READ: LUKE 2:1-7; HEBREWS 4:14-16 Did you know that Jesus probably wasn’t born in a stable? If you take a look at Luke 2:1-7, it doesn’t say “stable” anywhere. We usually hear about Jesus being born in a stable because it says He was laid in a manger, which is where animals eat, and in our current time and place, animals live in stables. Makes sense, right? The problem is, in the time and place that Jesus was born, animals were often brought into a special room in the house at night to protect them from thieves and predators. Archeologists are discovering that most homes in the area were built with one small room for the animals, one larger room for the family, and one room upstairs for guests. The room for the animals even had large bowl-shaped indents in the floor, called mangers, to hold their food. Also, the Bible says Joseph had family in Bethlehem, so he and Mary would have been welcomed into a relative’s house with open arms. In that culture, failing to show hospitality brought an incredible amount of shame. When the Bible says there was “no room” for them, it probably means the upstairs guest room was full, so they likely stayed downstairs with the family and animals. So, when Mary gave birth, she was probably surrounded by family to help with the delivery. But the house was packed so full that the only place they could put Jesus was in the manger. Why does this all matter? Well, the circumstances of His birth say something very powerful: Jesus is human. He had a relatively ordinary birth for His time and place in history. He was surrounded by the people He came to save, right from His first moments out of the womb. Jesus experienced everything it meant to be human. Although He is also fully God, He became every bit as fleshy as we are, so that He could save every bit of who we are. • Taylor Eising • Why is it important that Jesus is fully human? Could He have taken our place on the cross if He wasn’t fully human? (Hint: read John 1:14; 14:6; Romans 5:12-21) • How could the fact that Jesus is fully human affect our relationship with Him? • As we study God’s Word, why is it important to understand the culture and history of the Bible? This High Priest of ours [Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NLT) 

READ: MATTHEW 1:18–2:6 What a fairytale! Angels, a virgin birth, a manger, shepherds, magi…it’s a great story to make us feel all fuzzy and warm at Christmas. But can we seriously believe the story of Jesus’s birth is true? God knew the Christmas story was going to be wildly unique. In fact, He made it that way on purpose. Why? So we could know that it really is true. How? He told us about it beforehand. The Old Testament prophecies aren’t just Christmas poetry—they’re compelling evidence that the baby in the manger was the Son of God and the Messiah, the promised Rescuer. Micah 5:2 says, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.” The prophet Micah said the Messiah would be from the lowly town of Bethlehem…and these words were written about 700 years before Jesus was born in that exact town! Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.” Isaiah’s words were also written about 700 years before Christmas. The name Immanuel means “God with us.” So Isaiah is saying that God will come to be with us, born of a virgin. This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus’s mother Mary became miraculously pregnant while she was still a virgin (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38). Isaiah 11:1-3 says, “Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—a Spirit of wisdom and understanding…His delight will be in the fear of the LORD.” Jesse was the father of King David. When we look at Jesus’s genealogy, we see that He is a direct descendent of Jesse (Matthew 1:6; Luke 3:32). And the fact that Jesus is found discussing theology with the religious leaders at age twelve, and later the Holy Spirit comes and rests on Him at His baptism, shows us that He fits this prophecy entirely (Matthew 3:13-16; Luke 2:41-52). Those three verses only scratch the surface of all the prophecies that were fulfilled in the miracle called Christmas. Truth stranger than fiction? Sometimes it’s meant to be, so that we know it’s no coincidence. • Christiana Albrecht • Why is it important to know that Jesus fulfills the promises of Scripture? (If you want to dig deeper, read Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Acts 10:43; 2 Corinthians 1:20; 2 Timothy 3:15) He [Jesus] began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” Luke 4:21 (CSB) 

