Christina Fox, Author at Women.pcacdm.org

Advent Devotional: Isaiah 9:2

STEPHANIE FORMENTI | CONTRIBUTOR Christmas is a season of light. We have lights on our houses, lights wrapped around our trees, candles in our windows, and fires in the hearth. It makes sense when we consider how the days are short and the nights are long and cold during winter (at least in the Northern Hemisphere). Imagine Christmas without lights. It would be so dark and cold. This is especially true when darkness seems particularly overwhelming, deep, and oppressive. The beauty of light is most noticeable in years marked by significant loss or disappointment. The brightness of a flame is most poignant in moments of sadness, despair, hopelessness, and worry. Often, it is when we understand the oppression of darkness that we truly understand the power of light. This was true for the Old Testament people of God. In Isaiah 9:2 we read, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” The prophet is referring to Israel’s history of exile and homelessness. Their own disobedience landed them in a place of oppression by their enemies, enshrouded in spiritual darkness. Notice the verbs: “walked” and “dwelt.” This was no passing darkness and no temporary shadow. They were existing in darkness. It was their home. But Isaiah’s prophecy is one of hope; they will not wander around in darkness forever. Rather, a great light will burst onto the scene and make the darkness flee. And this light will bring joy (Isaiah 9:3), peace (9:4), and righteousness (9:7)....

Advent Devotional: Isaiah 9:2Christina Fox2023-12-04T14:30:28+00:00

Fine Dining, the Titanic, and the Wrath of the Lamb

HEATHER MOLENDYK | CONTRIBUTOR If you were to observe my children while we discuss things like family vacations, clothing accessories, or entertainment activities, you would think their faces belong on posters for Compassion International. As many American families can attest, the current economic climate puts the squeeze on how far each dollar will go. In fact, a dollar usually needs to bring along a friend (or seven) in order to have any fun at the cash register. All that to say, when my husband was treated to a gift card for a posh restaurant, we were thrilled. As we parked our compact car between the luxury vehicles and navigated tables occupied by chic diners, my mood took a turn. I became about as delightful as a cat getting a belly rub during bath time. Excusing myself to wash up before lunch and to try to salvage my sour attitude, the Holy Spirit flicked me between the eyes and revealed the sin in my heart. I was coveting money. What is money? Money is a token that is traded for something that is needed or wanted. Its value is derived from the desire of another person to possess it. For example, if I need a gallon of milk and a box of cereal more than the five-dollar bill in my wallet, I will happily surrender my money to Walmart so that I can leave the store with items to feed my family breakfast. If my family desires to see the latest movie, we will eagerly put on a garage sale to trade some household goods for money to spend at the local movie theater. There have been times in history when money has absolutely no value to anyone. Remember the Titanic? As the ship was sinking into the dark, icy ocean, people of all levels of society were scrambling to climb into the lifeboats. Because there were not enough boats to save all the passengers, choices were made. In that sort of situation, no one in their right mind would have traded their seat on a lifeboat for any amount of money. Getting out of the lifeboat was a death sentence. Money would not save them...

Fine Dining, the Titanic, and the Wrath of the LambChristina Fox2023-12-01T14:41:45+00:00

Advent Devotional: Micah 5:2

BARBARANNE KELLY | CONTRIBUTOR But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. — Micah 5:2 Do you ever get lost while traveling, and need to stop to ask for directions? It’s tempting to read the journey of the wise men in the Gospel of Matthew in terms of the logistics of pre-modern travel. The wise men’s astronomical GPS (the star) led them to the region of Judea, but to find their specific destination they needed to ask the local folks—road signs and maps to the birthplace of the Messiah not yet in existence. However, when Micah prophesied the birthplace of the Messiah centuries before the fact, the Lord was revealing far more than a location on a map for the sake of future travelers. Micah 5:2, speaks a word of hope to despairing people lost in their sins. This word of hope is a single signpost among many for lost and weary sinners, pointing the way to the birth of Christ. And the road to Bethlehem, joining other roads to become a highway of God’s covenant faithfulness, began in God’s covenant promise to David, a promise of peace and rest that would be achieved by the son of David whose kingdom would be established forever (2 Sam. 7:12–13). Though there were good kings among the sons of David, even the best of them were only fallen men. The few who were faithful could not undo the wickedness of those who had been unfaithful. Of all the kings of Judah, not one lived up to the promise of David’s greater son (1 Chron. 17:1–14). By Micah’s day, the judgment of the Lord was poised to strike because of the faithlessness of God’s people; they would soon be overcome by their enemies and hauled off to exile in a foreign country. And yet, even as prophecies of fearsome destruction flow from his lips, Micah breaks to speak of one who will be born in Bethlehem “who is to be ruler in Israel.” Who could this be but the promised son of David? When he says this ruler’s “coming forth is from of old, from ancient days,” he is certainly recalling the multitude of prophecies already made concerning David’s greater son, for this ruler “shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,” (4; cf. 2 Sam. 5:2)...

