joy

Good Enough

Guest Post by Mrs. Kylie Lyday

“God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” Luke 1:43-45 NLT

One of my favorite memories from when I was young has to be standing by my siblings and cousins in my grandparent’s living room reading the Christmas story on Christmas Day.

I have always thought so highly of Mary. How wonderful to be hand chosen. How blessed she must have felt to be picked to birth the son of Christ. The mother of the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, and son to come into our world to save each and every one of us.

Wow. Just wow.

I still think highly of Mary to this day. Of course because she’s the mother of Jesus that gave birth on Christmas Eve many many years ago.

– but also because of her character. For who she was. She was ordinary. Just like all of us. She was one who looked in the mirror and didn’t see much more than just a servant girl, but the Lord saw so much more in her. Just like he does in each of us. Mary never once thought she was worthy enough. She found herself in awe of the fact that He took notice of “his lowly servant girl” to which she called herself. It shows her character. Maybe we can relate to her today.

“For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.”

Luke 1:48-49 NLT

She could have questioned God’s will for her life. She could have chosen to live in fear or disbelief. She could have chosen to run and hide. But she didn’t. She came to the realization that she was good enough, and He saw the capability to impact the world through her. God noticed her even when she felt “unnoticeable” and used her for his glory.

As we wrap up 2020 and head into 2021, what if we all strived to be less like the world and more like Mary? Simply believing the Lord is who He says He is, and trusting in His plan. Maybe you do not see much when looking into the mirror, but perhaps this “New Year” you can trust in the Lord and remind yourself that He sees all of your capabilities.

Perhaps next Christmas you can say, I strived to be more like Jesus this year. Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy New Year.

True Joy

Guest Post by Mrs. Melanie Wheeler

When my children were small, there was such anticipation and excitement as Christmas drew near. The wonder of the season can be seen in the eyes of our children.

As they have grown older and seasons have changed, I find myself struggling to recapture the joy that Christmas used to bring.

I recall the fun of sitting on Santa’s lap, baking cookies, and reading Christmas stories. Of Santa’s elf, Doodle, who sometimes forgot to find a new hiding place. Of riding around to see all the beautifully decorated homes. I remember how fun it was on Christmas morning to see their eyes light up with excitement over all the gifts under the tree.

Sometimes when we reflect on the “good old days”, we start to believe that they were so much better than the days we are in right now. The struggles of 2020 have led many of us to think back to better times and wonder how we will be able to experience the joy of Christmas when all we want is for this crazy year to come to an end!

Has the wonder of the season really gone away?

Or have we just stopped looking for it?

When we search for joy in circumstances or within ourselves, we come up empty every time. True joy only comes when we look up and look around.

LOOK UP and praise God for good news of great joy! The birth of our Savior, Christ the Lord!

LOOK AROUND and thank God for all the blessings in our lives.

The joy of the season is not found in decorations, gifts, or gatherings. It can only be found in Jesus and the salvation we have through Him. If you are struggling getting into the spirit of the season this year, LOOK BACK. Not to Christmases past, but ALL the way back to the night everything changed. When Christ came into the world to save us from our sin.

The good news of the gospel produces great joy in our lives! It’s God’s gift to us that we get to keep long past Christmas.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 ESV

Merry Christmas

I love saying Merry Christmas, and when I am out and about enjoying the hustle and bustle of the holidays – I love when someone says it to me. It’s an instant connection. It’s an instant reminder of everything that is good in this world. It literally makes me feel like my whole heart is bursting, and I don’t care at all if that sounds cheesy.

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

Covid has changed things up these past few months – no doubt. I won’t argue that fact, but I will hold onto the promise that some things will never change.

Like saying Merry Christmas.

Like singing Christmas Carols.

Like celebrating Christ’s birthday.

There’s not a mask, election, virus, or pandemic that can take away that beautiful, holy night that my God sent His son to save a wretched sinner like myself – and that’s the truth.

