We often view prayer as an impersonal, cosmic Amazon order –“Give us what we want, when we want it, with free shipping.” But the Lord’s prayer is quite the opposite. It’s a relationship-based talk with God. Big difference.

Our view of what’s fair is often a strict “tit for tat”…an “eye for an eye” kind of justice, usually colored with a lot of self-interest. God looks at fairness through the lenses of mercy, a much healthier perspective. See why.

We often make choices based on outward appearances and superficial characteristics. God looks at the inside – at the heart –and judges by those things that really matter.

After visiting the baby Jesus, the wise men were warned to go home by another way…a new road trip. Now that we’ve taken the journey to Christmas, do we follow our same old pathways or listen to God for some new routes?

God works for good in all things, but that doesn’t mean everything is good. For example, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, i.e. good news for mankind. But also bad news since King Herod wants him dead, no matter what the cost.

It was baby-birthing time as Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. No cushy room was to be had, though; instead, a lowly manger. And the Savior of the world was born. When there is no room, God finds a way.

The plain, ordinary town of Nazareth. We trek here and take note of the surprising places and people God uses to bring about the miracle of Christmas.

God is on the move as joy breaks in at a place not mentioned in the Bible to accompany our long, wayward journey to Christmas and the birth of Jesus.

Part of living is to trust that God is at work, even in the waiting, and that, when we might least expect it, God shows up in our lives.

Our Advent message series covers the strange journey to Bethlehem via an unexpected route. In the end, it all worked out, because it’s where Christmas began. But it started in Rome. Find out why God chose places we’d never dream of to bring about the miracle of Jesus.