DAILY ENCOUR AGEMENT FOR YOUR SOUL

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

VOL. 9 NO. 6
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and
his courts with praise; give thanks
to him and praise his name.
Psalm : (niv)
 A Note from the Editor

Every year I get excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas. As soon

as I pull out my fall and Thanksgiving decorations, the vibe in my
house changes. The fragrance of holiday candles fills the air as I plan
get-togethers with friends, cook up a frenzy, and look forward to
time with my family.
This year, however, the holidays are going to be different. My old-
est son graduated from college in May. He is officially on his own,
with a full-time job and apartment in Ohio. He has started his
journey on adulthood and so far has navigated the inevitable bumps
that come with it. I am one very proud mama.
My son went to college in Ohio, about eleven hours from where
I live. I’ve become accustomed to seeing him sporadically through
the year, but have always welcomed the extra time together at both
Thanksgiving and Christmas. But there will be no extra time this
year. He will only have a few days with us during both holidays
before he needs to get back to work. While this change initially
makes me a bit sad, I’m hoping it will be an opportunity to reflect
on both the excitement and nostalgia of my kids getting older.
Although the amount of time my family has together won’t be
the same as in the past, I will do my best to fill it with what matters
most—love, thankfulness, and rejoicing. My wish for you this holi-
day season is that you, too, have moments filled with love, thank-
fulness, and rejoicing as we thank God for His blessings and gift
of His son.
Carolyn Mandarano

Mornings with Jesus (ISSN: 2374-3972) is published bimonthly by Guideposts, 100 Reserve Road, Suite E200, Danbury, CT 06810. Standard
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 NOVEMBER

In the midst of
darkness,
light persists.
MAHATMA GANDHI
 Wednesday, November 1

. . . he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced
when they saw the Lord. John 20:20 (NRSV)

The bump on my jawline was starting to swell. I’d had problems

with it several years ago, but this time was different. The painful
protrusion was nearly the size of a golf ball. It started to affect my
sleep and movements. I applied hot compresses to help relieve the
swelling and sensitivity, but it quickly became apparent that self-
treatment would not be enough. I needed to see a dermatologist.
At the appointment, the doctor told me I had an infected cyst.
The good news was that it could be treated with antibiotics and
later removed. The bad news was that I would always have a scar on
my face. My choice was to live with a scar or stay in pain. I wanted
to be well and have the cyst gone, so I started antibiotics. The infec-
tion subsided within a few days. Several weeks later, the growth was
removed and the unsightly scar formed.
Thinking about Jesus’s wounds helped me accept my own scar.
After the crucifixion, Jesus had scars on His hands, feet, and side—
proof of His suffering on the cross that saved humankind from their
sins. With Jesus’s death and resurrection, those wounds and scars
meant healing and wholeness for me and for all who believe in Him
(Isaiah 53:5).
I no longer see my scar as a bad thing but as a triumphant
sign of healing—proof that I’m now well inside and out.
—Barbranda Lumpkins Walls

Faith Step: What scars from life do you have? How has Jesus healed your
wounds?
 Thursday, November 2

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

Writing materials for women’s Bible studies has grown my

faith and deepened my understanding of who Jesus is. Before and
during the writing process, I immersed myself in research using the
Word of God and recommended Bible study tools. Without fail, I
discover gems I’ve overlooked despite reading particular passages
numerous times.
Take, for example, the story of Jesus’s transfiguration on the
mountain. As Jesus engaged in conversation with Moses and Elijah,
“His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as
the light.” Then God spoke from a cloud saying, “This is my Son,
whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew
17:2–5, niv).
Peter, James, and John witnessed this and fell facedown on the
ground in terror. They’d walked, talked, and lived with Jesus for
nearly three years. Perhaps, because of their familiarity with Him,
they’d treated Him casually. But this event opened their spiritual
eyes to see who He really was (2 Peter 1:16–19).
Like the disciples, I need reminders now and again about who
Jesus is. Without them, I begin to regard Him too casually. He’s my
friend, yes, but He’s also God incarnate—absolutely holy, sovereign,
wise, and powerful. The more I grow in my knowledge of Him, the
more I’m moved to worship. To think that He lavishes His grace on
me leaves me in awe. —Grace Fox

Faith Step: Go out into nature and thank Jesus for the beauty of His creation.
Look at the sky today or the stars tonight. Let the wonder of the heavens stir your
heart to worship Him.
 Friday, November 3

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where
sin abounded, grace abounded much more. Romans 5:20 (NKJV)

I’m a lifelong “good girl.” I like following the rules and doing
sensible things, but recently I’ve been experimenting with bad-
ness. Now, now, don’t worry. I’m not doing anything despicable
or dangerous. I’m just being mindful of not being so painfully
perfectionistic. I’m not being compulsively careful to the point
of obsession. Not being pitifully people-pleasing to the point of
saccharine. In short, I’m trying to leave my scrupulosity behind.
Scrupulosity is a form of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
involving religious or moral obsessions. Somewhere along my
Christian journey, I picked up some irritating image of who I was
supposed to be. Airbrushed niceness, perfect neatness, conscien-
tiousness that got precariously close to haughtiness. I also apolo-
gized for the slightest real or perceived offense.
When God brought my own scrupulosity to light, I started taking
it easier on myself. I tried to be kinder about my failings and spoke
nicely to myself when I made a mistake. I sometimes let the bed
remain unmade, allowed the kids to stay on their iPads all day, ate a
Big Mac, and allowed the teensiest edge in my voice.
What I’ve found is that being more human seems to invite more
grace. I’m relying more on Jesus and less on myself, which allows
me to enjoy the abounding grace Christ earned for me. I’m get-
ting rid of scrupulosity, and that doesn’t seem so bad after all.
—Isabella Campolattaro

Faith Step: Take a “scrupulosity” inventory—things you do in a perfectionistic

way. Take a week off from being a “good girl.” If you feel compelled, ask Jesus for
grace instead of acting on the compulsion.
 Saturday, November 4

. . . and He died for all, that those who live should no longer live
for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
2 Corinthians 5:15 (NKJV)

I scrolled through my Facebook feed and stopped on an image

that took my breath away. My friend Ron stood in front of a
stranger. Head bowed, Ron had a stethoscope in his ears. One hand
was on the stranger’s shoulder. His other hand held the bell of the
stethoscope over the man’s heart. Instant tears blurred my vision.
Months earlier, Ron had lost his teenage son in a horrific accident.
I didn’t have to read the text above the photo to understand that Ron
was listening to his son’s heart giving life to another human being.
As I stared at the picture, I wondered what Ron must be thinking at
that moment. Please take care of my son’s heart. Remember what I lost
so that you could have a new life. Never take this gift for granted.
Surely conflicting emotions warred inside of my dear friend who
had gone through such anguish. Utter grief. Awe and wonder. The
bittersweet joy of hearing his son’s heartbeat again, despite his tragic
and untimely death.
As I stared at Ron’s photo, eyes closed, listening so intently, I
imagined another Father whose Son gives new life. The cost of
Jesus’s sacrifice became real to me. Because of His death on the
cross, I have a new heart. A new life. Eternal life. That’s a gift I don’t
want to take for granted either. —Karen Sargent

Faith Step: Give yourself a healthy heart checkup. In what ways are you tak-
ing care of your spiritual heart? What action can you do today to make sure you
don’t take Jesus’s sacrifice for granted?
 Sunday, November 5

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works

are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

All four of my grandchildren have some variation of brown

eyes, but Roman’s eyes are the darkest. Around age four, he would
gaze in my face each time I visited and say, “Nana, I wish I had
blue eyes like you and Mom, ’cause blue eyes are better.” I always
answered, “Oh no, Roman, you have eyes the color of rich, fine
chocolate. And what could be better than that?” He never seemed
convinced, and that made my heart a little sad.
Then, on a day trip, I entertained Roman and his older sister in
the back seat with a bag of Peanut M&Ms, giving them clues to
guess what color I had just poured into my hand before they ate it.
On Roman’s last turn, I used a fill-in-the-blank rhyme:
Some say blue eyes are the fairest around,
but that is not the case that I’ve found.
For Roman has eyes that are deep chocolate ______.
I’m not sure if Roman outgrew his dissatisfaction with his eye
color or my poetry did the trick, because he never complained again.
God has made His love for diversity obvious through His cre-
ation, including humans. King David marveled at how our Creator
intricately weaves each one of us in the womb. There’s nothing
wrong with being the healthiest, most attractive version of ourselves
we can be; after all, we are Jesus’s representatives. But to honor Him,
I want to embrace the choices He made when He created me—blue
eyes or brown. —Dianne Neal Matthews

Faith Step: Look in the mirror and think about how completely beautiful you
are to Jesus.
 Monday, November 6

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight.

He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from
the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:24 (NLT)

My friend Raina, who works for a college ministry, told me a

simple illustration she uses to explain grace to college students. She
described how her daughter, Ellie, had snuck some of her younger
brother’s candy from trick-or-treating the night before. Raina and her
husband decided to take Ellie’s iPad away for a week. After discussing
it further, they thought this would be a great opportunity to teach
Ellie about mercy and not give her the punishment she deserved.
Unexpectedly, Ellie provided Raina with a sweet description of grace.
They sat Ellie down and said, “Stealing your brother’s candy
was wrong, but we want to extend mercy to you this time and not
give you the punishment you deserve because Jesus offers us mercy
rather than punishment.” Ellie, clearly relieved, said, “Okay.” Then
she asked, “Can I have some candy too?” Raina and her husband
laughed and said, “Well, that would be grace.”
Jesus is the ultimate grace giver. He frees us from the penalty of
our sin and then offers us so much more than we deserve. Jesus
hands out the sweet stuff in life such as complete forgiveness, unde-
served salvation, unexplainable peace, fullness of joy, unconditional
love, and eternal life. Through Jesus, I’m freed from the penalty of
my sins and made right in relationship with Him. That’s sweeter
than candy, any day of the year! —Jeannie Blackmer

Faith Step: What’s something you’ve received from Jesus that makes your life
a little sweeter? Share that with a friend today and perhaps treat yourself to a
little candy.
 Tuesday, November 7

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the
unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

Today as I picked green beans from our backyard garden, I started

to giggle, remembering my first attempt at gardening. After years
of apartment living, my husband and I were thrilled to have a big
backyard. We’d planted a variety of vegetables, and I waited eagerly
for my green beans to appear. Yet as weeks passed, I still didn’t see
any beans.
One day, I crouched down to pick up something I’d dropped
and brushed aside one of the bean plants. I yelped and fell back-
ward because a weird growth was under the leaves. When my heart
stopped pounding, I took another look. Beautiful straight beans
dangled under the leaves. As a novice gardener, I’d never thought to
search under there.
I often walk through life with that same sort of ignorance. Jesus
is at work “under the leaves,” producing a bountiful harvest. My
gaze skims the surface of the situations around me and I don’t see
growth. The enemy does his best to encourage that sort of blind-
ness, doubt, and hopelessness. I’m so grateful to Jesus for redirecting
my gaze and teaching me where to look for His glory: in the lisped
lyrics of a five-year-old’s Sunday school song, in the gnarled hands
of a grandmother clasping her worn Bible, in the boxes of groceries
my husband loads into cars during our church’s food distribution.
Jesus is growing His people in grace in the most unlikely places.
All I have to do is look. —Sharon Hinck

Faith Step: Ask Jesus to open your eyes so you are able to see His grace in
your circumstances.
 Wednesday, November 8

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone

who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards
those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

If you were to stop by my house today, you’d notice two things.

