The Inevitable Outcome | Matthew 2:7

“Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.” (Matthew 2:7 NLT)   We can prepare our hearts for Christmas not just by reading God’s Word, but also by reflecting on it. We can celebrate the fact that Jesus’ coming fulfi…

Seek and You Will Find | Jeremiah 29:13

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT)   If the Christmas story—the well-known narratives of Matthew 2 and Luke 2—is so familiar to you that you can practically recite it from memory, try considering it from a different perspective. Try thinking of it as the s…

Light in a Dark Place | Colossians 1:19–20

"For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross." —Colossians 1:19–20 One sobering way to prepare for Christmas is to remember that our spi…

Great Joy | Luke 2:10–12

“But the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strip…

The First to Know | Luke 2:8–9

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified.” (Luke 2:8–9 NLT)   One way to prepare for Christmas is to reflect on the n…

Divine Humility | 2 Corinthians 8:9

This Giving Tuesday, help us meet the spiritual moment! Give now. “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT)   One way to prepare our hearts for Christmas an…

The First Tree | Genesis 2:9

“The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9 NLT)   “Let every heart prepare Him room.” These lyrics f…

Giving Thanks for God’s Perfect Love | 2 Corinthians 4:17–18

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but th…

Giving Thanks in Good Times and Bad | Romans 8:28

“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 NLT)   Of the many beautiful psalms David wrote, one of my favorites is Psalm 63: “Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I prai…

Giving Thanks for God’s Goodness | Psalm 145:4–7

“Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderfu…