I was walking through the woods with my daughter when she suddenly needed to go to the bathroom “weeelly bad”. So, I suggested that we take a short cut through the trees to get us back to the campsite quickly. “But Mom!”, she said, “what if there is a WOLF coming around the bend?”

While wolf encounters are not likely in southern Texas, this story reminds me of all the times that we want to take the shortest, easiest path, only to run into dangers that slow us down along the way. How often do we make a mess for ourselves by trying to “cut corners?”

The path that Jesus took to earn our salvation was not easy. Why did Jesus come as a baby? He’s God! He could have come as a king with enemies forced to fall at his feet. Ask any preschooler, and they’ll tell you that he could have come down as a dragon in a fiery cloud, with laser eyes zapping all the “bad guys”. The problem with that is, of course, that WE are the “bad guys”. Every person on earth, besides Jesus, has sinned and fallen short of God’s demands. And so, Jesus took the difficult path along the road to the cross, with the biggest “baddest” wolf of all, the devil, seeking to destroy him and us.

The path of a Christian is not easy, either. God has not promised that we will always feel comfortable. Many people in this world will make fun of us for the path that we have chosen and the life we want to live. They might call us old-fashioned, naïve, or just dumb. They think that we are giving up opportunities and all the wealth and fun that comes with it when we don’t give in to their worldview. But these people are often enemies of Jesus, enemies of the cross that he died on for us.

God tells us not to set our mind on earthly things. This home is temporary. Our true citizenship is in heaven. Instead of wasting our time running after earthly ideas and earthly things, God wants us to spend our time preparing our hearts and the hearts of others for the day that he will come back again.

Watch out for the “wolf coming around the bend”! The true enemy is the devil, who delights in our failures and licks his lips when we fall into sin. But try as he might, “nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). We are his forever!

My students love the opposite game. They seem to have no problem identifying the opposites: up and down, fast and slow, yes and no, high and low. Some days they even carry it into their conversation. “I’m going to say the opposite of what I mean,” a child declares. Silliness and lots of giggles follow. Some opposites aren’t so fun. When love is met with hate or forgiveness meets anger, life is difficult. Yet, Paul in today’s reading encourages us to do the opposite of what is normally expected.

Paul was writing to believers in Rome. He knew they could face hardship and persecution because of their faith so he gave instructions on how to deal with the unbelieving people around them. Here’s where Paul instructs believers to do the opposite of what society would expect. “Bless those who persecute you. . . Do not repay anyone evil for evil.” Our sinful human nature rebels at this idea. If someone hurts me, I will hurt them back, and then some. Paul, however, encourages us to turn the other cheek.

Why would we do such a thing? Wouldn’t that just encourage more persecution? At the very beginning of this chapter in Romans Paul wrote, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1). In view of God’s mercy – that’s reason enough. Even as he suffered on the cross for our sins, Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). His great mercy for us compels us to show mercy to those around us, even through their persecution. This is an act of worship to our gracious Savior.

We pray for God’s blessings on our efforts to show love to all. We may never know how a loving response can cause someone to reflect on their actions. We may not see any change at all, and yet we trust God to do his work. God is the strength behind our words and actions, and he supports us through all types of trouble and persecution.

Each day we strive to reflect God’s love in the world around us. We rejoice in the good times and mourn with those who struggle. We find ways to live in harmony and peace. We pray for those around us, especially those who are unloving. It won’t be easy. Our sinful nature will rebel, and we won’t always succeed. But we have a Savior who showed perfect love to all. He took what we deserved and rid us of all our sins. He will help us do the opposite of what our sinful nature wants so that even more people can have eternal peace in heaven.

Oh, to have the confidence of a four-year-old! I can do it! I already know that! Watch me (fill in the blank with whatever daring escapade they conceived that day)! You and I, on the other hand, may feel less secure. Am I doing enough? Am I reaching each child and helping them grow? How do I manage this latest discipline issue? Am I the right person to help these little children of God grow in faith and love?

