Gift giving
I’d say the trickiest part of Christmas is deciding whether to include gift giving. It can be a burden on your time, energy, finances, and Christmas spirit, or it can be... »
Personal Accounts
The Christmas of small things
December 2020 was my first Christmas without my husband. He had passed away five months before, quite quickly. He still had many projects he wanted to accomplish. One of... »
Our savior relates to us
There are four books of the Bible that are dedicated to the story of Jesus’ life; they record His teachings, miracles, actions, etc. Mark and John’s accounts begin when J... »
Christ came that night!
It was winter in Romania. A few of us had prepared gifts and bags filled with chicken, basic food items, snacks, and fruit. We parked our car on a dark street surrounded... »
The search for peace
“Glory to God in the highest,” angels proclaimed to shepherds on the first Christmas Eve, “and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14 NKJV). Although peace has b... »
Holding on to hope
My son gifted me a beautiful hibiscus plant. It had a lovely pink flower and a few buds. Looking at the plant made me very happy! After a few days the flower shed its pet... »
The inner life
I have always thought of myself as a reasonably tidy person, someone who likes to keep things around me neat, clean, and organized. I have heard the adage “cleanliness is... »
Putting on Christ
I have been thinking a lot about personal growth recently, and have been listening to inspirational talks on the importance of spiritual growth and character development.... »
Mission successful
I’ve always been somewhat of an oddball. I don’t know why, but I’ve never quite fit in with everyone around me. As a kid I was too full of ideals and energy to really flo... »
The other driver
Marilyn was a young adult facing a milestone challenge—getting her driver’s license. Ever since she was a child, the scenes on the highway of monstrous trucks blasting th... »
Finding a new purpose in life
About 20 years ago, we bought a plot of land and built a comfortable home. Then, we added a volleyball court, and later, a small swimming pool. We had lots of fun and bon... »
The molding of a marriage
My husband and I are nearing our golden anniversary—50 years together. I am trying to figure out if we were made for one another or if we molded together over time. I sus... »
Jesus makes all things new
Time magazine reported that “globally, more voters than ever in history will head to the polls [in 2024] as at least 64 countries (plus the European Union)—representing a... »