The author of Hebrews urges his audience to guard their hearts against unbelief. There is a danger in allowing our hearts to become hardened to the work of God. A hard heart is the result of unbelief which turns to contempt and ultimately negative patterns of behavior. Guarding our hearts takes diligence of nurturing our walk with God.

The book of Hebrews hails Jesus as the pioneer of our salvation. This salvation that Jesus brings carries with it a multitude of benefits, yet we often experience a spiritual drift from the source of our freedom and strength. However, we can be rescued from drifting away if we stay anchored to the pioneer of our salvation.

The New Testament book of Hebrews contains some complex writing on who Jesus is. The temptation of the letter's audience was to go back to old forms of Judaism, but the author shares that life with Jesus is a new way.

John the Baptist's story is one of courage, grit, and humility. John's birth was foretold by the angel Gabriel and set him on a path to be the linchpin between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jesus even says he is the greatest among those born of women.

Revelation 12 envisions an apocalyptic nativity scene where the child that is born is pursued by a dragon. The child represents Jesus who came in love to model the power and heart of God. This model should shape the believer and follower to imitate the loving sacrifice of the child who would ultimately go to the cross for the sins of the world.

The dragon is the most ominous figure in John's apocalyptic account of the Christmas story. Who is this dragon and what role does it play in the Christmas story. John tells us that this dragon is the accuser, Satan, who has made it his mission to steal, kill, and destroy God's beautiful creation and image bearers.

Revelation 12 depicts a cosmic scene filled with symbolism and imagery that overlap in meaning. Who is the woman in this picture. She represents many, in each representation she receives from the Lord power, provision, and protection.

The Apostle John wrote a letter addressed to 7 churches located in modern day western Turkey; we know it today as the book of Revelation. In it are layers of metaphor and symbolism in an ancient style of writing called, "Jewish Apocalyptic Literature." This letter was written to encourage the persecuted church who'd seen violent and horrific acts perpetrated against it. As we uncover the layers of meaning in Revelation 12, one story seems to be clear, we have a part to play in the nativity story.

Sometimes we wonder why it is hard to worship. We see others who pour their heart out to God in song or in prayer and wonder why our soul feels dry. It just might be the case that in order to find a heart of worship we need to begin with a heart of gratitude. Gratitude transforms our hearts reminding us of who God is and who we are. King David demonstrates this throughout many of the Psalms, that his greatest moments of worship begin and end with gratitude.