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"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." -Colossians 1:27 Throughout the past few weeks of Advent, we have paused to notice what God is doing in ordinary places and our work. We have waited in hope, rested in peace, remembered joy in His presence, and named the light we carry in action into the world. Now, on Christmas Day, we rejoice in this promise: “Christ in you, the hope of g

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." -Luke 2:19 Tonight is Christmas Eve, the night when many gather together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Luke tells us the details of that night, that after the shepherds left and the angels’ voices fell silent, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  Mary received a gift she treasured yet perhaps didn't fully grasp the significance. Even so, she held what God had done with

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." -Matthew 5: 14-16 In our home, the Christmas tree is the most valuable possession we own - not because of what it’s worth, but because of what it ho

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." -John 1:14 My family has a mantra that we live out at every family gathering and during each holiday season. In our family, “ food is love ” isn’t just a saying, it’s practically a law, especially at Christmas, when cookies, stollen, and all the beloved family recipes become an official way of celebrating togethe

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  -1 Corinthians 13:7 We love things easily. We love routines that work, students who respond, families who understand, and seasons of our work that feel light. The word love feels warm, familiar, and comforting - until Advent invites us to slow down and light the Love Candle, redefining love not by a warm feeling, but by reminding us that love is a responsibility we must be willing to carry.

"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." -Psalm 16:11 Tonight is a time to pause. The work is done. The noise has softened. The world is holding its breath as it waits for the week ahead. Tonight, joy waits. It settles into the night with calm certainty of what is about to come. King David understood this kind of waiting. In the psalms, he speaks with confidence not because circumstances we

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." -John 1:5 I love Christmas lights. Every year, I become convinced that just a few more  would finally be enough. I complain, remind, and gently (ok, so I'm not always gentle) pressure my husband because something in me knows that Christmas lights change how everything feels. A dark house looks safer, warmer, cheerful, and more hopeful when it’s lit. We don’t add light because darkness is winning, we add

"T hen Jesus said to his host, 'When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.'" -Luke 14: 13-14 Jesus tells a strange story about joy. He

"We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.  Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;  in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” -Numbers 6:24-26 Words carry power. They can heal or harm, encourage or discourage, make someone's day or keep them up at night. They are easy to speak but impossible to take back. Words have the power to break or restore relationships. In Numbers 6, God gives His people a blessing as a gift spoken aloud to cover others with gr

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." -Luke 2:8-10 The story of joy does not begin in a sanctuary. It begins in a field. With ordinary shepherds. The shepherds were doing what they had always

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" -Philippians 4:4 This past week we have rested in peace, peace not dependent upon quiet classrooms, finished lesson plans, smooth days, or accomplished teaching. Peace that arrives not because our lives and classrooms are orderly, but because Christ came near. We’ve remembered that peace is not the absence of chaos, but the presence of Jesus in the middle of it. As our week comes to a close, peace does not end with

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” -Psalm 46:10 I attended a college graduation ceremony today; I love the excitement in such an event! The formal processional, names called, futures imagined. It is a milestone moment celebrating the work and accomplishments of the past while at the same time encouraging movement forward with momentum. For many, this is a life-changing moment delivering a sense of

"Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load." -Galatians 6: 4-5 Teaching today comes with a front-row seat to everyone else’s classroom. Through social media and shared videos online, we are constantly invited into highlight reels of beautifully organized and decorated rooms, innovative lessons, polished anchor charts, and thriving classroom cultur

“ Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” - Lamentations 3:22–23 Teaching is, in so many ways, the best vocation there is. Every single school year begins with that electric sense of anticipation . New students step into our rooms with fresh stories, unexplored talents, and possibilities that ignite our hope. At the same time, each year also holds the familiarity of an old f

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." -Colossians 3:15 Teachers know how easily peace can slip through our fingers, especially if we've missed our morning coffee - calm mornings can turn tense by 8:00am! The quiet sense of clarity you carried from home can evaporate as soon as your students enter the room, or, on a good day, maybe 6-7 minutes after they arrive. (Forgive me. It's the middle school

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." —James 1:19 There are certain ministries in education that everyone recognizes: teaching, guiding, correcting, celebrating, planning, supporting, discipling. There is another ministry that gets less attention but is just as transformative: the ministry of listening. Teachers live in a world of constant output they are in full control over: instruction

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” —John 14:27 I’ve always enjoyed shaping the physical atmosphere of my classroom: carefully choosing colors that calm, arranging spaces that invite belonging, adding small touches of beauty that make me smile. I long ago decided I spend so much time in my classroom space, that I wanted it to be a place where I love to be as much as I

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. " -Psalm 62:5-7 All week we’ve been holding onto hope : hope for our students, for our classrooms, for our coworkers, for ourselves. Hope that God is at work in the unfinished stories of our classrooms, the unspoken places of our hearts. Today, as we bring this week to

"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" - Philippians 1:6 This week we've been focused on the pressures of the teacher in the classroom, but Saturdays carry their own kind of pressure: the errands we've saved, the tasks we've postponed, the invisible list we somehow expect to finish before Monday arrives. Pray for me friends, I'm about to head out into this cold Saturday morning for the ul