Psalm 46:1-2a – God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear. (NIV)

Our journey begins as I enter the hospital emergency room doors due to a medical crisis, accompanied by my husband and daughter. Please wait with me for a gruelling 23 hours! Witness the sad plight of our homeless, seeking refuge from the ice storm outside. Join me as I count my blessings, for a home and a loving family who never left my side.

Listen, friends, as my name echoes through the room, and feel the adrenaline rush as a nurse leads us through the next doors. Check how quickly my pulse races as the attending doctor assesses my condition and immediately sends for the surgeon. Witness the whirlwind of activity as the medical staff responds to the surgeon's orders and rushes to care for me. Laugh with me as I inwardly wonder where that staff was hiding during the last 23 hours! Sit with my family and me as the surgeon describes the potential worst-case scenarios of this type of abdominal surgery. Relish the Lord's peace that washes over me, erasing any fear that might try to take hold. Be ready to catch my poor hubby, who looks like he might faint after hearing how serious the surgery will be. Now close your eyes as I leave all modesty aside and lie on the operating table like a Thanksgiving turkey about to be carved! Sorry, but I can't resist the imagery. As the anesthetist asks me to count backwards, I can hear myself whisper, "I trust in You, Father."

My beloved friends, when confronted with the prospect of my own mortality, I believed that when I awoke, I would be with my God either in this world or in heaven.

Well, obviously, I didn't wake up in the hereafter. Instead, I found myself in intensive care, complete with a breathing tube, a feeding tube, and other tubes that I choose not to mention. One week in the hospital and two months of daily homecare nursing allowed me time for deep soul-searching.

Dear friends, Scripture warns us that God will test our faith, like He tested many heroes of the Bible. Satan may try to convince us that it is punishment, but it's not! Quite the contrary, it's the ultimate test of faith bestowed upon us by a loving God! Experience the ultimate fulfillment of loving God with all your heart and soul, which is His heart's desire. Unleash your full potential as you embrace grace and draw nearer to Him. Faith is trusting God's purpose without knowing why. A strong and mature faith brings God glory!

Friends, life is unpredictable, so remember that the next faith journey could be yours!

As Oswald Chambers wrote, "Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading."

Prayer: O God, our strength, we praise You because You are faithful and trustworthy. We praise You for Your unwavering love that sustains us in times of trouble. May we rely on You as our source of strength whenever we falter in our faith or allow things to weaken our dependence on You. Give us the power to resist Satan's lies and rely solely on Your Word. In Jesus' precious name, we pray. Amen.

When I first read this verse, "Be angry and do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26a ESV), it sounded like a contradiction. It might surprise some gentle folk that anger is not always a sin. It depends on what we choose to do with it.

It was okay that Moses was frustrated and angry with the rebellious Israelites, whom he had led out of the horrible conditions of Pharaoh's Egypt. Despite God providing food and water along the way, they complained and disobeyed God over and over. To bring forth water in Numbers 20, God told Moses to speak to a rock, but instead, he lost his temper and struck it twice. That act of anger and failure to obey God as commanded cost Moses dearly. He lost the privilege of leading Israel into the Promised Land.

It is important to remember that our Lord is no stranger to anger. Psalm 7:11b tells us that "God is angry with the wicked every day." (NKJV)

How often we push the envelope and do things that God disapproves of! When our need for justification holds more value than extending Christlike love, we can be sure that we are not producing the kind of righteousness that God is looking for. The sickening stench of its aftermath replaces any desire for self-justification. We should be mindful that God chose love, grace, and mercy over anger, even though we don't deserve such love.

Friends, when anger remains, it festers and brews until it erupts and becomes uncontrollable. Like bad coffee, if left heated overnight, it tastes rancid and develops an unpleasant bitterness by morning. Unresolved bitterness can develop into rage, a powerful emotion capable of destroying whatever or whoever stands in its way.

Ephesians 4:26 – Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. (ESV)

Yes, there are things going on in the world that should make us angry. The Washington Post recently wrote that "Domestic violence cases have spiked during the pandemic." Sex trafficking, child abuse, war, and racism fill our news headlines, and should make us angry. That is the time to pray for the Holy Spirit to give us a voice — God's voice — for those in need!

