2024 is almost over! Let’s plan to start 2025 pressing toward the goal of becoming like Jesus.

May I suggest getting a Bible and Bible reading plan ready? Perhaps set up or make new additions to your prayer room. Purchase a journal or apps for prayer and life journals. Make a prayer list for 2025. May I suggest praying not only for our church, family, and friends but also for a few enemies? Plan to be at every Bible study and worship service but for required trips or planned getaways. Finally, set some giving goals including a reserve for unexpected needs of others.

If we do the above, I believe we’ll be set up for success! I remember an adage from years ago: “Live for God today and there will be no regrets tomorrow.”

Mt 22:37-40
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Let’s be fruitful and multiply!

As we prepare for an amazing 2025 expecting God to do great things in us and for others, we must prepare. Remember the 5 P’s (Proper Planning Produces Peak Performance)!

2 Tim 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Recall the adage, “A musician tunes their instrument before they play it.”
Let’s go to bed early so we can rise early.
Let’s plan every day, preferably first thing in the morning, to do the following:
1. Read our bible
2. Pray and keep a prayer journal
3. Memorize Scripture
4. Reflect on the day and keep a life journal
5. Worship (I often worship while showering.)

Let’s be passionate about the goal of becoming like Jesus!

Philippians 3:13b-14
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

As we look forward to 2025 we must stop and praise God for the blessings of lessons learned through 2024. Giving thanks and praising God is a theme throughout Scripture. Here’s what Miriam said after God defeated the Egyptians after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. 

Exodus 15:11-12a

“Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you–majestic in holiness,

awesome in glory, working wonders? You stretched out your right hand…

As we turn toward the future not knowing how things will turn out, we can know following Jesus leads us to victory even when we’ve never done something before. Here’s instruction before entering the promised land.

Josh 3:2b-4a

“When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.”

So let’s march forward to victory in 2025 because God never fails!

After all the fellowship, eating, and opening presents with loved ones, let’s give thanks for our Father above.

Jm 1:17-18
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Our Father in heaven is always good and loving but some have difficulty understanding God as Father.

Often the main reason is they have had negative experiences with their earthly fathers or authority figures, making it difficult for them to relate to God as a loving and caring Father.

Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to embrace God as a good good Father. Let’s by His grace develop a deep personal relationship with Him, as we pray and study our Bibles. Let’s learn all we can about our Father!

Lk 2:49
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

I pray you have a most wonderful time with family and friends! May the love of God fill your thoughts as we celebrate God becoming a man born of a virgin in a humble manger.

Luke 2:10-11
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

We love you and pray for God’s grace to go with you today!

Merry Christmas Eve!

As Joseph approached Bethlehem with Mary, riding a donkey with the birth of Jesus imminent, I wonder what he was thinking.

Maybe hearing Mary saying she was pregnant and his incredulity about God being impregnator. Perhaps he was recalling the angel affirming her story. Maybe he thought about the urgency to find a comfortable room to give birth. In any event, he knew something incredible was about to happen. But he would have planned this differently!

Mt 1:19-20

Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

God always fulfills His Word but His promises kept rarely come as expected. Christmas teaches us that God’s ways are perfect!

“This Christmas season, when the world seems to be in turmoil—wars are breaking out in different places, crime is rampant, many things are happening that are great sins in the sight of God—but in that crib is the Person who would grow up to save us, and He did.”

— Billy Graham

It’s a time of love, joy, and peace. It’s celebrating the birth of the Savior Who provides abundant and eternal life. Christmas is a season of hope, knowing no matter the challenges or difficulties we may face, there is always the possibility of redemption, forgiveness, and a brighter future. It is a time to be thankful for the blessings in our lives and to share that hope with others.

Rom 5:2b-5
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

This season let’s live with the hope of Christmas in our hearts. Let’s spread the Good News of love, joy, and peace since Jesus, the God of all hope lives in us!

Lk 2:10b
I bring you good news of great joy…

“Our fall is always first a failure to give thanks” (Ann Voskamp).

I can only imagine when Eve was tempted by the devil if instead of reaching for the forbidden fruit, she would have listed all the things she was thankful for.

Eve: “No satan, I will not doubt the goodness of God. I’m thankful for His provision of delicious food and a perfect climate. I’m thankful for the blue sunny sky and the moon and starlit nights. I’m thankful for Adam who is always kind, giving, and loving. Mostly I’m thankful that I’m made in my Father’s image and for His deep love for me. So just leave devil and never come back.”

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Let’s be thankful this Christmas. Let’s make a list of people, especially relatives, and places, and things we are thankful for. Of course at the top of the list, let’s thank God for the Cross and our salvation!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The houses and apartments are decorated with lights and decorations. Amazon and UPS trucks are seemingly everywhere. Wrapping paper and bows are a necessity.

But we know Christmas is more than decorations and presents. It’s the time we reflect on the Father’s gift of forever forgiveness and an abundant life—now and for all eternity!

1 Jn 5:11
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Let’s bow down before God and give Him all the glory due Him. He is worthy of all our praise and adoration!

Rev 5:11-12
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon bthousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Thank God for Jesus!

The humble shepherds on the night Jesus was born were honored by an angelic visitation announcing the arrival of the long awaited Messiah, the Savior of the world.

Lk 2:13-14
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Their reaction to this favor is an example for all of us. Not only did they go and see Jesus, they spread the word about Him.

Lk 2:16-18
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

This Christmas let’s follow the example of the humble shepherds and tell others about what Jesus has done for us! Let’s tell about how we’ve been rescued and changed for God’s glory.

Shepherds have it tough. They have to endure all kinds of dangers with thieves and wild animals, along with harsh weather. Shepherds must be faithful as they guide, protect, feed, and dress the wounds of their sheep.

No wonder God decided to announce the birth of His Son first to shepherds!

Lk 2:8-11
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

Let’s be found faithful first to God and then to each other. Let’s remember that the greatest ability is dependability, and without faith we cannot please God.

1 Cor 4:2
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

God loves the humble and resists the proud. This contrast is frequently in Scripture. Even the mother of Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, inspirationally speaks this truth known as Mary’s Song!

Lk 1:51
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

Being proud in heart is an attitude that depends on self instead of God. It says I can do life just fine without strictly obeying his ways of love and faithfulness. It’s a way of life that will lead to heartache and sorrow.

But being humble brings an abundant life. A humble person depends on God for everything. As a result, God’s grace empowers humble people. Their lives are filled with love, joy, peace, and fulfillment.

Lk 1:52-53
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

In humility let’s worship our God and let’s expect a full life!