Commitment to God takes sacrifice. It takes selflessness. Sometimes it is challenged by pain, suffering and disappointment. How committed are you to God?

God could be calling you to a field of mission. And, just like Nehemiah encountered, with change there's opposition or obstacles you will encounter. How willing are you to follow His leadership in your life?

There's a metaphor in the Bible regarding a banquet table in God's house. All are invited to this special gathering, not just a few "elect". The metaphor should show us how we must look at those around us without discrimination. We should show the love of Christ and bare witness to the good news to all regardless of class.

Influence can be powerful. The Word of God says that if we confess to one another, we can be healed. We should seek community with others for this to happen.

Christ has a claim on our lives. This life is much more than just believing in Him. He has a plan and purpose for each of us. What is it that He is calling you to do starting this year? Maybe it is to start with serving in small ways. Maybe it is something that requires you to make a bold change in your life. Regardless, He is calling all of us for something.

Sometimes God needs to put us in "timeout". All throughout the Bible, there are stories of exile - a sort of "timeout" experience. This does not mean that God is abandoning us. We may need to learn something from a poor decision that we've made or it may be a wakeup call to draw close to Him.

Many times we adapt and adopt traditions over time. Sometimes these traditions replace the truth of the story. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but the story of what took place there has been skewed over time. We need to know what truly happened. Christmas can mean so much more to all of us this time of year as we celebrate a special baby's birth.

The news of Christmas first came to the most unlikely of them all - shepherds. This is how God works. He is interested in the lowest of our societal ladder. The message of this should open our eyes to sharing the gospel (good news) to anyone, even the outcasts.

Sometimes great blessings and miracles come from the most unexpected places. Learn more about the place where Jesus spent most of his life waiting to become the fulfillment of redemption. Learn how important it is to humble ourselves and wait on God.