The Rocking Horse Miracle
That weekend, we discovered a truth more beautiful than any home tour. Yet God restored that joy too— A simple wooden rocking horse became a symbol of the quiet miraculous ways God brings lost things home...
That weekend, we discovered a truth more beautiful than any home tour. Yet God restored that joy too— A simple wooden rocking horse became a symbol of the quiet miraculous ways God brings lost things home...
Here’s what I’ve been thinking about—there is a present of discovery as we sink into God’s presence every day. You hear that? Present. Presence. We get to unwrap His presents—these gifts He’s giving us—in His presence. Every single day. But do we? Do we wait for them? Do we see them? Do we have that anticipation, that excitement we had as kids circling things in the Sears catalog? Or have we just ... lost the wonder?
A handful of songs on my stand-up bass for the Christmas Eve service. And our family of twenty for a week of food and fun. But as the calendar turned, my stress levels escalated as I tried to make each event perfect and memorable. In the years since then I have found that the greatest gift I can give others— prayer—is also one that keeps on giving . . . not only to them but also to me. As we surround the days ahead in prayer, we will find this spiritual gift has a lasting impact.
We often miss the miracles God puts on our path. We don’t prepare our hearts to enjoy them. Perhaps we don’t believe we’ll see them. Mostly though, we don’t notice them; or if we do, we don’t take time to fully experience and enjoy them. In some cases, worldly woes weaken and distract us so we become oblivious to the gifts God distributes throughout our days. Yet, miracles happen all around us...
Here’s the thing about those Pinterest quotes, those “Choose Joy This Christmas” signs—when you’re at your lowest, they just bounce off you. They’re flat. One-dimensional words that don’t mean anything when you’re suffocating inside your own head while everyone else is singing carols.
By Linda Evans Shepherd Linda Evans Shepherd As I write to you, my Christmas tree is glowing softly in the corner— each light a tiny reminder of the miracle we…
Are you soul tired? True rest is God-generated. Only, guess what. That’s where joy sparks too. It doesn’t even matter if my body is tired. As long as my soul is God-seeking and Jesus-focused, there is a wonderful, steadfast joy energy that compares to nothing else.
Words and actions from our past, whether our own or others’, often leave wounds that fuel guilt, shame, or regret. Jesus warned us that trials would come, but we choose whether pain makes us bitter or better. God never wastes our pain. Instead of hiding our scars in shame, what if we considered them gifts?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay. Love it, hate it, or view it with mixed emotions, it’s time to figure out how to use it effectively.
When most of us hear the word healing, our minds reflect on our most recent diagnosis. But true healing encompasses so much more. It is not merely the absence of pain or disease, but the presence of peace and a sense of wholeness. It is the realignment and restoration of every part of who we are with the truth of God’s love for us.