Faith Journey Blog

  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, b...

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 ...

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...

Lately, I’ve noticed something in many Christian conversations that’s been weighing on me. The word “woke” has become a kind of shorthand for everything someone disagrees with, especially things that feel “progressive” or “left.” I hear it tossed around like a dismissal rather than a discussion. And honestly, that grieves me. Because underneath the noise, there’s a deeper issue at stake. We’ve allowed a word that once meant awareness to become a weapon. Awakening Is a Biblical Theme Long before “woke” entered our cultural vocabulary, Scripture called us to be awake. “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” - Ephesians 5:14 That’s not political language, that’s spiritual. To awaken, in the biblical sense, means to become aware of God’s presence, God’s heart, and the reality of His kingdom breaking into the world around us. The prophets were awakeners. They called people to see what God saw in the idolatry that blinded them, the injustice that broke His h...

Sometimes we forget a simple but profound truth... who we are in Christ comes before what we do for Christ. I love this metaphor in The Cure that reorients how I see my spiritual journey. Imagine this, if you took the DNA of a caterpillar and analyzed it, it would say, "Butterfly." The caterpillar isn't trying to become a butterfly, it already has the blueprint. It's simply maturing into what it already is. Isn't that how God sees us? Even when we feel like we're crawling, fumbling, or far from "perfect," He sees our true identity in Christ. The wings are already part of our design. Transformation isn't about performance or earning approval, it's about maturing into the life God has already placed inside us. This metaphor reminds me of a few truths for the journey: Identity before effort - We don't become children of God by what we do, we act from who we already are in Him. Grace over shame - Crawling isn't failure. It's part of ...