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Looking Back at 2025, Stepping into 2026 with Immanuel

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As 2025 comes to a close, I don’t feel the urge to measure it by accomplishments or outcomes. What lingers instead are moments... conversations, questions, silences, and realizations that have slowly reshaped how I understand faith, growth, and the presence of God. This year has been less about answers and more about attention. Less about certainty and more about formation. I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to the idea that the Christian life is not something we optimize or complete, but something we live with God, one ordinary day at a time. 2025: A Year of Reorientation If I had to name what 2025 offered me, it would be this... a growing awareness that much of my spiritual energy had been spent trying. Trying to get it right, trying to be useful, trying to stay ahead of uncertainty. And slowly, graciously, God has been loosening my grip on that posture. Through Scripture, conversation, prayer, and reflection, I’ve been reminded that faith is not primarily about doing things for Go...
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Advent 2025 - Week 4: Preparing with Love

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Sunday, December 21 - The Humble Love of a Hidden King Scripture: Micah 5:2,4-5a “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel… He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord… And he will be our peace.” Reflection: Jesus’ arrival subverts expectations. He comes as a humble king, born in a stable, far from earthly power. Yet his mission is profound: to restore, shepherd, and bring peace. This Advent, reflect on the humility of God’s love and the unexpected ways he shows up in your life. Questions: How does the humility of Jesus’ birth impact your understanding of God’s love? Where in your life do you need to see God’s peace and shepherding presence? Practice: Take a few minutes to sit quietly and reflect on God’s unexpected ways of showing love. Invite Him to show you where His peace is breaking into your life. Monday, December 22 - Immanuel: Love Draws Near Scripture: Matth...
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Advent 2025 - Week 3: Preparing with Joy

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Sunday, December 14 - Joy That Leaps Unexpectedly Scripture: Luke 1:39-41 “At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” Reflection: Joy often comes in unexpected moments. Elizabeth’s baby leaped for joy at Mary’s greeting, a physical expression of the Spirit’s delight. Today, notice the moments when God’s joy is present, even in small or surprising ways. Joy can precede understanding—it doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. Questions: Where have you noticed small, surprising sparks of joy recently? How might God be using ordinary moments to remind you of His presence? Practice: Spend a few minutes reflecting on one unexpected moment of joy from the past week. Thank God for it and let it linger in your thoughts. Monday, December 15 - Joy Shared, Joy Multiplied Scripture: Luke 1:42-...
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Advent 2025 - Week 2: Preparing with Peace

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Sunday, December 7 - Peace in the Midst of Fear Scripture: Luke 2:8-10 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” Reflection:  What began as a terrifying night for the shepherds became a night of amazement and joy. Peace is often proclaimed in moments of fear and chaos. Notice that God’s peace came first as a message, not as a circumstance. Today, reflect on your own fears—what anxieties feel loudest in your life? Let the angel’s words sink in: do not be afraid. Questions: Where are the moments in your life today that feel frightening or uncertain? How might God be speaking calm into those fears? Practice: Spend a few quiet minutes with God. Invite His presence into areas of fear or anxiety. Simply say...
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Advent 2025 - Week 1: Preparing with Hope

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Sunday, November 30 - Simeon’s Waiting Scripture: Luke 2:25–32 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Reflection: Advent is a season of waiting. Simeon — “righteous and devout” — modeled waiting not as passive resignation but as active, Spirit-attentive hope. Waiting exposed his dependence: he wasn’t in control, but he ...
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Preparing for the King — Advent 2025

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Every year, Advent invites us back into a slower, more intentional rhythm—one centered not on consumerism or countdowns, but on the arrival of Jesus and the deep formation that His coming brings. This year, I’m stepping into that rhythm by walking through Advent Meditations: Preparing for the King , a resource created by John Mark Comer and the team at Practicing the Way. Their reflections, Scripture readings, and weekly themes— Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love —have shaped the devotionals you’ll find in this series. (Original source: Practicing the Way, Advent Meditations 2025) Get your PDF copy here. In the introduction to the Advent guide, Comer reminds us that preparation in Scripture is more than activity—it’s alignment. John the Baptist “prepared the way” not by doing more but by calling people into a new way of life, one that made room for the Messiah. In the same way, Advent becomes a time for us to make room—for Jesus’ presence, His peace, and His transforming love. We live, as the ...
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Act Justly. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly.

Micah 6:8 stands as one of the most profound and concise summaries of what God desires from His people. Long before Jesus arrived in the flesh, God revealed a way of life that perfectly anticipates the heart, posture, and mission of Christ. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." This ancient command carries a surprising clarity. It outlines a rhythm of life that shapes how we engage God, ourselves, and the world. Act Justly - Doing what is right, even when it costs you To act justly is to align our actions with God's heart for righteousness, equity, and truth. It means choosing what is right over what is easy, convenient, or socially acceptable. Acting justly shows up in the small, everyday moments... telling the truth, honoring our commitments, advocating for those who are mistreated, and treating people with dignity. It's justice rooted not in human systems b...
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