We are full of excuses. Excuses for not coming to church, for example. Excuses for choosing not to please God. But our true happiness and peace come when we make the choice to live to please God.

The Epiphany brings us a message of new awareness and new understanding of familiar things. By reading the Bible regularly we can gain new insights into God’s word for us and how to apply biblical wisdom to our lives.

The seasons of the church year give rhythm and unity the the body of Christ, and as the Christmas season comes to a close we observe the Epiphany, the Messiah’s birth manifest to the world. For all, not only for the chosen Jewish people. The seers from the East come to seek him and celebrate. Gentiles know him though his own receive him not.

Saint Stephen is remembered on December 26. Though a young man he served the church well, taught, and spoke out for Christ with winsome confidence empowered by the Holy Spirit. We do well to learn from his example of knowing scripture, speaking boldly, and showing forth a living and forgiving spirit.

Christmas is the time we celebrate God’s fulfilling his promises by coming to his people, God, with us! Christ comes for a close personal relationship with us, he in us, and we in him.

The Birth of the second person of the Trinity as a human being, the Incarnation, begins the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation and reconciliation for humanity. Resting in this gives us that peace surpassing all understanding.

On this Sunday of rejoicing we look at how our study of God’s word changes us and directs in life as we internalize what God has to say.

We do not control everything in life, but we do control our attitude toward life. We need to cultivate gratitude to God in our own attitude.

Stir us up, Lord, to do your will, knowing all things are possible through you!

God permits his children to experience trials in this life. He knows them. He is in them with us. In chapter 5 of Mark Christ heals a suffering woman who come to him in faith.