READ: MATTHEW 2:10-11; LUKE 1:46-49; REVELATION 21:3 All the trappings of Christmas fill me with joyful expectation leading up to the day we celebrate Christ’s birth. However, last year sadness stole my joy. In mid-December, our granddaughter was diagnosed with a non-cancerous tumor on her fibula, requiring surgery and extensive physical therapy. Sad and worried, I began just going through the motions of Christmas. A week before Christmas day, my daughter-in-law’s great-aunt died—followed by the death of my cousin, who was as close to me as a brother. At that point, I felt no joy. I wanted Christmas to be over. But then, something happened. Messages of joy surrounded me. Our Sunday sermon revolved around the joy of Jesus coming into the world, and the benediction from Romans 15:13 stayed with me all day: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” So, when I was overwhelmed with sadness and grief, I repeated, “I trust you.” My daily devotions focused on finding joy in difficult situations, like a change of plans, a bad accident, or hurt feelings during the holiday season—and they used non-Christmas verses like 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you,” and Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.” All these prompted me to pray for joy. When I awoke on Christmas Eve thinking of Philippians 4:4, which says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” my outlook changed. Our grand darling was under the best care at Mayo Clinic. I remembered happy times spent with my daughter-in-law’s aunt and many Christmases with my cousin. My joy returned. My trust in Jesus deepened. An angel didn’t appear to me like one did to the shepherds, but I do believe I was reminded about the “good news” of “great joy” so I could celebrate with joy the birth of my Savior. • Rose Ross Zediker • Have you been going through something difficult lately? Do the holidays stir up painful memories or grief for you? Many of us feel melancholy during the Christmas season, and that’s okay. God invites us to be honest with Him about all these things. He longs to comfort us in His love, and He doesn’t stop there. He also reminds us that He is the source of unchanging joy. We can carry His joy in our hearts because God’s promise was fulfilled. Our Savior was born! Consider taking some time to talk to Him about the hard things, and also to take hold of His joy today. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10 (NIV) 

READ: ISAIAH 9:6-7; 53:3-12; MATTHEW 1:21-23; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 Every Christmas, when I read about the coming of Christ, I linger over the beautiful, contrasting descriptions of how Jesus draws near to us, even though He is holy. It’s truly a profound mystery—for Jesus IS a paradox. These contrasts led me to write today’s poem (which is also a song for me personally) because at Christmas, we celebrate history’s most incredible contrast: God Himself being born, fully human, as a sacrificial Savior—while also ruling the universe as highest Lord and King. I hope meditating on these paradoxes in Scripture will help us see how God may sometimes draw us near in unexpected ways to help us experience true fullness of joy, perhaps in losing our life to save it (John 15:11; Luke 9:24). Holy Child, the Prince of Peace,O promised Savior King!Come to fill our hearts with joy—O Man of Suffering! Mighty God, a virgin’s child,Maker of stars who cried;Creation groaned to see it so—Yet Christ was glorified! Slain for the world He fashioned,God’s holy arm laid bare;Come to free us from the curse—To conquer dark despair! Jesus Christ, begotten Son,Risen that we might be…Freed from sorrow, sin, and grave—Made new eternally! Come now, come see,on bended knee—Rejoice, O earth and sing!Our guilt and shame He cast away—Hail Jesus, Savior King! • G. Kam Congleton • Jesus is fully God, and He is also fully human—what a paradox! Those two statements seem to contradict, but both are equally true. Which of the paradoxes about Jesus from today’s poem catches your attention? • What questions do you have about paradoxes in the Bible? Who are trusted Christians you could talk to about this? • If you want to dig deeper, read Matthew 2:1-2; Romans 8:22-23; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 13:8; 21:1-5; 22:1-5 The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52:10 (NIV)

READ: LEVITICUS 19:18; ROMANS 12:14-21; COLOSSIANS 3:12-15 A friend and I returned from Christmas shopping. I checked my jewelry box. Another pair of new earrings was missing! I had been excited about wearing them to school on Monday. I told my mother, and she discovered it was that same friend, who I’ll call Josie. My heart hurt that one of my best friends was stealing from me. I had trusted her. We shared meals and secrets, but she stole from me. I was so mad I felt like I couldn’t forgive her. At school, she was always smiling. My anger and bitterness didn’t cause her pain. I was miserable while she was happy. Later, I learned that Jesus Christ came to earth to die in my place for my sins and rise again to give me new life. I chose to admit my wrongdoing, receive His forgiveness, and follow Christ. I knew that I had been forgiven much—and that Jesus called me to forgive others as well. I wanted Josie to apologize to me so I could forgive her, but I realized that I can forgive her no matter what she does. It felt like forgiving her meant we had to be great friends again. But while forgiveness is freely given, trust is earned. It’s okay to let go of the hurt in my heart without inviting someone who has stolen from me back into my house. It felt like I should hold back forgiveness to punish her, but the Bible tells us that revenge belongs to the Lord. When I hold resentment in my heart, the only person it hurts is me. As Christmas approaches, I remember that Jesus was born to bring us forgiveness. Since He laid down His life to offer me forgiveness, He will empower me to forgive others. Jesus was born to bring peace on earth (Luke 2:14), and letting go of unforgiveness brings peace to my heart. • Mary Schilling • Are you struggling to forgive someone who has hurt you? Consider taking some time to talk to Jesus about the wrongs that have been done to you. Jesus grieves our hurts with us, and one way He helps us heal is by helping us let go of unforgiveness. And as we reflect on how much God has forgiven us, we often find it becomes easier to forgive others. You can thank Him for forgiving you, and you could even try picturing God’s forgiveness flowing through you to others. • God will punish every sin at judgment day—but the sins of those who trust in Jesus have already been paid for by Jesus’s death on the cross. How might knowing that God will handle every wrong in His perfect justice help us let go of the desire to punish someone? (Psalm 86:5; Proverbs 20:22) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) 