First, the washing machine is running (with a large family, it always
is). Second, I struggle with being compassionate to myself in the
middle of the mess. I’m critical of myself when I can’t keep up with
tending to the household chores, homeschooling kids, and other
projects. Even though I added more responsibilities as we grew our
family, I still felt the need to keep the same standards. Yet, no one
expects me to keep everything in perfect order, especially Jesus.
Compassion for myself has grown as I’ve understood Jesus’s com-
passionate heart toward me. A few years ago, I was in the laundry
room sorting through piles of dirty clothes when I cried out to
Jesus, “I can’t do this. Help me.” Jesus’s response to my spirit was
compassionate. He let me know He loved me just as much in the
middle of those mountains of laundry as He did when it was all
folded and put away.
What is Jesus more concerned about: my husband, John, and me
opening our home to children who need a place to stay, or making
sure the dirty laundry pile is all caught up? I still struggle, but I’m
learning to be compassionate toward myself. One load at a time.
—Tricia Goyer

Faith Step: In what area do you feel you can’t keep up? Write it down on a
piece of paper. Then write this phrase over the top: “I love you just as much as if
you were completely caught up. Love, Jesus.”
 Thursday, November 9

“Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms,
carried him to the upper room where he was staying,
and laid him on his bed. 1 Kings 17:19 (NIV)

One of my best friends, Jess, has been homeschooling her son

since he was in the first grade. She felt it was God’s will to enroll
him in a private high school to make the transition to college easier.
He was recently accepted to several schools for next year, and the
touring process has begun. As much as Jess knows this is what God
wants for her son, it’s ripping her heart out just thinking about
letting him go. They’ve shared her son’s educational journey every
single day for years.
In 1 Kings 17, the widow of Zarephath has only enough food
for one last meal for her and her son in the midst of a famine.
Regardless, she extends Elijah hospitality, makes a meal, and offers
him the upstairs sleeping quarters. Because of her unwavering trust
in God, He miraculously keeps replenishing her jar of meal and
cruse of oil to feed all three of them.
Later, the widow’s son gets ill and dies, but she trusts Elijah
enough to let him take the boy’s body to the bedroom where he is
staying. Elijah petitions God. Again, the widow’s trust is rewarded
with a miracle: Through the power of God, Elijah brings her son
back to life.
Although Jess is struggling, she trusts Jesus enough to let her son go.
As she relinquishes her educational duties, she eagerly awaits seeing
what miracles Jesus will do in her son’s life. —Claire McGarry

Faith Step: Search your heart as you read 1 Kings 17:8–24. What in your life
do you need to let go of and trust Jesus with?
 Friday, November 10

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs
with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may
also share in his glory. Romans 8:16–17 (NIV)

My father emerged from his closet with a jewelry box and set it
on the table in front of my siblings and me. “This belonged to your
mother,” he said. “Go through it and take whatever you want.”
We opened the box and peered inside to find an assortment of
rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings scattered along the plush,
velvet lining. My heart swelled. Who would have guessed that a box
filled with such treasure had been buried in the back of our father’s
closet for more than two decades? We spread the contents before us
and feasted on the beauty of the glittering gold and sparkling jew-
els. At the end of the night, we each went home with several pieces
of jewelry that our father had safeguarded for us.
Now, when I wear my grandmother’s wedding ring or my moth-
er’s diamond earrings, they remind me that I’m an heir—both now
and in the future. My mother’s jewelry may twinkle and shine, but
it is nothing compared to the inheritance waiting for me as a co-
heir with Jesus. Gold, silver, rubies, and emeralds all pale in com-
parison to the glory I have as a child of God. The promise of sharing
eternity with Jesus is the best treasure of all. —Emily E. Ryan

Faith Step: As you dress for the day, put on a piece of jewelry with a cross as a
reminder of your inheritance as a co-heir with Jesus.
 Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s

life for one’s friends. John 15:13 (NIV)

Like many others, today I will visit cemeteries, placing flowers

and flags at the graves of those selfless soldiers who gave their lives
defending our American ideals. They represent the best of the best,
a human almanac of something bigger, something almost holy—
courage, strength, and a depth of love for the United States that few
of us can fathom.
God says in Joshua 1:9 (NIV), “Have I not commanded you? Be
strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for
the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” I wonder
if these men and women held those words in their hearts as they
entered battle. Did they realize that no matter the outcome, or how
great the sacrifice, they could bravely fight knowing they weren’t
alone? Perhaps Jesus meditated on this same verse as He won our
salvation on the cross.
As I go about this day, I’m both grateful and challenged. How can
I stretch my faith to reflect the glory these warriors deserve? I want
to honor them, not just today, but every day.
The answer, I believe, is to approach my personal trials with cour-
age and to understand that whether my wishes prevail or not, Jesus
will be with me. That’s what really matters. Because of many sol-
diers’ sacrifices, I can enjoy freedom by being called an American.
Because of Jesus’s sacrifice, I can, by His grace, be called a child of
God. I won’t forget either. —Heidi Gaul

Faith Step: Do something today to commemorate those who’ve died for our
country. As you face life’s challenges, reflect that the outcome isn’t always the
priority. It’s trusting in the company you keep—Jesus.
 Sunday, November 12

Love us, GOD, with all you’ve got—that’s what we’re

depending on. Psalm 33:22 (MSG)

Last week we covered a lot of miles. I had a follow-up medical

appointment three states away. My husband, Mike, and I drove
farther and faster than ever before to complete the trip in four days.
Yes, we were road-weary, but otherwise, this trip was a joy!
Through the endless horizons of Wyoming to Colorado’s Rockies
to the ocher hills of New Mexico and Arizona’s high desert, we
traveled. Snow, fog, and ice kept us on our toes. We prayed for
safety—and even one time for the gas to last until we reached the
next service station, which thankfully, it did.
The speed of this journey played so much beauty through our
windshield. There were overnight stays with soft linen-lined beds,
booked on my phone from the passenger seat while barreling along
the interstate. We reminisced about road trips in our early married
days when we kept changing drivers because we couldn’t afford a
hotel. We thanked Jesus for keeping us safe back then when either
of us could have easily drifted off to sleep behind the wheel.
Mike and I might think we’re better equipped now to take care
of our needs, but the truth is we’re still at His mercy. The roads
were hazardous, but He kept us safe on the icy pavement. Jesus led
us to motels with vacancies when we needed to stop for the night.
Gas stations appeared when we needed to fill up. Mike and I trav-
eled with confidence knowing who was really in the driver’s seat.
—Suzanne Davenport Tietjen

Faith Step: Think of a time you didn’t depend on Jesus and how He met your
needs anyway. Reflect on it or journal your experience.
 Monday, November 13

But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, “You are my God!”

My future is in your hands. Psalm 31:14–15 (NLT)

My calendar belongs to Jesus. By that, I mean I regularly invite

Him to remove any activity or assignment I’ve planned apart from
His approval, add whatever He wishes, and rearrange my schedule
to accomplish His purposes.
While living with our youngest daughter to help her through
the last trimester of her risky pregnancy, I struggled to keep up
with my regular workload. The deadline for this year’s assignments
for Mornings with Jesus was fast approaching. I had no idea how
I would make it, and I envisioned working late into the night to
finish on time.
One day, I received a phone call from the editor to say she was
taking another position. Then she asked how things were going
with my assignment. I told her life was crazy and I was struggling
to finish on time. She said, “I’ll get you a month’s extension!”
I expressed my relief and told her Jesus had answered my prayer
through her offer of time. The extension lifted the pressure and
left me better able to be fully present for my daughter and family.
I was able to do my best work with the extra time. I’d never have
the nerve to ask for an extension, but Jesus knew what I needed and
made it happen. —Grace Fox

Faith Step: Look at your calendar. Invite Jesus to remove, add, or rearrange
anything necessary to accomplish His purposes.
 Tuesday, November 14

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people

live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

My husband, Scott, and I do things differently. I’m a morning

person. He’s a night owl. I like my coffee with a little milk and no
sugar. His looks like melted ice cream in a coffee cup. I’m a pick-
up-everything-in-the-house-straighten-every-room type of cleaner.
He is a deep-clean-like-your-life-depends-on-it guy. I come at life’s
problems from an emotional viewpoint. Scott is a problem-solver.
I feel like I’m missing out on life when I take a nap. He loves naps
with a passion.
After almost twenty-five years of being married, we know we need
to work hard to understand each other for the sake of our relation-
ship. Early on, we argued about our differences, which only pulled
us apart.
When Jesus created the world, and us, He gave each of us our
own desires, needs, gifts, and strengths. Even with the differences
He bestowed on us, by His grace, He calls each of us to live a life
of unity. The kind of unity Jesus modeled. Jesus came to earth to
live with people who were completely at odds with Him, yet He
graciously gave His life, even for His enemies, carving out hope and
healing for those who follow Him.
Scott and I still do and see things differently, but we agree
on the important things. We put aside petty differences and work
together for the sake of our marriage and for the glory of Jesus.
—Susanna Foth Aughtmon

Faith Step: Is there someone in your life who does things differently? Ask Jesus
to show you how to appreciate his or her unique strengths for the sake of your
relationship as you strive to live in unity together.
 Wednesday, November 15

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 (NIV)

“You need to REST.” My friend’s emphatic words left little room for
argument. “You’re still doing too much. It’s okay to just be.”
I liked the idea of sitting and reading or watching TV. Even tak-
ing a nap and shutting the world off. But I always felt guilty.
I am a “striver.” I keep myself busy—too busy—doing all sorts
of things. My husband is the same way, so after tackling one big
project after another for years, he and I decided to strive to stop
striving, to let things be, to just be. I loved the idea, but doing it
was unfamiliar territory.
Just as being constantly busy doesn’t always work for me, life
doesn’t work as well when I overcommit, don’t set boundaries, and
run my brain and body to the limits. I need physical rest, but I also
need to rest in Jesus, in my heart, soul, and mind.
My friend and I moved on in our conversation and had a wonder-
ful visit, but I couldn’t stop thinking about her words. And then it
dawned on me: Rest is abiding in grace. Grace to listen to Jesus over
anyone else. To not get caught up in what I think I need to do for
everyone else. To enjoy Him and to please Him first. To rest and be
with Him. —Erin Keeley Marshall