Simon Peter experienced these same doubts. He even told Jesus to leave him because “I am a sinful man!” Peter had just seen Jesus do what he and his fishermen friends had been unable to do all night. And Jesus was successful to the extreme: there were so many fish that their nets began to break. Peter realized that he just didn’t measure up. And neither do we. We sin daily, making mistakes, saying the wrong things, failing to do what we need to do. We groan with Peter, “I am sinful.”

Jesus knew. He knew Peter was sinful. He knew Peter’s sins, past, present, and future. Yet he gave Peter the directive to fish for people, sharing God’s Word with them. Even after Peter denied even knowing Jesus, God had work for him to do.

Peter’s work started with a word of comfort. “Do not be afraid” Peter had much to fear from his sinfulness, but standing before him, calling him, was his Savior, Jesus. Peter did not have to be afraid because in Jesus all his unworthiness was washed clean.

Jesus knows you too. He knows your faults and weaknesses, and he calls you anyway. Feed his sheep. Feed his lambs.

Jesus didn’t leave his disciples on their own with the vital work of spreading the gospel message. Before he ascended to heaven he promised them, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). Just ten days later the Holy Spirit caused 3,000 people to come to faith after hearing the disciples on that first Pentecost. We may not be speaking to thousands, but our little ones and their families get to hear and see Jesus’ love through our words and actions. The Holy Spirit guides us sinful, imperfect people daily. He does not fail.

And so, Peter went. “They pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” These undeserving fishermen followed Jesus. They learned from him, witnessed his miracles, saw his sacrifice, and gloried in his resurrection. Jesus used them to go throughout the world speaking about what they had seen and heard. We have Jesus’ words too. We read and study God’s Word so that we can share the precious Gospel message in our classrooms, homes, and neighborhoods. Jesus chose you. You can be confident of that.

Listen to Devotion

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.

Psalm 146: 1-2, 7-8.

When shopping for a car, my mom always said, “I want to buy one that will last”! This car, of course, does not exist. There is no car that will never need repairs. There is no make and model that will withstand all weather. There is no car that can stand the test of time. In fact, nothing in this world will last forever. Except Jesus!

When Jesus was on earth, he helped many people. Jesus had power over the earth when he calmed the sea and loaded the disciples’ boats down with fish. He healed the blind, cured diseases, and fed thousands and thousands of people with a small lunch. Jesus had power over sickness when he healed the ill and the lame, and he had power over death when he raised people from the dead.

But these miraculous, all-powerful acts of kindness were not the most important part of Jesus’ ministry. Providing for physical needs was generous and kind, and it showed that he is the all-powerful God, but it was not why Jesus came to earth.

The devil wants us to believe that our treasures here on earth are most important. And sometimes we fall into the trap of believing that money and all that it can buy will give us lasting pleasure. And even worse—these treasures can become more important to us than our faith. These treasures can ultimately separate us from our God.
Food, health, shelter, and other worldly gifts are not the greatest gifts that God can give us. Greater than these are the heavenly gifts that Jesus provides: his undeserved love, forgiveness from our sins, and an eternal home in heaven. He set us free by dying on the cross for our sins and coming back to life. How thankful we are for this lasting gift of forgiveness and salvation!

People might not want to hear what God’s Word tells us. During our personal ministry, we might meet people that simply do not want to hear what we have to say. We might feel laughed at or rejected for our beliefs. We might feel as though we have failed at the most important job God gave us to do—to proclaim his message. But God’s forgiveness is lasting, even when people reject God’s Word. We must continue to pray that God will soften the hearts of those rejecting his promises so that they may join us in our joy and peace.

Let us boldly continue to spread the message. How thankful we are that God provided for our greatest need when he sent Jesus to save the world. God’s Word will last forever! God’s love endures forever!

How do you identify yourself? What is your worldview? These are questions that are being asked around the country and in our changing world. We can identify ourselves by our family background, interests and talents, character and values. Because God made each person with different personalities, gifts, and backgrounds, each person has a different view of themselves and different perspective of the world.

