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8 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Show Hospitality
I accidentally read a book about hospitality last month. Maybe no one accidentally reads an entire book, but that’s how it went. I started reading the book because I met the author this summer. She struck me as authentic and kind, and I hoped her words might offer a few new ways to show hospitality in our lives. As I leafed through the book, the words began to echo in the deepest recesses of my soul. An Invitation to the Table: Embracing the Gift of Hospitality by Michelle Lazurek changed the way I perceive hospitality. Her words also showed me that hospitality is much more than a clean house and…
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6 Meaningful Christmas Traditions That Put Others First
In a season saturated with commercialism and consumerism, it’s easy to lose the meaning of Christmas. Meanwhile, some of the most meaningful Christmas traditions are the ones that put others first. Meaningful Christmas Traditions One way to add a layer of richness to the Christmas season is by implementing meaningful Christmas traditions that focus on making a difference in the lives of others. This list of ideas offers practical ways to involve everyone in the family in making someone else’s holiday brighter. 1. Color a smile for a soldier. Holiday seasons tend to be bleak for those who are away from loved ones. Show a member of our military just…
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5 Family Traditions for a Christ-Centered Christmas
The world is aglow in colorful lights as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Light of the World. Sadly, it’s easy to become so engrossed in the hustle and bustle of the season that we forget why we are celebrating. Perhaps you’d like to help your family celebrate a more Christ-centered Christmas this year. Let’s look at five family traditions that can help us keep Christ at the center of our Christmas celebrations this year. 5 Family Traditions for a Christ-Centered Christmas If we want to be more attuned to the wonder of the incarnation, we begin by slowing down. We stand in awe that the God of…
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Encouragement for Tired Moms: 5 Ways to Add Joy to Your Life
I discovered a meatball under the china cabinet this morning. We haven’t had meatballs for two weeks. . . . As I scrubbed the floor, I wondered how many tired moms were on hands and knees living out similar moments around the world. I also considered how I might offer encouragement for tired moms who need to know that their pouring out matters. Ten years ago, I spent my days teaching students with disabilities inside the walls of a respected high school. Each new day brought new challenges and changes in my schedule. My husband and I traveled overseas often. For fun, we regularly took off across the country with…
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4 Surprising Truths for When You’re Under Spiritual Attack
The year I started writing words for the world to read, things started falling to pieces all around us. The kids were constantly rundown with various viruses. There were financial strains, serious health scares, and much more. It felt like we were under spiritual attack without reprieve, and we were worn thin. We were about ten months into a sequence of unfortunate events when I heard a single statement through a static-blurred radio station. I don’t remember who spoke the words or exactly how he phrased them, but the man’s message was this: “Satan’s not out to break your car, wreck your finances, or steal your good health. What he…
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3 Action Steps for a More Meaningful Life
White light breaks through smoky billows of fog, and I wake up thinking about how to live a more meaningful life. I’m tired of rushing through my moments, wishing away long days, and living in survival mode. The little ones open the first windows on their colorful Advent calendars and scarf down thin squares of chocolate to mark this first day of waiting. We’re waiting for the coming King. Waiting for the day that marks Immanuel’s entry into the world. Waiting for God with us. A hunter climbs a tree on the northwestern skyline, and he’s waiting, too. All this waiting draws my mind to a question little Bekah’s been…