Simplifying… me

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Love among us.
Christmas conjures up a myriad of thoughts, feelings, and responses.
Some people twirl through the season like the Nutcracker’s Sugarplum Princess, while others trudge along from November first to December twenty-fifth like [...]

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For the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10
Disappointment.
It often comes when we least expect it.
Hopes held high only to be crushed with an unquestionable, “No.”
Doors closing.
Prayers seemingly unanswered when we’ve waited for so long.
We’ve all been there.
There are no exceptions.
Disappointment is a shared human experience.
If we struggle to find common ground in this [...]

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Let every heart prepare him room.
Joy to the World, written by Isaac Watts (1719)
Our college kids will be home for Christmas soon!
Floors are being swept and mopped while beds are being made.
A menu has been prepared with much-loved home-cooked meals.
The fridge is stocked, and favorite snacks are in the cupboard.
Our home is being prepared for [...]

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The door is on the latch tonight,
The hearth-fire is aglow,
I seem to hear soft passing feet —
The Christchild in the snow.
My heart is open wide tonight
For stranger, kith or kin;
I would not bar a single door
Where love might enter in.
Author Unknown
Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would come.
A heavy darkness had settled upon the world, [...]

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Immanuel

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
Christmas is here, and [...]

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Love.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

For God so loved…
The word “so,” when used as an adverb, can have a few different meanings. It can express the degree or extent of something, or it [...]

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Joy

The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Troubled souls.
I can be included in that category. Troubled. Imperfect. Poor in spirit. In need of a Savior.
Hope and peace turn our hearts [...]

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Peace.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27

Peace is hard to come by. In our world, it is difficult to find a point of agreement on just about anything: [...]

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Hope

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12

Waiting and hoping.
Longing is defined by Merriam Webster as “a strong desire especially for something unattainable”.
Have you ever longed for something important…something significant…something that your heart has been set on for a long time, only to keep on waiting [...]

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Christmas hath a darkness
Brighter than the blazing noon,
Christmas hath a chillness
Warmer than the heat of June,
Christmas hath a beauty
Lovelier than the world can show:
For Christmas bringeth Jesus,
Brought for us so low.

Earth, strike up your music,
Birds that sing and bells that ring;
Heaven hath answering music
For all angels soon to sing:
Earth, put on your whitest
Bridal robe [...]

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