Running Ahead… Some people get in trouble because they run ahead of God. An idea comes and they’re off! Sometimes there is prayer and preparation missing from the project, which will always become an issue at some point. But these inspired quick reactors don’t worry about such things. They are getting started right now! Lagging […]
This is it! The last weekend before Christmas. The final push! The countdown to Christmas Eve. Is all your wrapping done? Three Days till Christmas … ! All my shopping is done, even for stockings, but I still have a lot of wrapping to do. Today. After I play for a children’s Christmas program practice […]
Christmas Shopping! Sometimes I feel like the worst “one for you, one for me” Christmas shopper ever! I get home and there are a number of small items for me mixed in with my gifts for other people. Nothing big and nothing on my Christmas list, of course. But if it’s something I need and […]
Christmas lights, Christmas music, the smells of pine trees outside and cookies baking inside. The beauty of Christmas decorations and presents under the tree – we take a deep breath and sigh, “Ah, Christmas!” Red and green everywhere, bell ringers at the mall, holiday parties – so many things evoke feelings we associate with Christmas. […]
One of the greatest gifts we can give this Christmas is the beautifully wrapped gift of forgiveness. If we’re willing to do the work of giving this gift, both the giver and receiver can be set free. In this post, I’m not talking primarily about forgiving people for offenses that come up in our everyday […]
Last December 26th, I wrote myself a note. I put it in my Christmas card box and marked it, “Christmas Note to Self ~ Read on December 1st!” Then I put a reminder in my calendar for December 1st to read said note. I pulled it out this morning. It began like this: My Holiday […]
Thanksgiving is such a great holiday. A time to get together with family and friends—and feast! I mean, give thanks. The Bountiful Life The lavish Thanksgiving table that most of us indulge in symbolizes to me the bountiful life that we have. We have so much! So much food, so many material possessions. Truly, we […]
Sometimes the simple songs are the most profound. Love Songs in Church I don’t remember learning, “Jesus Loves Me,” but it must have been in Sunday school because I learned it so young, I’ve been singing it “all my life.” Such sweet, precious truth. “Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me…the Bible tells me […]
The other day, I carefully parked my Yukon next to the cart return at the grocery store. As I stepped out, a little girl who was hanging out a car window in the next space over sang out to me, “Jesus loves you!” I laughed. “Yes, He does!” I replied. “And He loves you too.” […]
The Lord told me the funniest thing last week. In such a kind and compassionate way, He told me to, “Lighten up.” What? Really? Did I hear that right? Who me? I’m not worried… I know we’re not supposed to worry, and I put a lot of effort into not worrying, sometimes without much success, […]