Here is some further Scriptural insight on how to replace anger with forgiveness, self-control, and kindness:

Proverbs 29:11 – A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. (ESV)

Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. Remove any anger, annoyance, and animosity from our lives and replace them with steadfast trust in You. Fill our hearts with compassion instead of conflict, humility instead of hatred, and faith instead of bitterness. We ask for these things through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

A childhood memory that has left a permanent imprint on my heart is my father and mother pulling me in my wooden sled through the town streets to purchase our yearly Christmas tree from the downtown Boy Scout lot. As I peered out from under my plaid wool blanket, the snowbanks beside me loomed like mountains, and far above them, the starry sky would cast curious snow shadows all around. On those unforgettable trips, we would search for the biggest star and make a wish together. I am embarrassed to admit that, at such a tender age, my wish was not for world peace, but for a farm set. Alas, under our tree, there was usually a Barbie doll. I never gave up hope, however!

Children wish upon stars and dream of a knight in shining armour, but during this relentless worldwide pandemic, surrounded by chaos and discussions of war and the newest variant of COVID-19, our families struggle to dare to dream of finding hope. Still, night after night, God's stars faithfully shine, and He provides us sure and certain hope of eternal glory in Christ.

Romans 5:5 – And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (NLT)

The Christmas star still shines like a beacon from the past, reminding us that we, like the wise men, have good reason to put our trust in God's promises. We can believe the miracle of Christ's birth: "The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" (Matthew 1:23 NLT). The birth of Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled over 300 prophecies — the most convincing validation for the inspiration of the Bible. We have a true knight in shining armour Who came to defeat evil and save us.

Thirty years later, as Jesus hung on the cross, He promised all humanity that whoever repents and asks Him to be their Saviour will be with Him in paradise.

The beauty of Christmas is that those who wish on the star of Bethlehem and trust in Jesus' promise of paradise will abide in peace. They understand that the events impacting our lives today were foretold 3,000 years ago in the Old Testament.

Thankfully, we can believe there will be a happy ending no matter what the world throws our way. For God's love inspired the story of salvation, and He has never broken a promise. So, wish upon the star — Bethlehem — and dream of a knight in shining armour – Jesus — and happy endings — the Promised Land.

Revelation 22:16 – I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. (ESV)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send Your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of Your presence. We are Your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To You, we say, "Come, Lord Jesus!" Amen. – Henri Nouwen

The nightstand clock confirmed that it was 2 a.m., yet sleep was nowhere in sight. Completely exhausted, I found myself resorting to counting imaginary sheep. One, two, … ninety-eight, ninety-nine. Then, just before reaching one hundred, God's voice called out my name from the shadows, asking, "If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?" (Matthew 18:12 ESV) I answered, "Yes." Then, I glanced to see if my husband was hearing God, but he was fast asleep.

Again, God called out my name. He asked me to share the parable of the lost sheep with our son, who was visiting, and tell him that "the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10 ESV)

For the rest of the night, I tossed and turned, as Satan fought to convince me that it was all just a dream. How foolish I would appear to both my son and husband if I followed through with God's request. I wondered whether God was testing me to see if I would obey Him.

By morning, the weather report was not promising. A snowstorm was moving in, so my husband hurried to load our car and get our son back to college safely. I felt the Holy Spirit stirring, and I knew that it was time. Scripture tells us, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourself. Do what it says." (James 1:22 NIV)

For years, our eldest had been convinced that he was far too lost ever to be saved, least of all, forgiven. Hearing the message about Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leaving the other ninety-nine sheep and seeking everywhere for the lost sheep, brought him to tears!

Only a couple of hours after my husband and son left to drive our son back, an oncoming driver lost control of his vehicle and hit them head-on! Miraculously, everyone in that accident survived! Thanks be to God! But what if I hadn't shared with my son and he hadn't survived? I am at peace because I obeyed God's call and planted the seed.

Friends, if you have answered God's primary call and are in a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ, are you using the spiritual gifts that He has supplied to share the gospel? God will not be able to utilize us in the genuine callings that He has designed for our lives if we are not fully obedient to the precise commandments and leadings of the Holy Spirit.

It is important for us to listen to God's Word, but it is even more crucial for us to do what it says.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for seeking us out when we are lost, and for sending Your perfect Lamb, Jesus, to die for our sins. May we be passionate about bringing Your lost sheep into Your kingdom. Amen.

Our grandchildren come in all shapes and sizes, each with a distinct personality. While some are quiet and rather soft-spoken, others are bigger than life. We know that love has come to visit whenever they eagerly tap on our door. They offer a love so entwined that it brings relief from our stubborn aches and pains and invites us to curl up, cuddle up, and connect heart-to-heart. Then, with our well-worn pockets full of godly wisdom and years of experience, we set aside all distractions and immerse ourselves into their stories.

