Choosing Christmas, Day Eleven
Day Eleven December 13 Remember on Day Three when we talked about how our faith walks encourage one another? And then on Day Six we talked about Mary’s humble and willing “be it done unto me according to God’s word” response to Gabriel? Well today, we’ll focus on how these two thoughts explode in a marvelous celebration from Elizabeth, for indeed “God is working all things together
Choosing Christmas, Day Nine
Day Nine December 11 Yesterday I left you to consider how you could invite God into your conversations with others. Again, I’d love to read your responses—but only to learn from you, not to grade your answers! Scrutinizing each other’s lives to determine who is more mature in the faith will always be a spirit draining exercise. The Apostle Paul, under the influence of the Holy Spirit,
Choosing Christmas, Day Eight
Day Eight December 10 Hey! If Christmas Crazy’s knocking on your door, don’t answer it! We’re back. The stage is set, and the pregnant women are wide-eyed with wonder. Perhaps Mary is still carrying a backpack and Elizabeth is wiping her hands on a dishtowel. My storytelling brain could supply endless details, but we can count on God’s Word to tell us what we need to know. So
Choosing Christmas, Day Seven
Day Seven December 9 Welcome back! When we last left off, Mary and Elizabeth were standing at the door to Elizabeth’s house. Mary’s eyes no doubt are bugging out at Elizabeth’s belly, which is swollen with physical confirmation of Gabriel’s words. And while I’m beyond eager to get into their meeting, we can’t afford to skip Mary’s response to her own calling back in Nazareth. Without it,
Choosing Christmas Day Two
Day Two December 4 Welcome back! It’s time to set the stage for this fascinating meeting between two otherwise average women. I’d love to have some props, a few hints of period costuming, and some sound effects; but even without them, there’s no lack for drama in this story. The moment is pulsing with emotion as the curtain rises. Let’s lean in and listen carefully. Elizabeth’s younger cousin
Choosing Christmas Day One
Day One December 3 The scripture passage for our Advent is familiar to most, but I’m asking the Spirit of God to breathe fresh revelation into our study. The passage opens with an exchange between two women—one old, one young; one barren-until-blessed, one virginal-past-conception. Meet Elizabeth, the aging wife of a Hebrew priest, expectant with John the Baptist, and Mary, a young teenager pregnant with Promise Himself. The
Choosing Christmas, An Advent Devotional from All Things Southern
En guard, y'all! The trap of Christmas Crazy is set and waiting to spring. It’ll promise “more is more” but deliver “less and less.” I love Christmas! Flat out love it hence my vulnerability to become trapped by the Christmas Crazies. Christmas Crazy jumps on me the first day I notice the seasonal home decor lining store shelves, and from there, the drum beat only gets louder.
It’s NOT too late to run!
My man and I enjoy watching those Ninja Warrior competitions. That's the show where athletes compete on an obstacle course that challenges both their muscles and their guts. As of this date, neither Phil nor I have been so moved as to begin our own ninja training, but I suppose it could happen. The show has inspired many people to get in shape and compete
Doubling Down
By now, I'm sure you've heard the latest craziness about the genderless baby at the center of the world's attention. The child's parents want to allow the baby to grow up and decide whether to be a he or a she. It's not funny and it's not material for late night comedians. It's tragic. This baby's birth certificate may hold a "u" for unknown, but
Your Part in Making Him Known
I have a faded cartoon clipping in my Bible that depicts an operating room. A female patient is seen lying on a table, surrounded by a medical team. At her side is a shocked surgeon holding up a small book by a pair of forceps. “What do you know?” he exclaims in the caption. “Mrs. Brown did have a book in her!” While it pokes gentle fun