Faith Step: From what pressuring influences do you need a break? Take fifteen
minutes to rest your body, mind, spirit, and soul.
 Thursday, November 16

And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up
for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)

I wasn’t born with the “love to clean house” gene. So when a

friend showed me her robotic vacuum that nearly ran itself, I con-
vinced my husband we needed one.
I love to watch this miracle gadget spin over floors and carpets. It
inhales all the dirt in its path, pivots when it hits a wall, and plugs
itself back into the charger when it’s finished. I also love having a
clean floor without lifting a finger.
Nevertheless, our new toy requires more involvement from us
than we’d hoped. It needs rescuing if it catches on fringe from a
bedspread or hits a carpet snag. We also need to empty the canister
after each use.
That vacuum reminds me a bit of me.
I need to grow in many areas. Overcome bad habits. Gain victory
over besetting sins, with which I constantly struggle. I’d prefer
that Jesus do all the work. I want to come to Him with my worry,
gluttony, or envy and have Him make it all disappear like the cat
hair that our miracle vacuum sucks up. Without any work on my
part. Without having to clean out that pesky dirtbag in my heart. I
want to simply watch Jesus do His thing.
Then I remember that He already has. His sacrifice on the cross
has made me clean, with no effort required on my part. I needn’t
even lift a finger—that’s the real miracle! —Jeanette Levellie

Faith Step: Write down a list of your own dirty spots you’re struggling with.
Pray about them daily and ask Jesus to make you clean.
 Friday, November 17

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence

of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

A treasured friend, who is now a resident of heaven, used this

signature line on all her emails: “Have a happy day. The Son is shin-
ing!” So many people connected it with the authenticity of the way
she lived her faith that the phrase was part of her memorial service
video presentation. I miss her, so I conducted a word search of my
archived emails. Hundreds of messages appeared on the screen with
that faith-filled signature line, speaking to my heart today, even
though she’s gone.
What was Jesus’s signature line? The last words He said on the
cross were, “It is finished” (John 19:30), and the final words He said
to His disciples before ascending into heaven were, “But you shall
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NKJV).
But likely, Jesus’s sign-off for most of His communications with
individuals during His ministry wasn’t “See ya” or “Keep it real”
or “TTFN” (ta-ta for now), although any of those might actually
fit. It’s far more possible that Jesus ended His conversations with a
repeat of what He consistently said was at the heart of His ministry
teaching: “Love one another.”
Like my friend’s sign-off, I want to keep Jesus’s signature line in
my heart so that I remember to live His words with everyone I
come in contact with—love one another. —Cynthia Ruchti

Faith Step: Have you considered a faith-filled signature line? What words of
hope or encouragement would yours be?
 Saturday, November 18

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)

After hiking for a few days with some friends, I stepped up a

small stair leading to our front door and my knee painfully popped.
I went in for an MRI, convinced I had a piece of cartilage floating
around in my kneecap, but I was wrong. I had arthritis in my knee.
All I had to do to prevent the pain was to stretch.
Stretching leads to flexibility in our bodies, but isn’t being flexible
a good characteristic in life too? “Blessed are the flexible for they
shall not be broken” is a saying some refer to as the new beatitude.
I’m certainly inflexible at times, stubborn with the plans I devise.
If I were more pliable, it would be much easier for myself and my
loved ones when things don’t go according to my wishes. Jesus
was certainly flexible. He frequently stretched the disciples’ faith.
He asked them to feed thousands of people with two fish and five
loaves of bread when they were short on resources and may have
wanted to rest (Matthew 14:15–21). When He was on His way
to heal a ruler’s daughter, He stopped to help a woman who des-
perately needed to be healed (Matthew 9:18–22). Being malleable
rather than rigid can result in unimaginable blessings, as it did for
those who interacted with Jesus.
Stretching is now part of my daily regimen. It reminds me to stay
flexible not just physically but with my plans too. When things sud-
denly fall apart, I remember “Blessed are the flexible” because Jesus
is probably up to something good. —Jeannie Blackmer

Faith Step: Watch for an opportunity today to practice being flexible. Write
down how Jesus bestowed an unexpected blessing on you.
 Sunday, November 19

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall

direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV)

I’ve been driving since I was sixteen, and I consider myself a good
driver. I’m not aggressive, but I’m cautious and have good reason.
The memory of my daughter Melissa’s accident when she turned
left against the traffic is forever emblazoned in my mind. She was
broadsided, resulting in painful injuries and the total loss of her car.
One day when I was leaving the mall, I considered turning left,
but traffic was heavy. So I hooked a right into the entrance of an
automatic car wash, figuring I could turn around there. Imagine
my dismay when I discovered that once I was in the car-wash line,
there was no turning back! Stone barriers on both sides of the drive
prevented me from changing my mind. I was trapped!
Starting to sweat and feel claustrophobic, I noticed an opening
in the double line of traffic. I felt a nudge from Jesus: Go for it! I
hesitated. I had to admit that lately I’d been ignoring Jesus’s nudges.
Like last week when I saw a woman standing by her car, obviously
in need of help. Stop, Jesus urged, but I didn’t. And a few days ago,
when I saw my neighbor, whose husband was ill, working in her
yard, Jesus prodded, Stop, but I kept going. This time His nudge
advised me to Go, so I went!
Safely back on the street, I thanked Jesus and asked Him to for-
give me for ignoring his nudges. When I heed His directions, He’ll
never steer me wrong. —Pat Butler Dyson

Faith Step: When you feel a nudge from Jesus, follow His cue. He will never
steer you wrong!
 Monday, November 20

Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened,
his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Mark 8:25 (NIV)

Recently, my family and I drove to a funeral. The 1,540-mile drive

was mostly uneventful, although it was not without heart-pounding
moments. We maneuvered around a ladder in the roadway, swerved
around several blown tires, and avoided speedy eighteen-wheelers
that sometimes drifted out of their lanes. However, the toughest
part of our drive happened when the sunny sky turned dark within
seconds and unyielding sheets of rain crashed down onto our wind-
shield, blurring our vision. After a while, the rain thinned out. The
visibility was still low, but we could see that the darkness wasn’t
going to last much longer.
The people of Bethsaida undoubtedly heard that Jesus had the
power to heal the blind. They were not timid about bringing a
blind beggar to Jesus, and they weren’t too proud to beg for His
help. Jesus took the man aside, laid His hands on the man’s eyes,
and restored his sight. Immediately, the man’s vision was restored,
but he could not make out what was in front of him until after Jesus
laid His hands on the man’s eyes again.
As a Christian, I’m no longer spiritually blind, but there are times
I still may not see clearly. Obstacles, both emotional and physical,
may be in my way. Or I might have a tough time navigating unex-
pected “storms” in my life. No matter where the road leads, though, I
have confidence that with Jesus, I can see clearly. —Ericka Loynes

Faith Step: When you encounter a “storm,” write it down, identifying what’s
making your visibility to see through it low. Call out to Jesus. Ask Him for clarity.
 Tuesday, November 21

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in

your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and,
I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)

My cousin, Sam, told me he and his daughter were researching the

family to learn more about their heritage. Sam and I share maternal
grandparents. We know the stories of how Madear and Papa met
in Mississippi as children, got married as teenagers, and made their
way to Missouri to settle there with their three daughters. With
determination and faith, my grandparents made a good life for
themselves and their family.
My conversation with Sam made me think about diving into the
family genealogy too. Wouldn’t it be great to know more about past
generations and how they connected to me today? While it would
be nice to trace my roots and learn more about my ancestors, I do
know the most important thing: My grandparents knew and loved
Jesus. They talked about how He often made a way for them and
protected them. They loved and served the Lord and taught their
children to do the same. My mother, who learned from her parents,
passed that legacy of faith down to me and my siblings. We, too,
decided to follow Jesus.
I don’t have to pore over Ancestry.com or take a DNA test to
know that Jesus is a part of my heritage. He’s also prominent in
my own story and the legacy I’ll leave to future generations.
—Barbranda Lumpkins Walls

Faith Step: Who has influenced your faith journey? How can you pay it for-
ward and show someone in your family the way to Jesus?
 Wednesday, November 22

And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within
us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released
from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when
God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including
the new bodies he has promised us. Romans 8:23 (NLT)

It’s laughable how my husband and I keep checking the front

porch to see if a package we’re expecting has been delivered yet. In
anticipation of its arrival, first one of us, then the other, peeks out
the front door. Repeatedly. We act like a couple of kids anxiously
awaiting presents on Christmas morning. Bordering on silly in our
unveiled enthusiastic anticipation of said delivery, we keep an eye
out for this expected event.
It’s a little embarrassing, because I’m not nearly so vigilant in my
watching and waiting for the day of Jesus’s return. On that day, I
won’t get a tracking notification from FedEx or UPS.
We recently sang a song in Sunday school inspired by the story of
the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1–6). The
lyrics asked Jesus to hide His Word in our hearts, give us faith, keep
us praying, give us joy, keep us singing, and keep us serving.
I want to be in a state of constant readiness for Jesus. That’s the
lesson I’m taking to heart by staying in His Word, and praying,
singing, and serving as I eagerly await His return. Thinking about
it makes me feel a little giddy, like waiting for our big package
delivery—only better. —Cassandra Tiersma

Faith Step: Write down what you are expectantly waiting for. While waiting,
focus on Jesus, who always delivers on His promises.
 Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 23

. . . 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. Philippians 3:13–14 (NIV)

My son Pierce just started attending a respected Christian

high school, well-known for athletics. He’s a solid basketball player
and highly motivated, but like me, Pierce can sometimes get in his
head and overthink situations. At a recent game, he took an awk-
ward tumble mid-pass. He recovered, but it was obvious he was
downcast and distracted the rest of the game.
Debriefing with him on the ride home, he said the coach urged
him to let go of errors quickly because they only undermined his
game going forward. Coach told Pierce to shake off mistakes and
simply keep pressing ahead, focused on the ultimate goal. Great
advice for an athlete, and for a believer like me.
I have sometimes gotten bogged down and even paralyzed by the
mistakes I’ve made or simple life detours, even the little ones. I
obsess about how I might have done things differently or wonder
why something happened the way it did.
While I can learn from my past, I cannot change it. What’s done is
done, but what I can do is get up, shake off mistakes, and press ahead,
focused on my ultimate goal, “to win the prize for which God has called
me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Great advice from Pierce’s coach
taken straight from Jesus’s playbook. —Isabella Campolattaro

Faith Step: Are you struggling with something in your unchangeable past?
Take time to write what you learned, then conclude with a prayer using Paul’s
words in Philippians 3:13–14 as you press forward.
 Friday, November 24

