Posts about Christian Living (5)

[As appeared on Crosswalk.com] I didn’t know him, but he knew me – or he thought he did. The two of us stood a few yards apart at the church basketball court, waiting on our kids to finish up a quick post-service game. He came over and introduced himself, a Bible app clearly pulled up on his phone. A few minutes later, I was blinking back tears and struggling to breathe.

When I was in my twenties, I thought I knew everything. The older I have become, the less I realize I know. I am completely and utterly dependent on God for everything.

Have you ever felt anxiety before walking into a room full of people?

There are so many different voices clamoring to tell us the meaning of Christmas.

We always eat Christmas dinner at Grandma’s — it’s tradition! We have to sing carols before presents — it’s tradition! It’s not Christmas Eve until we read that one book — it’s tradition! And we can’t forget the eggnog — it’s tradition!

Christmas time is upon us! During this time of year, people share countless Christmas stories with their loved ones.

Three more things added to the to-do list. Another Christmas party to add to the calendar. Presents to buy, cookies to bake, pictures to take, cards to send. The list goes on and on as we succumb to the hustle and bustle of the season, often without taking a moment to pause and breathe.

We often think of thanksgiving in terms of the holiday named for the virtue. “Happy Thanksgiving,” we say, with the best of intentions and the merriest of hearts. In the process, we might inadvertently equate the two — happy and thanksgiving — as if they must go together.