Simplifying… me

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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Six years ago, today, Jasper was born.
Six years ago, and I remember it so well.
I remember the very moment the doctor laid him on my chest, fresh and new, warm and soft. I remember looking at him, observing him, unable to take my eyes off of his perfect little face, his thick matte of black [...]

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I’m sitting here at my desk, looking out of the window in front of me. I see palm trees swaying under the heat of the African sun, and the afternoon breeze comes dancing in and out…in and out.
There is no snow…no fires burning in the fireplace…no mittens or hats, puffy coats or boots.
The scene outside [...]

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One late fall afternoon, when I was seven years old, my parents and I went to a craft fair held at a local church. Walking through the large church gymnasium, filled with vendors and booths and all manner of crafting, my eye caught a playpen filled with handmade dolls. I made my way, in haste, [...]

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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 -

This is week one of Advent…I cannot even begin to express the anticipation [...]

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“My grace is sufficient for you.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

In times of refining and breaking and walking through the fire, God is gracious.
Hard to see in the middle of the crucible, but his presence never leaves us…his character never fails.
God’s grace is inevitable regardless of our situation. Regardless of how deep the pain goes or how [...]

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“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Transitions are…
Hard.
The in-between…the not 100% here, the not there yet, the balancing of the chaos and the uncertainty of where we are currently…is hard.
It sometimes feels like transition will last forever.
But thankfully, it doesn’t.
It is a stepping-stone, uncomfortable as [...]

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Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you [...]

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“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will [...]

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Christmas day, wrapping paper scattered across the floor and turkey leftovers sitting on the kitchen counter, I sat on the couch and hit the mental replay button over the last 24 hours. Days were spent in the kitchen preparing all the yummy Christmas favorites- from sweet potato casserole to stuffing made from scratch, to pumpkin [...]

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