READ: ISAIAH 7:14; MATTHEW 1:18-23; 28:20 When I entered the auditorium, my stomach fluttered with nervous energy. But spotting Debbie in the audience reminded me that a friend would be there cheering me on. During my first year at college, I was a drum major in the marching band. Then, near the end of that school year, I tried out again for the position of drum major, hoping to continue in this role. Auditions took place in a large auditorium and were open to the public. Debbie had been mentoring me in my faith that year, and I asked her for prayers for the upcoming tryouts. She agreed to pray but also committed to more. Debbie told me I could count on her presence in that auditorium. When I walked into the building on the day of tryouts, my friend and mentor had already taken her seat and greeted me with a wide smile. Debbie showed up for me, and she showed up to be with me. One of my favorite ways the Bible refers to Jesus is as Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). When we trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness for our sins, we enter a new relationship with God as our Father. Sin no longer separates us from Him because Jesus has bridged that gap through His death and resurrection. In this relationship with God, as His children, we can count on Him to be available to us with His power and comfort. Yet Christ offers more than the opportunity to lean on God’s wisdom and look to Him for compassion. In the Person of Christ, God has come to be with us—walking alongside us, suffering with us, rejoicing with us. Though Debbie supported me from the audience, Jesus was right there with me on stage as I performed. • Allison Wilson Lee • Jesus came to be “God with us.” Why is this good news? What encouragement does it give us? • Where in your life do you need to experience Jesus as Immanuel right now? Maybe you’re facing an overwhelming decision, a season of loneliness, or a tough situation that calls for perseverance. Consider taking a moment to talk to Him about whatever is on your mind. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV)

READ: MATTHEW 19:4-6; EPHESIANS 5:25-33; HEBREWS 13:4-5 Christians are notoriously bad at talking about sex. We gloss over it, give incomplete information, and usually end the conversation with, “Sex is bad. Don’t do it.” So, on behalf of Christians everywhere, I want to apologize. Sometimes we struggle with awkward subjects. We make the mistake of believing that sex has nothing to do with the gospel. But God’s Word says otherwise. The Bible is overwhelmingly clear: creation is very good, and that means sex is very good when it’s used as it was created, in its God-given context of marriage (Genesis 1:27, 31; 2:23-25; Song of Songs 7:10-12). God created us male and female, and He did that on purpose. Males in their male-ness and females in their female-ness. When couples are brought together in the one-man-one-woman-one-lifetime covenant of marriage before God, they reflect His image in a unique way. According to Scripture, this points to God’s relationship with us, His church. You see, sex is a reminder of a covenant that has already been made. It physically acts out the fact that, in marriage, spouses have given their whole selves over to that other person, just like Jesus has given His whole Self over to us. Sex is an act of loving completely, faithfully, and freely, mirroring the way Jesus loves us completely, faithfully, and freely. Sex says, “I give everything I am to you. I will never leave or abandon you. I have made a covenant with you, and I will never break that covenant.” Has Jesus ever said things like that? Here’s the hard part for you, as people who, I assume, are not yet married: we cannot act out a covenant that we have not made (and that covenant must be made publicly, before God and the church). If we choose to have sex outside of marriage, we are lying with our bodies. Sex is a good gift from God, and when we misuse this good gift, it is a sin just like any other sin. But, my friends, there is abounding grace in Jesus. You can rest in the one who loves you more than anyone, including a future spouse (if that’s what He has planned for you) ever could. • Taylor Eising • How can knowing that we bear God’s image affect the way we view sexuality? • God created sex as a good gift to be shared and enjoyed by a husband and wife within marriage. Why are all other expressions of sexuality (lust, pornography, etc.) not good? • Who is a trusted Christian in your life you can talk to about questions you have about sex? God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Genesis 1:31 (CSB) 

