The “W” in Christmas

*Please allow this story by an unknown author to bless you as it blessed me. Ed Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations – extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate theContinue reading “The “W” in Christmas”

The Irony of Christmas

“And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” (Luke 2:6-7 NLT) Have you ever been lost? The lastContinue reading “The Irony of Christmas”

With Deep Respect, 1st Corinthians 13 The Christmas Version

*Dear Readers, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson penned this for all of us… First Corinthians 13, Christmas Version If I play Christmas music in my house all season long but the lyrics never move my heart to worship, the beautiful sounds may as well be clanging cymbals. If I understand the significance of the Christmas story andContinue reading “With Deep Respect, 1st Corinthians 13 The Christmas Version”

I Dreamed I Went to Heaven

*This is a devotional my wife received at a Christmas party she attended. I’m unsure of the original author. Blessings, Ed 😊 I dreamed I went to heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first sectionContinue reading “I Dreamed I Went to Heaven”

The Joy of Belonging

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You.” (Psalm 51:10-12 NLT) The joy of belonging begins in earnest whenContinue reading “The Joy of Belonging”

Why Is Temptation So Deadly?

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there beContinue reading “Why Is Temptation So Deadly?”

He Knows!

“Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask Me, and I would give you living water.” (John 4:10 NT) In the conversation referenced above between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well it quickly became apparent that (a) the woman didn’tContinue reading “He Knows!”

What’s the First Step?

“What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinkingContinue reading “What’s the First Step?”

A Slow Fade

“I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your secure footing.” (2 Peter 3:17 NLT) Losing our footing spiritually is much like losing our footing while walking or hiking. It’s not deliberate and oftenContinue reading “A Slow Fade”

What Will You Allow God to Do?

“Next the devil took Him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ‘I will give it all to you,’ he said, ‘if you will kneel down and worship me.’” (Matthew 4:8-9 NLT) If you want all the glory the world has toContinue reading “What Will You Allow God to Do?”