Advent Devotional: Micah 5:2Christina Fox2023-12-01T14:34:57+00:00

What Psalm 46 Says to the Chaos of Life

KRISTI MCCOWN | GUEST How many of us when we are asked the question, "How are you, what's been going on in your life?" the answer is, "I'm just so busy." I know that feeling as a mother of five, it’s one I’ve felt often. My husband and I are in the scattering phase of parenting where our children have begun leaving home one by one. We are down to just one child left at home and yet it is still busy! In the chaos and busyness of life, I want to turn to God’s Word for comfort and truth to guide me. Yet, for years I approached the Bible as a list of rules—the do's and don'ts of life—and believed that I just needed to do what it said; I need to “be good.” Of course, I couldn’t be good enough and so I often felt defeated. More than that, I treated the Bible like my own personal self-help manual. When I felt anxious, I searched for a verse that talked about anxiety. I did the same when I felt angry or jealous or unhappy. While the Bible does touch on every emotion I feel, the theme of the Bible is not about what I’m going through. I’ve since learned that God's Word is not about me at all; it’s about Jesus. It’s the story of God rescuing sinful man through the life and death of His Son, Jesus Christ. However, God does welcome me into His story and when I learn about who He is and what He has done through Christ, it shapes my own story. So, when I am struggling and reach for God's Word looking for an explanation for the chaos of life and how to find rest in all the busyness, I turn to what I’ve learned about the Bible. The first question I ask when I approach any passage is: What does this tell me about God? Who is He? What has He done? And when it comes to finding rest in the chaos of life, the Holy Spirit reminds me of Psalm 46...

What Psalm 46 Says to the Chaos of LifeChristina Fox2023-11-25T16:34:49+00:00

Advent Devotional: Isaiah 7:14

SARAH IVILL | CONTRIBUTOR With all the bells and bows, presents and programs, musicals and melodies of the Christmas season, there is no truth more comforting than the promise that God is with us. For many of us, the season can spark sorrow that seems to threaten our joy. How wonderful, then, that we can focus on the truth of God’s presence. One of the many passages of Scripture in which this truth is revealed is Isaiah 7:14, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God is with us].” In the broader context of this verse (Isa. 6:1-7:17) we learn several important truths about the God we celebrate during Advent. First, He is great, glorious, and holy. Second, as the holy God, He is completely different than anyone or anything else. Third, He reigns over the entire world. There is no king like Him in all the earth. Fourth, no one can stand before Him apart from His Son, Jesus Christ. Finally, God’s Son will atone for the sins of God’s people. In the more immediate context of Isaiah 7:14, the Lord sent the prophet Isaiah to King Ahaz, who reigned over Judah at the time, with a difficult message: Israel and Syria would be destroyed. However, the Lord would preserve a remnant of true worshipers. Furthermore, the Lord gave Ahaz a sign. A virgin would conceive and bear a son who would be named “Immanuel [God is with us]” (Isa. 7:14). He would refuse to do evil and only choose to do good. This sign served as a guarantee that the king of Assyria would shatter both Israel and Syria, but in the midst of the darkness, God’s presence and God’s people would prevail...

Advent Devotional: Isaiah 7:14Christina Fox2023-11-25T16:29:58+00:00

Encouragement for Moms During the Busy Holiday Season

LISA UPDIKE | GUEST The holidays. The smell of cinnamon wafts through the air. Families gather around our tables. Smiles, laughter, and music. Our hearts fill with excitement and, and…. Oh, let’s just admit it! Our hearts fill with a sense of panic! There is so much pressure heaped upon us, especially women. You must make great grandma’s corn recipe for Thanksgiving and then endure hearing how it’s not quite the same as hers. You must have a perfectly decorated house, mantel overflowing with the figurines passed down from your husband’s family. You must create wonderful memories and uphold all the family traditions. Shop, wrap, smile, go to every activity, don’t gain weight, and make sure everyone is happy. It’s simply exhausting! Isn’t this supposed to be the “hap-happiest season of all”? Well, yes. It is. The holiday season: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. Each one really is cause for “good cheer.” Taking time to be thankful to our heavenly Father, rejoicing in the arrival of the long promised Savior, and pausing to consider what God has done in the past year while looking forward to His continued work in the new, are actually really good things to celebrate. Our hearts ought to be lifted! So, let’s take a step back and figure out where all this pressure is coming from, put it in its rightful place, and lay hold of the joy that the Lord has for us in this season!...

