On:
In: Advent 2017, Bible Journaling, Recess with Jesus

I have been praying for you that as you journal the scriptures I have highlighted each week, God would be drawing you nearer to Himself. That your relationship with Him would be deeper and more intimate because he has opened your eyes to see Himself. That you are on a journey to follow hard after Jesus, that others would see a difference in your life, to want the hope that you have, to know the sacrificial love of Jesus because your love is becoming like His, and that your joy spills over because you know Him. May this Christmas be joy-filled to overflowing for you,Read More →

On:
In: Advent 2017, Bible Journaling, Recess with Jesus

I was overwhelmed this week by these words of the Prophet Isaiah… Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4 NIV) He was wounded and stricken for you and me. He took MY punishment and YOUR punishment because of OUR sin. How do we respond to that? It’s a gift beyond imagination. The ONLY real response to that kind of gift is to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. And not stopping there but to love others with the same kind of costly love. Not just to obeyRead More →

On:
In: Advent 2017, Bible Journaling, Recess with Jesus

For followers of Christ the joy of Christmas is in understanding the bigger picture. Watchful Waiting Joy is an attempt to help us focus our eyes on Truth and to intentionally apply it to life beyond Advent. I am so glad you’ve joined me here. May you be blessed and spurred on as you journal your reflections on God’s gift of love to us. Watchful Waiting Joy Advent Bible Journaling Focus – Week Two  Expensive Love My son has been working hard on an extravagant gift. He’s labored and toiled over it for hours, spent crazy amounts of money on it, and grown frustrated whenRead More →

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In: Advent 2017, Bible Journaling, Recess with Jesus

  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15a Hope has been on my mind and heart for months. And yes, it is the subject of our Watchful Waiting Joy Bible Journaling focus for week #1 of Advent. More and more I feel the hopelessness of the people in my neighborhood. This past fall an older man shot his wife and then killed himself. Over the time we have lived here two others have been murdered, families curse and fight,Read More →

On:
In: Advent 2017, Bible Journaling, Recess with Jesus

I love Advent. I can’t even describe to you how much I love Advent. Advent is a time of waiting. Waiting for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and waiting for His second coming… that day when we get to see our Lord Jesus face to face. While I wait I want to be intentional. I want to wait with my heart’s eyes open to see God moving around me and to know Him at work in and through me. One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story in scripture is when Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the temple for theRead More →