I'm really excited to share this Christmas Message with you—it's all about the incredible depth of the heartfelt message from God to us through His Son, Jesus. As I speak about Jesus being the ultimate representation of God's love, forgiveness, and hope, it's truly impactful to realize these teachings don't just apply in our darkest moments but also in our everyday lives. Just like those timeless Christmas carols that touch our hearts, reminding us of our value and the promise of peace, these truths resonate deeply with the warmth and hope of the season...that is Jesus, our Savior.

HERE is the copy of Christmas in the book of Hebrews that I mentioned. Please print it out and be encouraged reading more about Jesus being the ultimate connection between God and people.

Bible Verses in today's Christmas message:

John 1:1-5

Hebrews 1:3

Personal Processing Questions:

P.S. A couple of years ago my dear friend Katy Shelton and I wrote an Advent Devotional called Christmas Matters. You can go HERE to order it.

🎄Please email me with any personal ways God is speaking to you this Christmas! [email protected]

This was a talk that I gave at a monthly meeting called Coffee & Connection in Birmingham for our Non-Profit called Beacon People. (To learn more go to beaconpeople.org) You may or may not have heard the news that my husband, Tyler and I recently had to permanently close the coffee shop we owned and operated for almost seven years. We have poured our life into Innova Coffee and the experience has been indescribable! This was an unexpected turn in the path that God had planned for our future all along but the closing was extremely unexpected by us! Listen to the story and also hear the truths that have kept me feeling stable and secure throughout. I hope God's Word will encourage you today.

I recently engaged in a heartfelt conversation with a close friend and precious believer in Jesus, D'Anna Lundstrom, who graciously shared her sacred encounters and wisdom about how she spends time with God. D'Anna's journey with God is guided by two words: desperation and dependence, propelling her to devote meaningful moments in solitude with God. Her sincere humility permeates her voice and her enthusiasm for Scripture and prayer shines brightly. You'll see evidence through her social media posts adorned with verses, sunsets, and butterflies. D'Anna embraces diverse approaches in her solitary moments with God using prayer, studying the Bible, worship, journaling, and communing with Him in nature. Let's embark on a journey into the captivating depths of D'Anna's inspiring testimony and, God willing, unearth how each of us can dig a little deeper as we connect with Him.

Reflection Scripture:

Books Mentioned:A Life of Prayer by Paul MillerFollow the Cloud by John Stickl

D'Anna's Blog: A Blessed Brokenness

https://blessedbrokenness.blog/

"I love reading my old Bible," Marnie shares tenderly with me. As I visit with her you can tell by the tone of her voice how deeply meaningful her alone time with God seems to be. Her favorite tool is journaling. Her favorite book of the Bible is Isaiah. In fact, she has created a podcast called, "Meet Me in Isaiah", where she helps her audience find Jesus in the book of Isaiah. You can connect with her on her website https://meetmeinisaiah.com/ .

At one point during our conversation Katy Shelton makes reference to Jesus by calling Him, "My Jesus". It reminded me of the hymn, "My Jesus, I Love Thee", a very endearing hymn and way to describe Him. Katy is my childhood and forever friend. We have been thankful to write devotional books together. In this episode you'll hear us both speak very personally about our own time spent with God. To find our devotional books you can go to our websites, katyshelton.com or annanash.net. You can also connect with Katy through her website and see a little more about her writing projects.

At the Seasons Refresh Day Retreat I had a chance to really dig in to discover what Jesus meant when He said in Matthew 11:30 "My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

For Reflection:

1. What holds you back from surrendering life’s difficulties to God?

2. Which of the characteristics of God mean the most to you presently?

3. What emotions come up within you when you remember the kind of God He is?