Because the Lord disciplines the one he loves . . . Hebrews 12:6 (NIV)

My pandemic year as a non-career high school teacher vividly

reminded me: Boundaries are loving, not punitive, selfish, or mean.
I was hired to teach English during the historic 2020–2021 school
year. After months of isolation, a string of teachers, COVID-19
stress, and related drama, the students were confused, scared, and
acting out a lot. Many were facing problems at home too.
An enthusiastic novice teacher, I resolved to be firm, patient, and
loving. I did really well being loving and patient. I want to say firm,
too, but that’s not true. With misguided compassion, I gave the kids
too much latitude. I was endlessly patient with disruptive behavior.
I didn’t strictly enforce homework deadlines. I gave out candy just
because. Halfway through the term, I had a bunch of failing stu-
dents and my most challenging classes were extremely unruly. Plus,
I was burned out and resentful. I had no one to blame but myself.
As I prayed to Jesus each day, it became clear I needed tougher
boundaries. I intuitively knew this, but my people-pleaser self
resisted. Still, it had to be done. I got stricter, dispensing consequences
promptly. I dropped rewards unless they were merited. I raised the
bar. Almost overnight, the kids fell in line. Their grades improved.
The classroom was more peaceful and orderly. The kids were more
respectful with each other and with me. I was happier too.
Indeed, clear boundaries and wise discipline were needed not just
for my students but for me too. With Jesus’s help, we all made it
through the COVID-19 school year. —Isabella Campolattaro

Faith Step: Are you feeling resentful, frustrated, or abused? Ask Jesus if a
boundary is needed.
 Saturday, November 25

I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul. Psalm 31:7 (NIV)

Hagar was a teenage Egyptian slave who served a rich man’s wife
named Sarai. Sarai was desperate for a child in her old age, so she
did something that was culturally acceptable—she arranged for her
husband, Abram, to sleep with Hagar. If that union conceived a
child, Sarai would legally become his mother. Her ploy worked but
drove a wedge between the two women.
Hagar fled to escape abuse. As she sat alone in the wilderness, the
angel of the Lord appeared, addressed her by name, and spoke with her
about her situation. When the divine encounter ended, Hagar called
God by the name El Roi, “the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).
My heart goes out to Hagar when I read her story. At the same
time, I find it offers hope. Life really hurts sometimes, and remind-
ers like this help to ease my pain. I’ve discovered that knowing Jesus
sees me gives me perseverance when contending with a friend’s
mental health issues. It gives me peace when my adult kids hurt. It
gives me courage when uncertainty looms large.
My friend, hang on to the truth that Jesus is with us when we’re
afflicted and feeling alone. He sees us when we cry, and He knows
our deepest disappointments and sorrow. But because He loves us
with an everlasting love, He never leaves us alone to languish in our
pain. —Grace Fox

Faith Step: Read Hagar’s story in Genesis 16:1–13. Thank Jesus for seeing
you just as He saw Hagar in her anguish.
 Sunday, November 26

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick
to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19 (NIV)

I tossed and turned at night, mentally writing an email to a family

member with whom I’d had a conflict. My words would explain my
position, ease the tension, and all would be well. At least that was
what I told myself.
The next morning, I opened my laptop to compose the email,
and I felt Jesus whisper, “Wait.” Argh! But I was ready to make her
understand me.
“Why?” I asked.
Gradually, Jesus helped me see my true motives. I wanted to be liked
by everyone. I wanted to make myself look reasonable—be the bigger
person. I wasn’t truly focused on understanding my family member or
resolving the conflict at all. I wanted her to understand me.
I needed more time in the Word, more time at Jesus’s feet, before
I was ready to write a humble note from a heart filled with compas-
sion, my only motive being love.
James 1:19 is about being quick to listen, not only listening to a
person I have a conflict with but also listening to Jesus. I needed to
take time to hear His perspective, His insights, His love.
Later I wrote a very different email than I’d first mentally drafted.
Less defensive and passive-aggressive, more compassionate and
understanding. I was blessed by a response of forgiveness. Pausing
to listen to Jesus made all the difference in her understanding and
mine. —Sharon Hinck

Faith Step: Next time you feel upset at someone, stop to listen to their thoughts
and feelings, but also listen to Jesus’s perspective on the situation. Wait for His
guidance before you respond.
 Monday, November 27

But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait

patiently and confidently. Romans 8:25 (NLT)

When we moved, several friends brought orchids as house-

warming gifts. These stunning flowers adorned our kitchen windowsill
for a couple of months until the blooms dropped off, leaving decaying
twigs. Knowing nothing about orchids, I assumed they were dead.
Then I read that if you are patient and wait long enough, the flow-
ers will bloom again.
This caused me to wonder, What else in my life am I waiting for? I
hope my adult sons marry and give me grandbabies. I’m anticipating
several loved ones will become believers. And, like all Christians,
I’m awaiting Jesus’s return. Am I waiting patiently and confidently?
Not really. I tend to expect immediate results, even from these
orchids. And as time goes on, my confidence fades. But this is not
the attitude Jesus desires. We’re encouraged to run this race of life
with patient endurance (Hebrews 12:1). And one fruit of the Spirit
is patience (Galatians 5:22–23). It seems patience is a Christ-like
virtue, one I need to cultivate.
So, I decided to practice patience and nurture the orchids with the
expectation they would bloom again. I watered them, kept them in
the sunshine, and watched for the tight green buds to appear on
the twigs. As time passed, nothing changed. I doubted they would
produce flowers. Finally, after nine months, buds appeared and they
bloomed again. My patience and confident waiting were rewarded!
How wonderful the assurance that other things I’m waiting on, if
they align with God’s will, are possible too. —Jeannie Blackmer

Faith Step: Write a letter to Jesus describing something you’re waiting on and
entrust it to Him to hold while you wait.
 Tuesday, November 28

. . . all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all
things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16–17 (NIV)

“It’s not all about you!” I’ve seen that phrase used a lot lately:
the title of an article in a psychology magazine, a piece in a business
periodical, editorial and opinion articles in more than one major
newspaper, and also a pop song. In our age of self-absorption, per-
haps it’s good to hear that reminder from time to time.
I recently read the first chapter of Colossians and found a
reminder of Whom it is all about. I listed everything the passage
teaches about Jesus. Here are a few points: He is the Creator, the
head of the body (church), the firstborn from the dead, and pre-
eminent in everything. Through His blood, He made peace and
reconciliation between God and humans possible. I wrote in my
journal: This passage is all about Jesus. The Bible is all about Jesus. My
life is all about Jesus, including my identity—He created me; my char-
acter—He’s shaping it to make me more like Him; my purpose—He’s
already determined it and guides me toward my destiny.
Since I believe that the Colossians passage and what I wrote in my
journal are true, that leads me to only one conclusion: I want my
day to be all about Jesus. My goals and plans focused on His agenda,
not my own. My thoughts fixed on Him. Every conversation hon-
oring Him. Before I close my eyes tonight, I look forward to saying
to Jesus, “This day was all about You.” —Dianne Neal Matthews

Faith Step: Read through Colossians 1 and choose a few phrases to personalize
as a prayer to Jesus.
 Wednesday, November 29

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the

Good News about Christ. Romans 10:17 (NLT)

This past week, I’ve binge-played my old vinyl records, dancing as

I prepare meals, enjoying the reminders of younger years. My favorite
band is the Beach Boys. I belt out their lyrics and ace the harmonies.
Why? Because no matter how many years pass or where we choose
to live, I’m still a California girl. Their songs speak to me of summer
sun, sand between my toes, and tall waves booming along the beach.
The scenes conjured up by those tunes are dear to me, as natural as
watching a surfer ride a wave. These experiences are part of who I am.
Like those California roots, my faith is planted deep inside. It’s
the most important characteristic of my identity, a component that
can’t be erased or altered by time or space. It’s my core—who God
created me to be.
Just as those oldies drew my attention long ago, Jesus also pulled
at my heart. After I’d turned my life over to Him, certain verses
and parables became as familiar as the scent of suntan lotion or the
smack of flip-flops against my heels. Other passages stretched my
soul far and wide like the endless surfside view of the Pacific Ocean.
The Beach Boys may be my favorite band, but these days Some-
one else sings softly to my soul. I enjoy listening for Jesus’s voice
and moving to the unique song He’s composed for my life. As I rise
to follow His lead in this sublime melody, I can’t help but dance.
—Heidi Gaul

Faith Step: Write a list of verses that make your heart sing and commit them to
memory like beloved song lyrics. Add to your “dance card” daily.
 Thursday, November 30

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon
and the stars, which you have set in place . . . Psalm 8:3 (NIV)

We’d just spent many long hours traveling from New Hampshire
to Wyoming with the goal of enjoying the magnificent scenery of
the Cowboy State. Yet, my husband’s eyes were glued to the road
as he drove around the windy curves of the Teton mountain range,
and my eyes were fixated on our GPS, trying to direct him to our
hotel. We were so focused on getting to our destination, we forgot
to look at the landscapes.
As I pulled back the drapes in our hotel room the next morning,
we both gasped at the spectacular view: puffy white clouds sus-
pended in a deep, cerulean-blue sky, with a spectrum of greens and
grays smattered across the majestic mountains. How could we have
missed this the day before?
It made me wonder how much of my life is spent with my eyes
down, trying to find my path and focused on the destination.
Like almost missing that breathtaking panorama, do I notice the
blessings Jesus shows me each day—the cornflower blue of my kids’
eyes, the glistening-white snowfall blanketing the trees, the vibrant-
red cardinal visiting my bird feeder?
Jesus paints our world beautiful every day. When I pray to see with
His eyes and trust Him to guide my path, I get a new vision. Like our
road trip to Wyoming, life is as much about the journey as it is the
destination. And I don’t want to miss either. —Claire McGarry

Faith Step: Pray and ask Jesus to help you view your surroundings as if you
were seeing them for the first time. What beauty have you overlooked while focus-
ing on the tasks at hand?
 DECEMBER

Take courage.

than you think.

