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Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ. . . . 2 Corinthians 5:17 I’ve spent a lot of time in conversations with people who are holding on to shame, anger, or deep disappointment over things...

Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:13-14 Forgetting what is behind . . . I press on toward the goal. . . . Philippians 3:13 I remember cleaning out the garage one spring, determined to get rid of clutter. As I opened old boxes, I found items tied to painful memories—things I had held on to...

Scripture Reading — Romans 12:1-2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 There was a time in my life when I thought change had to begin by starting new routines, meeting new people, setting new goals, and so on. But no matter...

Scripture Reading — Lamentations 3:22–23 His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22–23 One of the most comforting things I have come to cherish is the rhythm of mornings. No matter how chaotic or discouraging the previous day was, the...

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught . . . to put off your old self . . . and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 There comes a time when carrying the baggage of our old life just weighs too much. I remember a...

Scripture Reading — Psalm 37:3-9 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will . . . make your righteous reward shine like the dawn. . . . Psalm 37:5-6 There’s something sacred about starting a journey—even more so when we commit it to the Lord. I remember a season when I launched...

Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:13-14 Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal. . . . Philippians 3:13-14 It’s easy to get trapped in the past, isn’t it? We hold on to things we wish we could undo, replaying those moments in our minds again and...

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 I have always loved the idea of starting fresh, shedding old habits or mindsets that no longer serve well. I remember the first time I truly...

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! . . .” Isaiah 43:18-19 Change has a way of making us feel uneasy. It often comes with the uncertainty of the unknown and the discomfort of moving away from what we’ve always...

Joy and Hope Scripture Reading — 1 John 1:1-4 We proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 1 John 1:2 After coming through the Christmas season, we stand today on the verge of a new year. In many homes Christmas decorations are coming down, and...

Scripture Reading — Luke 21:25-28 “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27 The Christmas season looks back to the time when the Son of God first came to live among us and to bring us salvation. But this season has a forward-looking...

Christmas in Everyday Life Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:19-23, Luke 2:39-40 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. Luke 2:39 I like to have the Christmas season continue as long as possible. In our home...

Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:13-18 “Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt . . . for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” Matthew 2:14 Not everyone loves Christmas. Maybe you’ve heard about Ebenezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol, or about...

Scripture Reading — Luke 2:36-38 [Anna] gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:38 Sometimes just after the Christmas holiday, I feel a bit of a letdown. For weeks I’ve built up excitement for the coming holiday and...

Scripture Reading — Luke 2:21-35 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Luke 2:33 Now that Christmas Day has passed, let’s try to make sense of all that we have experienced in the past few weeks. What is the significance of our celebration? Does this season make any...

Scripture Reading — John 1:14-18 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14 Today is Christmas Day, on which most Christians mark the birth of Jesus over 2,000 years ago. While celebrations may vary, depending on cultures and family traditions, the central meaning of this...

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-13 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 I often feel like the world holds its breath on Christmas Eve. For weeks, we’ve listened to advertisements telling us to get ready for the holiday. Perhaps we’ve done our share of...

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 3:14-16 He appeared in the flesh. . . . 1 Timothy 3:16 The Christmas holiday is nearly upon us. For many people Christmas is a special day filled with family gatherings, gift exchanges, and other holiday traditions. In my own family, we look forward to these...

Scripture Reading — Revelation 12:1-17 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Revelation 12:2 What is the real impact of Christmas? For many of us in the Western world, the story of Christmas has a familiar cast of characters: Joseph and Mary, the shepherds...

Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:9-12 They opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 What’s the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? A number of years ago, my in-laws gave me a heavy winter jacket and overalls—the kind of warm...