The Christmas story begins in an unexpected place, with an unexpected person, and an unexpected announcement. Luke tells us that the angel Gabriel was sent to Nazareth—a small, forgettable town in Galilee—to a young woman named Mary. Nazareth wasn’t impressive. It wasn’t influential. It wasn’t the kind of place you’d expect God to change the… Continue reading Trusting the King Who Reigns Forever
Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. I love the lights, the music, the traditions, the time with family, all of it. But beneath the surface of everything we enjoy this season is something deeper, something ancient, something that matters far beyond December. Christmas is about joy. In Luke 1, we meet… Continue reading Great Joy in the Waiting
If you’ve walked with Jesus for any length of time, you’ve probably felt the frustration of spiritual regression. One week your heart is alive — you’re in the Word, prayer flows easily, worship is sweet, and obedience feels natural. And then slowly… or sometimes suddenly… it slips. You lose the rhythm. Your first love cools.… Continue reading When Renewal Fades (and the One Who Never Does)
For a century and a half, Jerusalem lay in ruins. Its walls were broken, its gates burned, and its once-vibrant streets were empty and quiet. To earlier generations, the devastation of the city must have felt final. This was the holy city God had chosen, the city where His name dwelt, the city where Solomon… Continue reading God Brings Revival
Every one of us knows what it feels like to get stuck spiritually. Maybe you’re tired, discouraged, distracted, or even ashamed. Maybe you’ve drifted farther than you meant to, or you’ve simply gotten numb. Life happens, and before you realize it, your heart is out of rhythm with God. When that happens, we need what… Continue reading How to Hit the Reset Button with God
struggling and striving to follow Jesus
Joshua Wester 