BILLY GR AH AM
 Friday, December 1

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . . Acts 2:4 (NKJV)

I was presenting a workshop at a small facility without technol-

ogy, so I packed my laptop and portable projector. In a moment of
brilliance, I grabbed an extension cord. Good thing, because the
electrical outlet was several feet from the presentation area.
I unpacked my equipment, placed it on the table, and connected
the laptop and projector so they could communicate for the presen-
tation. Next, I plugged the extension cord into the electrical outlet
and stretched the other end to the table to plug in my electronics.
But there was a problem. In one hand, I held the three-prong plug
on my laptop cord. In the other, a two-prong plug-in. I checked
the projector cord. Three prongs. Without the ability to tap into the
electrical source that I literally held in my hand, my technology was
useless. I couldn’t power up.
That wasn’t the first time I’d failed to tap into a power source.
Sometimes I function on a two-prong faith. I know Jesus can do
anything, more than I can imagine or request (Ephesians 3:20).
And, through Christ who strengthens me, I can do all things
(Philippians 4:13). But how often do I connect to the power of the
Holy Spirit, the mighty third prong?
After His resurrection, Jesus breathed on the disciples and said,
“Receive ye the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22, KJV). But it wasn’t
until Jesus ascended into heaven that the Holy Spirit empowered
them. Unlike that useless extension cord I brought to the work-
shop, the ultimate power source, the Holy Spirit, is always on hand.
—Karen Sargent

Faith Step: What stops you from plugging in? Ask Jesus to reveal what being
empowered by the Holy Spirit would look like in your life.
 Saturday, December 2

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

I have a long-running obsession with Handel’s Messiah. Each

year after Thanksgiving, I find out where I can catch a performance
of the Christmas classic. I usually gather some friends for a free
Messiah sing-along at a local church. Sometimes, we get tickets for
a presentation of the work in the grandeur of the John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
When I first started going to hear Messiah many years ago, the
moving music captured my attention more than the lyrics that
come from the Bible. But now I pay close attention to the words
and how they tell the amazing story of Jesus’s coming and what it
means to humankind.
One of my favorite parts of the sacred oratorio is from Isaiah 9:6.
There’s so much joy in the musical prophecy of Jesus’s birth and
the names by which He will be known. Wonderful. Counselor. The
mighty God. The everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace. Hearing
those attributes of Jesus floods my soul with joy. Knowing Jesus
was born for me, lived for me, crucified for me, and rose for me
so I could be with Him in eternity is overwhelming—not just at
Christmas but year-round.
I may be obsessed with Handel’s Messiah, but I thank God that THE
Messiah, my Jesus, is obsessed with me. —Barbranda Lumpkins Walls

Faith Step: Think about the holiday music you’re listening to. What names are
mentioned for Jesus and how do they reflect His glory?
 First Sunday of Advent, December 3

“ . . . You will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of

Streets with Dwellings.” Isaiah 58:12 (AMP)

Today I corrected a thirty-year-old error. While sorting my

craft room post-move, I found a tatted collar I’d never finished
(think Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s lace embellishment to her judicial
robes). I’d made a join in the wrong place on the third and last row,
then failed to notice before closing the ring.
For all you non-tatters, tatting is a series of half hitches on a core
thread, which is straight or looped. A wise tatter checks carefully for
errors before closing a loop. Pulling the core thread slides it through
the knots, turning the loop into a ring. This act is irreversible. The
loop can’t be enlarged again, nor can the stitches be pulled out.
Since the only way to save it was surgery—carefully cutting out
the errant ring—I stuffed it away and planned to think about what
to do later. I saw it occasionally, but I knew attempting the repair
would take a lot of work.
Yesterday, I finally snipped the ring, unraveled its knots, tied on
new thread, and hid the ends. It took some time, but the collar is
now restored.
Long before Jesus was born on earth, the prophet Isaiah called
Him the Restorer, the Repairer of the Breach. A breach is a gap
where enemies break in or livestock get out. Jesus’s death bridged
that gap between heaven and earth. He mended the brokenness of
humanity. Like my tatted collar, the Restorer and Repairer’s perfect
fix makes us beautiful too. —Suzanne Davenport Tietjen

Faith Step: Listen to, maybe even sing, the old spiritual, “Fix Me, Jesus.”
(You can find it on YouTube.) Ask Jesus what areas need restoration in you and
sing it to Him.
 Monday, December 4

All you need to say is simply ‘“Yes” or “No”; anything beyond

this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37 (NIV)

Recently, our church music director invited me to help with the

Christmas program. My pulse quickened. It was a project I would have
loved to be involved with. But before saying yes, I took time to pray.
As I laid this opportunity before Jesus, He reminded me of all
the commitments on my time. Images of my other responsibilities
whirled through my mind. I had said yes to many projects recently.
It became clear that I needed to decline.
As I prayed, I told Jesus about my disappointment, maybe hop-
ing He would supernaturally add a few extra days to my calendar.
Couldn’t I help with the Christmas program anyway? After all, it
was a worthy endeavor.
Instead, He reminded me that by stepping back, I would allow
someone else an opportunity.
This verse in Matthew is part of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount and
deals with the problem of swearing by various things to emphasize
truth telling. But as I grappled with my yes/no dilemma, Jesus’s
words in the passage struck me in a different way.
As I follow His priorities for my life, there are times I should say
no. I don’t need to construct lengthy explanations and justifications
for those decisions. Jesus may have purposes for others that I can’t
yet see or that I may never know about. He may be protecting me
from heading in the wrong direction.
After all, no is a good answer too. —Sharon Hinck

Faith Step: When you face a decision today, bring it to Jesus and accept
His answer, whether yes or no.
 Tuesday, December 5

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5 (NIV)

“Our HOPE sign is gone!” my husband exclaimed with a fur-

rowed brow. “It was there when I left for work this morning, and
now it’s not. You didn’t move it, did you?”
“That can’t be,” I muttered and went outside. Sure enough, our
Christmas decorations were missing. I stood with my mouth agape,
remembering how the red, glittery letters had sparkled in the spotlight,
proclaiming HOPE to the entire neighborhood. Now the spotlight
merely illuminated the emptiness, mocking our Christmas cheer with
Grinch-like pleasure. “Who would steal our hope?” I cried.
Even as the words spilled out of my mouth, the irony of the situ-
ation fell on me like a suffocating layer of fresh snow. Our barren
yard mirrored my soul, once so full of optimism. Over the last sev-
eral months, the enemy had indeed tried to steal bits of my inner
hope. Now, as if to kick me when I was down, even my superficial
hope, once festive and shiny in the hard winter ground, had been
taken by thieves in the night.
Later, we returned to the store where we had bought our out-
door Christmas decorations and came home with a white wooden
nativity that we placed in the yard where HOPE once stood. I
smiled. Someone may have stolen my hope, but now I saw clearly
what Christmas was all about. Our spotlight illuminated Jesus.
—Emily E. Ryan

Faith Step: What can you do in your home or yard to focus on Jesus? Use your
Christmas decorations to draw attention to Him.
 Wednesday, December 6

“ . . . For you give a tenth (tithe) of your mint and dill and cumin
[focusing on minor matters], and have neglected the weightier
[more important moral and spiritual] provisions of the Law:
justice and mercy and faithfulness . . .” Matthew 23:23 (AMP)

I’m a detail person. I enjoy the feeling of satisfaction when every

little thing is done with precision. Oftentimes, I focus my attention
on the trivial instead of on what’s important, and I tend to miss the
big picture. I pour my time and energy into small touches, making
them priorities. Like the Christmas I spent a significant amount of
time wrapping gifts and making the packages look spectacular. The
presents were unwrapped in nanoseconds. All my hard work lay
discarded in a heap on the floor.
In Jesus’s day, the religious leaders were more concerned with
touting spiritual pieties than practicing godly virtues. When Jesus
healed people on the Sabbath, the religious leaders were appalled
and showed no compassion toward those who came to Jesus for
healing. They were sticklers for keeping the law and questioned
those who didn’t follow it as closely as they did (John 5:6–16). All
of their energy was focused on appearing righteous.
Just like I found out with my pretty packages, it’s what’s inside that
matters most. I don’t want to become so easily distracted by doing
good deeds or following religious rituals that I miss out on the big
picture—having an authentic relationship with Jesus. Jesus doesn’t
care about fancy wrappings; He only wants what’s inside of me—
my heart. That’s the perfect gift to give Him. —Ericka Loynes

Faith Step: This week, take note of what you’re spending your time and energy
on most. Determine whether or not those things are most important and should
truly be given your attention.
 Thursday, December 7

. . . Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am

going to say before I even say it. You both precede and follow me
and place your hand of blessing on my head. This is too glorious,
too wonderful to believe! Psalm 139:3–6 (TLB)

Question: What do Zacchaeus and the woman with the bleed-

ing disorder have in common? They both got more of Jesus than
they bargained for. Curious Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree just
to get a glimpse of Jesus as He passed by. Jesus called to him and
announced that He would be Zacchaeus’ houseguest. That visit
transformed the tax collector (Luke 19:1–10).
The desperate woman who had bled for twelve years simply wanted
to touch Jesus’s robe to be physically healed. But Jesus had more in
mind. After she got what she thought she wanted most, Jesus drew
her out of the crowd for a face-to-face conversation. She left that
personal encounter spiritually healed as well (Luke 8:42–48).
Sometimes, I act like I only want a little bit of Jesus in my day
too. Maybe a glimpse of Him in the background so I know He’s got
my back. Or I touch base with a quick prayer to start my day before
running off to pursue my own agenda. Thankfully, Jesus gives me,
too, more than I bargained for.
He knows what I truly need—not a chance encounter but an
intentional relationship. I want Him to be in my thoughts every
moment of every day, present in every conversation, decision, and
interaction. That kind of closeness transforms my life. Since Jesus
knows me intimately, I want to get to know Him better every day.
—Dianne Neal Matthews

Faith Step: Read through Psalm 139 slowly and prayerfully, thinking about
how intimately Jesus knows and loves you.
 Friday, December 8

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen
to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for
Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12–13 (NKJV)

I carefully arranged the toy nativity set on my hearth—stable,

angel, donkey, camel, wise men, cow, sheep, Mary, Joseph . . . “Baby
Jesus is missing!” I exclaimed.
Yes, the piece that depicted Baby Jesus in a manger was glaringly
absent from my display. My granddaughter played with the set year-
round, so I felt fortunate to have located seventeen pieces. But we just
couldn’t have a nativity scene without the centerpiece. My husband
and I searched in toy boxes, in buckets of bath toys, under furniture,
everywhere. In the end, we found Baby Jesus in the sandbox.
God told the people of Judah to search for Him with all their
heart. They must have felt far from Him. They had ignored His
multiple warnings to turn from their evil ways. Now, they were
exiled in the foreign land of Babylon, and Jeremiah said it was going
to last for seventy years. Even in the midst of those dark times, God
offered grace to the people of Judah. He told them if they would
pray, He would listen; if they would search for Him with all their
heart, they would find Him.
Sometimes, I get in a dark place from my own doing. Other
times, circumstances beyond my control put me there. Either way,
Jesus extends His amazing grace, lifting me out of the darkness and
into a place of hope. Like the Baby Jesus we found in our sandbox,
neither can I hide from His love. —Becky Alexander

Faith Step: Write down the six actions suggested for God’s people in today’s
Bible verses. Meditate on them.
 Saturday, December 9

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
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 (NIV)

