Tag: freedom in Christ

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Jehovah Jireh, My Provider

“Jehovah Jireh, My Provider, His grace is sufficient for me, for me, for me…”

This is just one of the songs that’s been running through my mind lately.

It is a good reminder, amid a world of uncertainty that God is reliable. His grace covers me! He does not sleep nor slumber. He has never lost a battle. He is always victorious! He loves me, He is for me, He protects me, He brings me peace, and yes, He provides for me!

Hebrews 13:8, says, “ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” God is unchanging, always full of grace and truth. He is not surprised by anything.

One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), which says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Free Winter Pine Tree photo and picture

All I have to do is trust in Jesus, and do what He says. He has a good plan for me, and I just need to walk it out. Everything I need is in Him.

What is for me, is for me. If it is in God’s plan for me, nothing can stop it (except my own lack of faith). As long as I seek Him first, it will all work out. Looking back, some of our greatest trials bring our greatest triumphs!

Remember, God is not only your Provider, He is your Source. He has ways of providing for you that you don’t even know! As Dennis Rainey once said, “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills… and He owns the hills, too.”

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You.” If you need peace today, think about the Lord. Meditate on Jesus’ sacrificial love. Consider His goodness toward you. Remember His faithfulness and all the ways He has come through for you in the past!

So, instead of chasing chaos today, remember God’s goodness and mercy are chasing you! His grace is sufficient for all you are going through.

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Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus! Thanks for giving us all we need to live a godly life. You are so good and faithful. Help us trust You to provide for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you an avid news reader or not? Do you notice how it affects your sense of peace and security? What are the positives? What are the negatives?

Task: Praise God for all the ways He provides for you! If something is causing fear or anxiety, cut it out so you can focus on the Truth of God’s love. There is no fear in love.

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Finding Grace #465

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free Snow House photo and picture

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This felt like a longer week, but overall, it was good.

At work, I had a few meetings and lots of great patients. I had some good conversations with several coworkers and worked on some annual competencies. I also had several Veterans who were grateful to meet with me. Despite the political drama nationally, I am glad to be a federal employee and feel proud of my service role.

The weather was a bit warmer in the 40s. On Wednesday, I told a friend, “This is amazing for February…” and she reminded me that it was January! But, of course, today is the first of February, and we are getting a dusting of snow. 😉

I had a lot of good conversations with family and friends this week. I am so glad for all the people in my circle!

Today, I relaxed a bit at home and then ran around the VA kitchen, as I picked up an evening shift. I was filling in, but someone also called in sick, so it was good I went in. It always feels good to work hard!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Personality, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

I have written a lot about choosing faith over fear and moving forward despite obstacles that inevitably arise. But what does that look like? 

Recently, I had a decision to make but was waffling a bit, thinking about the pros and cons. I am at peace now and have taken the first step. But, to get me there, it took prayer, research, and discussion. However, the biggest thing for me was recognizing fear in the background. Yes, it is always a factor, even still!

I quickly saw that the right decision was one that included faith. Faith is not about seeing the answer but the vision of what is possible. Fear and uncertainty cloud our sight and always like to hold us back!

Free Mountain Rock photo and picture

On Sunday, my church’s worship session helped me focus on God. A lot of this blog post came to me then, so I raced home to put down my thoughts. It has evolved a little, but here’s what I wrote on the back of my church notes! 🙂

When you are between a rock and a hard place, lean into the Rock. God is our refuge. He is safe and secure, solid… but don’t try to control Him or restrict His power.

Nothing is impossible for God. Believe He wants to do big things. Take a stand. Be bold and step out in faith! Do the brave thing. Keep an open heart and mind. Keep hope alive.

Be humble and trust that God knows all the details. Give Him the glory for doing what only He can do! He is the “Way Maker, Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness.”

Free Landscape Cape photo and picture

As I move forward, I need these reminders from time to time. I’m grateful God is there to help us make good choices. I hope this encourages you to make faith-filled decisions today. The alternative, fear, is a miserable way to live!