Playing games with our grandchildren is the perfect time to reach into those pockets of wisdom and experiences to find a Scripture verse that relates to our activity. It's all about teaching sound doctrine and illustrating how the Word of God is central to their lives. The Bible is far from boring, so we should make it a fun time! Here is a passage that I often choose:

Psalm 139:1-4 – O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. (ESV)

From an early age, playing hide-and-seek can teach children why and how they can hide from each other but can't hide from God. God comes seeking us because He loves us and wants to bless us. He sees all things. Therefore, they never need to feel alone or frightened, because God is with them.

Thankfully, even as teens, our grandkids love to play board games with us. No matter how sophisticated the game, this passage from Psalm 139 is still an excellent reminder that no matter what age we are, no one can outsmart God! He knows all about us. He knows what we will say before we say it and what we will do before we do it. He can see whether we cheated or played a fair game.

Finally, dear friends, we have the privilege of sharing our lives with our children and grandchildren. Grandparents, make this the time to pass on the baton of faith "to your children and to their children after them". And let us also be open to the things that they can teach us!

Prayer: Thank You, heavenly Father, for the blessing of children and grandchildren. May Your Holy Spirit guide them and teach them Your ways. Thank You for knocking at the doors of our hearts and filling every recess with Your unconditional love. Continue to fill our pockets with Your Word and guide our lips as we share precious time with our families. In Jesus' name, we ask. Amen.

Although I was blessed, temptations and hardships still came my way. I experienced heartbreak, illness, depression, loss of loved ones, and chronic pain.

My world became very small when my days were consumed with myself, and my worth consisted of collecting more and more trinkets, rather than sharing my God-given resources. During the daytime, I was distracted by the busyness of life, but in the quiet solitude of night, I faced the fears that I held in my heart. When my spiritual gifts went unopened, I began to cry, "Why am I here?" or worse, "I'm bored," and I forgot my purpose, because my heart become blind to the needs of others. Instead of the voice of wisdom guiding my day, I randomly chose this way or that, and living became meaningless.

Thankfully, the story did not end there.

Why does God allow trials and temptations in our lives? It is essential to understand that these trials serve a purpose: to test and prove the genuineness of our faith.

"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." – C.S. Lewis.

Before leaving His beloved disciples for one last time, Jesus left them — and us — this wonderful promise:

John 14:16-17a,18 – And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. No, I will not abandon you as orphans — I will come to you. (NLT)

Whenever I look back over those times of affliction, I can honestly say that God has kept His promise! Philippians 4:13 reminds me that "I can do all things (like facing the trials head on) through Christ who strengthens me." (NKJV) Jesus' Advocate never left my side!

From beginning to end, believers need the Holy Spirit always to be tending to us. He comforts us, helps us, guides us, reminds us, teaches, comes alongside, counsels, intercedes, and advocates for us. There is no area of life in which the believer does not need the help of the Holy Spirit.

Thankfully there is a solution to keep the Holy Spirit active. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Galatians 5:16 give us steps to take.

• Rejoice always. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
• Pray without ceasing.
• In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
• Walk in the Spirit, not the flesh.
• Sing! Because, my friends, God always keeps His promises!

Prayer: Lord, You promised abundant life and blessings from on high. Thank You that You fulfill Your promises each day. We can rest in the truth that You will provide for us and meet our needs tomorrow and the day after. We praise You because Your well of blessings will never run out. You are a wonderful Father! Amen.

In friendship, we think we have chosen our peers. … But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "Ye have not chosen one another, but I have chosen you for one another. – C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Friendship is not a reward for our discernment and good taste in finding one another. It is the instrument by which God reveals to us the beautiful qualities of others.

Our new friends had an abundance of beautiful qualities, one being that after years of marriage, they remained best friends. And it's no wonder! When Charlie was not teasing his wife, it was evident that he cherished and adored her. Their relationship was an example to us as young marrieds –- one more blessing from knowing them.

In the last chapter of our friendship together, we watched Effie care for Charlie as his health failed. He still teased and adored Effie, knowing that it was far more than mere chance that he had met her.

I am closing this chapter today, as they were deceased within months of each other. But I thank God for these two friends. I will never forget Charlie's love for Effie and her beautiful example of a godly woman that showed me who I could become.

God says that it is not good for human beings to be alone — we need friends. To have friends, the Lord advises, we must be friendly, as Charlie and Effie were to us.

Proverbs 18:24 – A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NKJV)

Who is it that needs us to be a friend to them today? How can we be examples to others through our friendships?

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for fearfully and wonderfully creating each of us. Thank You for giving us worth in Your eyes. Help us live gently and humbly as the ones You uniquely intended us to be, offering friendship to others. May we speak with wisdom and encourage one another, all the time abiding in You, obedient and submissive to Your will. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.