As we wait

The Christmas season seems to begin earlier and earlier every year, doesn’t it? It’s not unusual now to see Halloween costumes and Christmas trees side by side in the same store! But of course, that’s the retail world.

In the Christian calendar, November 30 marks the first Sunday of Advent in 2025. Advent is a season of preparation—a very different kind of preparation than what the stores offer. The word advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” It is a time set apart for us to focus on the coming of Jesus, our Messiah and King.

It’s so easy to get swept up in the busyness of the season, especially with the pressure of Black Friday deals. I feel it too! Even though the sales seem to run for weeks, I still feel that tug of not wanting to miss out. And in all of that, I sometimes wonder if we ever get a chance to slow down long enough to prepare our hearts—to truly make room for our Saviour. That, after all, is the whole purpose of Advent.

I know how hard it can be to carve out quiet space in this season… and even when we do, we’re not always sure where to begin. So if you can find just a little time, let me offer a resource to help you along the way.

This Sunday, as we begin our new Advent sermon series, A Nativity Story, we will also be providing a Family Devotional for you to pick up at the church. It includes reflections on the sermons, discussion questions, and simple activities for both the young and the young at heart. My prayer is that these reflections will help you pause, pray, and draw closer to Christ in fresh and meaningful ways this Advent.

Please join us this Sunday as we begin A Nativity Story, a journey that will carry us right through to Christmas Eve.
Our Christmas Eve Service will be held on December 24th at 7 p.m. We would love for you to be there.

May Christ become even more precious to you during this beautiful season.

When you've lost your spark ( and how to get it back)

Ever feel like your spiritual spark has fizzled a bit? Like you used to be on fire for God, hearing His voice, sensing His presence everywhere—and now, well… not so much?

You’re not alone. Life gets noisy. The world feels a little topsy-turvy (okay, a lot), and somewhere between the bad news, busy schedules, and endless scrolling, we can lose that deep-down enthusiasm that once made our faith feel alive.

There’s a word I love—enthusiasm.
It comes from the Greek en theos, which literally means “in God.”
That’s where true enthusiasm comes from—not from caffeine, not from good vibes, not even from motivational quotes—but from being in God.

When David ran into battle against Goliath, it wasn’t because he was overconfident—it was because he was en theos.Filled with God. He trusted God daily, walked with God daily, and worshiped God daily.

And that’s the key word—daily.

But somewhere along the line, David lost that spark. He got comfortable. Distracted. Complacent. Sound familiar? (Been there, done that, have the “I skipped my quiet time” mug to prove it.)

The good news? David found his way back. He prayed, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” (Psalm 51:12)

That’s the prayer I whisper when I realize my heart has drifted—“Lord, restore my joy. Bring back my spark.”

So how do we get that spiritual enthusiasm back?
We go back to doing what we did at first.
We walk with God daily.
We trust Him daily.
We worship Him daily.

It’s not about mustering up fake excitement—it’s about letting God refill what life has drained.

And here’s the beautiful part: when your heart is “in God,” even ordinary moments—washing dishes, working, caring for others—become sacred.

So maybe today, instead of waiting to feel enthusiastic, we choose to be enthusiastic… in God.
Because the joy of the Lord really is our strength—and that’s something the world can’t take away.

Get your "Chazaq" back!

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it feels like the world has been running on fumes lately. Everywhere you turn, there’s bad news, heavy headlines, and hard days. It’s easy to get discouraged — and even easier to stay that way.

But God’s Word reminds us that we have the power to change that atmosphere — with just one word of encouragement.

Think about it: one kind word, one text, one moment of grace can completely turn someone’s day (or even their life!) around. You never know what battle someone is fighting behind that smile. And your words could be the spark that reignites their hope.

Job’s friends didn’t get that memo. When he was suffering, they blamed him for his pain. And Job finally said, “What miserable comforters you are!” (Job 16:2). Ouch. Then he added something beautiful: “If it were me, I would encourage you. I would speak words of life.”

That’s it. That’s the kind of person I want to be — someone who builds others up, who reminds people that God is still for them, still with them, still working in their story.

Because as Hebrews 3:13 says, “Encourage one another daily.” Not occasionally. Not when you feel like it. Daily. Why? Because the world’s negativity doesn’t take a day off — so neither should our encouragement!

And let’s be honest — sometimes the person who needs the most encouragement… is you.

I love the story of David in 1 Samuel 30. His life had just fallen apart — his home burned down, his people taken, his own men ready to turn on him. And Scripture says, “David found strength in the Lord his God.” The Hebrew word for “found strength” is chazaq (say it like “ha-zahk!”). It means to encourage yourself, to tell yourself to be strong.

David literally preached to himself.
He reminded his heart of who God is — good, faithful, powerful, and present.
He talked himself back into hope.

And maybe that’s exactly what we need to do, too.

When the negative voices get loud — both in your head and in the world — it’s time to preach to yourself.
Tell your soul what’s true:

“God is my provider.”
“God is my protector.”
“No weapon formed against me will prosper.”
“The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

You might just find your chazaq coming back.

So today, if you think something kind — say it.
If you think something loving — show it.
If you think something encouraging — express it.

Let’s be people who speak life into a weary world.
Because when we lift others, God lifts us too.