For my birthday in November, my husband bought me a vinyl

copy of Nat King Cole’s Christmas album, The Christmas Song. My
mom loved that record. She used to play it on our console record
player each Christmas when I was a kid.
The music brought back such good memories. Christmas carols
are, hands down, one of my favorite parts of the holiday season.
When I was growing up, our family sang them together, both in
church and at home. We even went caroling with Mom’s side of
the family around my grandparents’ neighborhood each Christmas.
The world feels a little more full of wonder when I sing along to
Christmas music.
I can only imagine what it must have been like for the shepherds
in the field the night Jesus was born. They witnessed the first-ever
Christmas carol. In the dark of that crisp night, a dazzling display
of angels lit up the sky with their glory and the beauty of their song.
They were heralding the greatest event in human history. The Son
of God was coming to earth. He was bringing peace and salvation.
Their voices rang out pure and strong. How could they not sing?
Hope was cracking the sky!
That song is still ringing out thousands of years later. And
this Christmas, Nat King Cole and I are joining in. Glory to
God in the Highest. Peace on Earth. Good will toward men.
—Susanna Foth Aughtmon

Faith Step: Play your favorite Christmas carol and sing along, giving Jesus all
of the glory for bringing hope and light into your life.
Second Sunday of Advent, December 10

We know that our real life is in the true one, and in his Son Jesus Christ.
This is the real God and this is real, eternal life. 1 John 5:20 (PHILLIPS)

We live on the High Plains of Wyoming, but I can see the faded
outline of Nebraska’s bluffs from my kitchen window. I’m not sure
how far away they are, but one rainy day I passed by the window
and my breath caught. Those bluffs that had always been in the
distance looked close enough to hike to today.
I’ve lived in places with far horizons—the west coast of Florida
with its fiery sunsets and the south shore of Lake Superior with
its dark skies and northern lights, but here in Wyoming it’s three
hundred sixty degrees of big sky. I know immovable objects don’t
move, despite their appearance. What I seem to see is a trick of the
light. My brain estimated distance by clarity. The recent rainstorm
washed the air of dust. Since clearly seen objects generally appear
closer, my brain underestimated the distance between my house
and the Nebraskan bluffs.
Knowing the truth is important. The world and current culture
often go by what can be seen or felt. But what looks to be true may
not be. Seeing isn’t always believing. And knowing what is really
true goes beyond what my lying eyes might tell my brain.
Jesus proclaims He is the Truth (John 14:6). Because we’re in
Christ, Jesus is where we live and move and exist (Acts 17:28). If we
know Jesus, we know the truth, because He is the Truth. And that
never changes. —Suzanne Davenport Tietjen

Faith Step: Talk with Jesus while resting your eyes on a far horizon. Pray to
know His Truth in all matters.
 Monday, December 11

. . . This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior,
Christ Jesus . . . 2 Timothy 1:9–10 (NIV)

During this Christmas season, one word has landed on my

heart and become the theme of my preparation and celebrating. It’s
not what you’d expect. I’ve never seen it on ornaments, Christmas
napkins, or wreath banners. It’s not joy, hope, noel, or peace, which
are all good words, but not the one I’m focused on this year.
It’s grace. The Bible states that grace was given, promised to us,
before the beginning of time. Imagine! When Jesus stepped into the
world as a babe in Bethlehem to live among us and ultimately prepare
for His earth ministry, His sacrificial death, and His miraculous resur-
rection, the promise was finally realized. Jesus equals grace revealed.
The world hadn’t merely been waiting for hundreds or thousands
of years. It had been waiting before the beginning of time. How long
had God the Father been planning for Christ’s birth? Since before
the concept of time existed! And not just for the birth of a holy
Child, a Messiah, but the revelation of grace itself.
Doesn’t that put an awe-inspiring spin on a season that is already
utterly resplendent with joy, peace, and hope? What we celebrate
with bells and lights and candlelight services and songs and gifts is
a long-awaited, unmatched grace named Jesus. His grace saves us,
keeps us, and changes everything.
Christmas, for a Jesus follower, is even more thanksgiving-y than
the holiday we call Thanksgiving. After all, what could warrant
more gratitude and thanksgiving than grace? —Cynthia Ruchti

Faith Step: Among your Christmas decorations this year, find a spot for this
truth: Christmas = Grace Revealed.
 Tuesday, December 12

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)

Within the space of two weeks, one of my family members was

diagnosed with cancer and three friends died suddenly. The barrage
of bad news filled me with grief, but it also reawakened my aware-
ness of, and appreciation for, the good news of Jesus Christ.
On the night of Jesus’s birth, an angel heralded long-awaited
news to a group of shepherds: the promised Messiah and Savior had
come. This news, the angel said, was good and would bring great
joy to all people. The apostle Paul later dedicated his life to spread-
ing the same message to Jews and Gentiles alike. Like the angel, he
also called it good news and described it as “the power of God at
work, saving everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16, NLT).
Believing and embracing the good news about Jesus alters our
lives. He is God’s grace embodied in human form. As our Savior,
Jesus pays our penalty for sin. He breaks sin’s power over us, removes
guilt and shame, and gives us a fresh start. He restores our strength
and prays for us. Jesus gives wisdom and guidance. And He gifts us
with peace and hope when bad news strikes.
The best news in history broke more than two thousand years
ago, and it’s still relevant today. Jesus has come to save us and to
meet us at our deepest points of need. Let’s rejoice in its truth this
season. —Grace Fox

Faith Step: List the ways in which the good news of Jesus has impacted your
life. Invite a friend to do the same, and then share your lists with each other.
 Wednesday, December 13

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
John 1:9 (NIV)

Every year, I’m always amazed by the news stories I read and hear
about the massive light displays people put up for the holidays. Homes
outlined with thousands of colorful, flashing bulbs, sometimes syn-
chronized to music, could easily give the bright lights on the Vegas
strip or Times Square a run for their money. I can’t help but wonder
who has time to do all that? I also wonder how the neighbors feel
about the crowds that gather to view such marquee-like exhibitions,
not to mention the crush of accompanying traffic on their street.
As a child, I was thoroughly impressed by the holiday light shows
I saw as our parents drove my siblings and me around working-class
neighborhoods and well-appointed suburbs. The sparkle of various
displays drew oohs and aahs from us kids.
But as I grew older, my taste in holiday displays changed. No
Santas with their sleighs, roofs outlined with icicle lights, or glow-
ing nativity displays draw oohs or aahs from me now. I find myself
admiring homes with a single candle stationed in each window,
silently shining brightly. Those humble lights in the darkness, glowing
much like the true light that the apostle John heralded as Jesus, the
One who would come to save the world, yet the world would not
recognize Him (John 1:10).
I’ll look forward to seeing those stand-alone, glowing lighted can-
dles in neighborhood windows this Christmas. And I will recognize
them as a reminder that the light of Jesus is better than any light
show here on earth. —Barbranda Lumpkins Walls

Faith Step: How will you help shine the light of Jesus this holiday season?
 Thursday, December 14

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to
her!” And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in
God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.” Luke 1:45–48 (NIV)

This past weekend, my friend Natalie and I delivered baby pres-

ents, diapers, and a stroller to an expectant refugee mom here in
Boise through our ministry partnership. One of the great joys of
giving those gifts is seeing the looks of wonder and gratitude on
these expectant moms’ faces. Most are excited about holding their
new little one close to their heart, and these practical gifts make that
imminent moment seem more real. What could be more exciting
than welcoming a new baby into the world? A promise fulfilled.
When Jesus came into the world, He wasn’t just the sweet baby
Mary was waiting to hold close. For centuries, the nation of Israel
had been praying for the arrival of the Messiah, but Jesus wasn’t the
King they expected. He didn’t come wielding a sword to bring swift
justice. Jesus came in humility, forgiving sins, offering eternal hope,
making a way for humanity to connect with a Holy God.
Jesus is the Christmas promise fulfilled. God’s promise of our
redemption through a baby born in a manger, the One who holds
us close with a love that never fails. For me, there is nothing more
exciting than celebrating His arrival and welcoming Him into my
heart. —Susanna Foth Aughtmon

Faith Step: Make a list of all the promises that Jesus has kept and the prayers
that He has answered for you this year. Take time to thank Him for blessing you.
 Friday, December 15

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in

accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all
wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7–8 (NIV)

When my children were young, my mom went all out at

Christmas. She arrived at our doorstep with boxes full of gifts for
her grandchildren. Sometimes she’d number the presents so the
biggest and best one was the last to be opened. Our living room
filled with wrapping paper, bows, and exuberant squeals of glee.
Since our home was a modest size, I kept reminding Mom that one
gift per child would be plenty, but she would have none of that. She
epitomized how to “lavish” blessings.
This morning, I prayed for Jesus’s help before an online meeting.
Everything went better than I’d expected. No technology glitches
and a productive discussion. After signing off, I looked at my plans
for the rest of the day. I wanted to ask for strength, for direction,
for wisdom. But my soul reverted to the “one small gift is enough”
mentality. I actually had the thought that I shouldn’t ask Jesus for
anything else for the day, as if He were stingy with blessings.
Ephesians 1 says Jesus delights in pouring out grace—lavish
grace—into my life. He grants forgiveness, He guides and protects,
He heals and comforts. Like my mom, Jesus saves the best gift for
last. At the end of my life, I’ll receive it. My present is celebrating
His presence in eternity. —Sharon Hinck

Faith Step: What does Jesus’s lavish grace look like in your life? Pray that
today Jesus will show you one person whom you can share with in a generous and
unexpected way.
 Saturday, December 16

I thank my God at every memory of you. Philippians 1:3 (TLV)

Nothing says Christmas like fruitcake, right? People either

love it or hate it. I didn’t care much for it when my childhood
neighbor Augie offered me a piece. I visited him at his care facility
and he cut me a slab. I might have fudged a little when I said it was
delicious.
That next week, a fruitcake arrived on my doorstep with the card,
“To Blondie, From Augie.” I decided I loved fruitcake.
Augie and I went all the way back to my toddlerhood. He and
his wife, Merry ’O, and three children lived next door to me and
my family. During our visits, we’d reminisce about the old days
in Sunset Addition, our neighborhood cookouts, camping at Cow
Creek, the friends we missed. My daddy had died years ago, and
Augie filled that lonely space for me. His beloved Merry ’O had
died on Christmas Day more than thirty years earlier, and Augie
often talked about her. Each time I left the care facility, I said a
prayer of thanks to Jesus for this kind, godly man.
When Augie died at ninety-five years old, his daughter Lori confided
he’d made her promise that as long as he lived, she’d send Blondie a
fruitcake. Five Christmases had passed since I’d gotten Augie’s fruit-
cake. Nostalgia prompted me to order one for myself. When it came,
I cut a slice and waited to savor the joy. Hmm. It tasted bland and
sugary. What was missing? I felt Jesus whisper, Augie.
Turns out, I’d forgotten. I didn’t love Augie’s fruitcake gifts. I
loved the giver. —Pat Butler Dyson