READ: LUKE 10:38-42 I often find myself caught up wondering if I’m doing enough for God or others. The Bible tells us to do good, serve God, and love others. All these things are important, but sometimes I can forget what’s most important. In Luke 10, Martha is in a similar predicament. Jesus and His disciples were staying at her house, and Martha “was distracted with much serving” (verse 40). She was serving Jesus and His disciples and being hospitable, which seems good! But her sister Mary was not helping her serve. Rather, Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet,” taking the posture of a disciple and listening to His teaching (verse 39). Martha told Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But Jesus replied, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her” (verse 41-42). It’s better to sit at Jesus’s feet and listen to Him than to be distracted with serving Him. It’s not about what we can do for Jesus, but what Jesus has done and is doing. God is calling us to be with Him and listen. We don’t need to be anxious about serving or doing “enough.” Jesus has already done enough. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, defeating sin and death. All we need to do is listen. When we come to Him in belief, He forgives our sins and gives us the Holy Spirit. Having the Holy Spirit means God dwells in us and we are always with Him. So we are always free to set aside the distractions and draw near to Him. • Elizabeth Cooper • Have you been striving to do “enough” to serve God? How can knowing that Jesus has already done enough help us rest in Him? • God calls us to serve Him, but He also calls us to listen to Him. What is the difference between serving God as we listen to and rely on Him, versus serving God as a distraction from listening to and being with Him? Who are trusted Christians you could talk with more about this? • In some cultures and communities, being busy and sometimes overworking is seen as a good thing. But this is not the way of God’s kingdom (Matthew 11:28-30). Do you struggle with overworking yourself? How could you set aside time in your day just to rest and be with God? “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (WEB) 

READ: PSALMS 18:2; 73:26; 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10 Susannah Spurgeon was born Susannah Thompson in London, England, on January 15th, 1832. Her family often attended New Park Street Chapel, where she first trusted Jesus Christ as her Savior. There she met Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a new preacher who later became a pastor. On January 8th, 1856, Charles and Susannah were married. After their honeymoon, her husband left to preach, often leaving her behind. He would send letters to her almost every day, often filled with things to make her laugh and saying how much he missed her. On September 20th, 1856, their twin boys were born. Thankfully Charles was able to be home all day and take care of his wife. Nothing could cloud the joy and happiness they had. Through the next couple years, life was hard. Tragic events happened that left Charles experiencing depression. His wife was always by his side and helped him get through that time of life. Susannah was often bedbound and weak from sickness, and she leaned on God’s strength and trusted Him to take care of her. Later on, she started “The Book Fund” to help preachers who needed books and couldn’t afford them. She herself sent out books every week. She always gave glory to God in providing the funds and the strength to keep going, stating, “Yes, I truly have reason to bless the Lord for abundant supplies; His treasury has been wide open to me, His riches have constantly outweighed my necessities. He has multiplied His mercies above all my desires.” She herself wrote several books while handling the Book Fund. She often compared the Book Fund with a lemon tree she had planted. Both the tree and the fund had grown together and borne fruit together. She continued the Book Fund until her death on October 22nd, 1903. In total, Susannah sent out about 200,000 books to pastors in need. The Lord carried her through sickness and hardships, blessing her and many others through her work. Because of Christ’s faithfulness, Susannah Spurgeon’s legacy still affects many today. • Sarah Nazir • If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit lives in us, giving us strength and comfort. Throughout the hardships in her life, Susannah knew the Lord’s love and trusted His strength to carry her through. Have you ever felt like the Lord’s strength was carrying you through a difficult time? What was that like? My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 (NIV) 

