#christhascome

"lo Saturnalia!" The Roman mid-winter festival started on 17 December for 7 days. Read about the differences between Christmas and Saturnalia here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/0/20617780 #iosaturnalia #happychristmas #newperspective #Christhascome

...He who is of a merry heart has a continual feast. —Proverbs 15:15 (NKJV) When I was young, our family kept up a generations-long tradition of hot chocolate on Christmas Eve -- we'd drink from vintage porcelain Santa mugs. That CHEER was passed down from my Momma's family, to ours, and I hope, it will be something small we give to our sons'. Because it really is that blessed, no-longer-shut-up-in-spirit time of year that is all about the small stuff... which reminds us of the big, BIG thing God did to send His Son into the world. It's in that famous quote from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: "I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely..." Our mugs remind me of this CHEER that's freely floating around in the month of December. Sure, there could be long lines in stores and irked tempers on the roadway. But that's not the norm. If we look around, there are people giving. Serving. There are smiles offered and reminders that there's still so much good in the world. That love triumphs. And that 'merry' spills from cups (and vintage Santa mugs!) that truly runneth over. The mugs are antique by now -- chipped and the paint is rubbed off in places -- but we hang on to them. And we still use them every year. They're the perfect reminder of the never-ending gift -- and a place-setting at the feast for God's family -- we have to be cheerful for every day. Welcome December gift gatherings, cookie exchanges, and candlelight Christmas Eve services -- with hot chocolate, of course! May the CHEER make us merry... Christ has come! #Wednesdaywisdom #CHEER #merry #Christmasmug #Christhascome #rejoice

We’re barely into November but heart is still Christmasy, Y’all! In just a month, I’ll be at The Gathering —back with dear sisters at @elementchurchmo in Wentzville, MO! (Right by St. Louis — which holds a special place in my heart for being the city that started this author road for me.) I CANNOT WAIT for the hugs + spiritual family + Christmas celebration + spending time with sisters who have a fierce love for Jesus! See you soon, dear hearts... 😘 #authoradventures #spiritualfamily #speakinglife #storyroads #achildisborn #Christhascome