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  Advent is quickly advancing toward Christmas. Thanks for coming back to read these brief devotionals based on Mary’s emotions during the very first Advent season.   Shortly after my husband asked me to marry him, we wanted to share our good news with my family. The news might have been good but our timing …

  With all the bright lights and music pointing to Christmas, Advent is a beautiful time of year.  But not everyone feels beautiful.   Have you ever felt unlovely? The teenager rues the acne that spreads across his face. The middle-aged woman looks in the mirror and sees the extra pounds the years have added. …

  Welcome back to the 18th day of this Advent series of devotionals on the emotions Jesus’ mother felt during her pregnancy.   Holidays from work usually offer people an opportunity for rest, but sleep is always elusive for me. I average six hours per night. Through the years, I have accumulated lots of tricks …

  Daily devotionals during Advent have been a family tradition in our home for around thirty years now. We began when our children were small and had difficulty waiting for Christmas to arrive. Like most young children, our sons and daughter would lift the packages and shake them to determine what might be inside. Did …

  Thanks for continuing to come back to join in on our family’s Advent tradition.  For those who are only now joining us, be sure to read the earlier posts as well.   One year I asked our oldest son what he would like for his birthday. Tim replied that he wanted a 20-piece box …

    Advent is traditionally a time for fasting and restraint, but in our world, with all the Christmas treats around during this season, it is easy to add on pounds. Those candies and cookies magically turn into fat all on their own. Without any effort on my part, my body automatically processes the carbohydrates …

  Mary experienced powerful emotions during her personal Advent, waiting for the birth of her son Jesus.  Those emotions ebbed and flowed, not necessarily following any logical order but weaving back and forth to create a beautiful fabric of their own.   In my job with Bethany Christian Services, I work with birthmoms who are …

  Welcome once again to this journey back to the very first Advent season, the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy. One of my co-workers is completing her fourth month of pregnancy. I recently asked if she had felt the baby kick yet. Since this is her first pregnancy, she wasn’t sure what that felt like …

  My grandson had his Christmas program for preschool last night.  He practiced his songs and danced around the living room for days, flailing his arms as he whirled hither and yon.  It took four adults to keep an eye on this ball of energy. After the program, he came home and collapsed in bed …

Our time of Advent is almost half over already. How far along was Mary now in her pregnancy? It too was almost half over. The angel Gabriel told Mary that her relative Elizabeth was already in her sixth month when he first appeared to Mary. Assuming that Mary spent a few weeks preparing for the …