Faith Step: Visit someone who knew you as a child and ask them to share
memories.
 Third Sunday of Advent, December 17

. . . You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast,

drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up
mature and whole in God. 1 Peter 2:2–3 (MSG)

When I started working in the NICU, I learned that critically ill

babies couldn’t eat by mouth. Their digestive systems were imma-
ture, and, because of the risk of life-threatening complications, they
were fed intravenously. Back then, we met most of their needs that
way but not all. Their unused digestive tracts and bones atrophied.
Some babies fought breastfeedings when they were finally physi-
cally able to receive them. Many mothers felt rejected by their little
ones when the babies refused to nurse.
Years later, research led to a surprising solution—early feeding of
the mother’s colostrum often within an hour of birth was benefi-
cial, even when the baby was very tiny or ill. A few drops of this
first milk were swabbed inside the baby’s mouth, causing powerful
immune factors to spread through the baby’s digestive tract, pro-
moting health, growth, and maturity. Babies tasted the nutritious
colostrum soon after birth. Our NICU moms were comforted to be
able to help their babies thrive.
Even though I’ve been born again in Jesus, I need to feed on
the Word of God and drink in the teachings of Jesus to grow and
mature in my faith. Like babies without nourishment, my spiri-
tual muscles can atrophy when I’m not consistently ingesting His
goodness. —Suzanne Davenport Tietjen

Faith Step: Today consider fasting (or let yourself get a little hungrier than
usual). Before satisfying that hunger, pay attention to it. Compare it to your
desire for God’s Word. Ask Jesus to help you hunger for the Word.
 Monday, December 18

Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of
James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.”
They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Mark 6:3 (NLT)

When I was a child, my grandfather built a Ferris wheel in his

backyard for my cousins and me to enjoy when we visited. Soon
after, my father used his carpentry skills to build a swing set for our
yard and a toy kitchen for our playroom. Even now, the sound of
tools banging and pounding wood into wonder still reminds me of
my idyllic childhood.
To me, a man with well-used tools and calloused hands is worthy
of respect and admiration, yet every Christmas, I’m reminded that
not everyone saw it that way. Though Jesus’s earthly father, Joseph,
stands as a pillar of strength in the Christmas story, his label as a
carpenter made it hard for some to believe that Jesus could ever be
worthy of their worship. Wouldn’t the Messiah come from a heri-
tage with a little less sawdust?
But when I think of Jesus being born to a carpenter, I can’t imag-
ine a more fitting narrative. After all, Jesus was building, crafting,
and creating long before His incarnation. The Bible says that the
heavens are the work of His fingers (Psalm 8:3), that in the begin-
ning, He laid the foundations of the earth (Psalm 102:25), and that
we are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).
The hands that learned to create with wood and stone alongside
His father, Joseph, are the very hands that formed the universe.
Creator, Carpenter, King—a heritage worthy of worship indeed.
—Emily E. Ryan

Faith Step: Get crafty. Build or make something that honors Jesus this
Christmas season.
 Tuesday, December 19

You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring
good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be
afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” Isaiah 40:9 (NIV)

“How many characters can I have on a personalized license

plate?” I asked the clerk.
“A maximum of seven,” she said. “When you choose a phrase, go
to the alabama.gov website, and see if it’s available.”
I played with combinations of letters, numbers, and spaces to
create positive messages—“B LIGHT,” “INSPIRE,” “HAPPY 1,”
and “I SMILE.” It was December, so I added “JOY2WLD” to the
list; it quickly became my favorite. My little red Beetle now pro-
claims the good news of Christmas all year long and offers encour-
agement to drivers stuck in traffic behind me.
Isaiah foretold the coming of Jesus seven hundred years before His
birth. In Isaiah 1–39, he presented God’s warnings to the people of
Israel. But in Isaiah 40, he switched to a tone of grace. He wrote
of comfort, the payment of debt for sin, preparing the path for the
Lord, and good news worth shouting.
We are called to share Jesus with the world. Sometimes, when
we talk about Him, people tune us out because they’ve heard the
Gospel before, in more traditional ways. What if we could snag their
attention with a fresh, new method, like a joyful message bolted to
the back of our car? Perhaps, then, they would pause and listen
to the wonderful story of Christmas: “Joy to the world, the Lord is
come!” —Becky Alexander

Faith Step: Think of creative ways to tell the good news of Christmas. Act on
one of your ideas this week.
 Wednesday, December 20

. . . the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house
with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:7 (KJV)

My oldest son, Mat, was five months old when he commando-

crawled for the first time. We’d put up the Christmas tree, hanging
breakables on the low branches, laughing to think this would be the
last time, for a long time, they’d be out of reach.
Mat was on his tummy, pushing up, surveying the room. I
remember the instant he caught sight of a shiny, gold Christmas ball
dangling from a branch. Always in motion, he froze when he saw it.
Without losing a beat, he set out to possess it. Arm over arm,
knees sliding, he low-crawled with great determination. He wanted
that ornament like he’d never wanted anything in his short life. He
reached his hand in the air and lost his balance. Rolling onto his
back, he wailed.
I moved the ornament higher on the branches, but that didn’t
distract Mat. Over and over, he reached toward the beautiful ball. I
finally had to remove it from the tree and put it out of his sight. It’s
hard to want what we can’t have.
Israel longed for a deliverer. Many people, myself included,
thought the phrase, “the desire of all nations” in Haggai referred
to Jesus, but recently I read that the word chemdah, translated as
“desire,” actually means the quality of longing we feel for something
altogether lovely. The prophet Haggai said after a time of shaking,
the nations will want, even long for, the Messiah.
Like my son longed for the shiny Christmas ball, I want that same
chemdah, or desire for Jesus, desperately wanting, longing, for Him.
—Suzanne Davenport Tietjen

Faith Step: What’s on your Christmas list? This year, want Jesus most.
 Thursday, December 21

She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She opens
her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy
[whether in body, mind, or spirit]. Proverbs 31:19–20 (AMPC)

Hardly anyone spins anymore. If you look up “spinning” online,

exercise bikes and fishing equipment come up in the search.
I’m a hand spinner. I make yarn from fiber, both animal and veg-
etable. I have a spinning wheel, but most often, I spin using a hand
spindle, a wooden tool that people in Bible times would recognize.
I like the way it feels.
It’s meditative and rhythmic, lending itself to contemplation.
Prayer. It also results in an abundance of yarn. The past few years,
my yarn turned into thick, warm mittens for the Mitten Christmas
Tree at the library in Munising, Michigan, where those who don’t
have very much can choose whichever pairs they like. The women
in the knitting group just keep making more.
Makers often become givers. After fleeing Egypt, the Israelites
spent nine months in the desert creating a Tabernacle in the wilder-
ness that God designed. The spinners’ hearts “stirred them up in
wisdom” to make yarn. People gave their belongings and abilities to
obey God by making this place for Him to dwell among them. The
people gave so much that Moses had to tell them to stop.
We makers—quilters, knitters, lacemakers, cooks, spinners,
painters, and weavers—we can be givers too. That’s one way I serve
Jesus. —Suzanne Davenport Tietjen

Faith Step: Ask Jesus who needs something you could make. Then make it and
give it away.
 Friday, December 22

. . . Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you
have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to
little children.” Matthew 11:25 (NIV)

I watched a recently graduated nurse coach a young mother

who was learning to breastfeed her newborn. An older colleague
criticized the nurse for her newfangled techniques and the young
mother who couldn’t get the hang of it. That longtime nurse was
sure they’d both fail. They didn’t. I imagine the mother related bet-
ter to a younger nurse who was close to her age and learned quickly.
Mary was probably in her teens when an angel announced she
would bear Israel’s long-expected Messiah. Mary was told who the
Baby would be, what He would do, even what to name Him. With
all that information, the young woman knew a very important
detail had been omitted: How could it be since she was a virgin?
The angel explained that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her,
and the Child she bore would be called the Son of God.
The angel also announced that Mary’s relative Elizabeth, in her
old age, was six months pregnant. Mary visited Elizabeth for three
months and sang a joyous prophecy when Elizabeth’s unborn baby
recognized Jesus, in Mary’s womb. I imagine, despite their age dif-
ference, the two women learned a lot about the wonder of God
from each other.
Youth and inexperience don’t preclude faith. Wisdom and old age
don’t mean one naturally has a stronger belief, either. The wonder
of Jesus is timeless. —Suzanne Davenport Tietjen

Faith Step: Are you set in your ways when it comes to your faith? Try reading
a different version of the Bible or listening to another genre of praise music to
grow in Jesus.
 Saturday, December 23

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone,

LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

I’ve attended thousands of births in my nursing career. During

my time as a neonatal nurse practitioner, I arrived for high-risk
deliveries ahead of time to check equipment and discuss plans with
the team. Sometimes, we were called to Labor & Delivery follow-
ing the birth—no problems had been anticipated but, for whatever
reason, the infant wasn’t transitioning well to life outside the womb.
Birth and transition can be difficult for babies. They’ve been
“practice breathing” with amniotic fluid, but they’ve never expe-
rienced air. Space is at a premium at full term, and the birth canal
is tight. The babies turn, extend, and descend, gradually entering
the outside world. The squeezing they experience serves a purpose,
helping expel the fluid inside their lungs. Some babies sail through
the process, while others are left bruised, ill, or exhausted.
On Christmas Eve, more than two thousand years ago, a young
virgin labored assisted by her husband. Surely, this would’ve been
difficult for Mary and Joseph, but it was likely difficult for Jesus
too. This may have been His earliest experience of pain in His
human body.
I would have been afraid in Mary’s situation, but I don’t believe
she was. She’d been prepared, not by a skilled team of nurses and
doctors, but by an angel who had told her what would happen.
Mary accepted her role and trusted her Father in heaven.
Because of God’s plan, Jesus was safely delivered. And because of
His birth, so are we. —Suzanne Davenport Tietjen

Faith Step: Read the Christmas story in Luke 2:1–20 and meditate on the
birth of Jesus.
Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 24

This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once

upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a
sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to
our relationship with God. 1 John 4:10 (MSG)

God sent His Son to die for us. That is love. It’s the last Sunday of
Advent and today’s fourth candle stands for love. I can’t understand
the kind of love that would do that.
Myself? I believe I could lay down my life for my child, partly
because of my experience caring for mothers of gravely ill newborns
in the neonatal intensive care unit. Many of the mothers told me
that if they could trade their life for their child’s, they wouldn’t
think twice. They meant it and I believed them. The world doesn’t
work like that though, no matter how much they wished it could.
Their love gave me a glimpse of God’s love. For me. For us. For
each precious one of us.
Maybe God loves each of us with a love as fierce, no, even fiercer
than that. Each of us, destined to die in our sins without a savior—
Jesus too loves us that much.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross” Hebrews 12:2 (NIV).
Yes, I know this is Advent, not Easter. A time of preparation. For
making room. Love, this fourth Sunday of Advent, reminds us that
the sending was preparation for the sacrifice.
We are loved. —Suzanne Davenport Tietjen