This can be unsettling for some people. Many just want to fit in or are confused about where their place is in society. Some become anxious or dissatisfied and have trouble solving everyday problems. But there is a cure for an identity crisis! Our true identity is not of this world. Our true identity is in Jesus, through baptism and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is sometimes called our “second birthday”. Through baptism, we are “washed” or “covered with” the righteousness (being “right with God) of Jesus. Jesus gave us this righteousness when he lived his perfect life on earth and then took our sins upon himself when he died on the cross. He beat the devil and all sin in the world when he died on the cross and came back to life that first Easter. Because of these “righteous things” that Jesus did, we now have a loving relationship with him. Our identity is now in the family of Christ!

We can take heart that our identity in Jesus is “not because of righteous things that we have done”. We know that we are sinners that cannot save ourselves. There is nothing “good” in us that can move God to save us. And if God waited for us to be able to do anything pure and righteous, he would be waiting forever! However, God was moved to save us because of his kindness, mercy, and undeserved love.

How thankful we are that we do not need to rely on our own merits or our own sinful identity to get to heaven! On our baptism day, we became a child of God. The Holy Spirit worked into our hearts and continues to help us grow in our faith. We know who we are! We are declared righteous (right with God) because of God’s kindness, mercy and love and now share the certainty of our place in heaven.

“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” That saying has mostly proven itself to be true in life. Most things that seem just too easy, too free, or too good never seem to pan out. This world is, for the most part, transactional. That is why the message of our text today is so unbelievable. It says:

“It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.”

So, you are telling me that God made us, saved us and now calls us his family? I am and God did and does. If this was a movie, God would be the writer, producer, director, and lead role! Oh, and none of this came easy or free for him. We are told in detail the suffering it caused Jesus. Truly unimaginable.

What are we to do in exchange for all of this? There must be a transaction, right? That’s how this world works after all. Thankfully for us, that’s not how God works. Yes, indeed, a transaction was made. Jesus bought us back from sin, death, and the devil with his innocent suffering and death. He paid the price once and for all in full. Instead of being indebted to God, we are called brothers and sisters. We are a part of the family!

Such grace and mercy can only be found in Christ. We are on the receiving end of the only thing this life has for free. As we enter this new year, you don’t have to spend your time paying back your Father for his gift. We get to respond with thanksgiving and a life of growing closer to him through his Word. Thank God, it’s not too good to be true. Heaven is yours. Rest in your brother, Jesus, and all he has done for you. It’s so good! And the best part is, it’s true!

You’ve seen the memes. It’s finally the Christmas program and all the students are excited to share what they’ve prepared. But there’s one student that shines brighter than the rest. They are dancing like no one is watching and singing with all their might. Their joy is contagious and even the parents supposed to be taking videos of their own child can’t help but turn their phone and capture that undeniable viral moment of a little one being so happy and free they just might burst.

We are given some commands today in our verses from Zephaniah. Sing. Shout aloud. Be glad. Rejoice. When was the last time you did any of those things? Maybe it was today. Christmas break is right around the corner, and you are excited for a nice break with family and friends celebrating the birth of our Savior. You are singing and rejoicing with gladness! That’s awesome!

Or maybe you can’t remember the last time you felt like singing and shouting for joy? Perhaps your “shouting aloud” has been more like cries of frustration and sadness this Advent season. Maybe this is your first Christmas missing someone you loved that was here last year. Maybe you are celebrating alone this year and are longing for a spouse or kids to celebrate with. Maybe your finances will make this time of year extra difficult.

Can I tell you that whether you fit in the “singing” or “crying” or “somewhere in between” category, you still get to rejoice greatly this December? Zephaniah reminds us exactly why we get to be filled with joy any time of the year. “The Lord has taken away your punishment.” No longer are we dead in our sins headed for an eternity in hell. “He has turned back your enemy.” The devil no longer has a hold on us. “The Lord the king of Israel, is with you.” No matter how lonely we feel, the King of the universe sits by our side and calls us his own. “Never again will you fear any harm.” Our future is secure. We never need to fear anything taking eternal life with Jesus away from us.

