As a child, Christmas [for me, not my parents :-)] was largely about the presents. Not just the ones I would receive, but the ones I would give. I remember one Christmas, walking into my Aunt Nancy’s house and seeing a mound of gifts under her Christmas tree such as I had never seen before. It was irrelevant that only a few of the gifts were for me. In my childish mind, the abundance of gifts ... View Post
Unmet longings in a season of high expectations
Christmas! The season evokes so many emotions. Excitement for some. Dread for others. The joyful anticipation and preparation some embrace is a season of begrudging participation for others. Christmas may evoke new hope, and yet can also be a harsh reminder of past disappointments and dashed hopes. There’s possibly no other time of year when our expectations run as high, no other ... View Post
The holidays are coming! Plan now so you’ll have no regrets later.
Every season has its own craziness. We’re a people running fast and hard, a people doing and pursuing many things. Then you add in “the holidays.” I’m speaking of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, but you can apply this to any season. It’s a season some of us look forward to; it’s one some of us dread. In either case, it’s usually a season we spend a significant amount of time planning ... View Post
The Greatest Story Ever Told
I love hearing people’s stories, their journey — the ins and outs of where they came from and all they’ve walked through. This Christmas season I’ve been pondering Jesus’ story: His journey, what He walked through and why He did it. His story is the most amazing and dramatic one we’ll ever hear. Though this post gives just a glimpse of Jesus’ story, I invite you to ponder it with me. Let God ... View Post
Making Room for What’s Most Important
I’ve been thinking about the massive amount of preparation that goes into the celebration of Christmas, much of it geared toward one day. It’s a preparation that starts weeks, even months in advance. No matter how much I try to simplify, the celebration of Christmas isn’t simple. I don’t say this to discount the planning, decorating, gift buying and celebrating. They are gifts — that we even ... View Post
This Year Will Be Different
I said it year after year: “This year Christmas will be different.” My intentions were good. I wanted Christmas to focus more on Christ and less on everything else. I would try. Some years I would try to limit our family’s activities. Other years I would try to include a family devotion or advent activities, all with the hope of having a Christ-centered focus. Yet, in honest reflection, all my ... View Post