Encouragement for Moms During the Busy Holiday SeasonChristina Fox2023-11-25T16:12:56+00:00

Advent Devotional: Jeremiah 23:1-6

CHRISTINE GORDON|GUEST 1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD. 3 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD. 5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:1-6) Consider this scenario: you hire a babysitter to care for your young children for a few days. When you check in on them, you realize that instead of feeding them, the sitter has neglected them. Instead of keeping them safe in your house and yard, enforcing rules for their safety, the sitter has been so brutal that the children have run from the house, out into the neighborhood and streets. They are now hungry, unprotected, and flirting with danger. What might your heart for your children and your response to the sitter be? Any parent would feel protective love for the children and outrage mixed with enormous anger at the sitter. Shepherds Failed God’s People This is the situation God is addressing in Jeremiah 23. God called Jeremiah around 626BC to prophesy to the southern kingdom of Israel. God’s words to these people included his anger with them for their idolatry, and warnings of a force coming from the north that would punish them if they didn’t change their ways. God spoke in particular about the failure of Israel’s leaders to care for his people. These leaders failed the people fantastically, leaving them ignorant and drifting into idolatry. In his protective love for his people, he provided priests, prophets, and kings to guide, protect, and uphold justice. In Jeremiah’s time, leaders were often referred to as shepherds. God intended for them to shepherd his people with tender care, as a shepherd protects his sheep. But far from that attentive watchfulness, these shepherds had abused their positions of power, and actually scattered the flock they were to preserve. In these words of chapter 23 we feel the anger of God and his heart for his wandering people who have not been pastored well. At this point in the book of Jeremiah, the first wave of exiles had probably already been taken out of the city of Jerusalem and transported to Babylon as prisoners. In verse two, God says through Jeremiah that because these shepherds had failed to attend his people with their love and care, he would attend the shepherds with his punishment...

Advent Devotional: Jeremiah 23:1-6Christina Fox2023-11-15T21:56:42+00:00

When Hope is Deferred

JAMYE DOERFLER | CONTRIBUTOR Behind every book, there’s a story. When I tell the short version of the story behind my book The Advent Investigator, it goes like this: no one else had written an advent devotional geared toward middle and high schoolers, so I did. That sounds nice and tidy, but it’s not even close to the full story. Before this book, there were others. Those books were pretty far removed from an advent devotional for teens. Before this book, there were literary novels. One, I wrote when my three boys were young, waking up every morning before they did to work. For six years, I wrote and revised based on feedback from friends and professionals. I submitted to literary agents and had close calls but no offers of representation. I filed away the “I think you’re a wonderful writer but…” emails. I took the “almost” phone call with an agent and put my head back down and continued working and submitting. I am nothing if not persistent. Then, one day, it broke me. I woke to another rejection in my inbox. This was nothing new, but for some reason, it was the one that crushed me. I sat in the rocking chair and wept with my husband. “I don’t know why I keep doing this to myself.” I had to stop. Except that I couldn’t stop. I’d been writing more or less daily since high school. I’d always had a sense that writing was a gift God created me with, that it was a key part of my identity and purpose on earth. How could I give up on that? With my children now in school, I wrote another novel and submitted it to literary agents again. Requests for the manuscript poured in. Later, so did the rejections. “As with your first novel, there’s much to be admired in your writing, but…” I swallowed those bitter little pills like they were nothing; everyone knows rejection is inherent in art. A couple dozen went down easily. Then, like before, one of them made me choke. I pulled on my sneakers and went for a run. Tears streamed down my face as I pushed my body until I could barely breathe, attempting to eclipse the emotional pain with bodily pain. I pleaded with God as I ran. Why did you give me a desire only to thwart it? Why did you make me like this? By this point, I had put over ten years and thousands of hours into my novels. I’d eschewed other career paths and had pinned my hopes on this single outcome. I’m not being melodramatic when I say that this failure is the greatest disappointment in my life. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Prov. 13:12)...

When Hope is DeferredChristina Fox2023-11-14T21:57:26+00:00

Happy Thanksgiving

CHRISTINA FOX | EDITOR Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from all of us at enCourage! "...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:18).

Happy ThanksgivingChristina Fox2023-11-01T18:53:13+00:00

Gratitude for Both the Good and the Hard

KRISTEN THOMPSON | GUEST One of my favorite childhood Thanksgiving traditions was the making of “thankful turkeys” with my family. We would list things we were grateful for on paper shaped feathers and then glue them to a cutout of a turkey. As a kid, it was easy to tape feather after feather onto my turkey: family, school, friends, candy corn, Thanksgiving Day rolls, etc. Recently, I’ve wondered why it feels harder as an adult to list my “feathers of gratitude” than it did as a kid. After all, I’ve experienced more years of God’s presence and faithfulness in my life, and I know Scripture better now than I did back then. However, more years of life have also brought more trials. Though I trust God’s sanctification of me is ongoing, gratitude is one area where it seems like the older I get, the more my natural bent is to grumble rather than give thanks—much like the Israelites grumbled after God delivered them from slavery (Ex. 15:24, 16:2, 17:3). I too am quick to forget God’s provision in my life. But Scripture is filled with calls to give thanks to God (read almost any of the Psalms or Paul’s letters and you’ll find the words “thanks” or “thanksgiving” scattered across them). 1 Thessalonians 5:18 even includes giving thanks as part of “God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” Why is this such an important command, and what should we be thankful for?...

Gratitude for Both the Good and the HardChristina Fox2023-11-01T18:45:58+00:00

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