Your joy isn’t based on your present circumstances this Christmas. It is based on the firm foundation that Jesus Christ came down from heaven to rescue you from sin and promises a perfect eternity with him one day. Don’t let any trial or tribulation dim your light as you seek to sing, be glad, and rejoice! Shout it from the rooftops as you find peace, love, and joy today in your Savior!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Advent is here and will lead us right to Christmas in just a few short weeks. You can almost feel the anticipation during this time as we look forward to the coming of our Savior!

As much as Advent is a time to look forward, I’d love to take a look back with you over this first semester. Imagine for a moment that on the first day of school you weren’t there to receive your new students. Instead, the parents had simply dropped off their child in an empty classroom with no teacher to be found. What would these past few months have looked like as your kiddos tried to figure out things like reading, cutting, painting, sharing, Bible lessons, etc. all by themselves? I would imagine not much growth would be found. The kids would be lost and confused, wondering what to do next, and possibly even scared for their safety. Thankfully, the reality is that you have been there with guidance, hard work, preparation, and careful instruction. What a blessing to reflect on the fruits of your labor with your students as they have grown leaps and bounds thanks to your faithfulness. Is there room for them to grow? Of course! That’s why children have a whole semester ahead of them and more years of learning to come. Even you, as educators, have committed to a lifetime of learning and growing in your trade.

Just as your students have graciously not been alone this year at school, you are most definitely not alone this Advent season or at anytime. Our verse says, “May he strengthen your hearts…” God is present in this. He is the one that gives us the strength. It is a tall order to be a teacher. It is an even taller order to be “blameless and holy in the presence of our God…” We are not left alone to our own devices to figure it all out. Immanuel- God with us- is there to guide, instruct, and encourage us on our walk of faith. Is there room to grow? Of course! We fail daily to be perfect and are constantly reminded of our own shortcomings. Praise God that One came who indeed did it perfectly for us. He promises to be there as we commit to a lifetime of knowing God more deeply as he refines us until the day he comes once more.

Advent isn’t just a time to remember that Christ came. Advent is a time to remember why he came. He came to live a perfect life for you, die on the cross that should have been ours, and rise from the dead- conquering death and the devil for good. Jesus now walks alongside you in your journey towards eternity at home with him. May we always look to Jesus as the source of our strength as we prepare our hearts for his coming.

Have you ever heard the joke about Pete and Repeat? It goes something like this…Pete and Repeat were sitting in a boat. Pete fell out. Who was left? Repeat. Pete and Repeat were sitting in a boat… Get it? It just keeps going. The joke gets repeated over and over. It’s usually a hit with kids. It’s easy to tell and offers giggles galore.

Our salvation does not need to be repeated. Jesus, our Savior, suffered and died for our sins. He never has to do it again. It was enough the first time.

Our reading for today says, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27-28

What a relief it is to know that we need not live a life of fear from judgement. We don’t need to wonder if our sins are too great to forgive. We don’t need to constantly question our salvation. It’s not dependent on anything we do anyway. All believers can have full confidence in the “once and for all” forgiveness of sins. Jesus did it all for us and when he comes back, those who believe in him will joyfully enter the gates of his kingdom.

You know what’s not a joke? The judgement that unbelievers will face on that final day. While believers will be basking in the grace of Jesus, those who do not believe will be entering an eternal life of hell.

This, friends, is why our job of spreading the Good News is so important.

When children know a joke, they tell it to everyone to get a couple of laughs. They’re so proud of themselves to have news that brings joy. We have news that brings joy. We have news that brings life! Eternal life! And that, that is worth repeating.

One of the things that can be misunderstood by those who haven’t served in early childhood is naptime. Children quietly sleeping on their blankets with the lights dimmed and quiet music playing can happen. But it’s not unusual to have one or two children who just can’t find a way to settle in. You might look at them and wonder—“If someone gave me the chance to rest quietly every afternoon, I’d be out like a light.”

Today’s verses talk about finding rest in God. As you might imagine, this is not a rest from our physical needs. The rest referenced in this verse is a spiritual rest. Satan and the world are relentless. Satan knows so many subtle ways to attack us in an attempt to wear us down. He uses things like physical fatigue, doubt, relationship difficulties, and guilt. His voice is full of lies that we need to constantly fight against. “You’re not good enough.” “You haven’t done enough.”

