As each new year begins, I choose one word that I focus on for that year. It's a characteristic that I desire to be present in my life. I spend time between Christmas and New Year's Day praying and asking God what He would have me to focus on. My one word for 2015 is LOVE. As I look around our world today, love doesn't seem to be present. I see fighting and hatred towards others, bitterness, racial divisions and denominational divisions. "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35 (NI…

This Christmas season has been a blessed one for me. Although it was fairly quiet, I was still able to talk with my loved ones far away and take time to ...be still ! My two week break from work started with me getting sick. But it was short lived and actually a way to force me to rest. I caught up on much reading. I read many of my favorite Christmas devotionals, including A Christmas Longing by Joni Eareckson Tada. Thankfully, I was well enough to accept an invitation from a good friend to go to The Phoenician  for their amazing Christmas tea. Terri ha…

The gift of Christmas. I love this time of year. I love to go to church and sing Christmas songs. I love to be reminded of what Christmas really is; the birth of Jesus. It can be so easy to get caught up in the busyness of this season. But my heart feels right when I'm worshiping with other believers. This Sunday was no different. But what was so special about this church service was ...the stories. I love to hear people's stories. My pastor asked people from our congregation to share their stories. It was filmed so we could all watch and liste…