The story of the Magi is a beautiful reminder that sincere faith doesn’t stumble into Jesus accidentally—it seeks Him with intention, humility, and expectation. Matthew tells us these wise men came asking. Their question wasn’t casual. It came from careful study, discernment, and a readiness to follow wherever God led.

The Christmas story is woven with wonder—but also with quiet, everyday humility. Not the flashy kind that draws attention, but the surrendered, steady, obedient humility that honors God in the unseen places. Each person in the narrative—Joseph, Mary, the shepherds—shows us a different glimpse of what humble faith looks like lived out.

The Word of God is complete. Comprehensive. It doesn’t give us partial instructions or half-formed guidance. It speaks to the whole of who we are and the whole of how we’re called to live.

We all walk through days where everything feels routine. Predictable. A little too familiar. The work in front of us seems small, uncelebrated, and easily overlooked—and it can make us feel that way too. Most days aren’t thrilling or traumatic—they’re simply normal.

When others come looking for hope, encouragement, or truth, we don’t rely on our own recipes. We pray and ask the Lord—the Bread of Life, the Living Word—to show us what to prepare and how to offer it.

Peter was passionate, impulsive, full of faith and fear all at once. He wanted to protect Jesus from pain, to preserve the moment of glory, to act when all he really needed to do was listen.

The world defines success by achievement, accumulation, appearance, and approval. It applauds the visible—the wealth, the influence, the recognition, the comfort. But God measures success by something deeper and often unseen.

There is only One who is 100% trustworthy, 100% true, and 100% loyal. He will never fail you, forsake you, or forget you. His truth is not conditional. His love is not transactional. His faithfulness does not depend on your performance.

We want to choose our change, but often, change chooses us. It’s constant and inevitable. The question is: how do we prepare our hearts, minds, and souls to lean into it — through the pressure, the uncertainty, and the discomfort — rather than resist it?

The question isn’t whether grief will come—it’s where you’ll go with it when it does. There are moments when sorrow feels too heavy to name, when you wonder who could ever understand it. You ask, What is the cure for this deep pain?

We all know the sting of regret. It comes in many forms—sadness, disappointment over something said or done, a choice made, or a missed opportunity. Regret can leave us with remorse, sorrow, even heartache. And if left unchecked, it often grows into bitterness, resentment, guilt, shame, or blame. What begins as a moment of failure becomes a roadblock that drags behind us like a weight, making it hard to move forward.

Jesus calls Himself the true vine. A vine grows from the root, sending life through every branch. To remain connected to Him is to receive that life, to bear fruit that lasts. Maximum fruitfulness requires pruning, and pruning is painful. But pain in His hands always leads to greater productivity. Dead wood only weakens and harms the vine.

We do not fear the Lord for what we “get” in return, but for the privilege of what He has already given—His very presence and, through Jesus, His resurrection life.

Nothing is quite as painful for a parent as watching a child struggle. How many times have we said—or heard someone say—“I just want my child to be happy”?

That’s the God we serve—He takes what seems empty, insufficient, or broken and fills it to overflowing.

Anything worth having is worth fighting for. We know this in so many areas of life—whether it’s health, relationships, or goals we’ve set for ourselves. Why would we think that faith, with all its promises and benefits, would come without a struggle?

Today, right where you are, God is at work. Not just someday in the future. Not only in the past when you can look back and see how He carried you through. Right now—in this moment, in this place—He is who He says He is.

Our first “yes” to Jesus is life-changing—it sets us on the path toward our true destination: life everlasting with Him.

Without repentance, sin always circles back. It returns again and again—repeating, ruining, eroding our lives and the lives of those we love. That’s the nature of unrepentant sin: it doesn't stay still, and it doesn’t stay private.

Tomorrow is my birthday—and not just any birthday. I’m stepping into a new decade of life. Milestones like this invite reflection. They help me pause, look back with gratitude, and look ahead with faith.