We sinful humans are excellent excuse makers. We hate guilt and shame and do all we can to push it off. Jesus came, endured the same temptations but overcame, has no guilt, but was pleased to take ours. So, when we are tempted to make excuses for our sin, we are called rather to admit our sin and take it to Jesus who removes it from us.

We begin our journey in Job. We are flying blind...but God has not left us, He is guiding us by His Word.

Fear? Not when we have the one who calls us to "Rise and have no fear", the one who knows all things, controls all things, comes to us, take us into His arms and calms our fears.

Hypocrites? Yup.

Repentant? Yup.

Salt & Light? By God's grace...Yup!

Worldly wisdom & human effort, no matter how great, will never get you to God for His love for us is beyond our understanding and reason. Thanks be to God that it pleases Him to save us, that His heart is love for us.

We all long for an encounter with our Lord, a sudden dramatic change in our life leading us down God's path. I bring you good news, you all have that in your baptism. The call now is to die to self and rise to life in Christ, serving in the place God has set you.

Apart from God revealing Himself in Jesus we would be lost in our sins, unable to find God, heaven, life. Praise God that He comes to us, walks with us, and leads us home.

Are you like John the Baptist? Do you find yourself confused at the mystery of Christ or by the way God chooses to work in this world? Then step into John's sandals and in faith, trusting God, respond the same.

God reveals Himself to the Magi. He is a God for all nations. This has a profound impact on our reason to exist as Christians.

Our Lord, born to set us free.