READ: ISAIAH 9:6; LUKE 2:1-20; JOHN 14:27 “Peace on earth” is a common phrase on Christmas cards. Usually it’s accompanied by a picture of a dove or a nativity scene with Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus in a manger. As I reached my older teen years, I felt like “peace on earth” was a ridiculous thing to say. After all, evil doesn’t stop because it’s the Christmas season. People still do evil things. Sickness and death take their toll. And for many people, getting ready for Christmas day generates anything but peace. Why would anybody say “peace on earth” during Christmastime? The events leading up to Jesus’s birth weren’t calm either. The Romans ruled their vast empire with an iron fist, and the Jews were under severe oppression. But in the midst of all this, angels appeared to a group of shepherds one night, “praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests’” (Luke 2:13-14). The angels announced the birth of the Savior, and they talked about peace because Jesus would bring the peace everyone longs for. In Isaiah 9:6, we see that one of Jesus’s names is the “Prince of Peace.” That doesn’t mean He’ll take away all difficult situations immediately; in fact, He told us that we would face tough times. But it does mean He’ll give us peace in all circumstances. And one day, when Jesus returns, He will restore the heavens and the earth. Then all things will finally be at peace. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to pay the price for our sins, He paved the way for peace. When we put our trust in Jesus, peace enters our lives and fills our hearts. Peace on earth is possible through Jesus, and we can have it any time. • Morgan A. Mitchell • Can you think of a time you’ve experienced God’s peace? What was that like? If you’ve never experienced His peace, or if it’s been a while since you have, consider taking a moment to talk to Him about it. • We live in a broken world where we often feel anything but peaceful. Yet, as we wait for Jesus to return, we can rest knowing that He has promised to always be with us. He doesn’t scold us when we feel stressed or afraid. Instead, He has so much compassion on us, and He reminds us of His presence, His love, and His peace through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). Who are trusted Christians in your life you can be honest with when you feel unpeaceful? And how can you offer compassion and peace to others? (If you want to dig deeper, read John 16:33; Romans 5:1; 15:13; Philippians 4:4-9; Revelation 21:1-5.) “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 (NIV) 

READ: EPHESIANS 2:8-10; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31 My worth is not found in how many friends I have or how many likes I get My worth is not found in my height, my weight, or how I look My worth is not found in my successes, achievements, grades, or awards My worth is not found in my GPA or how many hard classes I can pack into my schedule My worth is not found in being the star athlete, star musician, star student My worth is not found in doing more or being more My worth is not found in what the world deems successful… My worth is found in Jesus…in being chosen, loved, and made new. I am worthy because He made me worthy. Because of His death on the cross—because of the incredible grace, mercy, and forgiveness that He lavishes on me—He has made me worthy. Worthy of His love, worthy of forgiveness, worthy of an intimate relationship with Him, worthy of being His. And I don’t need to earn it, try harder, do more, be more. He has done it all. He doesn’t need my efforts, my striving—He wants my heart. Every part. Rather than trying to prove my worth or strive toward more, I can give Him what weighs me down and let Him carry me. I can give Him my efforts as an offering of love and worship to Him—not as a payment. I can find my true worth in Him. • Cara Campbell • We all have times when it feels like our worth is dependent on what others think of us, what we look like, what we have or don’t have, what we do or don’t do, etc. What kinds of things do you find yourself placing your identity and worth in? • Why is it so important that our true worth isn’t found in what we do but in what Jesus has done for us? Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27 (CSB) 

READ: ZEPHANIAH 3:17; JOHN 11:31-36; ROMANS 12:9-21 A young man sits in his home, weeping. His mourning song goes unanswered by all but the One who hears everything. A knock on the door startles him. An older man, a fellow member of the Body of Christ, comes in the house and, without prompting, throws his arms around the young man and weeps. The young man freezes. Then, slowly, awkwardly, he places his arms around the old man. A few of his tears, freed by the tears of the old man, leak out of his eyes despite his best efforts. Then another believer comes through the door, a young woman this time, and joins the huddle. A middle-aged man with his child come in and follow suit. Soon a dozen believers surround the young man, letting their grief flow freely. The young man’s pain, freed by the pain of those around him, finally dislodges the lump in his throat, and tears stream down his face. He opens his eyes and, for a moment, sees the face of his Savior, wet with tears. A young man sits in his home, laughing and singing. His joyful song goes unanswered by all but the One who hears everything. A knock on the door startles him. An older man, a fellow member of the Body of Christ, comes in the house and, without prompting, throws his arms around the young man and laughs. The young man freezes. Then, slowly, awkwardly, he places his arms around the old man. A few chuckles, freed by the laughter of the old man, leak out of his mouth despite his best efforts. Then another believer comes through the door, a young woman this time, and joins the huddle. A middle-aged man with his child come in and follow suit. Soon a dozen believers surround the young man, letting their joy flow freely. The young man’s joy, freed by the joy of those around him, finally dislodges the lump in his throat, and his voice sings out loud. He opens his eyes and, for a moment, sees the face of his Savior, singing along. • Taylor Eising • Everyone who knows Jesus is part of His family, the church. In the church, we are called to share our joys and sorrows with each other. How does this reflect what Jesus does for us? Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 (CSB) 