If you have put your faith in Jesus, you have personal access to the God of the Universe. He is with you and for you! You are covered with grace and forgiveness.  You are loved beyond measure. God has chosen you for His infinite purposes!

So, don’t try to limit God. Give Him the space to move and see what He does for you! His power cannot be contained. All He does is GOOD. Nothing can stand against Him!

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God, thanks for always coming through for us. Give us wisdom and help us make faith-filled decisions. May we honor You in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How do you like to make decisions? Do you have a hard time trusting God?

Task: As you make decisions, weigh out the pros and cons. Ask for input from those in your inner circle. Choose wisely, and most of all, don’t let fear or uncertainty hold you back. The right choices come with peace, even when you can’t see how all the details fit into place!

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Personality, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Pain Has A Purpose

Lately, I’ve seen many people dealing with challenging circumstances, quite a few of which have worsened in recent months. Whether someone’s pain is related to financial health, physical health, mental health, consequences of someone’s actions, grief or loss, or something else, the emotions are very real.

When life throws you a curveball, how do you respond?

Undoubtedly, we’ve all wondered why bad things happen to good people. I covered much of this in my book, based on my own experiential understanding of pain. But it has been a while since I talked about it here. Each of us handles pain a little differently, although there are probably some broad similarities, too.

The world sees pain as proof that God doesn’t exist. “If God really loved me, why we would He let that happen?” The devil uses pain to make us believe that God doesn’t care, that He has abandoned us. He twists God’s character and lies to us, sometimes leading us toward a sinful response when we mistrust God.

Free Landscape Winter photo and picture
Yet, pain is a tool God uses to get our attention and to teach us. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” from The Problem of Pain, chapter 6

In reality, it’s good for our faith to be tested sometimes. We find out who or what we’ve been relying on. Anything less than Jesus is going to fail. Let Him refine you.

We have small tests of faith daily. If I sit in a chair, there’s a fleeting moment that I have to trust it to hold me! We trust total strangers, such as airplane pilots, firefighters, and even garbagemen, to do their jobs and come through for us. But, we can struggle to trust God, who created us and loves us so much.

It is much easier for me these days to trust God because I have put Him to the test. But, that doesn’t mean I never face another challenge. I will face trials as long as I am here on this lovely planet. Jesus reminded us of that, but He also reminded us He is always with us. That’s a promise! 

Free Mountains Mountain Peaks photo and picture
Pain and trials are often linked. We may not understand the purpose until much later. Nonetheless, I heard an interesting perspective this week that I am still thinking about: It may feel like God is picking on us, but really, He is picking us. There is a big difference!

We see this in full force when reading the book of Job and other books of the Bible. God had a special purpose for Job and his pain. It brought Him glory in the end. And, God ended up blessing him with much more than he had before. God’s blessing is not always financial, and I am happy to let Him choose what is best!

Ultimately, we can see pain as an opportunity to grow and reflect God’s character. So, instead of grumbling and complaining, we can choose to draw close and worship Him. We are more than conquerors in Jesus!

Through trials, we see and learn new things about ourselves and God. It takes maturity to see God’s goodness in the pain. Yet, we cannot always have only goodness – that’s not real life! As we lean on God, we remember He is Supreme and reigns over ALL, the good and the bad.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

We can trust God and lean on Him as our Heavenly Father. His joy is your strength! He is faithful and true. He will never let us down!

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Father God, thanks for being with us in our pain and trials. Help us see your purposes in our pain. Help us trust You more and bring You glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen 

Questions: What is your gut reaction to pain and trials? Is it fear and worry, or prayer and praise?

Tasks: When painful trials come, dig in deep. Draw close to God through prayer, worship, and reading His word. Trust Him to come through for you!

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

Shoeprints in the Snow

On Monday afternoon, I left work early for a dentist appointment. I was walking to my car and was watching my step while looking out for ice. We got a few inches of snow over the weekend, so now everything is white again, and the snow helps cover the ice.

Since then, we’ve had a few days of below-zero temperatures, and this is my favorite kind of winter weather. The bitter cold brings bright blue, sunny skies, no wind, and crunchy snow. I love the sound of the snow when walking and driving!

