“The B-I-B-L-E. Yes, that’s the book for me…” Ok, aside from the fact that you will be singing this for the rest of the day (you’re welcome), do you ever, if we’re being honest here, feel a little overwhelmed, maybe even intimidated by the idea of studying the Bible?

Is God Good or Not? This question was posed to me during a conversation with a fellow pastor, and as I was wrestling with hurts and disappointments from the past in my journey with God it became apparent: do I believe God is good? Because either He is, or He isn’t.

It has been an intense month for sure. Sometimes being a pastor has its ups and downs. The ups are that you get to share in people’s celebrations and victories. You get to point people back to Jesus, pray with them and share your testimony and experience of how God has saved you from the pit of hell.

It is one of those seasons where so many of my conversations with people go to the same place: people feeling stretched and stressed, feeling resentful toward others, letting anxiety overwhelm them and pull them into apathy.

“I am overwhelmed…” I have used this phrase so very many times throughout my life, as I am sure many others have. The thing about this phrase is how differently it can be interpreted depending upon your circumstances … as well as your spiritual journey.

Someone has said that we display externally what we are living internally. After speaking in chapter 2 about how when we were dead in our sin, Christ made us alive through faith. The emphasis is clearly on what Christ has done.

Power transforms. It changes things. A toy with dead batteries become alive when fresh power is given to it. When the grandchildren can’t carry something, they ask Daddy or Pappy to pick it up. They know we have the power to do it. Power enables. It is essential to life.

We were traveling recently and as we prepared to leave our hotel room, I turned the light off by the bed. Suddenly, we could not see to make our way to the door. We need more light, not less light. I turned it back on until we hit the switch by the door. You can only go so far on the light you have and then you need more light.

As we begin the new year, I have been seeking the Lord regarding insight into the direction of our church over the next twelve months. We want to see Him pour out His Spirit in new and fresh ways, and see our church grow in maturity and in numbers.

The Messiah is described as a royal heir. He is born to govern, and His rule will bring remarkable blessings to God’s people. The next verse says, “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end…” Now, I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that our world isn’t full of peace. It feels far from peaceful. What do we do with this? Our world needs peace. Individuals need peace. Families need peace. Christians needs peace. How do we live a life of peace that Jesus has given us? Do we expect the unexpected? Do I expect Jesus to show up and give me the peace I need?

Taxes. Greeeeat. Put that on your Christmas card! Doesn’t exactly fit the whole “Home for the Holidays” Hallmark Channel vibe now, does it? And not only that, but a disruptive cross country move … at the most inconvenient time. Whose idea was this anyway?

What words from God do you hold close? Are they words of wisdom, promises, commands?

“Surprise!” I am THAT person when it comes to loving surprises. I am also THAT guy when it comes to guessing surprises. My poor wife has tried to surprise me many times, but I just have a knack for picking up on it. The only times she’s managed to stump me was when the gift was so “out of left field” there was no way of guessing it. a self-evaluation which he believes his family and community would be better off if he were never born. I highly doubt Mr. George Bailey is the only person who has ever felt this way.

Are you ready for Christmas? This seems to be the question we all ask each other this time of year. We are just making small talk, but what would happen if we really asked each other this question. What do we really need to be ready for Christmas? To be truly ready we must be patient, wait and filled with anticipation of Jesus’s Birth.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a classic movie my family and I watch during the Christmas season. Spoiler alert: one man’s circumstances lead to a self-evaluation which he believes his family and community would be better off if he were never born. I highly doubt Mr. George Bailey is the only person who has ever felt this way.

All my life, I never really gave those Magi much thought. I mean, we all know about them, we’ve sung the song a thousand times, but have you ever really thought about this whole scenario surrounding their story?

In many ways, the shepherds could be considered the first evangelists in history, even pre-dating the Great Commission mandate. When they heard the news about the birth of Jesus and saw Him for themselves as a baby, they couldn’t help spreading the news of everything they had witnessed. They were expecting the Messiah and they found Him.

The Prince of Peace caused a disturbance in all of Jerusalem. Could it have been any other way? Not likely... Jesus’ interactions with humanity routinely evoked responses such as alarm, excitement, and confusion. For instance, He startled a boat full of disciples one stormy moonlit night while walking across the Sea of Galilee. Remember the uproar when He blindsided Bartimaeus by restoring his eyesight? Let’s not forget how Jesus rattled the crowd, calling forth Lazarus from the grave four days after his death.

At this point in the Gospel of Matthew we read about Joseph receiving a dream to return to Israel from Egypt because Herod is dead. However, Joseph still being afraid to return to Judah due to Archelaus reigning in place of his father Herod, decided to settle in Galilee, in the town called Nazareth. As Matthew points out this was a fulfillment of the prophecy that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene.

Since this is an Advent devotional, I was somewhat surprised to get this verse. Interestingly, my monthly Bible study when I received this verse was entitled, “The Truth About Anxiety: Calming Your Soul in a Chaotic World.” No coincidence! I soon discovered how often the words fear and anxiety appear in scripture, usually accompanied by the word “don’t.” God fully understands that fear and anxiety are a struggle for us humans, especially in light of current events in our world!