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Final Sunday of 2020
Whew! We made it to the last Sunday of 2020. When the first Sunday of the year arrived, I was bright eyed and bushy tailed. It was all about 20/20 vision. I had so much excitement. I just knew that this year was going to be a year of triumph for me. And it was. Just not in the way that I expected. When March rolled around, the world changed for all of us. Although COVID-19 had been on the scene for months, new panic and concern stepped in. Businesses were closed and so were the doors of the church. Well, the physical doors of the church were closed. We…
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For To Us A Child Is Born
It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: “Peace on earth, goodwill to men, From heaven’s all-gracious King.” The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, Edmund Sears Merry Christmas! Country shepherds were out in field minding the business that paid them. Quite literally. They were tending to their flocks of sheep. When out of nowhere, an angel of the Lord stood before them. A majestic sight and unlike anything they had ever seen before. Their natural reaction was to be afraid. The angel assured them…
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Twas The Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse….actually, I need to tell that to whatever creature is lumbering around my attic. They did not get the memo. Strange roommates aside, it truly is Christmas Eve. When I was a kid, we always got to open one present on Christmas Eve. We generally opened a smaller gift. Some years, it was videotapes or new pajamas. Or books. Or videogames. No matter the present, they always wet our whistle for the main attraction. When we unwrapped the gift, it really gave us a preview of the wonders that awaited us on…
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Ho, Ho, No!
Is that the sound of Santa’s reindeer on my roof?!?! Nah…it’s just some creature that is seeking refuge from the cold in my attic. As long as he stays up there and I stay down here, things will be A-okay! Speaking of Santa and reindeer, I would like to tell you a little story about myself. Do you have time? Great! I was always an inquisitive kid. It was very important to me to try and make sense of the world. I read everything that I could get my hands on. And I do mean everything. Notes were not safe around me. Bible Study Mama caught on to my habit…
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Rise Up and Keep Your Word
We have reached the end of the Rise Up campaign. The weeks have flown by, and I have learned so much. Hearing the final sermon of the series in person made it that much more impactful. Enough lollygagging. We need to peel back the layers of the final chapter. Nehemiah 13 reveals people that are much like you and me. They have put in the work to be better. They have listened to God’s word. They have praised. They have promised. They have dedicated the walls and their lives to the service of the Lord. And then by chapter 13, they have moonwalked back into their old ways. Well, not…
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Holding On To Hope
The week of Christmas is here. It may seem weird to you, but being in the middle of a pandemic makes this Christmas that much more special. Do not get me wrong. It is devastating that so many families have lost loved ones due to COVID-19. People have been unemployed or underemployed. Our Christmas traditions have had to change. And yet, the Christmas story has brought me hope and comfort. Just think about it. Newborn babies are irresistible. Innocent. Fragile. With their whole lives ahead of them. Even the toughest people generally have a soft spot for babies. And Jesus was no typical baby. His arrival on the scene was…
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It Is Time To Reoccupy
Has anyone noticed that I have not recapped our Wednesday night Refresh Bible study in a while? I did not recap the month of November because Bible Study Brother was holding down the fort for me. Then when December arrived, a new series popped up on Wednesday nights- What He Said, What I Heard. We get to see clips from the previous Sunday’s sermon and members share what they took away from the clips. It is always refreshing to hear what others got out of the sermon. It moves the sermon from the pulpit and into people’s everyday lives, and I am here for all of that. Last night’s Refresh…
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Building Blocks
It’s another day’s journey, and I am glad about it. Ya’ll today was one of those days. My last little friend of the day had quite the attitude. He pointed to the blocks. He screamed “blocks” out loud. He cheered when I pulled the blocks out and unzipped the bag. Then when I asked if he wanted to play with blocks, he quickly responded “no.” But then yelled and screamed in protest when I moved to put the blocks back. Now, that may seem a little strange to you, but I was prepared for his response. It is not that my friend cannot say yes. He does it quite readily. …
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Make Me Over
I love makeup. I mean…I do not wear it often, but I enjoy playing with it. When I was a kid, I COULD NOT wait to be able to start wearing makeup. Interestingly enough, I did not grow up in a family that wore makeup. Bible Study Mama lived au naturel. Minimal fuss and muss. So, my desires were a foreign concept to her. Maybe I was drawn to makeup because I love glitter, sparkle, and glamour. Maybe my creative side just wants to be able to blend. Whatever the pull, I was a huge fan. Since Bible Study Mama is not into makeup, she set some parameters. First, makeup…
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Celebrating Progress
The Rise Up campaign has taken us on a journey. I have certainly been challenged along the way to change my thinking and my habits. I have been pushed to go farther and dig deeper. It’s time out for surface Christianity. If we have been attentive over the last eleven weeks, we have reason to celebrate our progress. The children of Israel have a reason to celebrate as well. It is sermon recap time. Nehemiah 12 sets the scene for the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. Although the work on the wall was finished by the time chapter 7 begins, they still had not had a dedication ceremony. Why…