READ: ISAIAH 41:10-13; 49:13-16; MATTHEW 10:29-31 My cell phone was set to full volume—there was no way I would miss this call. A small tech company had expressed interest in hiring a freelance writer to create promotional material for a new app, and they were considering me. What an impressive addition to my writing portfolio! Actually, it would be the only addition so far. I was just starting out. I could pay the electric bill and get a long overdue haircut. My mind was churning out ideas and making plans and…then the call came. They had changed their minds and gone with someone else. No reason, no explanation, just a big no. The disappointment washed over me like a mini tsunami. I didn’t know what to do, so I called out to the Lord. He reminded me of Isaiah 49:16, “Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” My walls were closing in on me. Fear gripped me. I didn’t know how I was going to pay the rent or bills. I didn’t even know whether another opportunity was around the corner…or miles down the road. What I did know was in God’s Word. I held on to His promises. The Lord knows exactly what’s going on with me. Every detail. Every moment. He has helped me through tough times and disappointments before, and He will again, because He loves me. He is in control, and He will work out the details. Nothing can stop His good purposes, His kingdom will never be shaken, and His people will never be outside of His loving presence and care (Romans 8:28-39). Whenever it feels like the walls are starting to close in on us, we can go to Jesus. And we can go to the Word—God’s love letter to us—and find hope. • Rosemarie Pagano • In Isaiah 49, God comforts His people who are in exile. He promises to be with them in their hurt and to one day restore them from their sin and brokenness. We now know that all God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). As Christians, how can His promises to be with us and to restore us from sin and death affect the way we view the tough circumstances we face? • When you feel overwhelmed by a mini tsunami of disappointment, fear, or sadness, who are trusted Christians in your life who can support you and remind you of God’s promises? Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:16 (CSB) 

READ: LUKE 19:10; JOHN 3:15-21, 36; ROMANS 8:14-17; 1 JOHN 3:1 Oliver, the cat I adopted years ago, is asleep on the couch beside me right now. He’s gained a little weight over the years, and now he’s quite fat and happy. He’s had a wonderful life since he decided to trust us and take the gift of grace my family extended to him that week we left food out on the porch. And now he’s reaping the benefits! But about a month after Oliver joined our family, another cat was spotted wandering around our house. He was a beige cat with orange spots, and he was very skinny. We’d see him jumping in and out of our garbage can, searching for food. I named him Popeye, and he looked like he was in pretty bad shape. In my cat-adopting enthusiasm (I may have a small problem), I left a bowl of food out for our new guest! Popeye was afraid—I could see it in his eyes. He never let anyone from my family get within ten feet of him before darting into the woods. Every once in a while, he would venture up to the porch for a few bites of food. But I only saw him a few times before, one day, he took off and never came back. The same grace that was extended to Oliver, the fluffy, chubby gray cat sleeping beside me, was extended to the fearful cat who spent a few cold weeks living in our garbage can. If Popeye had only accepted our free gift like Oliver had, his life would look a lot different. This was another huge lesson about grace that I learned from cats. If we reject the free gift God is offering to us—the gift of adoption into His family and eternal life with Him—we only hurt ourselves. But when we embrace the gift, when we open our hands to the grace God wants to shower on us, our lives will never be the same. • Emily Tenter • What questions do you have about God’s gift of grace and adoption? Who could you talk to about these questions? (For more about what it means to receive this gift, check out our "Know Jesus" page.) • What are some of the reasons someone might reject Jesus’s gift of eternal life? How can we pray for people who don’t know Jesus yet? • Even when we reject God, He keeps pursuing us. He has compassion on us when we’re hurting, and He never gives up on us. One of the ways He reaches out to us is through the kindness and gentleness of His people. How could you show someone around you the love and grace of Jesus? So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 (NLT) 

READ: ROMANS 3:20-24; EPHESIANS 2:8-10 Being adopted by my family wasn’t the only way my cat Oliver demonstrated a lesson of grace to me. You see, it’s common for cats to leave little presents for their humans. And when I say “little presents,” I mean dead mice that we’d find just outside the front door. Cats leave dead animals to show loyalty to the humans who take care of them—how cute is that?! As you can probably imagine, my family had no use for dead mice. But I can’t tell you how excited I was when Oliver began to demonstrate to my family that he loved us back! That’s how God’s grace works in our lives. He pours His grace out on us. He’s the One who gives us every single blessing we have (James 1:17). And what do we have to give Him in return? Dead mice! Isaiah 64:6 says that all our good deeds “are nothing but filthy rags.” That means the best we could ever give to God is still trash. Like dead mice. But you know what? I still smiled when I saw those mice because they meant that my cat—the cat I adopted and named and loved—loved me back! God offers to save us from sin and death and bring us into His family with no strings attached. I didn’t adopt Oliver because of anything he could give me in return. And even if he never gave me a dead mouse, I still would have adopted him. Our God treats us the same way. We don’t have to do anything to earn His grace—and we couldn’t even if we tried—but once we know Jesus, we begin to respond to the heaps of grace He has dumped on us. Going to church, obeying parents, telling a friend about Jesus, working hard without complaining—those are all dead mice. They will never earn us eternal life. Our relationships with God are already secure because of what Jesus did when He died on the cross and rose from the grave. But Jesus still wants what we have to offer. Because even though He doesn’t need our offerings, He still delights in them, and He uses them for good in His kingdom. • Emily Tenter • What are some of the “dead mice” you offer God? Can you think of a time you compared your “dead mice” to those of other people? Why is that wrong? (1 Corinthians 12:12-31) • If the best gifts we can give God are still worth so little, why does it matter if we give them at all? (Hint: read 1 Corinthians 12:7; Philippians 2:13; 1 Peter 4:10) When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 (NLT) 

