The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they enjoyed their wedding night, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Sp...
As Christmas approaches, enveloping us in the heart of the winter holidays, the atmosphere resonates with the sweet melody of joy and anticipation. Streets are alive with twinkling lights, and th...
Our resident Christmas movie experts, Mary Carver and Anna E. Rendell share faith-filled devotions inspired by real Hallmark holiday movies, plus hosting tips for gathering this holiday season. ....
For the first time in years, I’ve felt a sense of overwhelm surrounding the holidays. Physical, financial, emotional, you name it, my stress simmers as I’m falling behind with unmet expectati...
In some seasons, ‘last year’ feels more like a thousand years ago. Maybe that’s just me? At least for our family, there was a season like that, and we found ourselves in a whole new place i...
It’s been said that life is a series of highs and lows, of mountaintops and valleys. And I used to think of these as subsequent concepts. One season feels like a mountaintop with everything goi...
One of our daughters got married on a lovely day in October. Preparing for it long-distance was a challenge. She’s lived in Florida since 2022 and the wedding took place here in Georgia. We mis...
In my historical Victorian neighborhood, families might put up two, three, or even four Christmas trees during the holiday season. The first tree is usually the fanciest. This one tends to face t...
Every time it snows, I wait for my opportunity. When the house is quiet and dark, I tiptoe into the living room and curl up mesmerized in the big front window to watch the flakes fall silently �...
Every day in December is jam-packed with stuff — just like my fridge. The constant ding of my phone is like its own version of “Carol of the Bells.” The month has just begun, and I am alrea...
There is no longer to-do list than the one I have during December. It is big, long, and far more ambitious than I am committed to. And at the very top of that list is one thing: actually send my ...
After moving my mother-in-law into an assisted living facility this past spring, my family helped organize, clean, and empty her home. Let me tell you, this activity teared us right up. From 4th ...
O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel My daughter is sick. It’s...
On this Christmas Day, we invite you to take a journey with storyteller Sherri Gragg as she leads us in a meditation of what Christ’s birth might have been like. This story is likely not the ve...
A year ago feels more like a thousand. Maybe that’s just me? At least for our family, we are in a whole new place in life this year than last Christmas. This year, my husband’s position on ou...
My first pregnancy was hard. I was nauseated and vomiting almost the entire time. I prayed that if God ever wanted me to go through this again, at least my delivery would have to be easy. And it ...