Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Matthew 1:18-25 + Matthew 2:13-23 Growing up, my family didn’t regularly attend church. As I made my way through college, I started attending services. I especially love services for holy days – Ash Wednesday, Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, and Easter. As major …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:5-7; 23-25; 57-66 I have several secret writing mentors. Although we don’t know each other personally, these are people that I watch and follow. I want to know how they do things. One such writer is Annie F. Downs. I pay …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Luke 1:1-22; 62-80 As I was reading for today, the first image that popped into my head was from kindergarten. Hang with me here. At that age, one of the most coveted duties, at least as I recall, was line leader. The line …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Psalm 13 Throughout this season, many of us focus on joy. Christmas’s excitement and expectation cause our hearts to beat faster, and the anticipation starts our adrenaline pumping. But I know Christmas time isn’t that way for everyone. For many, this season is …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Matthew 1:1-17 + Luke 3:21-38 + Galatians 4:1-7 It’s the spring of 2015. My not-yet-husband and I have met for our second date, choosing a city halfway between the two of us. As we’re driving around an unfamiliar city, we explore a subdivision …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: 1 Samuel 16 + Psalm 142 We all go through periods of waiting. It’s inevitable. But how we wait can make a big difference. Often, I think of periods of waiting in my life like a doctor’s office waiting room. I sign in, pick up a …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Isaiah 9:1-7 + Isaiah 11:1-9 Has God ever given you a vision for your future? Husband was in the military before we met. When we were dating, we discussed what a life together might look like. We knew marriage would mean a shift for me, turning …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Exodus 16 + Deuteronomy 8:10-18 + John 6:25-51 Likely, many of you have heard the story of God providing the Israelites with manna in the desert. The Israelites hadn’t been out of Egypt very long; only a month had passed since their departure (Ex 12:18, 16:1). The people, watching …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Exodus 3:1-17 + Exodus 4:1-17 Sometimes, you sit down to write something for someone else, and you end up speaking to yourself. Today’s story is that for me. Maybe you need to hear this too. Last week, Husband and I were troubleshooting our move, scheduled for …
Want Advent emails delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here! Readings: Genesis 12:1-9 + Genesis 15 + Genesis 18:1-15 + Genesis 21:1-7 With much of his story recorded in the book of Genesis, we get a front-row seat to Abraham’s life. Abraham’s story is rich in lessons on faith and obedience. But after waiting twenty-five years for the birth of Isaac, …