READ: LUKE 15:1-7; COLOSSIANS 1:13-14; 1 PETER 2:22-25 I’ve learned a lot about God’s grace from my cat. I know that sounds weird, but hear me out! When I was in high school, I looked out the living room window and saw a fluffy gray cat striding through the trees in our backyard. After talking with all the neighbors, we concluded that he had no home. So, I made it my mission to give him one! I began leaving small bowls of food out on the porch for him. I was delighted to see him creep up the steps one day to eat. He came back every day for food, slowly becoming more comfortable with my family. It wasn’t long before he allowed us to pet him. A few days after that, my mom was cooking dinner in the kitchen, and when she turned around he was sitting on the floor staring up at her. He just snuck right inside the house! I named him Oliver, and in no time at all my entire family considered him to be a permanent resident. We gave Oliver a home, an identity, protection, love, and even medication for a nasty ear infection. We embraced our new furry buddy with open arms. What exactly did this homeless cat do to deserve any of it? Absolutely nothing. Does that sound like grace to you? Because it sure did to me! I was reminded of how God adopts us and gives us a new identity. Without Him, we’re all broken. But Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” The entire Bible is one enormous story of grace. God showed grace to the nation of Israel, even when they messed up time and time again. This pointed forward to how God would show us all grace in Jesus. He came to die on a cross and rise from the grave to offer us the free gift of salvation! Through Jesus, we can become children of God—fully forgiven, forever saved from sin and death. There is nothing we have done or ever could do to earn such an enormous gift, but Jesus gave Himself for us anyway. And He did it so we could have a family, an identity, love, and eternal security…just like Oliver. Only better! • Emily Tenter • In what ways can you relate to Oliver the cat? • What are some ways God has shown grace to you in your own life? • Without that grace, how do you think your life would be different? For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) 

READ: MATTHEW 1:18-25; LUKE 2:1-21 I was gifted a beautiful Advent wreath for Christmas. The ceramic candleholders depict a winter scene, with the four words that represent the four weeks of Advent labeled in gold. I must admit, for a few years the labeling bothered me. The word wonder was used for the first week of Advent instead of hope. When I hear the word hope, I think of anticipation for something to happen. When I hear the word wonder, it makes me think of feeling doubt or surprise at something beautiful and unexplainable. For me, hope and wonder weren’t interchangeable words. Then one year, while reading Matthew 1, I considered Joseph’s point of view. Joseph had to wonder, “What on earth is happening?” In good faith, he’d pledged to be married to Mary. She’d accepted, then they found out she was expecting a baby that Joseph knew wasn’t his. He had doubts about the situation and formed a plan. Matthew 1:19 says, “Joseph…was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.” After an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, he had even more to wonder about. The angel said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (verse 20-21). So Joseph accepted Mary as his wife. The message from the angel may have removed some of Joseph’s doubt, but for months he had to wonder what exactly was going to happen. After a long journey to Bethlehem, Mary gave birth. Joseph was there when the shepherds found the newborn Jesus and praised God for the message the angel had told them: “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:11). Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds witnessed something beautiful and unexplainable. Wonder was turned to hope by Jesus’s birth—for them, and for us. • Rose Ross Zediker • For years, God’s prophets foretold the advent (coming) of the Savior. In dark days, the prophets’ message gave people hope of light coming into the world, yet they must have wondered how and when this Savior would come. Now we know the answers! When you read the Scriptures about Jesus’s birth, what makes you wonder— what questions or doubts do you have? And does anything fill you with wonder—with awe and amazement? • Why does Jesus’s coming mean hope for the world? (If you want to know more, see our "Know Jesus" page.) All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished. Luke 2:18 (NLT) 

