Throughout this Advent season, as we waited in expectation, we have reflected on the reason for the season–the coming of Christ the King. Love, joy, and peace have been our focus. The true reason for the season I awoke early this morning, much earlier than usual–try 4 am! It is Christmas Eve. Unlike a young child waking full of anticipation and excitement for days filled with goodies, presents, and play, I awoke with a slew of uncertainties and worries in my heart. Our three adult children would be coming home, how would their significant others feel welcomed in our home? One of our children is struggling with a multitude of…

 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” ~Luke 2:14 The verse says we should praise God and give him the glory and we shall receive peace on earth. As we go about our day-to-day lives may we feel the calm and peace that God gives us. As we go about our business we need to stop and take the time to give ourselves some peace and spend some time with the Lord and our families. When we take a moment to stop and rest we feel rejuvenated and ready for the next tasks that we have to accomplish.  God will…

This time of year we are surrounded by many Christmas carols that have joy in the titles, verses, and more. One of my favorites is Joy to the World. This heartwarming song truly brings a smile to your face and heart. There is joy here on earth and in heaven that the Lord has come. Matthew 2:10-11 reads “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” During Advent season it is such a great…

Love, love, love…this word is associated most often with Valentine’s day holiday with chocolates and flowers. When looking at Advent it can be one of the most important ones to look at.  John 3:16 is such a familiar verse that everyone knows. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  We see this at sporting events, throughout our text in churches and more.  Do you reflect on the amount of love that flows from this verse? God had so much love that he sent his son for us. Think about that? Would you have…

I am writing this as we are entering into the first part of December. We are anticipating our first winter weather storm of the year with a few inches of snow and strong, blustery winds. Sounds dismal to many and yet, I always embrace this wintery weather with an opportunity to rest and relax.  During Advent, we anticipate celebrating Jesus’ birth on Christmas but we also are reminded of the coming of Christ’s return. The hope of advent is also the promise that Christ will return. It is a time to reflect on the future and all that it will bring.  Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 reads “the people who walked in…

We are just a little over two weeks away from Christmas. Are you waiting in expectation? The commercialization of the holiday season has caused so many of us to skip the Advent season and crash into Christmas exhausted from planning, preparing, and attending events. I know I am guilty of that most years. However, probably for the first time in years, I have been able to set aside the anxiety of preparation and have been able to sit in quiet expectation. How? I’m intentionally taking moments to remember who He is, why He came, and what He has done. Expectation is a “strong belief that something will happen or be…

I have many fond memories of Christmas growing up. There were all the decorations and getting to help my mom set them all out, the Christmas program at church, getting together with both my mom’s family as well as my dad’s family, and the holiday baking. The one tradition that I remember well was going to Christmas Eve church service and getting to sing all those traditional Christmas songs (What Child is This, Silent Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem) to name a few. We did have presents which I remember but to me, that’s not what sticks out in my mind. My parents did a great job in their…