That day, I noticed all the footprints and, even more so, all the shoe tread patterns. I stopped a few times to look a little closer. I took a picture of my shoeprint since it was a cool pattern. Then I had a good laugh.

I probably looked silly if anyone was looking out their window! Maybe noticing snowy shoeprints is the winter equivalent of “stopping and smelling the roses” or noticing footprints in the sand for all my beach lovers!

What are you noticing this season? How are you spending your time? It’s so easy to hurry about and miss what makes life special.

The next morning, I took a picture of a pretty street on my drive to work. I like it so much I intentionally to that way! Each season is so pretty and winter is a unique time. That day was -10 degrees (F)! But, it was calm and perfect!

As I walked back into my office, I noticed all the other shoe prints in the snow. There were all sorts of shapes, sizes, and patterns representing many people. Some veered off to cross the street, and some turned right or left.

And it struck me… I cannot see my footprints ahead of time, and I can’t always predict the path I will take. But God already knows! He is walking with me, but also ahead of me and behind me! He surrounds me with His favor as with a shield! (Psalm 5:12).

God is directing your path, too. Whatever your next steps are, He already knows. So, you can trust Him to lead you and prepare you. Take heart that He sees you and is guiding you!

Sometimes, looking back and seeing where we’ve been is fun. It’s good to reflect, but don’t let that stop you. Don’t give up. Keep moving forward with Jesus!

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God, thanks for leading us and guiding our path! Thanks for all You do to provide for us and protect us. Help us trust You for all we cannot see. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Do you prefer to consider where you are going or where you have been?

Task: Take a few minutes to look around as you walk. Notice the beauty of the season, wherever you are! Thank God and praise Him for how He is leading you! You may not see it yet, but He already has a plan for you to walk out!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #462

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free winter snow nature illustration

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a good week with lots of interesting things! I have noticed it staying a little lighter each night. I read something recently that said we’ve gained almost an hour of daylight at this latitude since the winter solstice!

I had about a dozen prayer requests for friends, family, and coworkers this week. I am grateful we can trust God with these heavy burdens. He is faithful and true!

On Tuesday, I celebrated my 17th wedding anniversary. Marrying Dave is still one of the best decisions I have ever made! We were a really good team. I miss him, but I am so grateful for our time together.

Work went well with no major surprises! My coworkers officially had the day off for President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, but three of us opted to work and cover the load. I already had several patients scheduled, and we were told not to reschedule unless the Veteran requested it. I was happy to come in and got extra pay as a result. The pace was constant, but I had nice patients who were grateful we were there!

On Friday, after work, I went to the local bookstore for a cup of coffee while working on some edits for the church project I was asked to help with. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and it reminded me of all the spent there writing and editing my book!

While we received some light snow today, we’ve had a fairly mild winter thus far. I have heard some songbirds, and this week, I used my Merlin Bird ID app to identify a black-capped chickadee’s song. It was sweet and cheerful. I did not see the little bird, but they are cute and made my day!

Today, I read a book, made some calls, did a few chores, and got my oil changed. I updated my budget and am enjoying spending less overall while we use up some of our storage items (a.k.a. shopping our shelves). Of course, I have seen many tempting online ads, so I removed a couple of apps from my phone. Additionally, it would be fun to see if we can avoid going to the grocery store for a full month, but I am not putting pressure on us to do that. We’ll see how it goes!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Pivot, Wisdom

Shopping Our Shelves

Here we are a week into the new year. How are you doing?!

This year, I am trying something a little different. Well, I have been meaning to do it for awhile, but just decided to go for it now, thanks to a little godly conviction. 😉

“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” — 1 Timothy 6:6

I will probably never be a minimalist, as I have many interests and like to have options! Yet, the reality is that I have plenty of stuff, possibly bordering on too much. Ahem.

Over time, I have realized it is much easier to organize my stuff if there is less of it. I don’t need more hangers or baskets; I need to use what I have and be content. Having stuff is not bad, but I want to use my resources, not just collect them. Trying to maintain “all the stuff” takes time and mental effort, so in this case, less is more.

