What we give our attention to shapes our hearts, and our hearts determine the direction of our lives. In a world full of distractions and constant anxiety, Jesus calls His followers to examine what truly comes first in their lives. Rather than being consumed by worldly worry, Jesus invites us to seek first God’s kingdom and trust Him as a loving Father who knows our needs. To seek is not a casual glance but a focused, determined pursuit driven by deep desire, one that refuses to be distracted or deterred. And first means exactly that: not added on or squeezed in, but given the highest priority in our time, attention, and affection.

Hear how God has been working in and through His people this last year. A closing word of encouragement from Galatians 6:8-10.

Christmas reminds us of all we receive through Christ - hope, peace, joy, and love. But have we considered what we can give the one who's birth we are actually celebrating? What does Jesus want for his birthday? Like the Magi, whose true gift wasn’t simply gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but their worship and devotion, Jesus desires our hearts. More than anything we can do or give, he wants us.

At the core of every longing is a hunger for love that no relationship, experience, achievement, or pleasure can sustain. Isaiah 55 invites us to stop chasing what cannot satisfy and to come to the God who freely gives what our hearts most need - His faithful, life-giving love. And this great love can be yours because of and through Jesus Christ.

In a moment when words feel insufficient to heal real pain, this message reminds us that Jesus remains unchanged - faithful yesterday, today, and forever. Joy is not shallow happiness or denial of suffering, but as a deep, sustaining gift that flows from hope in God. While grief, anxiety, and confusion are real, joy rooted in Christ can endure even through darkness because it is anchored in who God is, not in how life feels. As we fix our eyes on Jesus and seek God's kingdom first, we are invited to live “all in,” preparing our hearts and lives, not only for his first coming, but for His promised return.

Psalm 23 shows us that true peace is found in the LORD and shepherd he has sent, Jesus the Christ. This shepherd knows us, leads us, and remains with us. For the Christian, Jesus brings peace to the lonely by being our personal shepherd, peace to the tired by restoring our souls, and peace to the lost by guiding us in the right path. He brings peace to the afflicted with his presence in the darkest valleys and peace to the needy through his faithful provision. And ultimately, he offers eternal peace in God's presence forever. In every season of life, the shepherd of peace is the one who cares for us, leads us, and gives rest to our souls.

God answers Moses’ cry to “show me Your glory” not with a vision but with His character. Exodus 34 reveals the Lord as compassionate, gracious, patient, abounding in steadfast love, faithful, forgiving, and just—the most repeated description of God in the Bible. True hope is rooted not in circumstances or feelings, but in this God and His unchanging nature. This is the God Israel waited for, and the God we place our hope in today.

After the golden calf, God tells Israel He will still give them the Promised Land—but He will not go with them. What sounds like mercy becomes “a disastrous word,” because the people finally realize that the true gift was never the land or the blessings, but God’s presence. As Israel mourns and Moses intercedes, the question rises with clarity: Do we want God’s gifts, or do we want God Himself? Moses models a heart that cries, “If Your presence will not go with us, do not bring us up from here,” calling us to examine what we truly desire—the promise, or the Presence.

The golden calf isn’t just a moment of foolishness - it’s spiritual betrayal. Israel still wanted the promised land, still wanted God’s blessings, but not God Himself. In contrast, Moses responds with a heart radically centered on God - interceding not for his own sake but for God’s name, God’s reputation, and God’s glory among the nations. This passage confronts us with deeper questions beneath every choice we make: Do we truly care about God? What will bring Him glory?

When Moses didn’t come down from the mountain as quickly as the people expected, Israel grew restless—and in their waiting, they turned to something they could see. What began as delay led to distortion, compromise, and idolatry. In this passage, we’re reminded that waiting seasons test our faith, reveal our hearts, and invite us to trust that God’s timing is still good—even when the delay feels long.