Tag Archives: holidays

The Story of Christmas

VineWords Devotions and More

Traditional carols sung for centuries are not only beautiful music, but rich in theology as they tell the story of Christmas. Let’s enjoy the story as this Christmas draws near. Prophets Foretell the Savior’s Birth “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” emerges from the prophets of the Old Testament who, by faith, saw the advent of their Messiah. Its mournful tune communicates the longing of God’s nation, who endured years of exile before returning to their land and rebuilding.   Indeed, … Continue reading →

Christmas’s Unexpected Changes

VineWords Devotions and More

But God kept them from recognizing him. ~Luke 24:16 NLT The news stung like a hornet against bare skin. Christmas’s unexpected changes had invaded our home and annual tradition.   For over a decade, my wife and I celebrated Christmas with our two children on Christmas day. We considered it a sacred tradition—and thought they did, too. We loved watching them—and later their children—open gifts we had purchased for them. But then, we got the news. Around mid-November, our daughter … Continue reading →

The Everlasting Christmas Gift

VineWords Devotions and More

I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior. ~Isaiah 43:11 NKJV Johnny rose before the crack of dawn and dashed to his parents’ bedroom. He sought the everlasting Christmas gift, but in the wrong place.    With all the enthusiasm he could gather, he shouted, “Mom, Dad, wake up. It’s Christmas, and Santa has been here. The family opened their presents until all that was left was the torn wrapping paper that encompassed the tree. … Continue reading →

Christmas on the River

VineWords Devotions and More

God sometimes shows up in strange ways. One Christmas week, He did just that with a Christmas on the river.   For a number of years, Dad struggled with God’s call to be an evangelist. After resigning from his church, he decided the time had arrived. Leaving a church when you live in a church-provided home and have nowhere to go is a scary experience—especially with a family in tow. Fortunately, the church organist had a little getaway mobile home … Continue reading →

Proof I Am Loved

VineWords Devotions and More

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad, I need more than to think about my favorite things to make me feel less sad—I need proof I am loved. (Sorry, Maria. I still love that the hills are alive, though, with the sound of music.) During the shiny, bright holiday marked by red and green, the blues tend to hit me extra hard, as they do for many other people. Depression is no joke, whether chemical, … Continue reading →

Light in the Darkness

VineWords Devotions and More

When I think of Christmas, I appreciate the extra light in the darkness that it brings into our lives: candles, stars, and twinkling trees. But the light of Christmas began in a dark place. The prophet Isaiah foretold the first Christmas when he spoke to a world that felt as if it were falling apart. God’s people were scared. Armies surrounded them. Their leaders were corrupt. Their nation was divided. And in all that fear, it seemed as if God … Continue reading →

Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving

VineWords Devotions and More

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT Giving thanks at Thanksgiving might be easy, but thanking God in every circumstance challenges the best of us. Some claim it’s impossible. I’m a nostalgic kind of guy. In my mind’s eye, I can imagine sitting around a table with the early Pilgrims and their Indian neighbors, who had shown them where to hunt and fish and how to … Continue reading →

Something a Little Different

VineWords Devotions and More

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.   ~‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬ One Thanksgiving, I decided I would do something a little different. I had just moved into my new home and was far away from family. It looked as if I would have a very isolated Thanksgiving with just one nearby family member.   A Different Thanksgiving After some thought and prayer, I considered what the initial Thanksgiving feast was like. … Continue reading →

Love the Togetherness

VineWords Devotions and More

He appeared from nowhere and then reappeared again. I had learned to love the togetherness. Christmas break gave some of our grandboys extended time to stay with us for a few days here and there. But then, Saturday came. They had to return home to attend church the next day and prepare for school the following day. Neither of the two—the two who have stayed with us more than any of the other seven—were excited. We picked up a few … Continue reading →

Jesus, the Gift That Keeps Giving

VineWords Devotions and More

But when her baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. ~ John 16:21 NIV When my son was born, he was a true miracle. My husband and I named him Andrew because of Andrew, the disciple who brought his brother Peter to Jesus. I clearly remember the first Christmas after my son died. He was only sixteen. My son was gone, and my heart ripped in pain. The … Continue reading →