So, when I say Merry Christmas – when I hear Merry Christmas – I am instantly reminded of that sweet, baby in a manger. The meaning behind those two small words will never ever change.

You see the seemingly small things are inevitably the big things.

Merry Christmas my sweet, sweet friends.

“6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

The Thrill of Hope

Guest Post by Mrs. Jessi Collier

💛Guest Post by Mrs. Jessi Collier

We all know, far too well, that 2020 has been a hard year. We’ve experienced the fear and instability of a global pandemic, lost loved ones to a confusing virus that we still don’t fully understand, struggled with the political division in our nation, shifted our plans and reprioritized our lives, and come face-to-face with the fragility of life that our hearts do not know how to handle. It almost feels like too much to list, much less experience.

And throughout all of this, we’re still experiencing the daily struggles of normal life: hectic schedules, family commitments, hard decisions, weddings, births, divorces, deaths, job

transitions, and moving. And yet, while the virus has pressed the pause button on so many activities and gatherings that are closest to our hearts, life has still been zooming ahead. As surreal as it seems to still have the daily mundane tasks to attend to while the world deals with such a large scale crisis, this is how living has been in the long months of 2020.

All of this has been turning in my head as the holiday season has approached. At times I’ve felt guilty for not feeling my usual amount of joy and wonder, and other times I’ve felt so incredibly thankful to be here to see the lights go up and the trees come out. All of the emotions I’ve felt swirled particularly intensely when I heard “O Holy Night” for the first time this season:

“O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
it is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
till He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”

If there has ever been a year in my lifetime when the world felt weary, it has been this year. If we’ve ever been reminded of our need for a new and glorious morning, for a new sun to rise, it’s been this year.
But the miracle of this season that cannot be dulled by the difficulties in this year is that He came. Jesus Christ knew our need for hope, and so He came. Veiled in flesh, “the King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger; in all our trials born to be our friend.” Jesus has never shied away from our struggle or our despair.

The Bible shows Him not only coming to us in the form of a baby, but to people in need over and over. He comes to Peter’s mother-in-law on her sickbed, to the crippled beggar on his mat in Jerusalem, and to Jarius’s sick daughter. There are so many examples of Jesus getting right into the middle of the messes made in people’s lives, from the miracle of His birth to the small moments He shared with individuals.

Ultimately, we celebrate Christmas to honor His coming, and His choice to be with us and die for us. But the incredible news is that He is coming again, to set all things right, and to remake the Earth as it was intended to be. In a year like this, when the very patterns and intricacies of our lives seem to remind us that all is not well, this is the hope that we have: that God hears, and sees; that Christ came, and will come again; that we are not alone.

We were in need of hope, of a Savior, of God, long before 2020. He came then, and He comes now, and He will come again.

Highly-Favored

Guest Post by Mrs. Samantha Graber

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

In this translation of Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel announces some very exciting news to a young, poor girl from Nazareth.  Mary not only hears that God favors her, but will also hear that she is chosen to carry the long-awaited Messiah.  God had been silent for over 400 years, and now she is the first recipient of the news that she is to be mother of the God Most High. 

Can. You. Imagine?

I love everything about the Christmas story. I love to study it, to teach it, and to ponder on it. There is so much to unpack in this story of Jesus’ humble entrance into our dark world.   No matterhow many times I’ve read it, reviewed it, or studied it, God always allows me to walk away with another “ah-ha” moment.  I’m so thankful he loves me enough to speak to my heart in ways I can understand!  

The Bible clearly tells us that Mary was highly favored.  However, it doesn’t tell us exactly why. Yes, Mary was hand-chosen to be the mother of Jesus, but Mary was also just a normal, everyday, common girl. She was human and sinful, even at her early age. Therefore, Mary couldn’t have done anything to deserve God’s favor.  He favored Mary, because HE CHOSE TO…not because she deserved it.  It had nothing to do with Mary, but EVERYTHING to do with HIM. She was highly favored and received this unmerited favor as a Grace-gift. 

A Grace-gift. 

