Christmas - Barbara Lynn Seibel

December 21, 2025December 20, 2025

Have You Prepared Your Heart for Christmas? | Part Four

Are you familiar with the saying, “Home is where the heart is”?

What does this saying imply to you?

Does the implication change depending on whether you still live in the town where you were born or if you live thousands of miles away from your birthplace?

When I lost my husband to mental illness in July 2024, it was interesting how many people’s questions frequently revolved around whether I would move back to my birthplace or stay where I currently live. This question came from family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers.

Obviously, this question arose from a place of care and concern since I am about a thousand miles from my family roots.

My mother has shared that she regularly responds that I’ve lived in my current location for twenty-some years now when she is asked if I’ll move back to where she lives. Often, people will then say to her, “Oh, her life is there then.”

I’ll share how I am answering this question in relation to the saying, “home is where the heart is” and the study of Luke 2:1-20 that follows at the end of this post.

December 1, 2025December 1, 2025

Have You Prepared Your Heart for Christmas?

Part One

In the United States and many other cultures, it’s hard not to know that the annual celebration of Christmas is coming thanks to the retail industry.

Not to be outdone, the entertainment industry also makes sure the culture is aware.

But neither the retail nor the entertainment industry is what I’m referring to by asking, “Have you prepared your heart for Christmas?”

I’m desiring to look past the tinsel, gifts, and frivolity to something much more personal and enduring.

Join me in exploring some thoughts from Micah, where a promise was given regarding what our hearts need most.

December 25, 2022December 25, 2022

What Are You Joyfully Celebrating Part Four

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday, Christmas eve, my husband returned home after attending our church’s 2:00 pm worship service to tend to our pets before heading over to a friend’s house to share an evening meal and play a game of Scrabble.

While my husband was outside walking our dog, he noticed running water coming from the back of a neighbor’s house. Given the temperatures had been at record lows for our area overnight and had barely risen above freezing by this point, my husband immediately intervened.

Thankfully, the neighbor was home, enabling my husband to instruct them on how to turn their water off and encourage them to contact an emergency plumber.

Then, as we were loading our car up to head to our friend’s house, a fire truck arrived. Another one of our neighbor’s homes had sprung a leak as well. Unfortunately, they were not at home. Thus, the firefighters had to turn their water off from the street with some guidance from my husband where the access existed.

Even though we were running late, my husband took time to reach out to our neighborhood group to report that water was off in these two homes, with the specifics of one being turned off from inside the house and the other from the street.

What does any of this have to do with joyful celebration and verse four of the carol Joy to the World?

December 18, 2022December 18, 2022

What Are you Joyfully Celebrating? Part Three

Recently my husband and I have hosted some driveway firepit nights.

The most recent time was on Thanksgiving evening. We prepared a traditional thanksgiving meal but shared it around a driveway firepit instead of a formal table setting. It was a relaxing and simple time of joyful celebration with our friends who joined us.

One of our neighbors even came over to join in the fun for a bit.

Our conversations flowed easily as we enjoyed the warmth of the flames, the succor of the savory foods, and the fellowship in a laid-back setting.

How does this relate to this series of considering what we are joyfully celebrating this holiday season?

December 19, 2021December 19, 2021

O Christmas Tree: Part Three

A Sublime Lesson

Spending time pondering the meaning of a familiar Christmas carol, O Christmas Tree, has revealed a depth of meaning to this tree song previously overlooked.

In everyday conversations I seldom hear the word sublime used.

The first definition of sublime is: lofty, grand, or exalted in thought, expression, or manner.

Lesson, though, is frequently used in a variety of ways.

But did you know that the first definition of the word lesson is: a passage from sacred writings read in a service worship?

Why does verse three of O Christmas Tree use these two words?

December 5, 2021December 3, 2021

O Christmas Tree: Part One

I have pointed out before the intention of God’s landscaping the earth to bring us and himself pleasure. Writing now in the month of December our American culture is busy setting up trees and decorating them in our homes, work, and public places. We also decorate doors, windows, mantles, etc. with fresh greenery (or imitation!) Have you ever wondered why we do this? What is all the fuss about dragging trees and greenery out to decorate in honor of Christmas and singing O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree for English speaking people)?