“Abide in Me.” How do we “choose better”? Making the better choice is being like Mary when she sat at Jesus’ feet. We tend, however, to be more like Martha, being pulled away by a myriad of distractions. (Luke 10:38-42) One who masters choosing better has learned to sift through the distractions and recognize the…
“Mary has chosen what is better…” Have you ever looked back and wished you had made a better choice? I have tried to live my life without regret, but if I could go back in time, there are a few things I would have done and said differently. I would have been kinder to myself…
“Welcome the King of Glory.” Have you made time to welcome Jesus into the Christmas season this year? Pause now. Welcome Him In. “Welcome the King of Glory, for he is about to come through you. You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” Yahweh… invincible in every way! So wake up, you living gateways,…
“Him who had no sin.” Do you see innocence at Christmastime? What about the young children whose eyes twinkle with Christmas? Their untainted belief of what could be. What about fourteen-year-old Mary? A virgin, chosen to carry the Son of God. What about a newborn baby in their first hours of life? The Christ Child…
“This wonderful message of reconciliation.” What is the hardest part of Christmas for you? Fighting not to be caught up in the hustle and bustle? The stress of finances? The pressure to present perfectly? The people you need to pretend to like? Hidden behind all the tinsel, lights, and gift wrap lies a secret dread…
“And all of this is a gift from God.” There are few better examples of pure love and grace than when a grandmother lavishes love on her grandchildren. The unexpected $20 bill slipped into your pocket. The cookie jar that is always full when you go to visit. The type of hug that buries you…
“I have strength for all things.” What does life after the storm look like? Recovery can be slow in the aftermath of a storm. We can stay sheltered inside, clenched and stuck. Or, we can let the storm’s refining fire melt the hard shell of hurt to make space for the seed of new to…
“Will you not be aware of it?” Can better come out of devastation? Natural disasters leave a wake of debris and destruction. After a storm blows through, there is always yard waste, but with more catastrophic storms, lives are impacted in addition to homes, boats, and cars. After Hurricane Helene blew through Florida, the curbs…
“Steady and sure like hind’s feet.” Adaptable. Hardy. Buoyant. Those are intriguing words for someone dealing with the aftermath of a storm. How would you respond if promised to be made flexible, robust, and springy? What if you could count on those traits kicking in and carrying you through the challenges after a life’s storm…
“Yes, I carried you.” How do you prepare for a storm? Developing hurricanes provide days to prepare for the impending devastation. Other storms, like Earthquakes and Tornados, do not always provide ample warning. The storms we encounter in life are often similar in nature. Some storms, We can clearly see approaching. As the relationship deteriorates…