Christians are extra busy this time of year! Christmas, New Years - a wonderful time for remembering the Lord and enjoying your family… but quite likely, also a time for extra tasks, worldly distractions, and perhaps even a “bah-humbug” or two. As you approach Christmas and prepare for a brand new year, may you find … Continue reading Avoiding Stress During The Holidays
You want to enjoy the holidays. But the holidays can bring up a lot of hard emotions. And one of those emotions is STRESS. From planning extra events to dealing with family conflict during holiday gatherings, there is plenty about the holiday season that can be difficult. Thankfully, there are practical things to do that … Continue reading Avoiding Stress During The Holidays
I love Christmas. Sure, part of it is the spiritual truth of the holiday - Emmanuel, God with us! It is incredible. But I would be deceiving myself if I pretended that I didn’t equally, or perhaps even mostly, love and enjoy the experience of the Christmas season. It is all filled with good things … Continue reading Christmas is not about the idol of family
I am a big believer in setting goals. Not only is it helpful to have something specific that you are working toward, I think that goal-setting helps each of us to define our priorities. Sure, we want every area of life to go well and continually improve. But our energy is limited. Our time, money, … Continue reading The turning of the calendar: Set some goals!
I hope this isn’t true for your family. But many people find the holiday season to be the hardest time of year. From Thanksgiving through Valentine’s Day, there are numerous holidays that are meant to bring family and loved ones together. But what if your family is filled with drama, conflict, or pain? What if … Continue reading Surviving the holidays when there is family drama
Today is the day of turkey, gravy, and pie. Oh yeah - it’s also a day for giving thanks and sharing that thanksgiving with our loved ones. May I make a suggestion? Do this every day. Perhaps not the turkey and pie, but absolutely give thanks every day. This suggestion comes from many angles of … Continue reading Thanksgiving Is Good For Your Soul
It's dark. It's cold. It's rainy. It is very normal at this time of year to find yourself feeling a little down in the dumps. Of course, there is a large spectrum between “feeling down” and “clinical depression.” But neither one is fun! With the seasonal change toward wintertime comes a natural down-turn in our … Continue reading Fighting back against the seasonal blues
Don't worry, I don't spend every day hunting around for colorful eggs. Nor do I eat ham, see my extended family for a long meal, show up at my church building, or wear a pastel dress every day. I don't do these things every day, because this is not really how we celebrate Easter. It … Continue reading I celebrate Easter every day
Whether you are single or married, in love or in heartbreak, celebrating “Valentine’s Day” or “Singles Awareness Day” on February 14th, we cannot miss the cultural experience of Valentine’s Day. Of course, this day does not appear in the pages of Scripture. But the experience of love and romance does. Throughout Scripture, the marital relationship … Continue reading A devotional on love
Today is my five-year wedding anniversary. Somehow, it feels so fast and so long, all at the same time! I am thankful that it has been a wonderful five years, and I am excited for the years ahead. Whether a five-year anniversary is a nostalgic memory for you or if it feels forever in the … Continue reading Five things I’ve learned in the first five years of marriage