Embracing Eternal Joy: Faith and the Christmas Story

The third week of Advent brings the focus on joy. The pink candle represents joy the shepherds experienced when angels announced our Saviors birth. But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been bornContinue reading “Embracing Eternal Joy: Faith and the Christmas Story”

Embracing Peace in This Advent Season

For to us a child is born,    to us a son is given,    and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Week two of Advent brings the focus on peace. If you are lighting Advent candles, you will light the purple Bethlehem candle. It signifies peace, preparation, andContinue reading “Embracing Peace in This Advent Season”

Jehovah Jireh ~ The God Who Provides

Throughout Scripture, we see example of God providing at just the right time. He provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice. He provided a meal for Elijah who was on the run and scared. He provided manna for the children of Israel. He provided a hiding place for David. He provided a way of salvation for the entire world of sinners.

Divine Providence: Stories of Protection and Guidance

With God, there are no coincidences. He had that couple drive by our broken-down car by divine appointment. He had them going in the direction we needed to go and impressed on them to stop and help us.

The Treasure of Worry

  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much moreContinue reading “The Treasure of Worry”

She is Clothed With Strength and Dignity

She taught me, from her recliner and wheelchair, how to cook, how to serve, how to love my neighbor as myself. I learned compassion, patience, and true joy of serving through practical experiences of lifting, transferring, schlepping wheelchairs, bathing and grooming, cleaning her house, shopping for my grandparent’s groceries and cooking them their favorite foods until they no longer needed the foods and trappings of this earthly life.  

Destination RESToration The Cost and Value of Restoration

I am a bargain hunter. My husband likes to remind me that it is only a good deal if it is something you need or really want and find it for a great price. But there is something very satisfying about finding an old beat up piece of furniture and recreating it into something beautiful and useful, especially if it ends up being a gift for a special friend.

Isn’t that how God is with us? He finds us all broken down, worn out, sometimes we may even think of ourselves as worthless. And then He makes something beautiful of our lives.

Destination RESToration Restoration for the Weary Soul

This is part nine of Destination RESToration. If you have not read the first eight segments, I encourage you to do so. Destination RESToration, DR Restored to Our Original Purpose, DR Preparing for Restoration, DR Restored Communion with God, DR Call the Carpenter. DR Remove, Rinse, & Rest. DR Refine & Replenish, DR Tools forContinue reading “Destination RESToration Restoration for the Weary Soul”

Destination RESToration Ten Tools for Restored Relationships

Depending on God to give us the tools to use and relying on Him to give us the wisdom in knowing how to use them will make our relationship restoration go far more smoothly than if we try to fix things in our own power. His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Destination RESToration Refining and Replenishing

This is part seven of Destination RESToration. If you have not read the first six segments, I encourage you to do so before you move on to this section. Destination RESToration, DR Restored to Our Original Purpose, DR Preparing for Restoration, DR Restored Communion with God, DR Call the Carpenter. DR Remove, Rinse, & Rest.Continue reading “Destination RESToration Refining and Replenishing”

Destination RESToration: Restored Communion with God

When I brought home an old worn out table that was bound for the trash, the first thing I did was sand a little corner and wipe it down with water to  see what it would look like after the restoration process was finished. It was beautiful. But I recognized that there was work ahead. It NEEDED restoration. It might be messy, but it was going to be so worth it!

Did Mary Know?

She most likely knew the joy and heartbreak that was prophesied, in Isaiah, of the life… and death of the Messiah. Her precious baby boy was going to change the world. He was going to bring great joy and suffer great pain and anguish. He was going to bear the sins of all mankind.  And she still said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

Splendor and Majesty ~ Light

Have you ever stopped to consider why, before God created anything else, He said “Let there be light?” God, in His infinite power and wisdom, did not need the light to see what He was doing, yet the moment He spoke light into existence, He saw that it was good. 

How to be a Royal Heir; Part II

The idea of our beauty as a Royal Heir is not that we can’t wear pretty clothes or do our hair up nice, but that we should be identified by the posture of our hearts, by our actions that are spurred on by the gifts and faith we have been given through our salvation.