Christmas 2021
Another year has come and gone. Some of it was good. Some of it was hard. Some was messy. Some was fun. Of all the words that could describe 2021 I think I will use the word languishing. Why? After 2 years of pandemic fatigue I think most of those I interact with, follow on…
Good King Wenceslaus
This is a very intriguing Christmas carol because it does not mention Christ or Christmas. I used to wonder what it meant and who this King was? It turns out he is as real as Saint Nick. He lived in the early middle ages in Bohemia (aka. the Czech Republic). He was really a duke…
God Rest Ye Merry
Every year we greet each other with the word merry, meaning happy or pleasant; merry old England referred to an idyllic life that was prosperous and bountiful and Robin Hood’s merry men were companions in arms. The Bible uses the word merry to convey a sense of joyfulness. Proverbs 17:22 says that a merry or…
Sin & Error Pining
Tis the season to listen to 24/7 Christmas music and watch Christmas movies. I was listening to O Holy Night which I have heard thousands of times. It is a weird thing to hear something and ponder it in a new way. The lines in the song that struck me: Long lay the world in…
Fullerton Free Advent Devotional Dec. 3
When have you been happiest in your life? What events have sparked the most enthusiasm? Have you ever been overwhelmed by gladness? The word joy is very much associated with Christmas and Christianity. In fact, the joy of the holiday is usually very contagious. When the wisemen saw the star in the sky the Bible…
Thanksgiving Prompts 2021
Gratitude is a choice. Being thankful takes discipline. Since we were married 41 years ago we intentionally set aside the month of November to practice aloud counting our blessings. Still thankful. Still choosing. Still counting. This year I am answering self-written prompts to think afresh of the things for which I am thankful. Please feel…
Jim’s Birthday
Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Jim; he is tattooed onto my soul with indelible ink. I remember things about him that I admired, his wisdom and thoughtfulness, his quick wit, the soft kiss at the start and end of each day. He never left the house without a magic trick…
Eighty-Eight
I remember a book written in 1988 titled “88 Reasons why the Rapture will happen in 1988”. The sequel came out the following year! There are 88 keys on a piano. It means hugs and kisses in morse code. King Rehoboam had 88 kids. There are other not so nice meanings attached to this number…
The Last Chapter
Life is a story. Sometimes it is worth reading and sometimes it is more like an advertisement that is glanced at and thrown out. I want a life story full of meaning and not some boring drivel. A good book is one that I can’t put down and touches me. I want my life to…
Happy New Year to Me
I think I have said it before but to me birthdays are like New Year’s day. The vibe is so similar. I look backward and reflect on accomplishments, I marvel at my blessings and I set new goals and make plans for the year moving forward. Janus (January) is the roman god of beginnings and…