Waiting is never easy, especially when it feels like God is silent or distant. Zechariah and Elizabeth remind us that God is always at work even in the delay. Hope grows when we trust His timing, because He is never late.

We live in a world filled with fear, waiting, and brokenness, yet the story of Christmas reminds us that God has not left us there. In the birth of Jesus, God stepped into our ordinary lives with extraordinary hope. From those who waited for years, to those whose lives were disrupted, to those who felt unseen, the message is the same. Hope has come for all people. This Christmas we will rediscover the life changing promise that the Savior has been born, and that His hope is still for us today.

The weekend after Thanksgiving carries a significant tradition at New Hope. We dedicate our Sunday services to honor and remember God’s goodness in two ways. First, we get to witness how God has worked in people’s lives as they make a public profession of their faith through baptism. Second, we have an open mic time. Anyone who wants to can express thanks to God for how He has shown His goodness to them during the past year. This service gives us an inspiring reminder of how God is actively working among us.

Jesus’ mission was clear. He came to seek and save the lost. As His followers, we are invited into that mission. Loving God means loving people, and loving people means going after the one, whether across the street or across the world. Every act of love is a reflection of His heart.

Going after the one always costs something. It requires time, comfort, energy, or resources. Jesus laid down His life for the sheep. Following Him means being willing to sacrifice so others can experience life, hope, and restoration.

Jesus looked at people with compassion, not judgment. He saw their brokenness and moved toward them with love. In a world that often looks past the hurting, we are called to stop, see, and respond. The call of Christ is not just to feel compassion but to act on it.

God does not settle for the ninety-nine. He goes after the one. His pursuit of the lost shows the depth of His love and the value He places on every life. That same love challenges us to look beyond the crowd and notice the one who needs us most.

Jesus told the story of a shepherd who left ninety-nine sheep to go after the one that was lost. His love is not cautious or convenient. It is personal, sacrificial, and relentless. Jesus went out of His way to dignify the unseen. He elevated the abused, maligned, and marginalized. He sought out the rebellious. We are called to reflect that same love and compassion in our everyday lives and through opportunities God places before us to serve our neighbors and bless the world.

Our choices shape our future. Jesus invites us to build something lasting, starting with what’s happening inside us.

What kind of person are we becoming? Jesus points to the importance of integrity, self-awareness, and grace in how we treat others.