Knowing God is the most important thing. In Luke 2:41-52, we discover a moment from Jesus’ childhood when He stayed behind in Jerusalem after the Passover feast. Jesus was fully God, but He was also fully human. And as a human, Jesus recognized something very...
Our Faithful PartnerThus says the LORD: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent...
All of our new beginnings grow from a previous ending. As we close the books on 2022 and write the first lines of our story in a new year, let’s consider one essential question to guide our thoughts and actions. Read Ezra chapter 3 along with Zechariah 4:10, what do...
Never stop searching for what’s true. We kick off January with the end of the Christmas story. In Matthew 2:1-12, we meet wise men from the east whose lives were dedicated to discovering more about the universe. One night they noticed a bright star that led them on an...
Waiting on PeaceI waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1 (NIV)A while back I made a horrible mistake and I ended up causing some dear friends an incredible amount of pain. I took responsibility for my actions and apologized...
The good news is for everyone. Jesus is born! God could have announced the birth of the Savior to anyone. But in Luke 2:8-20, we read that God didn’t choose to share Jesus’ birth with kings, government officials, or religious leaders. Rather, God sent an angel choir...
The wise men followed the light of a star toward Jesus. Have you ever wondered how they decided to make that long journey following light from a star and who these wise men were? Maybe you have more in common with them than you realize. How could responding to God’s...
Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. Ecclesiastes 11:7 (ESV)s I walked along the dry-stone wall, the last rays of sunlight gasped a final breath before disappearing behind the scenic peak in the distance. It wasn’t even...
Joseph must have been excited to get married but crushed when he learned his fiancée was pregnant (and he was not the father). After listening to a messenger from God, Joseph was reassured that Mary was miraculously pregnant and would fulfill God's promise by giving...
Jesus is the greatest gift. In Luke 2:1-7, we see how God’s greatest gift finally arrived. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for the census. The town was bustling with people, leaving no room for them to stay. Thankfully, they found a place where the animals were...
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV) ecently, I was tidying my house when one of my six-year-old’s ‘masterpieces’ accidentally found its way into the trash. A meltdown ensued, partly...
God’s people, the nation of Israel, waited hopefully over centuries for God to send their promised Messiah. Finally, a young woman named Mary, responded with faith to an angel’s surprising announcement that God was fulfilling his promise through her. Hope is a...
Anything is possible with God. In week two, we head to Luke 1:5-66 where we find Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary. Zechariah and Elizabeth were older, and it seemed impossible that they’d ever have a child of their own. But one day an angel came to Zechariah and told...
Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79 (NASB)his trail sure looks different in...
The past serves as an enduring reminder of God’s faithfulness. And God’s wonders of old are worth celebrating. But live in the past too comfortably and you’ll run the risk of missing the experience and excitement of God’s future blessings. When God’s glory is always...
God always has a plan. We kick off December with an Old Testament prophecy found in Isaiah 9:6-7. The story of Christmas begins with promises that God made long before Jesus was born. God’s people had been waiting for hundreds of years for God to send the Savior. Many...
Hearing for the HolidaysA fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. Proverbs 18:2 (NIV)As much as I would love for my family holidays to reflect the lyrics of the Christmas music we hear at this time of year, for most of us, having a...
Dark Nights, Faithful GodAll of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ Matthew...
David recalled his painful challenges as well as remembered God’s faithfulness. God often uses gratitude to ignite life change for us and encourage faith in him. How can we develop a discipline of gratitude to change our perspective on life? Read Psalm 40 paying...
You can do what you should even when you don’t know what will happen. In week four, we discover the story of Esther in the Book of Esther. Esther had no idea how God would use her when she was chosen to become Queen of Persia. But, her cousin Mordecai reminded her...
The One Who ThanksAnd one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. Luke 17:15-16 (NKJV)The woman and her young daughter in front of me at...