My Soul and Spirit Celebrate
In the Mornings

One of my favorite but benign addictions in life is “people watching”!  Now, I enjoy people-watching year round, but the time that it is most fascinating to me is at Christmastime.  When I am in the post office line, waiting to mail my packages and cards, I intently observe and often eavesdrop on holiday conversations and frustrations.  When I find myself at the mall, while trying not to be impatient,...

When Life Throws You a Curve Ball
In the Mornings

My daughter’s first Christmas and we’ll be homeless. Our home sold, we have nowhere to move into and we are quickly approaching unemployment. -No decorating -No turning down my beautiful long drive and seeing the lights sparkle on my home -no hanging of my daughters first stocking -no listening to my grandmother’s Christmas vinyl -no cozying up on my couch to stare at the tree at night -no traditions -no...

We Need Christmas
In the Mornings

Because the enemy is real – we need Christmas. Because hell is hot and forever is a long time – we need Christmas. Because sometimes life is unfair- we need Christmas. Because our sins were great – we need Christmas. Because we were far away – we need Christmas. Because we were lost – we need Christmas. Because the dividing wall had to come down – we need Christmas. Because...

Have a ‘Mary’ Christmas
In the Mornings

The debate rages on amongst women: Are you a Mary or a Martha? I don’t particularly care for the question. First, because I don’t like to be put in a box and reduced to a stereotype and secondly because I feel it divides us pitting our strengths against each other. In life, both Martha and Mary are necessary. You can’t have a Mary without a Martha to plan the party....

Child-Like Awe
In the Mornings

​ I love it all!  I love everything about this miraculous, melodic, much-anticipated season of the year.  I love the cards that arrive daily flooding my mailbox with heartfelt greetings from friends and family from lon g ago and far away. ​I love the calorie-laden goodies and the family recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. I love knowing that when I make the fresh cranberry jello...

The Debate: When is it Too Early
In the Mornings

October 1? November 1? The day after Thanksgiving? December 1? When do you begin listening to Christmas music? The debate rages! No one knows the actual date of Jesus’ birth. God has kept that a mystery. The celebration of Christmas on December 25 was decided by Pope Julius I during the 6th century to coincide with pagan celebration of the winter solstice. Therefore, I like to listen to Christmas music...

The Christmas Story
In the Mornings

God loved… A world that was dark. A people who were far away. Samaritans, Gentiles, Tax-collectors, Roman officials. Prostitutes, Adulterers, Pharisees. The undeserving, the outcasts, sinners, you, me. God so loved the people of the world he gave… The first Christmas gift The best Christmas gift A world that was dark, light. A world that was fearful, peace. A world that was sinful, righteousness. A world that was hopeless, hope....

Two Keys to Unlock #stressfreeholidays
In the Mornings

I have a confession to make to my FB friends. I have been engaging in hypocrisy this past week. As I was encouraging you to experience a #stressfreeholiday, I myself was feeling overwhelmed. I didn’t recognize it because it wasn’t from the usual holiday stressors. It was my publisher’s deadline, preparing for the upcoming women’s conference, and non-holiday related family stuff. But when I realized it, I repented (changed my...

Embrace Your ‘No’ Power
In the Mornings

Stress free holidays, huh? Makes you want to laugh right? Stress free holidays only happen in Hallmark movies (unless it’s a dramatic amount of stress followed by being saved by the man of your dreams and shortly getting engaged after–that might be in a Hallmark movie, also). I am all about avoiding negative feelings (if you know anything about the Enneagram—yes, I’m a 7). So, you best believe I’ve tried...