Christine Trimpe December arrives and fills my heart with breathless anticipation. Perhaps the sparkle of it all, and reflecting on childhood memories, no doubt the presents played a huge role.…
What says holiday cheer more than the smell of fresh baked cookies? Karen & Cherry Hundreds gather at a South Texas home on a crisp December afternoon. Guests get gloves,…
Linda Evans Shepherd Have you lost your holiday cheer? Maybe you’re fretting about buying Christmas gifts or saving up for a tank of gas. Or perhaps the recession, not to…
Every November, the holiday dash begins and does not slow until we ring in the New Year. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith The weeks leading up to 2023 are exciting and can…
Are you dreading holiday get-togethers because of conflict that you know might happen between relatives or friends? Pray this Prayer.
Amber Weigand-Buckley, Leading Hearts editor A FEW YEARS AGO, Charisma magazine assigned me to work on an article focusing on one of the most notable phenomena that surrounded the birth…
Mary Kaarto | marykaarto.com With millions of people worldwide laid off from their jobs due to the pandemic, chances are you may know someone in your own life who is…
We were hardly past Labor Day when it started: the holiday shopping CRAZY. Earlier every year, isn’t it? Now let me quickly point out that I can tolerate a lot…
By Penelope Carlevato in Leading Hearts magazine
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.—Colossians 3:16
CAROLING ON CHRISTMAS EVE, TRIMMING THE TREE AND LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS SONGS ARE PART OF MY FAMILY’S TRADITIONS. We also make a gingerbread house, buy an Advent calendar, and celebrate Boxing Day! We read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve, watch quintessential Christmas movies on television and hide Elf on the Shelf.
(more…)Like many families, these traditions are passed on from one generation to the next, and we occasionally add new ones. But the custom of singing the familiar carols is my favorite.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. —James 1:17
FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE FANS OF HALLMARK’S WHEN CALLS THE HEART TELEVISION SERIES, the characters of the show seem like family. Yes, they’re fictional characters from the fictional town of Hope Valley, but we can learn some valuable lessons from them — at Christmas and throughout the year.
For example, from the beloved characters of Lee and Rosemary Coulter…Lee Coulter wanted to do something special for his wife, Rosemary, for their first Christmas as husband and wife. Knowing of her love for baubles, he bought her a unique brooch for her Christmas gift — one he thought would tickle her fancy.
Lee also knew of her penchant for snooping, so he hid the gift in a place she’d never look. But ever-vigilant Rosemary spied it out anyway — and let’s just say she wasn’t excited about her new accessory. “Horrified” might be a better word.
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