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Day 7 – Father Christmas – JBA
"Daddy, what brings you joy?" "Well...... you!" "Aww, daddy that's sweet, but I'm serious, what brings you joy?" "You, Season. You. Knowing you're taken care of, being with you - being together." Wrecked. For many years, since my mom died in 2004, my dad and I have...
Day 6 – A Christmas Miracle – JBA
December 25th, 2011. The day I met my daughters. I didn't know how I would become a mom - well, technically I knew how I could, but I didn't know how God was going to make it happen. I always knew that I would have a family, but my marriage ended without any children...
Day 5 – My Dog Ate The Christmas Tree – JBA
"Why can't we have nice things?!" Last year we had a one year old Irish Wolfhound weighing in at 120 lbs (he's now 150 lbs), and a 12 week old wiener dog weighing in at three lbs (now five lbs). They are best friends and quite a pair. There is something so fun about...
Day 4 – Jesus is the reason – JBA
Season Elizabeth Marshall I hated my name when I was little - especially on the first day of school and during the Christmas season. That's why, right there. At Christmastime, my name is everywhere! When you're little and get made fun of for something, any extra...
Day 3 – Under the poop stick – JBA
Mistletoe. Scary, lonely, or romantic? Well, most of the time it's just plain weird. Please don't try to kiss me if I'm unknowingly standing under a piece of greenery hanging from a door jam. However, if you are my love, and I am intentionally positioned under the...
Day 2 – Change Your Life Lyrics – JBA
I love Christmas music!! The glorious melodies, orchestrations, and specific voices that we have come to identify with the music of Christmas are visceral. We hear them and are whisked to a place that, for most of us, is cozy and safe, familiar, and full of wonder....
Day 1 – The candle of HOPE – Joy Bringer’s Advent
Have you ever been in a place so dark it was hard to even imagine light? I have. I would bet you have as well. Darkness can be scary. It can so easily consume us. In darkness, our senses are skewed, our perceptions are altered, and we can loose our grip on the truth....
Day 1 – ARRIVAL – Joy Bringer’s Advent
ad:vent noun the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. Confession. I have never known much, nor cared about the season of Advent. I recognize that there are people all over the world that include this in their holiday celebration, but I've never really been...
Tell me your story
Tell me your story. I want to know. Your life matters. Your experience matters. Your story has the power to change other's lives. Believe it or not, you are apart of an incredible story - the greatest story ever told - the story of God's love for the world, and YOU...
Stop looking! Why searching for your calling is actually holding you back.
The wrestle. The angst. The deep search for IT. "What am I supposed to do?" The desire to find the zone - the sweet spot - the place you're meant to be to accomplish what you're put on this earth to do is a nagging one. Have you ever felt that itch of discomfort? You...