And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:13-14 Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I love Christmas and everything about it. I love the music, the lights, the decorations, the shopping, and the endless family festivities and traditions. It is my favorite time of the year…a time of goodwill and cheer, a time where we think of other’s needs and wants more than our own. A season that is thought to be so magical, yet not everyone celebrates merrily. So many experience depression and loneliness this time of the year. A time where joyful celebration is the essence, yet utter silence, void, and pain become the substance. Life is full of experiences. From joyful…

I heard John Maxwell once say, “where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.” Often times we carry ourselves through life believing we need to be strong to make it to the other side. And we do! But strength can only carry us so far. Strength provides us with the immediate adrenaline and endorphins to help us pass through the immanent situation. Some of us can manage to stay strong longer than others and it is very admirable, however, it can also be very exhausting, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Oh the beauty and…