READ: 1 SAMUEL 1:9-20; MATTHEW 28:19-20; JOHN 16:33 Sun sets. Moon rises. Joy dies Within me. Silver stars Cool and pure. Pain inside Black as night. A prayer. No answer. I cry out In the dark. You still hear, I will not fear. Joy comes In the morning. • Lorna Garlets • Have you ever felt like there was no way anyone could understand the troubles you’re facing? We all feel like this at times, but the truth is, Jesus always understands us, and He always has compassion on us. God’s great love for us moved Him to endure the excruciatingly painful death of the cross and the cold darkness of the grave so that we could be with Him. Now, we can know that Jesus is truly able to empathize with us. He has entered into our pain, and when we are in distress, He sits beside us and weeps with us. (John 11:32-35; Hebrews 4:14-16) • If we know Jesus, we can rest knowing that everything will be okay—perhaps in the near future, and certainly when He returns and makes all things new (Revelation 21:1-5). As we look forward to the glorious dawn of the new creation, how does Jesus’s promise to be with us give us the freedom to lament, to honestly cry out to God in all our pain and sorrow? Consider taking a moment to bring Him your lament. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 (WEB) 

READ: GENESIS 1:26-31; COLOSSIANS 3:17; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11 I grew up around gamers. I remember spending hours of my childhood curled up on the couch watching my older brothers, Tony and AJ, play Legend of Zelda. I admired their skill and problem-solving abilities, and I often wished I could play as well as they did. Many people look down on video games, considering them a waste of time at best and a corrupting influence at worst. But is that always true? It’s true that we can sometimes spend too much time and money on video games, and it’s true that some games contain questionable content. But did you know video games are also one place we can reflect God’s image? We are created to create because we are created in the Creator’s image (say that five times fast). This allows us to make incredible works of art using all kinds of different mediums. Since the beginning of time, we have been painting, sculpting, writing, singing, and directing plays. And now that artistic expression can be found in developing video games. Video games can actually tap into our good, God-given desires and abilities to be creative and to solve problems. Many games require strategic planning skills— including resource management, cooperation, and persistence—and all of these skills are vital to the kingdom of God. And many games are played alongside other people, creating a wonderful opportunity for community and connection. I’m not saying everyone should play video games. I’m just saying that God can be glorified in all our hobbies, including video games. Even though our world is broken by sin, Christ died and rose again to save us from sin and death. He redeems our creativity. So, if we’ve put our trust in Him, we are free to serve and glorify Him in our daily endeavors. As the Creator, God loves beautiful art, and He loves a problem well-solved. And He loves it when we have fun! So, as Christians, we can think carefully about any art form we create or consume, including video games. And as we enjoy the creativity, strategy, and cooperation found in video games, we can give praise to the Originator of all creativity, strategy, and cooperation, who loves us more than we could ever imagine. • Taylor Eising • Where do you see God’s creativity in video games or other things you enjoy doing? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this! So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) 

READ: JOHN 17; ROMANS 8:34; HEBREWS 7:25; 1 JOHN 2:1 All of John 17 is a prayer that Jesus prayed to the Father on the night before He was arrested. He prayed for several things, but the most prominent theme was His concern for His followers. In these 26 verses, Jesus uses the pronouns they, them, and those 47 times. Jesus was praying for the disciples. But the shocker comes in verse 20, when Jesus says, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message…” Do you believe the old, old story of the good news of Jesus Christ? Then this verse is talking about you. Jesus prayed for you on that awful night, just before He was led away to die on the cross for your sins. All the things Jesus prayed for His followers are also for you: • To be protected (verse 11, 15) • To be unified (verse 11, 21-23) • To have the full measure of His joy within us (verse 13) • To be holy, or sanctified (verse 17, 19) • To be with Jesus and see His glory (verse 24) • To be filled with God’s love (verse 26) Two thousand years ago Jesus prayed for you. And did you know that Jesus is also praying for you today? This wonderful truth is found in Romans 8—that Jesus rose from the grave, ascended into heaven, and is now at the Father’s right hand praying for you. Paul writes in verse 34, “Christ Jesus who died— more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Jesus prayed for you then. Jesus is praying for you now. How great is that? • Daniel Dore • Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus prayed for you on the night before He died on the cross? How does this make you feel? • Read Romans 8:31-39. What do you think Jesus is praying for you today? [Jesus said,] “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” John 17:20 (NIV)