Last week, Lydia and I spent a little time organizing around the house. Here’s the problem: I like trying new things but don’t always go through them quickly enough. I might buy a few extras to save money (buy one, get one!) and then don’t have room to store them. So, things tend to accumulate or get wasted. On top of that, sometimes I forget what’s in my pantry… so I may buy things again. (Now you know why this blog is about grace, not homemaking!)

So, this year, we are challenging ourselves to “SOS” or “shop our shelves” (or stockpiles?!) before buying more. That applies to our food, toiletries, and, yes, even my books! If there is something we don’t truly need or won’t use, we will donate it to others. The main goal is to check our storage first and see if we can make do.

Hopefully, we’ll save a little money since I have already paid for the items on my shelves. I have already paid some bills and bought gas for my car, though it feels good to save time not going to the store or shopping online. I’m running low on milk and Q-tips, and they don’t have great substitutes. Still, I’ll likely hold off a little longer and start a list.

While my budgeting has been more manageable, it’s not about the money but the principle. I’m seeing God’s provision in a new way and creating space for Him to move in my life. We cannot experience His goodness without putting our faith in Him!

We’ll have to be creative as our experiment progresses and we run out of our favorites. However, I probably already have a perfectly good swap in storage. That said, we don’t want to leave ALL the beans for the end! So far, we have been using them for dips, salads, burritos, and chili.

Ultimately, God doesn’t want our stuff; He wants our hearts. I don’t know how long the experiment will last, but I am excited to see God move in our hearts. I feel grateful for His provision. It has been freeing not to be focused on “getting” and just relaxing and using what we already have. I’ll keep you posted!

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God, thanks for all You do to provide for me! All I have is from You and belongs to You. Help me be a good and wise steward. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any big plans for the new year?

Task: Watch Madame Blueberry by VeggieTales and pray about your next steps.

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!! Welcome to 2025!!

Did you stay up late and reach midnight? We had a low-key celebration with “The Forge” movie, followed by some Nate Bargatze comedy. We enjoyed appetizers and fireworks. But, we decided to get a good night’s sleep so we can enjoy the holiday and day off!

This is the first time January 1st is on a Wednesday since I started blogging. So while I usually do an end-of year recap, I will keep it simple and jump right in.

Last year was a very interesting year for me. It was good in so many ways. I learned not to pick up what wasn’t for me and let go of what no longer served me well. I’m still a work in progress…

I learned so much about myself and trusted God more deeply. He used physical pain to get me to make some positive changes in sleep, fitness, and nutrition. I was already moving in the right direction, but I took them to a new level.

I look forward to seeing how I learn and grow this year! I have not set any resolutions, but will probably set a few short-term goals and see where it goes. For now, I will be listening to this song by Lauren Daigle on repeat. 🙂

As we reflect on the last year, what went well and what didn’t, it can be easy to feel discouraged about all the things you didn’t accomplish. Or, maybe it was a doozy, and you fought physical or financial hardships. But, you still are standing! By God’s grace, you will have Victory if you don’t give up. One way or another!

On the other hand, you may be sad if you are starting the new year without a loved one. It is tough to feel like you are leaving them behind. It does get easier, but it will take some time. Lean into the pain and draw close to Jesus. He will help you through it!

In Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV), Paul wrote, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.“

Praise God, today is a new day with new mercies. Indeed, a new year full of opportunities and hope! Failure is not final, if we learn from it. 

This year, I pray you will understand just how much God loves you. It isn’t about “doing” since there’s nothing you can do to make Him love you more or less.

So, step into God’s abundant grace and provision. Move forward with purpose. It won’t be easy, but God is with you and for you. Cling to Him. Rest in Him. He is trustworthy and true.

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God, thanks for a new day and a new year! You are such a faithful provider and protector. Thanks for bringing us through! Help us stay close to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Do you have any big plans or goals for this new year?

Tasks: Read this throwback from 2015. Whatever your plans, remember to run them by God first. Trust Him to lead you and obey what He says to do. He will never let you down!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #460

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Free Winter Snow photo and picture

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?!

