I love the annunciation scriptures because it depicts the shear grace with which Mary handles being approached by the angels of the Lord and finding out that as an unwed teenager she is pregnant. And she is not only pregnant but she is to bear the Christ child. No pressure. The average person, I feel … [Read more…]
True hope can be a very powerful thing. Hope can bring out the very best in us. Biblical hope is different from desiring and wishing for something to occur. My Biblical dictionary defines hope as “trustful expectation, particularly with reference to the fulfillment of God’s promises. It’s the anticipation of a favorable outcome under God’s … [Read more…]
One of my favorite Christmas cartoons is Charlie Brown’s Christmas. It has been a family tradition since I was a little girl to watch it during the Advent Season. As an adult, I love how innocent and faithful Charlie Brown is when he chooses this raggedy half dead stick of a tree as their Christmas … [Read more…]
This third week of Advent, let us remember joy. Joy is something that cannot be feigned. It is not artificial. It’s healing and restorative attributes cannot be matched in this world. Advent is about preparation and we are encouraged to use the themes of each week to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. … [Read more…]
In his younger days, my father could look out the window and see a deer that was well blended into the woods, or an owl perched on a branch. He never had to squint. And he would say, “Mandy, look over there. Do you see the deer?” My normal answer was no and I would … [Read more…]
Join us on November 27th at 10:00 am for a special service dedicated to singing Christmas carols and decorating and preparing our church for Christmas! It is a fun event for people of all ages! Come to sing and learn about the history of all the decorations that we use in our homes and churches.
Love first, not panic. In a world, where confusion and violence seems to reign supreme, we all need to truly hear this message in our hearts: love first, place panic on the back burner. About a week ago, I read a story from the New York Post of true love and kindness for a stranger. … [Read more…]
When my sister in law and brother were expecting their first child, eight years ago, the whole family was beside themselves with joy. Jackson was the first grandchild in both families. Needless to say, he was spoiled terribly. But that joy superseded all the struggles in life and worries about the world for our family. … [Read more…]
