The Writing Life
I’ll stand
With arms high
And heart abandoned,
In awe of the One
Who gave it all.
—from The Stand, Hillsong United
I recently read a devotional that said encountering Jesus’ love prompts people to whisper promises and make vows. The idea isn’t wrong, and yet, it seems somehow incomplete. When I read the Bible, I discover people who encounter God and abandon everything in response.
And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” —Luke 1:38, New American Standard Bible
In Luke 2, the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth, the author reports the shepherds receive the news of Jesus’ arrival and hurry straight to Bethlehem. The shepherds then share the words spoken about the baby boy. They also disclose the messengers of those words: angels, a multitude of the heavenly host.
During the holidays, everything aims to be cheerful and bright. Some tasks, however, remain onerous. They are burdens that must be accomplished to reach the joy of “decking the halls.”
Seating arrangements seem like a good example. You can seat your mother-in-law by a certain aunt but not by your mother or odd uncle. Even buying presents can become onerous. Consider, for instance, when you seek to buy a gift for that impossible-to-buy-for person. The holiday season becomes dreary, a landscape more suited to Ebenezer Scrooge than to you.
Fortunately, the letter “o” begins some words less bleak than onerous. They might not align with the festive season precisely, but they are fun. If nothing else, they offer a break from the holiday hustle and bustle. [Read more…] about Alphabet Adventure: O is for Onerous
If you’re frantically shopping for a final bookish gift or stocking stuffer, rejoice! Your book lover or word nerd will love any of the following twelve, budget-friendly items. (Each costs under $50.) Check this list once, maybe twice, when wanting to fill stockings with delightful treasures and hearts with mirth. [Read more…] about Write Right’s List of Twelve Bookish Stocking Stuffers