December 24

John 1:1-14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Light is here. Receive Him today, in your heart, and in your every activity. That is the best gift you can give to Him: allow Him to be a part of your every thought, word and deed.

Merry Christmas!

December 22

Isaiah 40:11
Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

When life speeds up, it's good to remember Christ as our Shepherd. He gathers us in. And this promise is especially for moms - He's gently leading us.

Sigh. Lean in.

December 21

Matthew 1:23
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”


Christ is with us. In all our preparation, in all our busyness, in all our ups and downs, God is with us. Since we've always had it available, and even sung about Emmanuel, perhaps this Truth has not sunk in yet. While God was distant before Christ, He can now live inside each of us and be literally with us. Immanuel is here.

Spend some time with Him now, thanking Him for His presence, and discussing the next few days - the last of your Advent preparation. Is He prioritized? He is here. Immanuel is just as present today as He was in the manger. Are you worshipping the King?

December 20

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:10-11
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

The miracle of Christmas is Emmanuel: God with us. Christ, the Word, has always been, but at Christmas, He came to us. Imagine that. He had been with God, perfectly loved, and He chose to come to Earth, knowing full well that the beings that He had created would not receive Him.

And yet He came.

Receive Him, and the Emmanuel of Christmas will be with you...always.

"...lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” -Jesus (Matthew 28:20)

December 19

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

We have glass balls, in red, green and gold, onto which I wrote the fruits of the Spirit with permanent marker. They are placed in a crystal bowl. It's a simple and pretty decoration, and a poignant reminder. Pick one up each day during your quiet time, and ask God to grow that fruit in you.

Advent is a time of preparation. What better way to prepare than to allow the Holy Spirit to bring us to fruition?

December 17

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you deliver will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would calm a storm with his hands?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
And when you kissed your little baby,
You kissed the face of God.

Oh, Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear,
The dead will live again;
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb.

Oh, Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nation?
Did you know that your baby boy
Was heaven's perfect lamb?

That the sleeping child you're holding
Is the great I Am?

As I've been practicing this song to sing on Sunday, I've come to see new hope and meaning in it.

It's a continual rhetorical question: Mary, did you know?

And I believe the answer is no. She had not an inkling.

Yes, the angel had told her that this would be the Son of God. And yes, she was likely raised well, knowing the scriptures which included the prophecies about the Messiah in Isaiah and other prophetic books. Yes, she may have had the head knowledge.

But did she really know? She was fully human - she could not have known.

It's the same with us. Someday, in heaven, God may ask - Grace, did you know what I was up to when I did this, and when I did that? Grace, did you know?

Isn't that amazingly hopeful? Miracles could be playing out all around us, but we just can't see them...yet.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Reread those songs words, and ponder what all Mary did NOT know...all those miracles. And then ponder...what do YOU (I) not know?

“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9

Amen. Come soon, Lord Jesus.

December 17

There's nothing like a season of busyness to discover our own weaknesses. Like a teabag with boiling water poured over it, you find out what's inside during the heat and pressure. I don't know about you, but my "tea" is not always sweetly flavored!

Thankfully God knows that we are but dust, and He is willing to work through our weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:9
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

God knows me (and you!) and still loves me (and you!) and still uses me (and you!) . That's the King we celebrate!