Advent Joy isn’t shallow or sentimental—it is rooted in the appearing of Christ. When Scripture speaks of Christ being manifested, it means that God has made Himself clearly seen, known, and encountered in order to save. “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation…” — Titus 2:11, ESV The Child in the manger is the […]
Where do you long for Christ’s Peace to enter your story this week? Or have you given up hope for that? Perhaps it would be good for you and me to remember Jesus' words about the kind of peace He gives. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the […]
Advent begins with a God who reveals Himself. Before we ever light a candle or sing a hymn, Scripture invites us to behold Jesus—not vaguely or sentimentally—but through the rich descriptions God has carefully woven throughout His Word. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” — John 1:14“The Son is the eternal Word […]
This week, I found myself in the horse pasture, gathering apples. Our horses are blessed to have a couple of apple trees and one peach tree in their little pasture, and we are blessed that they don't eat them all. Apple picking was not high on my teenage children's list this beautiful September day. Wishing […]
Shadow loves our walks up the road, but she is happiest when we leave the leash behind. The moment I unclip it, she bounds forward with ears flying, tail wagging, and eyes sparkling with joy. She runs, circles back, runs again, stopping only long enough to look at me as if to say, “Isn’t this […]
Do you long to more readily run to the Lord and turn toward truth, faith, and repentance throughout your day? Lament is a wonderful way to commune with the Father, remember truth, and walk by faith. It's something I hang onto every day, even in seasons of joy. Why would I lament during a joyful […]
A few years ago, I had a season when weakness seemed to stalk me. I felt unsuccessful and drained—spiritually, mentally, and physically. The project I was working on had demanded all my creative energy and left me raw. I had put myself "out there," fully exposed and vulnerable, and yet the work wasn't finished. In […]
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man sat by the road, begging. He heard the crowd going by and asked what it meant. “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him. He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” — Luke 18:35–38 When Jesus stopped and asked the blind man, […]
In the summertime, my horse Emmett has two great loves: fresh watermelon and his fly mask. Yes—his fly mask. As odd as it may sound, Emmett knows it’s a gift. He doesn’t resist it; in fact, he seems to welcome it, especially when the heat rises and the flies swarm. With his dark coloring, he’s […]
I awoke from another night of lost sleep. Our little farmhouse was still, except for my movement toward the coffee pot and the cat eyes watching me. They were tracking my every move, anticipating that I'd soon be headed for the stash of canned salmon. After a long night of waiting, they would each be […]
Advent Joy isn’t shallow or sentimental—it is rooted in the appearing of Christ. When Scripture speaks of Christ being manifested, it means that God has made Himself clearly seen, known, and encountered in order to save. “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation…” — Titus 2:11, ESV The Child in the manger is the […]
Where do you long for Christ’s Peace to enter your story this week? Or have you given up hope for that? Perhaps it would be good for you and me to remember Jesus' words about the kind of peace He gives. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the […]