It’s easy to get lost in what we want for Christmas. In His wisdom, God gave us the only thing we really need: Jesus. The calm and hope He offers bring us lasting peace that transforms our lives.

Christmas can leave many of us longing for the ‘good old days’ because the rough edges of life are often softened over time. When our circumstances feel daunting, we can seek real peace by remembering the first Christmas and what Jesus brought to all of us.

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.

Our attitude plays a huge role in everything we do. We can view things as struggles or opportunities. When we operate from a place of gratitude, it’s easy to find joy in all tasks, big and small.­

Some situations feel beyond our control. Seeking both the wisdom to discern and the faith to trust God through prayer helps us fully rely on God.

The partnership between Moses and Aaron shows us that true strength comes not from individual effort but from working together to fulfill God's plan. We need both thinkers and heavy lifters!

Grasping tightly to hope, humility, and devotion to Jesus, the follower moves courageously into relationships with all people for Christ’s sake.

There are some who come across as “above it all” and believe pursuing change is futile. They rarely have anything positive to add to the conversation and exist with an “I told you so” mentality.

This may be the most common mindset in America. This lack of hope results in a general malaise. Many feel unrepresented and without a voice.

There is an old saying, ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease.’ That means the one who makes the most noise gets the attention. There are some who take this to another level, because the need to win often interferes with reason and wisdom.