The eternal Son of God breaks through into our reality. He takes on flesh that we could behold His glory. This incarnation of the Messiah, the God-Man, has caused many to rise and many to fall.

Life has many twists and turns; things don’t always turn out the way we imagine. We may have dreams that are shattered or surprises that are unexpected.

Numerous times in the Bible an angel speaks, “Do not be afraid.” So much is happening in this crazy world; how can we not fear? There is only one answer … God. He alone is sovereign over all creation AND HE LOVES US! If we believe this, then surely we can trust Him and not fear anything in this world. Trust, not fear!

Expecting the unexpected. Yes, this scripture I’m sure was on the lips of many who waited for a savior. Living in difficult times, governed by foreign men. Many hoped for and expected a savior with political power, to free them from the captors of their day. I wonder how many waited for the One who actually came. A Lamb slain, not for political freedom, but for spiritual freedom and life eternal.

Did the town of Bethlehem have a self-esteem problem? Perhaps not … it may be that they were just as God planned for them to be: small. While this prophecy acknowledges Bethlehem’s size, and the town’s unlikeliness for anything “big” to come from there, it’s more important that God declares, against all odds, “You are in My plan, and it’s gonna be big!”

The story of Christmas is littered with the daily. People were getting up and going to work. People were having to respond to government demands. People were getting married. And religious people were doing religious things. But then there was the unexpected.

I was introduced to holding space by women on a weekend and God used it to transform my life. In my mind’s eye, holding space is holding the door open for another, it is anticipating their movement into a new space. Holding space protects, it invites, it welcomes. Holding space involves hope and most definitely occupies the presence of God. Holding space is hospitality in a truly intimate form.

Have you ever told someone you would pray for them when they were going through a difficult time but really wished you could do more? I’ve been in that position and have wondered if my prayers really helped. Sometimes I’ve been on the receiving end of the prayers and thought to myself “someone must be praying for me right now because I have so much peace.”

Our lives are full of activity … job or career changes, transitions, family milestones (weddings, births), health challenges, etc. and many more diverse life events along the way. Our family recently celebrated the wedding of our youngest son about a month ago, and that was such a joyous and happy occasion!

Halftimes come in all our lives at different times and seasons. They are a time for us to pause, breathe, reflect, and ask the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and courage. Wisdom to know what is working, what is not working in our lives, and what needs to change.

Sometimes, just when you think nothing is going on beneath the surface, God is bringing things to fruition. Pre-COVID, the Opioid Crisis was referred to as hitting our nation like a pandemic. I was knee deep in training recovery coaches, a member of the Erie County Opioid Task Force, helping launch REGEN, working with the WNY Christian Medical and Dental Association, etc. Suddenly a new headline broke and stole the whole show.

Today I come to you with just a word of encouragement if you’re feeling like God isn’t around, doesn’t hear your prayers, doesn’t speak to you through your devotions, worship, or spirit; just know that He still loves you.

The word “Sabbath” isn’t something we hear much about anymore. Sundays used to be family days when stores were shut down and we spent time just being together in church and at home. How things have changed!

Raise your hand if you know Mary and Martha. If you’ve hung around church enough, you know these names well. And if ever you wanted a star on your Sunday School card you knew which one you wanted to be. The one Jesus commended, of course! The one who sat at His feet and LISTENED to Him. The one who Jesus said, “made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42) You hear that, Martha? It ain’t you! (But don’t worry … you’ll have your day later … in John 11) Yeah, sign me up to be Mary. Sitting at Jesus feet. Unencumbered by all that doing and distraction and worrying about many things. Nope, I want to be free from all that. I want to be Mary.

Amid very difficult circumstances, whether it is a mass shooting or families living in impoverished conditions, the question is often raised, where is God? As I reflect on my first few months on staff, I can’t help but be amazed at the work God is doing. In my role as Pastor of Missions and Mobilization, I have the privilege of meeting with a variety of ministries that are being used of God to bring about hope to people who are hurting and don’t know where to find hope.

Being raised Catholic was a good foundation for me growing up. Although, in my younger years, I didn’t know (or honestly care to know) much about Jesus. I have always believed that there is a Creator, and I was always fearful of Him. No one in my immediate family had a close relationship or really any kind of meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ, except for maybe my mom.

Do you ever feel a little like Job? Throughout my life I’ve had many health challenges, but always spaced out enough to appropriately recover from them until this past year. The last year has been a revolving door of mystery illnesses followed by no answers. I stay strong around the doctors and my family but when I find myself alone, I can’t help but cry out, “I need you”, “Please heal me”, ”Why is this happening to me?”, “Where are you?”

How is your prayer life? There have been times throughout the last couple of years that I don’t think I would have wanted to answer that question. You see, I had been praying for something for years. Seven years actually. A prayer that I wasn’t sure God was going to answer. Did He hear me? Did He even care about it? I’m sure I can’t be the only one that has ever felt or thought this.

I have been reading “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers this summer and one recent morning my son and I were in a devotional titled “What Do You Want the Lord to Do for You?” The scripture reference was Luke 18:41, “Lord that I may receive my sight.” ... My son and I digested all that we just read, and the most amazing discussion ensued. I assumed all this had gone right over his head as he is only 12 years old but as always with God, wisdom and clarity burst through like rays of sunshine after the storm.