Mornings with Jesus November/December 2025

I can’t help but approach the months of November and December with the joy and anticipation of a child. November 1 (aside from being my husband’s birthday, I would be remiss not to mention) ushers in the holiday season and the expectation of time spent with family and friends far and near, yummy foods we only eat once or twice a year, days off from work, and, yes, presents. As children, the magic of the holiday season usually is created by the adults in our lives—parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, teachers, or members of our church community. These important people begin and nurture the traditions we cherish (and perhaps even pass down) throughout our lives. For me, those traditions were watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, savoring every…

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 (NIV) A FREQUENT PRAYER IS “JESUS, please help me find my [fill in the blank].” On any given day, it could be my keys, an important note, a phone number, or the item I bought at the grocery store that seems to have disappeared. That happened with five pounds of frozen cod one time, but that’s another story. Not long ago, I hunted high and low for an item I knew had slid off the passenger seat when I took a corner a little abruptly. Errands kept me busy, so it wasn’t until the next day that I took time to look for…

He taught them many things by parables. Mark 4:2 (NIV) LIVING IN A COLLEGE TOWN, I’ve had the opportunity to mentor college-aged girls. Born in the mid 1990s to early 2010s, this generation is known as Gen Z and also dubbed the “anxious generation.” One girl I mentor couldn’t sleep for a week after reading a story on the internet about an attack on college women. Another student called me to talk about her anxiety about her uncertain future. She was looking for a job, dealing with roommate issues, and having questions about her boyfriend, who wasn’t sure if he was ready for marriage. She felt panicky and could not stop her mind from racing. The American Psychological Association reported that 90 percent of Gen Z experienced psychological or physical…

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 (NIV) IN 2009, MY HUSBAND AND I celebrated our thirty-fifth anniversary with a trip to Hawaii, although we delayed it from June until November because of a work project. We landed on Oahu late at night, so I didn’t see our surroundings until the next morning. After breakfast, we hiked up to a lookout point at Diamond Head State Monument. Then we finally reached the top of the 760-foot-high peak and my jaw dropped. Every thought melted away except the beauty of the Pacific stretching out before me: deep turquoise water sparkling in the sun against a backdrop of bright sky and puffy white clouds. I had seen the Atlantic Ocean a few…

All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. Luke 2:18–19 (NLT) I WAS UNMARRIED, APPROACHING MIDDLE age, and living in New York City when I attended a friend’s wedding in Atlanta. Afterward, I had two days of downtime before my flight home. Bored, I looked out of the guesthouse window, admiring the greenery bursting from everywhere. Then I asked Jesus an interesting question: “What am I still doing here, Lord?” Immediately, I heard this in my spirit: “I have something for you here.” Wait, what was He saying? Did He actually mean for me to move here? Me? A big-city Northern girl move down South? Hmm. As an only child, I would not easily leave my…

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14 (NIV) RON AND I SAT ACROSS from each other in our kitchen, frustrated with ourselves and each other. The same argument repeated itself, even after thirty years of marriage. I came across as critical. He got defensive. You’d think we would have grown past such behaviors. As a counselor, I coach clients to speak up for their needs. When I shared my needs with Ron, they came across as disappointment or unmet expectations. He shut down, and I felt unheard. We both felt stuck. I was embarrassed that I felt so needy. Why couldn’t I do for myself what I help others with? I knew Ron loved…