I started cleaning out closets before the New Year, then again afterwards. I knew it was time to tackle the chore. Sometimes it is hard to part with some of those items, but I was determined to get rid of the old and make way for some new clothing in my wardrobe. Read more…

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, “God with us.”
Matthew 1:23

We’ve all watched movies where time slows down or even stops at a critical moment in the action. The hero descends on the enemy and the battle strokes are slow and firm. The lovers finally kiss and everything stops for a moment, as if to affirm the higher reality of that brief contact. Read more…

My favorite part of the Christmas story is the angels hanging out with the shepherds.

It doesn’t make much sense that they would, other than it gave the Father joy. He wanted the dirty, poor, simple shepherds to know about the big happenings in town, and to participate in the celebration of Christ’s birth. Read more…

2004 was a watershed year for me and my family: my granddaughter was born in February at Good Samaritan Hospital, Hurricanes Frances and Jean interrupted life in West Palm Beach for multiple weeks in the fall, and my mother died in Texas just as Advent was beginning. Read more…

“And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.”

He comes to the walled city within our hearts. Advent. Yet this day it’s Zacchaeus’ heart that’s laid waste, breached by the blast of a trumpet that only he will hear.

“Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.” Read more…

Growing up I remember my mother in her heavy New York accent saying, “You better be thankful for what you have, Autumn!” I was never satisfied with what I had. I did not always feel comfortable in my own skin. I was usually the smallest kid in class, had the most freckles, had a space in between my overbite and wore non-brand clothing. Read more…

Christmas is a season when we can spend time with friends and family that mean the most to us. We often focus on lights to hang, trees to decorate and gifts to purchase and distribute. Yet, Christmas is about more than lights, trees, and gifts. Read more…

Often I’ve found myself abroad during the Christmas season. I love and appreciate the wonderful American holiday traditions I grew up with; however, especially now that I have my own family, opportunities to experience Christmas “around the world” have led to many memorable holidays and a way for me to incorporate some newer traditions. Read more…

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Read more…