Christmas Through Mary's Eyes12/25/2024  Christmas morning. Children sqeeling. Coffee brewing. Gift opening and wrapping paper ripping. These are all part of our Christmas traditions and memories, but that first Christmas was very different.
The navitity scene and story of shepherds and angels are all familiar parts of the Christmas story as is the birth of Jesus in a humble stable with a manger for a bed. But over the last few years as both an expectant mom and now with a baby, I’ve been reflecting on that first Christmas through Mary’s eyes.
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With Humble Gratitude11/29/2024  It’s the morning after Thanksgiving, and I woke up with a humble, grateful heart. Baby and husband are peacefully sleeping as I sit and write under a heated blanket with hot coffee and a light dusting of snow outside. The older I get and the fuller life becomes, the more I am awed, humbled and grateful for the simple things.
 Life can change so much and so quickly! Since the last time I wrote, I’ve become a mom, and it’s been the sweetest of seasons. Our precious baby Lydia entered the world at the end of January and has been the greatest blessing. Routines and rhythms seem to be constantly shifting, but as she gets older and our schedule becomes more regular, my goal is to carve out some time each morning to get back into logging my reflections to share with you all.
The Greatest Gift12/25/2022  Christmas is here! After a season filled with festivity, lights, celebration, and joy, Christmas morning has finally dawned. For most, it is a time of merriment and good will as they gather around a lighted tree, exchanging gifts and sharing good food. However, this isn’t all that Christmas is about. It’s a time to remember and celebrate the greatest gift of all—Jesus!
Changing Seasons9/15/2022  September is half over, and the brisk air of fall is upon us. As the seasons change, I am reminded yet again how much the natural world is a metaphor for life. Life has its different seasons that look and feel unique. Within each life season there can be high points and low ones. Sometimes the transition from season to season can be somewhat obscured and extremely gradual or it can be extremely abrupt and traumatic. But once you get to a new season, it’s obvious that a new chapter has begun.
People at Peace3/26/2022  The last two years have been rough for our world. First COVID brought a world-wide pandemic with multiple layers of shutdowns, mandates, and ever-changing rules. Fear and anxiety have wreaked havoc and unsettled so many. As a culture, we are more keenly aware that nothing is certain in life and that so much of our lives are outside of our control, and for many this is a terrifying revelation.
Now, as we begin to slowly climb out of the COVID mess, we are confronted with the ugliness of sin and war. The devastation and violence and darkness of sin can be greatly disturbing. Over the last week as I’ve been pondering all that has transpired in our world over the last two years, a passage in 2 Peter caught my eye. Living Joyfully Despite Hardships2/24/2022 by Lauren Watt  Editor's Note: I am so excited to have a new guest post by my dear friend, Lauren Watt. Lauren is a wonderful sister in Christ who has joyfully navigating some very difficult health challenges with grace and perseverance. Each day is a struggle that she keeps fighting through; however, she has beautifully trusted God throughout the process and her faith has been made stronger because of it. Therefore, I am honored and privileged to share a guest post she wrote for us on choosing joy in the midst of hardships. I hope you're blessed and encouraged. I'm an artist.
When I took my first lesson in oil painting nearly a decade ago, my instructor told me that once I started painting I'd never look at anything the same way. And she was right. When I look at the woods surrounding my family's home, I pay careful attention to the shadows on the trees. When I look at the colors of the sky, I am more aware of the gradation of dark to light blue. I even notice things like how light catches on dew drops in the grass. I am aware of many little details that I overlooked before I began painting. The world has always felt like a more beautiful place since I first picked up my brush. However, none of my surroundings changed, only my perspective did. God: The Giver of All Good Gifts2/14/2022  Dear Faithful Reader,
I know that the blog has been strangely silent for many weeks. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten the blog or forgotten you! Life has many seasons and some prove to be more all-consuming than others. But God’s faithfulness, goodness, and love remains the same, and the encouragement and life-giving spiritual food we need is always readily available in His Word. So I hope and pray that even though I haven’t been sending out my regular devotional thoughts and words of encouragement you are still being encouraged and blessed through time in God’s Word. Welcome 20221/1/2022  We’ve come to the close of another year, completed another 356-day journey around the sun, and marched our way onto a new calendar. While the actual day marker of a new year is rather arbitrary since we are constantly in motion and heading towards the future each moment, as a society, we have collectively made January 1st a special day and time to celebrate. It has become a day to remember, reflect on, and learn from the past year and a moment to re-envision, reimagine, and make plans for the new one.
Merry Christmas!12/25/2021  Sitting in the pre-dawn stillness of Christmas morning is both peaceful and relaxing. It gives time to pause and reflect on the true reason and meaning of Christmas. Time to ponder and savor the truths that shine brightest at Christmas.
Jesus came to earth as a helpless baby so that we might intimately know and receive a Savior. Divinity joined humanity. Creator became like His creation. Light Pierces the Darkness12/23/2021  Christmas has become such a festive holiday. Lights, parties, cheery decorations, and upbeat music are all part of the American Christmas tradition. It is a season to be merry, a time to rejoice, and a month where good well, gift giving, and happiness seems to abound.
But what if you’re not feeling the Christmas spirit this year? What if your season is tinged by darkness? What if your celebration is overshadowed by grief or loss? What if you feel alone this season and the merriment and happiness of this time can’t seem to touch your soul? Gratitude: A Posture that Fosters Joy11/25/2021  Thanksgiving has come around yet again. It’s the season and week we as a culture have set aside to intentionally give thanks and celebrate the blessings we have received. While Thanksgiving can conjure unpleasant memories or expectations of family drama or reinforce the sorrow of losing a loved one, the intent and purpose of this celebration is to give thanks. It’s a time where we can stop our fast-paced lives and take a moment to reflect and be grateful for all that God has given us.
Happy Mother's Day!5/9/2021  Today is a day to celebrate mothers. While not everyone gets to enjoy healthy relationships in families, we all came into the world through women. Moms who were not perfect but did give us one priceless treasure: life.
Easter:Â The Basis of Our Hope4/4/2021  Happy Easter Sunday! Christ is risen; He is risen indeed! This is cause for great rejoicing among the saints. The grave is empty. Death has been defeated. Jesus Christ has won
Behold the Lamb of God4/2/2021  For over two millennia, Christians around the world and from all walks of life have taken time to remember and reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice on this day—Good Friday. While Resurrection Sunday celebrates the ultimate victory and new life with the empty tomb and vacant cross, Good Friday comes first. This day can only be called good because through it our redemption was bought; however, for those present on that day it was far from good.
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