Life this side of heaven is challenging. We can become overwhelmed. Where can we turn? “My soul finds rest in God.” Like the small child who reaches up to be held by mom, dad, or another loving adult, we can reach up to our heavenly Father. Our biggest issue is not a tired body but a soul that needs rest from the sin and guilt of this world.

“My salvation comes from him.” The greatest need we have or will ever have is taken care of. Our sin has been taken away. The record of our wrongs has been completely erased by what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Satan is tough. He doesn’t give up. It shows how much he hates God and God’s people. That can be a terrifying thought. However, even though we’re not more powerful than Satan and his lies, God is. That’s what the verses mean when they talk about God as our fortress. Fortresses were designed to be impenetrable. They had thick, high walls that could not be scaled by any individual. The arrows that the enemy would hurl at them were stopped by the strong stone fortress. That’s what God is for us. He’s our fortress. There’s nothing Satan can do that God can’t overcome. God’s protection is also relentless. His motivation is vastly different than Satan’s. He is motivated by pure, unconditional love for you, for me, for all people.

So what can you do? Fortify yourself. Arm yourself. Not with a suit of armor but rather with things like what you are doing right now. Be faithful with devotions, Bible studies, any time in the Word. Talk to God. Go to him in prayer. Be specific and ask him to protect you and those you care about. Encourage each other spiritually. Find ways to boost someone you know with God’s Word.

And rest. Time in the Word is a time of rest from the world and a focus on our Heavenly Father. Take time to just be still and consider who God is and what he has done for you. Time resting in God’s Word rejuvenates and encourages you in a way that no nap ever will. God is your salvation, your fortress. Trust in God. Rest in God.

A church in downtown Milwaukee has some incredibly beautiful stained-glass windows. In the front of the church is a huge window with the classic picture of Jesus sitting with children on his lap, in his arms, and all around him. Historically, stained-glass windows were often used to share important stories of the Bible to the community, especially for those who may not be able to read. Today, they continue to illustrate Bible stories not just to the worshippers in the sanctuary, but also to those who pass by.

This indeed, is one of the most delightful, comforting, and yet saddest stories in the book of Mark. Jesus’ days were full of preaching, healing, comforting, teaching, and travelling from place to place on foot. Jesus’ disciples were his students, his friends, and his supporters. In today’s reading we hear how the disciples rebuked the people bringing their small children to see Jesus. While the Bible doesn’t reveal their motivation, it’s clear that they felt it necessary to try to send the children away.

It’s not often that we hear Jesus get upset but this was one of them. Mark uses the word “indignant.” While I can’t imagine how the disciples felt at his reaction, even more, I can’t imagine how those bringing the children responded. Jesus made it so clear that not only were young children important to him, but that the faith of young children was an example to all. Heaven belongs to those with simple faith and complete trust in what Jesus has done for us.

So, what’s the lesson for us? First, young children are precious to our Father in heaven. The work that you do to share God’s message of grace with the children and their families is precious to him.

A young child can do nothing to earn heaven. They can’t work hard enough, be kind enough, be perfect enough. And neither can we. Forgiveness, grace, heaven are all theirs and ours because of Jesus and because of the faith given to us by the Holy Spirit.

We don’t need to be Bible scholars. Jesus emphasizes that the simple, child-like faith that knows that it’s all up to Jesus and all about Jesus and what he’s done for us is all we need. Should we continue to learn all we can about God and what the Bible teaches? Absolutely! We look to learn more because we’re eager to know as much as we can about our heavenly Father-not because it helps us get to heaven but simply because we love him so.

As you think about that image of Jesus and the little children, picture the faces of the children you know, the people you know, and your own face looking into the smiling face of Jesus. He looks at each one and at you with the eyes of the loving Savior. He holds you in his arms each day and he asks you to do something for him—tell about him. Better than even the most beautiful stained-glass window, you can tell the children, their families, each other, and all about Jesus, their Savior. What a joy and privilege. May the Lord bless your telling!

Almost every child you’ve ever had loves to be line leader. On their day, they walk a little taller and for some, it’s an opportunity for pride. Because their turn is determined simply by a rotation of all in the class, they did nothing to earn that position. And yet they are so proud to be that class leader.

