4 Ways to Unveil the King of Glory for Christmas

Who is this King of glory?

Christmas is less than two weeks away. While I find it unbelievable, more troubling is the unbelief I see behind the holiday—Holy-day. 

But, the birth of Jesus unveiled the Savior to the world. The One promised to rescue us from sin, other gods, the enemy, and even ourselves.

And as always, the heavenly Father kept His promise. 

God’s Son came to bring the light of heaven to earth. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was born to die.

Denied earthly glory and fame, Jesus bears a name above every name. He is the King of glory.

Yet the phrase, “The King of glory” is only found once in the Bible, in Psalm 24. It’s one of my favorite passages. So, let’s look at the 10 verses of the Psalm for our list of 4 ways to unveil Jesus this Christmas. 

And not only unveil Him in a more meaningful way in our own heart, but also to present Jesus more fully to those around us and to the world. 

1.)  Creation unveils the King of glory.

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

(Verses 1-2)

Read More…

This Babe So Small: Christmas Nativity Story

Imagine the nativity story told through the eyes of the inn-keeper’s young daughter. This is a wonderful children’s book by my friend, Jann.

Jann and I met online several years ago through Twitter. And with Christmas coming soon, I asked her to tell you about her book.

Welcome, Jann.

Has God asked you to do something that you really didn’t think you could do?

Let me take you back to 2006. I needed a story to read on Christmas Eve, and couldn’t find one. I looked on all of the different websites for a new book to read. Feeling frustrated I sat back and asked God what I was going to do. His reply was that I was going to write it.

Mine was, right, I have no idea how to write a book.

Not wanting to be rebellious, I said a prayer for help and started to type. I ended up with a story called That Wonderful Night, the nativity told through the eyes of the innkeeper’s daughter.

A Nativity Story for Christmas

Read More…

6 Sure-fire Ways to Grab Hold of Real Joy

Thanksgiving Day is a wrap. Now we press onward to the joy of Christmas. 

But in reflection on how I move from one holiday to the next, I asked myself a few questions. Am I placing a check mark beside gratitude on some proverbial good list? Then leaving it in the dust of my tracks while celebrating Christmas? 

Sometimes.

So, this year I plan to wed an attitude of gratitude to one of rejoicing. 

Celebrating appeals to most of us. Yet, real joyfulness is often the end result of God’s faithful promises. And it’s…

~ Ammunition for difficult circumstances and people. 

~ The best medicine for a downcast spirit. 

~ A shield against attacks from the enemy. 

Let’s look at it in a broader sense.

Not just what we believe and know, but also how it manifests in our lives—how we live joy.

Unlike images, there’s not a filter for joyful. Instead, it lies beneath the surface and radiates through. God wants to bring a smile back to our face. But more than that. He wants to bring rejoicing back to our soul.

I love powerful refrains in certain songs and poems. After each of our points, repeat the refrain I include out loud.

6 Sure-fire Ways to Grab Hold of Real Joy:

1.)  In salvation.

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12

“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23

Is my joy showing through? 

Because there’s no filter for joyful. 

And it’s never shaken or taken.

Read More…

Redefining Strong: 3 Ways Weakness Equals Strength

“How strong are you?”

I used to ask my children this when they were young. They answered in the cute way of showing off their little biceps.

But on my own journey from child to adult, I learned culture’s definition of what makes a person strong. And how weakness comes in many shapes and sizes, like in these examples.

~ Weight lifting proved my arms lacked physical strength.

~ Low self-esteem, anxiety or discouragement labeled me a weak soul.

~ Failure to excel in a class, understand a concept at work, or carry strong opinions, defined me as weak-minded.

Culture teaches us to stay strong and overcome weakness because it just isn’t pretty. Yet, in God’s Kingdom, weakness takes on a whole new meaning.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10b ESV)

Paul’s visions and thorn in the flesh in Chapter 12, kept him from boasting in himself. He had endured many hardships and persecutions. Still, he learned his strength was found in his weakness.

What Culture Says, What God Says

Culture tells us to strive for independence. God says, Depend on Me.

Read More…

A Letter of Thanks: Dear Veteran and Dear God

A Letter of Thanks

Dear Veteran,

Soon, we celebrate something important in history. It’s significant. It’s you.

Void of your presence, we the people, would be despairingly weak and open to continued attacks by our enemies.

You see, we need you. We believe in you. We are proud to deem you worthy of our respect.

To warriors who paid the ultimate sacrifice and those who remain. Those who are wounded in body and spirit. You epitomize bravery in our eyes.

Soldiers valiant in honor and duty. Serving in war and peace. Our fellow countrymen, our veterans.

Hand on chest or in salutation, we raise our voice to echo your voice:

America, the land of the free and home of the brave.*  

But freedom comes with a price. Bloodshed of brave men and women. The ones who courageously fought to purchase our freedom, slain for liberty and justice.

To veterans everywhere and of all time, we humbly thank you.

