As we begin this Christmas season, it is easy to forget the Reason for the season. There are so many distractions. Some are attractive, brightly colored, glittery commercial distractions. And sometimes sadness and loss distracts from the joy of Christmas. I want to challenge us this year to turn our eyes upon Jesus. There is a beautiful old hymn written by Helen H. Lemmel, originally published in 1918, which tells us that if we turn our eyes upon Jesus, “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” 

I think it is a worthy goal to intentionally hit the dimmer switch on the things of the world not only at Christmas time but every day. It just might also lessen the stress and anxiety in ...

Christmas is the most traditional, venerated holiday celebrated in the western world. It has been celebrated for nearly two thousand years. We celebrate it by decorating our homes, putting up Christmas trees, exchanging cards, baking special treats, eating a festive meal, wearing unique sweaters, connecting with family, attending a worship service, and watching time-honored Christmas movies. Christmas is both stressful and wonderful! 

Perhaps the most common tradition of Christmas which I omitted from the above litany of traditions, is gift-giving because it falls into its own category. We give gifts to one another. Retailers including Amazon count on that. They count on the “Christmas bump” to help them meet their budget ...

I’m enjoying a short, little book by author, June Hunt, entitled “Anger: Facing the Fire Within.” June wrote it in 2013 and Hope for the Heart published it. Pick it up! You or someone you know may have anger issues. June gives terrific definitions, characteristics, causes, and steps to solution for anger. 

Not all anger is bad in fact God gets angry at sin and God cannot sin. We are made in His image so it stands to reason that anger is a basic character quality in every human being. To be fair, we should become angry at sin, just like God. Lynette Hoy has written a book entitled, “What’s Good About Anger?” The answer is much. We should become righteously angry at human trafficking and the ...

We live in a culture which reveres exercising the body. Think about all the television, radio, newspaper, magazine, and internet ads for exercise equipment, exercise instruction and classes, weight loss plans which include exercise as a critical component, and all the admonitions from various governmental agencies telling us that we need to exercise at least 30-60 minutes per day. I’ll be honest. I don’t like to exercise. It’s boring, fatiguing, and does not seem to give me the “high” from the “endorphin release” scientists promise me. Do I exercise? Yes. Elsie prompts me and we head to the YMCA to work out 2-3 days per week in cold weather and walk for an hour nearly every day in warm weather. I ...