I’ll confess that the older I’ve become, the more grateful I am for Amazon. Online purchasing is a lot easier and less stressful than making the annual pilgrimage to all the stores. However, my goal in this short little article is to have you, the reader, consider your preparedness, not for Christmas, but for the second coming of Christ. 12/19/25
Two years ago, Vic, my husband went to be with Jesus. Over the last 2 years, I have been faced with lots of choices to make by myself. I have quickly learned that to walk victoriously in my life with Christ Jesus, my choices must be based on the Word of God. 12/17/25
Still, his words wouldn't leave me. It is good to remain single, as I am. And then, something unexpected happened — I decided to take Paul at his word. What if our singleness is an advantage? 8/21/25
Jesus replaces all the tasks I think I have to get to with one simple duty. My job is to be attentive to His voice at every moment. He will show me what it is I need to do in each moment, not the next thousand moments. 7/31/25
It is obvious the Shepherd doesn’t beat His sheep into following Him, but do we meditate on the truths of who He is that sadly may not be as obvious to us whenever we might fall into forgetfulness? 1/30/25
Here is my question. Why is it that the first place we should go for any answer (hope) to any of our questions or situations, is typically our last? I often believe that I know enough, am smart enough, or can get through anything by myself. But like most of you, if we are going to be transparent, when I get to the end of my rope, THAT is when I seek the Lord! 1/23/25
Jesus came to be born of a virgin, live as a martyr, die as a criminal, and be resurrected as the King of all Kings! So for you and I, His birth means He is enough! His death means He is enough! His resurrection means He is enough! 12/26/24
I allowed my mind to believe that the emptiness I was feeling was caused by missing out on worldly activities. When in reality, the real reason for the emptiness in my heart was due to not being present spiritually in a time that should be completely centered around the Lord. 12/21/24
As I was writing to the new mom and dad, it became even more clear to me that the Christmas season needs to be held to a higher reverence than what we give it. It should be a somber, yet joyful, reminder of God’s unrelenting love. 12/16/24
For Jesus, the garden was a place of betrayal and sorrow. For me, the garden is a place of peace and comfort only because of what He took on for me. I consider that garden in the cemetery, where it’s literally surrounded by the dead, to be an example of life and power. It’s a constant reminder of the pain and agony that my Savior endured on my behalf.
He was there that night, you know. Right there alongside the sheep and cows. Right there in the stall with Mary and Joseph. Like the wise men, the red dragon had followed the signs and found the newborn Christ-child. No nativity scene is complete without him. You might even say that the red dragon is the reason for the season because if it weren’t for him, Jesus would never have had to be born.
We all have a tendency to walk away from Jesus. It is our natural inclination to say, “I’m good Jesus, I’ll take it from here.” I believe, that as men, we have a greater tendency to do this. However, truly collapsing at Jesus’ feet and giving your life to Him is the true meaning behind being “a man”.
When I heard this song my first thought was “That’s me; I am Barabbas!” I literally was (almost) a prisoner and because of what Jesus did on the cross, I am a free man. But then, after listening to the song on repeat, I realized, we are all Barabbas. We are all sinners.
The greatest gift given to any of creation was the day Jesus was born, because it was His birth that led to the rejection of Him, which led to the death of Him, which resurrected Him, which glorified Him, and to that which ultimately glorifies us.
Christmas became something that I despised because I had no family, and who cared about gifts! I would've given anything to be a fly on anyone's wall at that time. Fast forward to age 29, and I'm yet in another situation where I wish I was a fly on anyone else's wall besides the knee-deep situation I had gotten myself into! I woke up at a crack house after a 5-year bender of crack cocaine, tired and lonely, because yet again I pushed everyone away from me. But on this day, I would meet Jesus!
When you pause to give thanks for baby Jesus, remember to give thanks for our King doing battle with a dragon. And this year, when you place your manger scene on the mantle, look for the red dragon. He’s there in the hay.
If your perception of Jesus is askew, then you will live a life accordingly. If you are willing to claim Jesus as Lord this Christmas season, and submit yourself to Him, you are invited to live with Him forever.
And to what does it compare? To His suffering? To the pain He took on His back. That He took on His head. That He took in His hands. That He took in His feet. That He took in His side. That He took until His last breath was drawn. To what does it compare?
This was the day that those colors of the current season were making their last fade. The new ones were officially settling in, brushing over what was, on an eight hour drive from central Texas to Hot Springs, Arkansas. This change would remind me that to love Him is to obey Him. No matter the cost.
God and I wrestled back and forth about whether or not I was to change jobs. The conflict was so great because a co-worker and I had started a Monday morning prayer group that eventually led to most of the employees attending. For some of them, this would be the only Jesus that they would get for the remainder of the week. So, it was important to me that I knew for sure that God wanted me to move on.
God’s grace is not a license to sin. As a matter of fact, according to Paul it’s a deterrent.
I ask you to please begin each day this holiday season alone in the presence of our heavenly Father. Focus on the Lord. Focus on His attributes, and His precious Word to you. Ask Him to open up your way as you journey through your day with the Prince of Peace beside you.
Here's the bottom line. For me, and I don’t know fully why just yet, Jesus lifted the trailer and pulled me out. I walked away with minor injuries and still have trouble believing that I am alive. Only He could have saved me; there is no explanation other than I am living proof our God still does miracles as He sees fit.
I believe that continuing to see ourselves as sinners after we are saved is wrong, and that wrong view of ourselves has a hugely negative impact on our growth as Christians. It keeps us right where the enemy wants us; not living in the fullness of Christ!
Our mission remains the same. Madie & I, and our family, want to help people just like you get serious about being serious for Jesus. We don’t believe that anyone can take Jesus and living for Him too seriously.
But let's stop and sit for a minute. Just let the Holy Spirit refresh our minds. Who is the Baby in the manger... Really?
Let me be clear, this substandard approach to genuine Christian living was never God’s intention for His people. God calls His people to holy living as evidenced in Matthew 1:21. Jesus did not arrive on planet earth with the mission of saving His people IN their sins but FROM them.
Imagine how your life would change if you made an effort to seek out things that nourish your soul and glorify Christ as the logos! How would your child’s life change if you gave them great works of literature, art, and music to consider versus Facebook, YouTube, and Tik-tok.
Calvin was confused because his church friends really did not understand the meaning of Advent. They could not explain the meaning of Advent to him. However, Hunter knows fully what Advent means because she is celebrating a new life, a new start with Jesus.
While I was driving, I was asked if I thought that, on either occasion, those people knew Jesus? We hadn’t talked about either situation at the time, but apparently, I was not the only one to notice what was happening. My reply was vague, at best, because even if I thought that they did know Jesus, they certainly didn’t act as if they did.
Advent is a chance for us to prepare for the coming or arrival of the most important person into our midst. Friend, is Jesus your longed-for guest today and every day? Do you desire the arrival of the kingdom in your home and in your heart this Advent season?
The moral of this story, in the words of Jesus is, “Pray and never give up.” We need praying fathers like never before. Uncle Frank, who had to prevail in prayer for some of his children, taught me this lesson.
The Few 