Forever grateful,

Citizens of a great nation

A Letter of Thanks 

Dear God,

Read More…

How Christmas Peace is Possible

Are you looking for Christmas peace this year? Well, you’re in for a blessing and powerful message from my friend, Sarah Geringer.

And at the end, I disclose details of how to enter a giveaway for Sarah’s devotional.

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NIV

Is Christmas Peace Possible?

Christmas peace is possible. But it is only possible with Jesus.

That might be hard for a busy woman like you to understand, even if you are a Jesus follower. Which of us hasn’t been bogged down with anxiety, frustration or stress in the past few Christmas seasons? Who doesn’t have a holiday to-do list that’s already a mile long?

Like Martha in Luke 10, we are distracted by all the preparations:

• decorating our homes
• shopping for groceries and gifts
• baking and cooking special food
• wrapping all the gifts
• cleaning all the extra messes

Looking at that list makes my heart race—but I’ve plodded through that list every year I’ve been a mom.

Like Martha, I have been worried and upset about how much work is to be done in preparation for Christmas. I wanted picture-perfect memories of Christmas with my family. For many years, my peace got lost in the pursuit of perfection.

Read More…

4 Levels of Study at God’s University

In my childhood, I wondered about my cause in life. What was I born to do? My teen years brought reflection on career choices and a university to attend.

Because I was sure of one thing. I wanted go to college and graduate with a degree.  

A field of study would help me become who I was meant to be in this world.

And I hoped to help others with my newfound purpose.

Lessons in the Classroom

So, entering East Tennessee State University at eighteen opened my eyes to all the possibilities.   

By my sophomore year, I chose to study leadership communications (a lover of oratorical contests, this was a good fit). Also studying sociology, I settled into my coursework. 

I thrived in communication courses like public speaking, debate (my husband discovered this soon in our marriage), and the art of persuasion and criticism (poor hubby).

A proud moment for my family when I walked across the stage in cap and gown for a bachelor’s degree.

Since graduation, I’ve held various jobs. Though some required my degree skills, others didn’t.

Here’s what I later realized. I came away from college with much more than lessons from the classroom. 

Read More…

Heaven is Real and Hell is Real

Heaven is real.

Books and movies often recount life after death experiences of people seeing heaven. These accounts touch our heart and imagination. The awe and wonder in the idea of heaven offers hope for a better world.

And with the unsettled state of our current world, we find comfort in the promise of heaven.

Sunday School Lessons 

Growing up, I remember Sunday School teachers and preachers talking about heaven. What the Bible said, how God dwells there, and the fascinating descriptions of the heavenly city as in Revelation 21.

The best part? Being in the presence of God.

And this, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” Revelation 21:4b, NIV.

Yet, I heard about another place called hell.

Evangelists, church revivals, and songs all proclaimed this eternal world where the forces of darkness dwell. A place of separation from God. Where “no more” suffering isn’t promised but guaranteed (Matthew 13:50).

It was commonplace at church. Pastors worked the subject of both heaven and hell into sermons as much as possible. My husband also scripturally teaches on both places in eternity.

But in our culture, it grieves me to sometimes hear these places referred to as mythological, especially hell. Still further, it’s crushing when people tell someone in anger to go to hell.

Because if hell doesn’t exist, wouldn’t they say, “Go to heaven!”

Let’s consider how Jesus spoke about both heaven and hell.

Read More…

There’s Never Emergency Meetings in Heaven

I told you. There’s no emergency meetings in heaven.

I glanced at the clock in the hospital’s surgical waiting room. My heart raced faster than the second hand.

My daughter, Megan, needed a cyst removed from the back of her leg. She was only five-years-old at the time.

After a failed attempt in the surgeon’s medical office, we scheduled the procedure at the hospital.

Besides, what were they thinking? Expect a young child to lay on her stomach for medical staff to numb and perform the incision, removal, and stitching all while conscious? Really?

But my husband and I heard her cries and screams echo down the hallway.

So, the doctor advised to move to plan B—under anesthesia at the hospital. “She’s not going to cooperate for us to do it here at our offices.”

Well doc, I could have told you that.

Yet, I wished for another option besides deep sedation, not fond of plan A or B. Still, the cyst grew over the year the pediatrician said to watch it.

The cyst needed to come out. And it needed testing for cancer. I worried and fretted and paced.

You see, I’m a floor pacer, panicking in body and spirit. Especially with my children and family.

Read More…

Trading Up:15 Amazing Exchanges With God

In elementary school, I traded notebooks with a girl in my class. The pink and glitter cover dazzled and captured my attention.

But my notebook paled in comparison. So, I wondered why she ever agreed to such an uneven trade…to my trading up.

Have you ever traded and received the best end of the deal?

A few years ago, I begin praying prayers of exchange.

Lord, please exchange my infirmity with Your wholeness; and trade my empty for Your completeness. Amen.

Our relationship with the heavenly Father is always about trading up. Because what we trade pales in comparison to what He provides in return.

Our _______ for His ________.

Here’s 15 of those uneven trades with God straight from the Bible.

Trading Up

1.) Our lack for His bounty.

“You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance” Psalm 65:11, NIV.

Read More…