Amid the busyness of December, both children and adults struggle to find stillness, but Advent invites us to slow down and prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ's birth.

The announcement of peace at the birth of Christ, celebrated in Christmas hymns and songs, reminds us that Jesus offers peace not just at Christmas, but for every day and for eternity.

Wishing you all a joyful Thanksgiving, filled with gratitude and love, knowing that God loves you deeply and is always with you.

God's commandments, rooted in love and valuing relationships, are meant to bring joy, not exhaustion, and when we love each other as Jesus loves us, we fulfill His purpose without feeling burdened.

Hebrews 12 emphasizes that God's discipline, while painful at times, is ultimately meant to cultivate righteousness and reflect His love in our lives.

As we await God’s ultimate restoration, we are reminded that peace is not something we create; it is a gift from God, cultivated through faith and connection with Him.

The early church faced intense persecution, prompting the author of Hebrews to emphasize the importance of maintaining faith and confidence amidst fear and uncertainty.

Ultimately, Psalm 120 reminds us that in times of distress, we can turn to God for peace and guidance, as He is our refuge and source of strength.

I doubt we have yet seen the impact of what a united church praying daily for our leaders might do. But imagine what could happen at work, in your community, in our country and in the world if Christians everywhere prayed for those in authority! I suspect we would see many surrendering to Christ as Lord.

When we are in the middle of dealing with day-to-day life that sometimes includes suffering, it is important to understand God knows what is going on and will even use our suffering for his glory when we lean into Jesus, our living hope.

The contrast between worldly success and spiritual sufficiency highlights a recurring tension: while culture often demands excess and perfection, embracing God's sufficiency can lead to deeper contentment and alignment with spiritual values over material achievements.

Scripture reveals that joy, peace, and abundance aren't just future promises but present realities when we align with God's principles of sowing and reaping.

This exploration of "Down by the Riverside" connects its timeless message of peace with biblical prophecy, urging believers to actively participate in God's plan for a world free from the scourge of war, trusting in His promises and spreading the message of harmony and reconciliation.

Peace is first and only achieved in and through our identity in Christ.

The little letter of Jude gives us the perfect Christmas list: “May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.”

When we have a right relationship with God through Christ, then his peace fills us and makes it possible for us to bring peace to others.

I can have “perfect peace,” not only as I meditate on what God has created, but also as I remember what he has promised.

I often experience significant stress. There are times I feel like I am locked in, locked out, and locked down. And in moments like these, there is only one who can bring me peace.

There is only one pathway to peace on earth. And the treaties and diplomacy of human governments will never achieve it, at least not for long.

King David and his son King Solomon both had thoughts about sleep. But maybe the advice of Jesus is the best for us as we tackle our sleep problems.