Ponder on that for a moment.

A Grace-gift: He wasn’t just blessing Mary with a child, but wasdelivering her through her son.

A Grace-gift: God wasn’t only thinking of Mary, but was thinking of each of us.

We, too, are the recipients of that Grace-gift. A gift of unmerited favor, given by God, through a precious little baby. A baby that was born in a dirty manger, wrapped in dirty clothes, having his first visitors being dirty shepherds. A Grace-gift that would grow and become our sin payment…payment in full for our eternal salvation. 

What a gift! Please unwrap your gift this Christmas. Yes, Mary was highly favored, AND so are you!

Pivot & Pause

Guest Post by Crystal Breaux

Pivot, change, pause, cancel! The different words we have had to say this year, for obvious reasons. No matter your age or profession, I am positive you have had to re-adjust and learn to do things in a new way in some area of your life.   With Christmas as our final event of 2020, we are still faced with having to pivot and perhaps change things.   This season, I am challenging myself and asking God to show me how to see Him and His birth in a new way. 

First, no matter our circumstances, the coming of our king promised hope because we have a God who is sovereign, powerful and has authority over everything, as prophesized long before His birth.   

Daniel 7:13-14

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Second, as some of us have experienced loss, disappointment and fear this year, there is one truth that I have been reminded often from words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 3:8.

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

I cannot think of anything more valuable than the peace of knowing I have Jesus Christ as my Savior and that no matter what, I have eternal salvation through Him.  That is what it is all about it.

Without question, we have been forced to slow down, change perspective, and do things differently in 2020. What could happen if we threw out our thought patterns, traditions and mindset around Christmas with a daily reminder? The birth of Jesus brought us peace, grace and the offer of eternal salvation which is the most valuable gift we will ever receive. And that is what it is all about.

It’s True

You ever parented during a pandemic? Yeah, me neither.

The line is fine, and the decisions are daunting. We want to keep life normal for our kids, but we don’t even know what normal is anymore.

Here’s the deal – nobody has ever been here before, so nobody knows where this crazy train is taking us.

This. Is. Hard.

I don’t have any ground-breaking advice. I just have truth. And that truth is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is what I know from digging into the roadmap that God left for us: He wins. There really is hope. And this awful pandemic will eventually pass.

These words aren’t trite.

They are true.

Hold onto hope, momma.

Hold onto God.

– Daisy

“And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,” 2 Peter 1:19

A Time to Rest

Guest Post by Mrs. Samantha Nungester

No.

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This is a word I struggle with saying.

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Today, honestly, I was just exhausted. I had a commitment to fulfill that I had already committed to, and zero energy and enthusiasm to go do it. But I did anyways, cause I can’t let anyone down, right?

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While this is admirable, it’s also stupid. Here me out. As I sat there, in a moment of frustration thinking about all the other things I have to get done (the list goes on and on), God spoke to my heart and said, “You know, you can just say no.” I’m sitting here trying to plan how I’m gonna make time here and there to get the Christmas Program at Church organized and planned out, secret Santa gifts bought, and oh yeah, find time to be a wife and mom and God just drops this huge Revelation in my heart. Is it huge? No. But it’s huge to me.

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This isn’t something I’d ever even considered. Saying no… you can do that? As I sat there kind of stunned, He then continued and said, “The root of that is fear.”

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Then it hit me: I’m scared. I’m scared to let people down. I’m scared to be rejected. I’m scared to upset someone. And this had created such a cycle of people pleasing that I honestly didn’t know how to stop it.

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I was rushing home to get ready to head right back out when I turned to my husband and said, “Can I just stay home?” You have to understand, I never don’t go. I never say, “no, I think I’m gonna rest instead.” I’m always the “yes” girl. So this, my friends, was huge for me. And man was it freeing!

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It’s okay to say no. It’s okay to not over commit. It’s okay to not be at every social gathering and your kids not be involved in every little thing and to just rest. And since this is supposed to be a Christmas post, It’s okay to have just a couple of presents under the tree because PRESENCE is what actually matters most.

