Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all of the details and preparations for Christmas? I always have big dreams and expectations of what Christmas should look like, but unfortunately, life gets in the way of perfect "Joanna World" more times that not. Worse, I can begin...
Holiday
25 Days to a Mary Christmas
Christmas is a wonderful time of year! But it's easy to get sidetracked - to get distracted by "all the preparations" like Martha did (Luke 10:38-42). As a result, we miss the most precious part of this holy season... The gift of Jesus Christ. Love come down, wrapped...
Lessons From My Mother
“I'll never do that when I have kids!” We’ve all said it (or at least thought it!) as we were growing up whenever our mothers did something that embarrassed us or made us cringe. But on this Mother’s Day, I’d like to celebrate some of the characteristics I see in my...
The Road to Easter: Resurrection and Life
Happy Resurrection Day! Jesus is risen. Death has been vanquished and the battle has been won. But the empty tomb has accomplished so much more than we can begin to imagine. "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you," Romans 8:11 says,...
The Ultimate Christmas Gift Exchange
We often talk of the price Jesus paid when He died for our sins… But have you ever considered how much it cost Christ to come to earth, to take on flesh and dwell among us? My husband preached a beautiful sermon on this topic, and on this almost Christmas Eve, I...
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
It's easy to forget... In the midst of the hustle and bustle of Christmas, it's easy to forget the One we celebrate. Allowing Jesus to become part of the periphery of our lives, rather than making Him the center. When I get distracted like that, I love to read the...
Christmas Home Tour 2015
I love Christmas! To think that much of the world, in one form or another, stops and celebrates Christ’s birth is beautiful to me. Though it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season, I especially love it when Christmas is celebrated with a Mary...