Faith Step: Don’t bother trying to comprehend so great a love. Just sit still and
let yourself be loved. Beloved.
 Christmas Day, Monday, December 25

. . . May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love
and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence,
put a fresh heart in you . . . 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (MSG)

Have you ever been surprised with a Christmas gift when you
didn’t have one for the giver? When it happens to me, my first
impulse is to think fast and try to save face by presenting a gift too.
I don’t know who I think I’m fooling. I’m sure my facial expression
shows the truth. Instead of being honest, my impulse is to prop up a
false image of myself, revealing my sinful heart—selfish and proud.
God surprised humanity with the gift of His Son. Those who
came to see Baby Jesus humbly worshipped. The shepherds ran to
see Him—it never occurred to them to shop. The wise men, told
ahead of time they’d be meeting a King, came bearing costly gifts.
All were well received.
Jesus has surprised us with the gifts of unending help, love, and
salvation, extravagantly and freely given. But what can I offer in
return? Christina Rossetti’s famous poem speaks of my feeling of
inadequacy:
What can I give Him, Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what can I give Him: Give my heart.
My heart. A fitting gift. Just what Jesus wants.
—Suzanne Davenport Tietjen

Faith Step: As you pray, try this: Clasp your hands over your heart. Talk to Jesus,
then, as you say your amen, open your hands like a door. Offer Him your heart.
 Tuesday, December 26

“Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the
Holy One of Israel among you.” Isaiah 12:6 (NIV)

On the day after Christmas last year, my husband and I cara-

vanned with our daughter and grandkids across several states to spend
a week at their house. On the way, my daughter, Holly, announced
she planned to listen to all the Christmas music and watch all the
Christmas movies she could get in. The holiday planning had been
more stressful than ever with her husband deployed and four kids
busy with activities. I smiled. Surely she would want our help taking
the tree down and getting the house in order. But she was serious.
As dry pine needles dropped, we watched classic Christmas mov-
ies, some of which I’d never taken the time to see. Christmas music
played in the background while we tackled board games. I baked
the Swedish Kringler I used to make before Christmas became a
road trip. We spent a day at Sea World, which still had a holiday
theme. It was wonderful.
I thought back to our long-ago family celebrations. As much
as I loved Christmas, I was always eager to pack away the deco-
rations and get the house back to normal. Now I wonder why I
felt that pressure. After all, when God became flesh and came to
earth, the world was never the same again. Things never went back
to the old normal. Jesus brought unending love, grace, and joy.
What better reason to prolong Christmas throughout the whole
year? —Dianne Neal Matthews

Faith Step: Mark your calendar to tell Jesus “Happy Birthday” on the twenty-
fifth of each month this year. Sing a favorite carol, read Scripture passages about
His birth, bake a special treat, or simply reminisce about a favorite Christmas
memory.
 Wednesday, December 27

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:

The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Like most young women, I had an idyllic view of what married

life would be like. We’d buy a home with a picket fence, have two
or three kids, and immerse ourselves in a stable community that
would nurture us for decades. Instead, however, my life has been
characterized by new starts. Due to pursuing graduate education
and employment opportunities, we’ve lived in six different cities
since we’ve been married, and our son has attended seven different
schools. Each move is like ripping off a Band-Aid as we say goodbye
to beloved friends, hoping that our next stop would be our last. I’ve
learned that although starting over is hard, it’s sometimes necessary
to fulfill the call of Jesus on our lives.
The Apostle Paul did more than start over; he did an about-face.
As a well-educated Pharisee, he was so zealous for his beliefs that
he began a persecution campaign against those who followed Jesus.
He even obtained special permission from the high priest to capture
anyone who followed Jesus. And yet, on the road to Damascus, Jesus
captured Paul’s attention and changed everything Paul thought was
true. Jesus did not just call Paul to conversion, but He also gave him
the grace to become one of His most devoted followers.
Yes, starting over can be hard. But, whether it’s the freshness of a
new community or the glorious gift of salvation, Jesus specializes in
giving me grace for all the new beginnings I’ve had and the ones I
will have in the future. —Ericka Loynes

Faith Step: Read Paul’s conversion account in Acts 9:1–30. Pray for those
who are experiencing change.
 Thursday, December 28

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken
together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 (NIV)

I looked at the gifts I’d unwrapped, and smiled. My loved ones

had given me an exquisite piece of jewelry reflecting my faith, a
book, a cat puzzle, and a cozy blanket. More than the joy the pres-
ents would bring me in the future, I relished how well my family
and friends knew me. Every item reflected my passions, from Jesus
to my pets to snuggling up with a good book or puzzle. It was obvi-
ous they’d spent time considering ways to delight me.
It says in James 1:17 that every good and perfect gift is from
above. I believe those people I hold dearest are gifts from the Lord.
He knows me inside and out. He provides me with what and who I
need, and also delights me, feeding my heart’s desires (Psalm 37:4).
My life is filled with blessings, each moment and every friend pre-
cious and irreplaceable. Jesus has chosen them well. And when I
add His gift of salvation to all the other blessings, I am overcome
with gratitude.
But what to give Someone who has everything? I can offer Him
all of me, my thoughts and my service for others, my prayers, my
joys and tears, my hopes and dreams, my life. Will I delight Him?
I believe so. Because I am a gift from God to His Son, my Lord
(John 17:24), I will bless my savior Jesus and give thanks, forever.
—Heidi Gaul

Faith Step: Today, find new ways to delight Jesus. You’re a gift!
 Friday, December 29

“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial . . . .

1 Corinthians 10:23 (CSB)

Our navigation app directed my husband and me through

unfamiliar parts of St. Louis.
“Turn left at the light,” the automated voice commanded.
The signal was green, traffic was moving, but we weren’t in the
turning lane. With a few quick maneuvers, Russ put us right where
we needed to be. So we thought.
Oncoming headlights blinded us. “Why are cars driving toward
us?” he shouted. Russ had turned onto the wrong side of a six-lane
boulevard! Swerving through a break in the median, he got the car
on the correct side of the street.
How did that happen? The voice said, “Turn.” The light indicated
it was safe. Did we miss a Do Not Enter sign? Even though we tried
our best, we failed to navigate the streets of St. Louis successfully.
Sometimes I don’t navigate life successfully, either. I don’t see, or
maybe I ignore, warning signs and turn down a wrong path. I visit
online sales for retail therapy when my budget is tight. I remain in
friendships with toxic people because it’s easier than confrontation.
I RSVP “yes” to a social event when the “right” people, whom I
know don’t share my values, are invited.
When I start down the wrong path, a voice—Jesus’s voice—warns
me of danger. Jesus gives me the freedom to choose, but when my
choices are not beneficial to me or to others, I can avert potential
disaster by listening to Him. And when all else fails, thankfully, He
allows U-turns. —Karen Sargent

Faith Step: Do you face a choice that is perhaps permissible but not beneficial?
Listen for Jesus’s voice to guide you.
 Saturday, December 30

He brought me to the banquet hall, and he looked on

me with love. Song of Songs 2:4 (CSB)

THERE IS A DEFINITE HUNGER among ladies for authentic, loving, and

encouraging relationships. That’s why I’m so excited for Sister Table to
begin this fall . . .
It was the last day to sign up, so I decided to read the email one
more time before deleting it. The invitation indicated it was a no-
fluff, good old-fashioned, “let’s break bread together” gathering.
We’d lived in Louisiana three years with only two more to go before
retirement and another move. I hadn’t tried very hard to make friends
here. Seven women will meet in someone’s home once a month for six
months. I really didn’t need to add another activity to my schedule.
Besides, I already attended my church’s midweek ladies’ Bible study.
Not a Bible study, there will be deep conversation that brings unity to
the body of Christ. Hmm, I’ve always loved deep conversation. With
Jesus as our foundation, we will grow not only closer to Him but closer
as sisters. I love my three brothers, but I never had a sister.
I ended up choosing the Tuesday lunch option in a community
close to me. That’s how I met Mischelle and Lisa, two sweet and
generous ladies who love opening their homes to make other women
feel loved and special. So many blessings from those Tuesdays—
food, laughter, prayer, and yes, deep conversation. Since Jesus com-
pared the kingdom of heaven to a wedding banquet, I’m guessing
those luncheons blessed Him too. Belonging to Him means I’m
surrounded every day by opportunities to fellowship with other
Christ followers, knowing that He will be right there with us.
—Dianne Neal Matthews

Faith Step: Is Jesus calling you to invite someone to gather around your table?
 New Year’s Eve, Sunday, December 31

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.’” Matthew 6:9–10 (NIV)

This past year, I reconnected on the phone with my friend

Missy from college. We spent most of our conversation laughing,
then Missy began to share all that Jesus was doing in her life. In
college, we had both taken multiple mission trips. She wanted to
follow Jesus and the path He had for her.
While Scott and I were working in youth ministry, she and her
husband, Davis, were on staff with Youth with a Mission. In the last
few years, Missy and Davis ended up in North Carolina founding a
creative institute that helps anchor young people in Jesus’s truth. The
way that Missy follows Jesus inspires me. Nothing really prepares us
for the twists and turns that life takes. But she is always ready to yield
to the next steps Jesus has for her. I want to be like her.
Jesus’s journey on earth was full of twists and turns too. Even in
the Gethsemane, when He knew the cross was before Him, Jesus
yielded His next steps to His Father’s will.
Jesus knows I don’t always follow Him even though He is leading
me on my journey. But I know He will never let me veer too far off
the path. He will walk with me through all the twists and turns of life
until I follow His steps into eternity. —Susanna Foth Aughtmon

Faith Step: Pray the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) and take some time
pondering each line. How does it apply to your life today? How can you yield
your next steps to Him?
 Acknowledgments

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Our mission is to inspire people to believe anything is possible with faith, hope, and prayer.

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

Contributors: Becky Alexander, Susanna Foth Aughtmon, Jeannie Blackmer, Isabella Campolattaro, Pat Butler
Dyson, Grace Fox, Heidi Gaul, Tricia Goyer, Sharon Hinck, Jeanette Levellie, Ericka Loynes, Erin Keeley Marshall,
Dianne Neal Matthews, Claire McGarry, Cynthia Ruchti, Emily E. Ryan, Karen Sargent, Suzanne Davenport Tietjen,
Cassandra Tiersma, Barbranda Lumpkins Walls

Credits: Cover photo: Getty Images; November and December monthly opener photos: Getty Images; Editor:
Carolyn Mandarano; Designer: Nicole White; Copy Editor: Camille Lofters
“When they saw the star,
they were overjoyed.”
MATTHEW 2:10 (NIV)

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