready—or in this case, when God ordained that “the days were accomplished that she should be delivered” (Luke 2:6 KJV). She obediently followedContinueContinue reading “Advent Week 4—LOVE”
Category Archives: holidays
Advent Week 3–Joy
“Joy to the world, the Lord has come!” What better news has ever been declared than this—that the Savior of the world has already come? The shepherds were first in a long line of people who joyfully shared the good news of the coming of the Messiah. The angels, God’s glorious and special messengers, firstContinueContinue reading “Advent Week 3–Joy”
Advent Week 2–Peace & Preparation
When my kids were small, their father would take them to the mall (or WalMart) to buy me a gift for Christmas and my birthday, which are two days apart. They would be so excited to wrap their gifts and place them under the tree—almost as excited as they were about shaking and squeezing allContinueContinue reading “Advent Week 2–Peace & Preparation”
Advent Week 1–HOPE
Advent Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Hope has lost the original weight of its meaning. Now we say things like, “I hope it doesn’t rain again this weekend.” But in biblical times, hope held a much deeper significance. It means “joyful and confidentContinueContinue reading “Advent Week 1–HOPE”
Jesus Is Follow Worthy
When parents first discover they’re expecting a child, they start dreaming about names for their baby. Maybe a boy name and a girl name—just in case. Maybe the baby will be named after a family member—like the long line of Elizabeths and Jims in my own family. Maybe it’s a twist on a new-fangled nameContinueContinue reading “Jesus Is Follow Worthy”
Come and See … Then Go and Tell!
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash You know the deflated feeling after a much-anticipated holiday or event has passed. You’ve planned, cleaned, and cooked for weeks, and all of a sudden, all that’s left are dirty dishes and a stray toy peeking out from under the couch. Posting the pictures to social media helps us relive theContinueContinue reading “Come and See … Then Go and Tell!”
The Mask of False Happiness
As we wrap up 2020 (who’s breathing a sigh of relief with me?), it’s a good time to reflect on our emotional health. One of the masks we women tend to don frequently is the mask of false happiness. Now, there’s nothing wrong with faking it till you make it occasionally, but we’re not meantContinueContinue reading “The Mask of False Happiness”
New Year’s Resolutions
If you’re anything like me, you’ve made resolutions to lose weight, do devotions daily, be nicer to your family, and have a home-cooked meal on the table every night by 5:30. While there’s nothing wrong with those resolutions, if you’re anything like me, you’ve already broken at least one of them–and it’s only two daysContinueContinue reading “New Year’s Resolutions”
Merry CHRISTmas!
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, forContinueContinue reading “Merry CHRISTmas!”
What to be Thankful For
What to be Thankful For By Louis Bromfield Oh, Lord, I thank You for the privilege and gift of living and a world filled with beauty and excitement and variety. I thank You for the gift of loving and being loved, for the friendliness and understanding and beauty of the animals on the farm andContinueContinue reading “What to be Thankful For”
Bethany LaShell 