I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel. — Luke 2:30-31 NLT I grew up believing in Santa Claus. I didn’t know how much I believed…
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never…
I know a woman who will weep this Christmas. She will do so for good reason. The love of her life died earlier this year. She is not alone. Hundreds of thousands of us will spend hours in tears, if not all-out sobs throughout what is proclaimed to…
I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. —Isaiah 61:10, NLT I hope Cody, today’s groom, has been called handsome many times in his life—and will be called handsome many more…
I’m a guy on the go. This is definitely apparent when driving. Wasting time I do not have is not my favorite thing to do. I share this because I’m forever amazed at the time it takes to pass an accident on the highway. If all the drivers in…
Christmas lights have a romantic aura about them, (even to the curmudgeon who will NEVER admit this). A sense of peace, nostalgia, joy, or even a hot cocoa high of happiness happens when we pass decorated homes with stately white lights, colorful combinations, thoughtful or even funny themes, or a…
Scottish pastor George Matheson (1842-1906) has a great deal to teach us about thorns and thanks. A popular preacher who overcame a handicap I’ll explain in a moment, he once said, “My God, I have never thanked Thee for my ‘thorn!’ I have thanked Thee a thousand times for…
Remember, the LORD is coming soon. —Philippians 4:5b Paul shares this apocalyptic zinger just after having shared this verse for those who love to cheer for God: “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)” Some wonder why Paul stands firm in the…
I shared with a ninth-grade teacher whose school district in southcentral Florida is 50% red and 50% blue that I was writing this column. “Hold up!” he said, flagging caution right up front. “A lot of people are still hot politically. It’s not time. You should chill.” About chills, you…
Legend has it that we should deck the halls and tote the red and green splendor of Christmas out after Thanksgiving. Most of us remember the rush and the merriment of our childhood Christmases appearing far later than what we see now, which are lit, artificial trees, blow-up…
