Many times over the years, I have asked God to increase or strengthen my faith. Perhaps you have, too.

Jesus Himself knew that "stuff happens". In Luke 17:1a, Jesus said to His disciples, "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come." (NIV) Then, the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith in the face of their challenges, and He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." (Luke 17:6 NIV)

Mustard seeds are tiny — just a millimetre or two, depending on the variety. Yet, Jesus tells us that even that tiny amount of faith is enough to do great — even astounding — things. I wonder if, rather than hoping for greater or stronger faith, Jesus is challenging us to live out the faith that we already have.

Romans 1:17 – For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." (NIV)

The English word "faith" is thought to be derived from the Latin word "fides", which means "trust". In that word, I believe, is the advice that Jesus and the apostle are giving us today: no matter what we are dealing with in life, we can trust Jesus when He tells us that our faith — no matter how small — is sufficient. It is enough to see us through.

Prayer: Loving God, thank You so much for the gift of faith. Sometimes, our faith feels strong and mighty, and sometimes, it feels weak and inadequate. But however it feels to us, we are blessed by Your assurance that no matter what, our faith is sufficient. Help us to embrace that assurance as we face the challenges in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The other day when I took the dogs for their early morning walk, the fog was thick. I could barely see across the street, and I was even worried that oncoming traffic might not see me or my four-footed friends. But by the time we were on our way back, the sun had risen and things were getting brighter. Through the mist, I could see the outline of the steeple of our church — a beautiful sight to behold.

There are many kinds of fog in life. There is the physical fog that I experienced early that morning. We talk of the "fog of war" — the confusion that often arises in the chaos of battle. We say that we are "in a fog" when we can't think clearly or our thoughts are muddled. The steam in a warm bathroom will "fog up" a mirror or window, making it difficult to see clearly.

The pandemic that we are all living through brings its own fog, doesn't it? We are inundated with information and misinformation, and we find it difficult to know what to believe. We look to our leaders, who are pulled in many directions, and discover that while some are confident and capable, others are all-too-human as they grapple with a situation that is ever-changing and of nearly unfathomable complexity. Many of us struggle with anxiety and depression as we look around and see uncertainty at every turn.

My friends, the good news is that just as there is sunlight behind the fog, our God is always there. When all around us is uncertain, turn to what is certain. When all around is shifting, depend on what is secure. When all around seems unstable, stand on the firm foundation.

Isaiah 28:16 – Therefore this is what the Lord God says: "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. The one who believes in it will not be disturbed." (NASB)

The steeple of our church, lit by the sun burning through the fog, was a powerful reminder to me that morning that my God, my Lord and Saviour, will always be there. He is certain, stable, and strong, a firm foundation on Whom we can all depend.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for being our rock and foundation, for always being there, unchanging, ever-present, dependable, and sure. We know that we can confidently look to You in uncertain times. We pray for Your guidance and comfort in difficult days. In Your holy and precious name, we pray. Amen.

Christmas morning is probably one of the most emotion-laden mornings of the year. For many, it is a happy time of smiling children, presents under the tree, and stockings to open. For others, it might be a difficult time of depression or loneliness, perhaps missing loved ones who have passed away or who no longer live nearby. For some, it will be a day of plenty; for others, a stark reminder of good things that they can't afford.

It's been the same throughout time. Think of the first Christmas morning so very long ago: the happy birth of a blessed child, but a child being born in a time of oppression and uncertainty, to parents of meagre means. What a morning of contrasts!

The miracle is that into all of that — into that world of inequality, uncertainty, and doubt — perfection was born: a perfect child, beyond sin, destined to be a source of rekindled hope for all of humankind for millennia to come; a perfect child born in the image of His heavenly Father, God of the universe.

The miracle of our faith is that the perfection of Jesus is available to each and every one of us — and it is available just for the asking. No matter our personal circumstance on this Christmas morning, we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord. We are all equally imperfect, equally broken, equally undeserving, all with the same access to the perfect salvation offered through Christ Jesus.

On this morning of all mornings, let's claim that perfection as our Christian inheritance. Perfection was born 2000 years ago, and perfection lives today.

Rejoice!

Prayer: Loving and perfect God, thank You for being with us today. Surround us this Christmas with the warmth of Your love. Thank You for the perfect gift of Jesus, in whose name we humbly pray. Amen.

The other day, I was thinking about the idea of anticipation and how, during Advent, we look forward with anticipation to the celebration of the birth of Jesus. But anticipation can be a very passive thing: it's easy to sit back and wait, as if we're just waiting for a date on the calendar, a date that will come around regardless of anything we do or don't do.

I was thinking about this on a recent Sunday while we were studying Psalm 11 in church. My eyes and attention strayed to Psalm 14, and I was struck by what I read:

Psalm 14:2 – The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God. (NRSV)

I asked myself: do I seek after God? Particularly at this time of Advent, am I seeking after God? While I await the date of remembering Jesus' birth, am I just awaiting an event that I know will come, or am I actively seeking, searching, hungry for His salvation? Am I contemplating what His birth and life mean to me, and perhaps reflecting on what life would be like without Him? Am I questioning my own activity and striving to live in the way that God commands throughout the Bible? Am I actively using this time of anticipation to deepen my faith?