Just before the reading we focus on today, three of Jesus’ disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. How could they, who walked with Jesus every day, even begin to care about status? And yet they did. They wanted to determine who had what it took to be greater than those around them.

In his response, Jesus, the Master Teacher confronts their pride and flips the script on status. “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” The servant? Jesus would say yes, and he was the perfect example. The creator and ruler of all things became an infant and grew up in the world with the challenges of life all around him. For what? For us. Jesus set aside his glory, his presence in heaven, to become one of us, to serve us, to save us. When we consider all Christ has done, our hearts melt with gratitude and humility.

Jesus also picks up a young child and looking directly at his disciples (and us), he emphasizes how precious young children are to him. He tells them that if they welcome a small child, they are welcoming him. If they welcome him, they are welcoming God the Father. His point? It’s not earthly status or pride in accomplishments, but our status with God that matters. Like the line leader, our status is unearned by us, but paid for by our Savior, Jesus.

So, what does that mean for you and for me? First, we too, can be guilty of pride or a self-serving attitude when we compare ourselves to others. We can be critical of others in hopes that the worse others look, perhaps the better we look. As you know, it only makes us look worse. We look to God for forgiveness.

Second, the work you do is precious in the Savior’s eyes. Serving young children is not for the faint of heart but it is the work of the heart. It’s a work that reflects the Savior’s love as you patiently nurture a struggling child, comfort a weary little one, and celebrate their victories. It’s the work of the Savior as you tell them about Jesus and his love for them. Your work is not the work of presidents, corporate leaders, or athletic celebrities. It’s a humble service, a ministry, that nurtures the heart, the mind, the faith of a young one to grow as a child of God.

Who’s first? The servant, the small child, those around us as we welcome them to hear about Jesus, their Savior. May the Lord bless your mighty work to guide and nurture young souls. May he also bless you with a humble heart that knows that your true status is beyond any earthly expectation. You are God’s dear child, always in his eyes and in the heart of your Savior.

Power. There are many kinds of power. There is the power in fire. A firepit in the backyard can provide a relaxing evening. A fire in a dry forest can produce devastation and uncontrollable destruction. The power of the sun can warm the earth to help plants grow. The sun in a desert can take a life that lacks appropriate protection and hydration.

One word used to describe God’s power is omnipotent. I’m thinking that this may not be a word you use in your daily vocabulary. Me neither. But it’s a great word when we’re considering God’s power. Dictionary.com defines omnipotent as: almighty or infinite in power, as God. “Infinite in power” What does that mean? Infinite is another word for unlimited, endless, immeasurable. That describes God’s power. It has no limits. It can’t be measured or bound by earthly restrictions. He has the power to do absolutely anything.

That can be both comforting and jarring. God has the power to save and to destroy. God’s judgment will eventually be clear to those who don’t believe in him – divine retribution for rejecting his love and mercy. But that sad and stark reality is eclipsed by something even greater: God’s power to save is beyond any earthly power we can imagine. God’s expectations are clear. He demands perfection from each of us. Another reality is also clear. We are completely incapable of perfection. We were born sinful from sinful parents. We have never had a day without sin permeating our lives. Knowing God’s expectation and our ability for perfection, could cause us to fear. “Be strong, do not fear” God says to us. He is coming. He’s coming with judgment on those in who do not believe in him and he’s coming for you—to take you to be with him in heaven. How can this be? He expects perfection and we are far from it. Jesus—the simple and yet, overwhelming response from our God. God’s love is immeasurable and it’s what sent Jesus to be our Savior. Cross, tomb, and resurrection show God accepting his sacrifice to save you. Your imperfections went to the cross with Jesus and are covered by him, replaced by his perfect life in your stead. You don’t need to fear. You have peace with God because of all that Jesus has done for us.

God is a powerful God whose love uses his power to protect, save, and make us his own. And so, like the inspired words of Isaiah we can say, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come.” He is with you each day and one day will come to take you home to him in heaven. We are at peace in his power, in his powerful love and grace.