This was a relaxing week! I went to work on Monday and had off most of the week after that!

Tuesday was Christmas Eve. It was declared a federal holiday (just this year), and I appreciated having an extra day off. Our church’s Christmas Eve service was so good, and I am glad we got to attend!

Christmas Day was peaceful and relaxed. We enjoyed opening gifts, reading, playing games, baking bread, and just hanging out. It was good to connect with family remotely, too.

On Thursday, Lydia and I ran a couple of errands. Then, she had an eye doctor’s appointment, and we went to see the movie Mufasa. It was good!

The weather was pretty mild this week. It almost feels like spring! We still have snow, but I see a fair amount of grass, too!

We happily stayed home again on Friday, and I spent a fair amount of time working on my budget for the next year. I also finished some other end-of-year projects and put away the Christmas decorations. Usually, I leave them up longer, but this year, I wanted to clear the space and start the year off with a clean house!

Today, I had the opportunity to work in the VA kitchen again! This time, I worked a full day, mostly on my feet running around. There was not much downtime, and I got about 12,000 steps while I was there. Later, another dietitian also came to help, so that was fun. The other staff were grateful, and I’ve appreciated getting to know them better!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

The Heart of Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The last time Christmas was on a Wednesday was in 2013, our first without Dave. I was not blogging then, but we spent the holiday visiting family in Ohio. Staying in Fargo was just too difficult that year. 

But God is so faithful and good. He has seen us through each twist, turn, and holiday, providing whatever we need in the moment. I know He has special plans for us… and for you.

Today, I am sending love to you and your family. I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating God’s love and His gift to us…Jesus!! He is the best gift we could ever receive!

Lydia tends to give me handmade cards and gifts. This year, she surprised me and made fudgy chocolate cookies! They are amazing, so I’m sharing the recipe she used! Enjoy!

We have had a great Christmas season. We loved the Concordia Christmas Concert early on and The Charlie Brown Christmas play last weekend. Lydia also had some holiday events for school. We have made some yummy treats and watched most of the holiday movies. But, overall, we have enjoyed a less frantic pace!

Yesterday was declared a federal holiday (just this year), and I was extra grateful because I would’ve missed our church’s Christmas Eve service if I was still at work. It would have started and been mostly over before I could pick up Lydia at home.

I recently watched a movie about the poem “Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was written in 1863 during the Civil War and discusses tragic loss, death, and even hate encompassed with enduring hope in God. The poem was not on my radar until I saw the movie, but now I can’t get it out of my head.

The bells refer to church bells ringing out the love, joy, and hope of Jesus. Longfellow’s wife died after an accident, yet she had always loved the bells and their sound, imagining them to be like little voices singing out God’s truth.

After she died, Longfellow refused to write or do much of anything. Grief is so heavy sometimes! But, by God’s grace, he had a breakthrough on Christmas Day, 1863. His poem was later set to music and sung as a Christmas carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”

Free Bells Church photo and picture

So, to recap, there is a poem, a song, and a movie. I’d recommend them all! You can learn more about the history and details here. All three are connected in one link.

Besides the joyful bells, one thing that stands out to me is the theme of listening. We must quiet ourselves before the Lord in order to hear Him and receive his love, peace, and joy. I feel like Lydia and I have been able to do that this year. I hope you can also find time and space to connect with God today.

Another line I like states, “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep…” When I heard that, I was reminded of 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV), which says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” I’m so grateful for God’s constant attentiveness and provision. He gave us Jesus and so much more!

I am grateful for each opportunity God gives us to draw close to Him. Without Jesus, that would not have been possible. He is the heart of Christmas! Love, joy, peace, mercy, grace, reconciliation, eternal life, and so much more. May we keep Him at the center as we celebrate!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for sending Jesus as a baby King for our redemption. May all we think, say, and do bring You glory. May we walk worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice. In His Name, Amen

Question: How can you keep Jesus at the center and or honor Him today?

Task: After you check out the other links above, listen to Casting Crowns’ rendition of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” It is my favorite! Merry Christmas!!