Tag: Christmas

Keeping Things Simple & Sunday Soups

We’re keeping things simple this season. It’s December 15 and we haven’t yet finished decorating our house for Christmas. The tree is up and lit, as it has been for about two weeks, but no decorations. We’ve hung wreaths outdoors and in. Our year-round home decor is green, and with candles burning in the kitchen … Continue reading Keeping Things Simple & Sunday Soups

Add De-Light

Our Christmas lights went up the weekend before Thanksgiving, earlier than ever before. I noticed that a few neighbors had lights up and my heart sang in response. Holiday lights added delight and I wanted more. I also noticed that I couldn’t open a single email that had Thanksgiving in the subject line. As a … Continue reading Add De-Light

Get with the Christmas Program, Darlin’.

How to engage gentle spiritual practices that can offer rest and joy during the holiday season. Today's post comes from my new writer-friend, Emily Rowntree. In the midst of your holiday bustling, pause for four minutes to read this article that will add much-needed perspective to all the busyness of this season. Also, as you … Continue reading Get with the Christmas Program, Darlin’.

Expectation: O Come, Emmanuel

Advent is a season of waiting. Unlike God’s people of old, we know we will celebrate the Messiah’s birth on December 25, and we spend about a month preparing our homes and hearts for his arrival. They had to wait. Like all God’s people throughout time, we’re still waiting for the Messiah’s eventual return. We’re … Continue reading Expectation: O Come, Emmanuel

Add Joy, Not Overload, to Your Holiday Celebrations

How do you feel as you anticipate the holiday season? Are you looking forward to it, expecting to grin and bear it, or a little of both? Most of us intend to observe the holidays with joy. Yet the holiday season can easily become overloaded with busyness, stress, hassle, chaos, late nights, and early mornings. … Continue reading Add Joy, Not Overload, to Your Holiday Celebrations

Christmas 2020: The Light of the World

Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay Christmas – The Light of the World Say aloud together: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Light all the candles: We light these candles to celebrate Jesus, who comes into the … Continue reading Christmas 2020: The Light of the World

Advent 4: The Light of Joy

Photo by Jill Wellington from Pixabay Week 4 – The Light of JoyDecember 20-23 Say aloud together: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Light four candles: We light these candles to celebrate Jesus, who comes into the … Continue reading Advent 4: The Light of Joy

Waiting: Advent 2020

The global experiences of this unusual year have changed the way we express ourselves. So much so that the publishers of the Oxford English Dictionary couldn't choose just one Word of the Year for 2020. While pandemic and Coronavirus are obvious, look at others that rose to the top: Blursday (the blurry sameness of everyday); … Continue reading Waiting: Advent 2020

Advent 4: Stand Firm (2019)

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. How are you doing in the whirl and swirl of holiday preparations? Our tree is up, lit, and half-decorated. I was at work when Guy and Q15 got that much done; C21 still has his box of decorations to add, if he gets around to it. The mantle is decorated, but … Continue reading Advent 4: Stand Firm (2019)

Advent 2: Be Content (2019)

Get a modest place and be content there... Mark 6:10 Jesus invites us to be content, an invitation we struggle to receive. The focus of Advent is our longing for the Savior, but instead we make it about longing for the perfect gifts. Santa may be making a list and checking it twice, but we … Continue reading Advent 2: Be Content (2019)