We live in a world in transition with tons of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. We have two political movements promising that they will lead us to peace, and the other will lead us to disaster and this year, an election year, the stakes feel higher for both sides. Jesus has a prescient word for us today: “Watch out!

So many people live their lives for themselves, They focus on their own problems, put energy toward their own success and relationships, and advance their own agenda. We were made for something greater than ourselves. We were made to push back the darkness. 

What does that mean, exactly, to follow Jesus? Let’s look at his followers and see what we discover.

What is our greatest need?

If we are family of faith, how do we relate to people who are not part of the family? That might include neighbors, coworkers, friends and it might include people who don’t like us. How do we relate to them?

Your best life is lived for what you are made for. You were not made for the grind. You were not made for loneliness or meaninglessness, for addictions or compulsions, for fears or worries. You were made for a purpose. You were made by the Creator of the universe for a purpose larger than yourself. Do you know what you are made for?

As we begin a new year, take a moment to consider Mary, Martha, and one necessary thing.

Do you feel ready for Christmas? Sometimes it feels like it sneaks up on us, but Christmas truly snuck up on Mary. How does Mary respond?

Sometimes there's more to see, and sometimes our expectation of what we see limits us from seeing the bigger story.

This Advent, we are considering Christmas from the perspective of the angels. Angels appear throughout the Christmas story. What must the angels have thought?