I love history. Kings, queens, rebellions, a few love stories thrown in…it’s a better tale than anything you can find on television. Politics, on the other hand, are a necessary evil; I do not enjoy anything about politics. It just brings out the worst in our leaders, our mentors, and even ourselves. The events of the past few months (or millennia) have proven that. It is easy to be disillusioned by the events that occur daily around the world. From news of the critical coronavirus pandemic to the steady sex trafficking movement to pointless political commentaries, there is ugliness everywhere you turn. We are living in the midst of chaos. Fortunately for us, there is nothing new under the sun, and nothing that surprises our Creator. While kings and kingdoms change on earth, His is never-ending. No matter what what happens from day to day, our Creator is in control; our Savior is sovereign.

          During the sixth century before the birth of Christ, the Jewish people lived in captivity, under the authority of the Babylonians. When he was a young man, Daniel was taken to Babylon along with other “youths without blemish,” 1 to be of service to the king. It is very likely this was a political move by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. Since he was essentially taking hostages, the captives back in Jerusalem would feel the constant reminder of Babylon’s authority every time another group of the best and brightest was deported. Daniel was educated in Babylonian culture, and during that time, the king dictated everything, including what the young Jewish men were to eat or drink. Over the course of his time there, Daniel gained access to the highest levels of Babylonian society. Despite this earth-shattering change in his circumstances, Daniel was unwavering in his loyalty to God.  He was immersed in Babylonian culture, which worshipped many different gods and did not observe the Jewish dietary restrictions or worship practices. Yet, Daniel and a few other young men remained faithful. While they were in Babylon, they were not of Babylon. Daniel refused to “defile himself” by eating non-kosher food 2 or praying to King Darius. 3
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          Christians, like Daniel, are living in a temporary home. When we find ourselves troubled by the world we live in, we must step back and remember who is sovereign. When we feel like strangers in a strange land, when we feel far from our like-minded friends, when we feel sobered by the world’s sinful practices, our God is still good, and He is still on the throne, and He will make all things new.

While we celebrate the fact that Jesus came to earth as an infant to fulfill a holy plan, it is important to remember the bigger picture, the culmination of that holy plan. He came once before, and He will come again. The entire Bible is a message that points us to that very completion. 

God has always had a plan for us. That plan was put into action immediately once sin entered the world. Adam and Eve disobeyed God, resulting in a separation from Him. In his grace, however, he set about to reconcile the human race to Himself. In fact, the very first mention of Jesus, the means of reconciliation, is recorded in Genesis 3:15. We are not free from the consequences of humanity's fall, but we have hope knowing that our relationship with the Creator will be restored.

Because he is good and just, God established covenants with His people to symbolize his offer of eternal fellowship. Noah was assured that the earth would never again be destroyed. Abraham was promised to become a great nation with many descendants. Even as the Israelites continued to rebel, God promised to protect their future. ​King David was guaranteed that his kingdom would never end. And though the Israelites continued in their rebellion and ingratitude, God promised them a new covenant based solely on His grace.

Throughout this special season, it is easy to focus on the magic of nativity story and the coming of a holy baby. Indeed, it does deserve a special place in our hearts. But let us not lose sight of another coming. The Bible is a love story written to a rebellious creation by a holy Creator, and in his wisdom and mercy, He has not left us to reap what we have sown. Now, like the Israelites waited for the baby in a manger, we wait. We wait for the coming of a King who is our Savior. As you celebrate this holiday season, pray that God will prepare your heart for His coming. 

Sometimes, we all want to hide. I'm sure you can think of many occasions in life where you need to hide or seek shelter. Severe weather, attacks, war, or sometimes just being fearful. Most of the time we have a set place to hide for each situation. 

REFUGE - a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.

Living in a sinful world, we encounter pursuit, danger, or trouble on a daily basis. The only place to truly seek refuge and find peace is in Gods hands. The almighty hands of Jesus Christ and nobody else. Often, we we encounter these times in our lives, we withdraw from God and possibly even remove ourselves from going to church. We want to "get it together" before we go back because we don't want to pretend to be happy. The truth is, God did not establish his church for us to "get it together" on our own. God established his church for us to use it as a place of refuge from anything and everything this world can throw at us. But, how many times to we fail and only run to God when we feel we have it together?

Psalm 119:114:
New International Version
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

New Living Translation
You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.

English Standard Version
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

New American Standard Bible 
You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.

King James Bible
Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

International Standard Version
You are my fortress and shield; I hope in your word.

American King James Version
You are my hiding place and my shield: I hope in your word.

American Standard Version
Thou art my hiding-place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

We have the best hiding place that could ever exist. The hands and word of Jesus Christ. So, wherever you stand today... Worry, fear, stress, overwhelmed, regret, unhappiness, lack of true joy... GO HIDE. But hide in Him. Hide in his word. Hide in HIs Church. Hide with His people. Don't wait to "get it together". Gods Church and His word is meant for the BROKEN, not the perfect. 

So, as we're all broken and fall short... GO HIDE!

​Many times in the Bible, those who were favored by the Lord were blessed with peace in their homes and the surrounding areas. In  Leviticus, God promises to give peace while His people rest comfortably. But the past was no place for sleep. In fact, throughout most of history, nighttime was incredibly dangerous. 

Once Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, humankind had a more difficult time acquiring food. They were no longer under the safety and comfort of their previous home. Until they became skilled in agriculture in this new, often dry, land, people were constantly on the move, searching for sources of food and trying to avoid predators. Because they moved often, there was no time to build up fortifications for protection. This meant that humans were at the height of vulnerability while they were sleeping. For God to allow His people to sleep without fear,  they must have had the utmost trust in Him. Even if they were surrounded by an enemy's armies or stalked by fierce predators, He promised to keep them from harm.

God offers this same peace still. Even today, if we only trust in Him and keep our minds fixed on Him, we will be given that same peace. As counterintuitive as it sounds, peace is something we must fight for. We have to make a conscious decision every day to trust God so that He will give us a peace that passes all understanding. How can we practice trusting Him?

1. Talk with God daily. Tell Him everything, but above all, take the time to listen. 
2. Resist evil. Focus on things that are pleasing to God, and He will draw near.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit. God sent a helper to act as a guide for His people; let Him.

Fear and fighting are common hindrances we all face, but thankfully, God provides a way for us to conquer them. Focus on Him, trust His power, and allow His peace to fill your hearts and minds.

The Bible shows clear distinctions between Jews, biological descendants of Abraham, and Gentiles, or non-Hebrew descendants of Abraham. Once Jesus was sent to the cross, however, those distinctions became blurred. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For [we] are all one in Christ Jesus. In fact, Christ's death on the cross meant the death of hostility among God's people. 

But the reality is that we live in a world with people who are very different. In the United States alone, we are surrounded by rich and poor, black and white, young and old, believers and atheists. So when we consider the outside world as well, how can we focus on becoming a unified body of believers?

We can start by:

1. Removing any preconceived notions of others. In God's eyes, we are all the same. Don't let others' backgrounds get in the way of establishing a genuine relationship.
2. Surrendering to God's purpose, rather than promoting our own. Begin to seek God's will every day. His plans for you involve operating within the body of Christ. Ask Him to give you the willingness and the ability to create meaningful relationships and work toward a common goal.
3. Appreciating diverse styles of life. God created all of us with different personalities, different quirks, and even different styles of worship. Don't expect everyone to behave exactly like you.

Remember, without diversity, unity is meaningless. It's easy to portray a Christ-like example of unity with those who share the same backgrounds and similar views, but we are called to establish that unity with all believers. It's time to step up, be the Church, and unite our town, our nation, and our world.