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So, this is what Christmas is to me this year: a time to rest. A time to celebrate who Jesus is to me and my family and remind myself of why I CHOOSE to live a life dedicated to Him.

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I’m tired, y’all. Tired of trying to be a Pinterest mom, tired of worrying about the perfect gift and tired of being scared of not being good enough. So, I over commit and try and do it all. This year, though, I’m gonna just take a step back and BREATHE. Enjoy Jesus and who He is! Is life ever gonna be less busy than this? No, it sure isn’t. But finding moments of refreshment in the business is possible with Jesus at the forefront.

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Merry Christmas!

Childlike Faith

Guest Post by Mrs. Ashley Post

To have childlike faith…

Sounds so simple doesn’t it? My daughter, Elle, just recently turned three, and the excitement of Santa Claus is REAL this year. Santa’s elf is perched high on our mantle and we even got to visit with the boss himself, Santa (despite the plexiglass window). With COVID you’d think Christmas magic would be in short supply, but not with our little! She is our Buddy the elf- constantly singing loud for all to hear!

Recently, Zak (my husband), was off work, so we took the opportunity to cross off a few things on our Christmas list. While shopping it seemed everyone’s anxiety was high- whether it was the mask-wearing, news of COVID numbers increasing, or just the “holidays” in general, everyone seemed to be on edge. Needless to say, when we finally got back home we were ready for bed.

After baths, nighttime routines, and putting Walker (our five month old) to bed, Zak and I got into bed with Elle. She was already snoozing hard. Zak and I looked at each other with a sigh of relief- “what a day” we thought. All of the sudden, as clear as anything I’ve ever heard, Elle started singing “Emmanuel, Emmanuel!”- one of her children’s program songs for church. Tears immediately came to both of our eyes. She was “dream singing”! With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, the magic of Santa, and the stress of finding that perfect gift- God used this simple moment to bring us back to the true meaning of Christmas- the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God spoke to my heart from so simply and sweetly from the mouth of babes. The weight of the day seemed to melt away. Did you know “Emmanuel” translated means “God with us”? *Cue the chills*

I want to encourage you this Christmas season to remember the reason we celebrate and remember your WORTH. The song “O Holy Night” has the lyric “the soul felt it’s worth”, which has never stood out to me until just recently. God loved you so much that he bankrupt heaven to send a Savior to a lost and dying world. For YOU my friend.

Times have been dark this year, there is no doubt. It is said that on the night that Jesus was born, three stars met to create the star that lit the wise men’s’ path. Light was brought to the world. Did you know that December 21st this year we will be able to see this same star on the darkest day of the year? The Christmas star. How appropriate that in this moment in time during the Christmas season, God sends this beautiful reminder that Light has and will step in forever and ever. He makes all things new again. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel”- Matthew 1:23

We wish you and your family the merriest Christmas, this year. May God bless you and keep you!

Words

Words are powerful, and boy do I love them.

Every year God gives me a word [or phrase] to use as a compass for the next 12 months. I use this word throughout the year to grow, reflect, and hone in on who God needs me to me be.

My word for 2020 was fly. I didn’t understand at all what that meant or what the year would hold for me. Honestly, it’s December and I’m just now getting it. After all, fly means to move quickly or be hurled through the air.

Don’t they say hindsight is 2020? See what I did there? Moving homes, moving towns, moving jobs, all during a global pandemic definitely had me feeling like I was being hurled through the air. Some days I landed gracefully, and some days I landed gracelessly. But I landed. And boy did I learn a ton.

This past Sunday God gave me my word for 2021, and I’m pretty pumped about it. My word is FOCUS which is a lot less scary than FLY.

1. Focus on God

2. Focus on Family

3. Focus on Rays of Sunshine

I’m pretty excited to see where this takes me. I’m excited to make the above three things my true center of attention. I’m ready to hone in, dig in, and hopefully not be hurled through the air anymore. 😆

What’s your word?

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105