December 2021 Guest Post Sampler

Every month, I guest post at several popular sites. For your reading convenience, I’m gathering them into a December 2021 guest post sampler. Enjoy these previews of the posts, then click on the “read more” link.

Mary’s Journey: Letting Go

And a sword will pierce your own soul too. Luke 2:35 (NIV)

From the moment Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant” (Luke 1:38), she began letting go, as every mother must do with her child.

Mary let go of her comfort zone when she left for Bethlehem with Joseph. She gave up a cozy birthplace for her baby, surrounded by family who would assist with the birth.

Mary let go of her authority over her adolescent son when they became separated in Jerusalem. When she found him in the temple, she scolded him. He reproached her, saying he needed to be in his Father’s house, and she didn’t understand. Surely it wasn’t easy being his mother, even though he was the most obedient child who ever lived.

Before his first miracle, Mary must have sensed Jesus could take charge of a situation with his special power. She told him, “There is no wine,” and he responded, “My time has not yet come.” She let go well, instructing the servants to listen to him. (John 2:3-4)

Once, when she waited to speak with him, he pointed to his disciples and said, “Here are my mother and brothers.” Jesus spoke of an ever-widening spiritual family; if Mary ever felt left out, she had to remind herself to let go, again. (Matthew 12:46-50)

Mary’s soul was pierced with a sword the day she saw her son hanging on a cross. He cared for her in his time of greatest suffering (John 19:26-27), which she didn’t understand. Mary had to let go of her dreams for her son and decide whether he was really the Messiah.

The last time we see Mary, she is with the disciples after Jesus’ ascension. What a letting go that must have been—the overwhelming relief of his resurrection followed by the mystery of his departure into the sky. By that time, Mary had learned to let go beautifully. It all started with her words, “May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)

How does Mary’s example inspire you?

From the moment Mary said, 'I am the Lord's servant,' she began letting go. Her story can inspire our faith too. #devotion #advent #biblestory Share on X

Light in the Darkness

“I am the Light of the world.” John 8:12 NIV

One of my favorite activities of the Christmas season is viewing light displays. My children aren’t satisfied with simply driving through the light displays in the city parks; we must “hunt” for the prettiest and wildest displays in various neighborhoods.

The colored lights cheer me when darkness falls before 5:00 p.m. I like to end winter days by sitting alone in the living room, admiring the Christmas tree lights.

Lights inspire hope amid the darkness. The concept of light in the darkness appears several times in the first Christmas story.

Zechariah prophesied, “…the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness.” (Luke 1:78-79 NIV) His son John was sent to point people to Jesus, the Light of the world.

As the apostle John wrote in John 1:8-9, “He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” (NIV)

When the angels appeared to the shepherds, they came at nighttime, and “the glory of the Lord shone around them.” (Luke 2:9 NIV) Their message of hope, joy, and peace blazed out against the darkness of those times, when the prophets’ voices had not been heard for hundreds of years, and the people longed for the promised Savior.

Isaiah wrote this long before Jesus was born: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:1-2 NIV)

When Jesus was circumcised as a newborn, Simeon called him “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:32 NIV) Jesus is the Light of the world, and if we follow him, we will never walk in darkness and we will have the light of life. (John 8:12)

How is Jesus a light in your darkness?

Lights inspire hope amid the darkness. The concept of light in the darkness appears several times in the first Christmas story. #hope #advent #lightoftheworld Share on X

The Christmas Angels’ Purpose

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10 NIV

How you would react if an angel suddenly appeared before you? People in the first Christmas story reacted with fear at the sight of angels. Perhaps we would as well.

In the first two chapters of Luke, angels appear three times. Each time they include the words “Do not fear” in their greeting, anticipating that their arrival would ignite fear in the hearts of humans. Zechariah “was startled and was gripped with fear” (1:12). Mary “was greatly troubled” (1:29). The shepherds were “terrified” (2:9).

The angels did not come to inspire fear or even awe. Their journey to earth was a special mission from God. Gabriel stated his purpose to Zechariah in Luke 1:19, “I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” Gabriel’s focused mission was to announce God’s plan of good news to both Zechariah and Mary.

The angel who appeared to the shepherds also brought good news (Luke 2:10). The angel gave the shepherds instructions on how to locate baby Jesus. Then the angel was joined by many others who praised God before returning to heaven. All the angels who appear in the Christmas story give glory to God, and do not seek it for themselves.

The sight of angels frightened people, but the sight of two miracle babies inspired joy and wonder at God’s surprising plan. A mighty prophet born of an old, barren couple. A Savior for the whole world, born of a virgin, swaddled and lying in a manger. As Gabriel said, “Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

The shepherds were inspired by the angel’s message and hurried to find the baby. Afterward, they spread the good news, and all who heard them were amazed. The shepherds returned to their work, glorifying and praising God (Luke 2:20). The angels fulfilled their mission of pointing people back to God. That’s the purpose of Christmas angels.

Questions for you to consider:

How does our culture view angels?
What is your view on angels?
What do you think God wants you to know about angels from his Word?

The Christmas angels came for a specific purpose that many may overlook. Learn more in my devotion for @w2wministries. #angels #christmas #purpose #devotion Share on X

No Drama At The Holidays

I am honored to have a guest interview published in Podcast Magazine this month. My friend Eric Nevins interviewed me on the topic of handling divorce at the holidays, based on my podcast for adult children of divorce, Heart in a Drawer.

Check out my feature interview in the December 2021 Podcast Magazine HERE.

I'm thrilled to be featured in the Dec. 2021 Podcast Magazine issue, discussing how to reduce drama at the holidays. Thanks to @EricDNevinsJr and @ThePodcastMag for this opportunity! #podcasting #podcastmagazine #holidays2021 Share on X