My attitude to Advent changed on that Sunday morning. Perhaps yours will, too.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for this season of Advent, this season of anticipating the birth of Your Son so many years ago, this season of prayer and preparation. We pray that You might help us to use this season to deepen our faith as we seek Your wisdom, Your insight, and Your salvation. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

I have recently been involved in a visioning process for the future of our local church, in which I have been struggling to see the overall project plan. However, I've had the opportunity to speak with a pastor whom I respect, who has been able to re-orient my thinking.

Philippians 3:13b-14 – One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (NASB)

I had been getting caught up in the structure of planning, trying to see things as I would have in a corporate project: action plans, timing details, milestones to be achieved, etc. My pastor reminded me that in the church, our goal is not to complete the project plan, but to seek always the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

How then to proceed, when a detailed plan — a roadmap — isn't available? He said, simply, "That's where faith comes in," and for me, that's when the penny dropped. I remembered a sermon that I heard many years ago, perhaps 20 or 25 years, that has stayed with me ever since.

Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (NASB)

In that long-ago sermon, the minister reminded us that in biblical times, a lamp would not have been what we're used to today: no super-bright LED, casting light hundreds of feet ahead. In those times, a lamp would have illuminated only a small patch of light — if walking, only a few steps ahead. Yet, if we're walking in faith, light for those few steps is sufficient.

If you, too, are struggling with something that you're trying to achieve, unable to see the full plan or path, perhaps you will find these same ideas helpful: whatever your interim objectives, the overall goal is the furtherance of God's kingdom here on earth, and each step, taken prayerfully and in full faith, will be protected and guided by God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing us with Your guidance and wisdom. Thank You for protecting our steps, illuminating our path, and inspiring our work. We give You all thanks and praise, in the holy and precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Or think of a time, perhaps a long time ago, when you had to sit an examination, and then wait before you received your grade. What did you feel in the time between? Or perhaps you have been blessed enough to have found a life partner, someone you would like to marry, and it was up to you to propose. What went through your mind once you'd asked, "Will you marry me?" Try to recall — or imagine — what it was or would be like while you waited for that hoped-for answer of "Yes!"

Or perhaps you've had to have medical tests done and have had to wait for the results. In some cases, these could literally be a question of life and death, and there is nothing you can do to hurry the results along or change their outcome.

The time between is special. It's a time like no other. It's a time of anticipation, of worry, of hope, and of fear — a time of waiting.

Psalm 130:5-6a – I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning. (NIV)

Psalm 27:13-14 – I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (NIV)

Just imagine how the disciples felt in the time between Jesus' death on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday: grief, pain, disillusionment, loss of the hope that they had put in the Messiah, and fear of recrimination from the Jews. Don't ignore all those emotions, for they are real, and they are important at Easter time. Don't avoid them. Face them. Meditate on them. Pray on them. All those emotions are part of the Easter story: from staying with the Lord in Gethsemane, to watching His betrayal and trial, to weeping in anguish at the foot of the cross, to the emptiness and loss on Saturday, to the miraculous glory of His holy resurrection on Sunday. All are part of the Easter story. All are part of your own personal journey as a follower of Christ, as you live through your personal times of anticipation, worry, hope, fear, and waiting.

Don't avoid the time between. Open your heart. Don't lose your faith. Let your Lord use that time to enrich your understanding of His resurrection victory and to deepen your faith in Christ.

Prayer: Holy and precious God, thank You for all the parts of the Easter story, and especially for the time between. Help us to see our own time of waiting as a gift from You — a holy gift. Help us to use this time to deepen our understanding of You and Your purpose for us. We pray these things in the name of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

One recent Sunday morning, our worship leader began the service with an apology. She said that in delivering the message the week before, she had confused two Bible stories, placing a character from one into the other. Someone from the congregation had — lovingly, I hope — pointed out the error while shaking hands immediately following the service.

A few things struck me about that. First, no apology was really necessary. It was good to hear the explanation, so that we were all clear on what the story really said, but I think that everyone in the congregation knows that small errors occur from time to time (quite frequently, in my case!). No harm was done, so I thought that no real apology was necessary.

But the second thing that struck me was the nature of Bible stories. Many of us have heard these stories from the time we were children, learning them in Sunday School, and hearing and reading them many times over in the years since. They're familiar. They're a little bit like the memorable stories that get told around the dinner table at family gatherings. The story about how Mom and Dad first met. How Uncle Harry did something silly on a fishing trip. How we used to play hide-and-seek when the cousins came over. How Aunt Martha told the spookiest ghost stories around the campfire. They're familiar tales that tell the story of our family — of our heritage.

That's another way of thinking about Bible stories. They're great teaching tools, often with profound learning opportunities, but they're also the stories of our family — our church family.

Next time you're in church, take a look around. This is your family — your family of faith — a family that is precious in God's sight, and whose stories are told in God's holy Word.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for providing us with so much: with family, with Scripture, with faith. Most of all, thank You for providing us with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in whose name, we pray. Amen.