Bloom!

With Christmas day just around the corner, we thought we'd celebrate by sharing some of what we love about this time of the year and how we keep the focus on Jesus... Megan: A favorite Christmas memory: When my older sister and I were little, we weren't allowed to go downstairs until my parents were up, dressed and ready for the day. So would let them know that we were awake by holding a very loud "radio show." On Christmas Eve, Katie and I would make a list of the Christmas songs we would sing, who would sing what verse and when we would sing together. We wrote out opening and closing lines and advertisements, and on Christmas morning, the first one up would sneak into the other's room to start the show!  How do you keep the focus of Christmas on Jesus? I focus best through journaling, so I try to make sure I have time to journal throughout the Christmas season. I love the season of advent, a church season that is simply filled with a pre...

Christmas is a holiday that most people are aware of and most celebrate by giving gifts and spending time with each other. Personally, it is one of my favorite holidays because it reminds me of how amazing God truly is and how much He loves us.  It is also one of the only times where I get to see many of my family members gathered in one place and having fun. As this holiday draws near, I decided to look through the gospels and read on Jesus’ birth. We read of Jesus' birth in Luke 2:1-20: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.   (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)   And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and...

As part of our Christmas series, we thought we'd share this rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus performed by some "monks". Hope you enjoy this lighthearted video with smiles and laughter! And hallelujah, let's celebrate Jesus this season and always!

  Have you ever really thought about the true Christmas story, the reason we celebrate?   Have you thought about the incredible planning God had for His S on’s birth?  Jesus Christ came to die as a sacrifice for you and me.  He came to take the blame and punishment for our sin, the world’s sin.    In the days before and during His birth, the forgiveness of sins came through sacrifices.  Those sacrifices were the first and very best lambs.  Our Heavenly Father sent His only Son to live a perfect, blameless life and then to die to save us from our sins.   Jesus is called the Lamb of God because that is exactly what He is and was ( John 1:28-30 ).    The old law said that these sacrificial lambs must come from Bethlehem.   They were kept in the barns and fields of Bethlehem.  Christ, the Lamb of God, the King of k ings, was born in a barn in Bethlehem ( Matt. 2:1-6 ).  Just like those lambs, He came to die as a...

  Happy December, girls!  To celebrate this special season, we're going to focus on Christmas, what it's really all about, and ways to make it even more meaningful.  First up is a lovely poem by Victoria titled "Of Christmas": Of snowflakes, Christmas trees, and peace, Of hope and cookies, sugar sweet, Of love, a song that cannot cease, That swells still louder with each repeat. Of joy that came with Mary’s Child, When God came down in human flesh. The angels must’ve cheered and smiled To watch their King of righteousness Reveal His love with quietness, By stealing softly in at night, To bless the earth with fullest love, To show the world His shining light. Of shepherds drawing near to praise, This Christ, Immanuel, His name. The One who in the coming days Would heal the sinner, touch the lame, And raise the dead to life again. Of royal star, that did its part To lead the wisemen to ...