ΗΣΑΪΑΣ 65:25

When Kim's three-year-old son passed away, she found plenty of resources on grieving. She says what she really needed, though, “was someone who would give me advice for living, not just grieving.” In this five-day devotional, Kim will share a raw vulnerability, a deep well of wisdom, and the knowledge of someone who’s been there as she walks grieving parents through the life-after-death process and surviving the sorrow of loss.

Our Creator loves all of His creatures, great and small. Humanity is the height of God’s creation on the earth, and we, therefore, share a special relationship with Him. Yet all kinds of birds and beasts make an appearance throughout the pages of Scripture. Each animal mentioned in the Bible shows you and me more about the Lord’s majestic creativity, as well as highlighting His compassion toward every living thing.

Advent invites us to remember both Jesus’ first coming and to live expectantly for His return. Biblical hope is rooted not in circumstances but in the unchanging promises of God. Let's examine where our hope is fixed, to eliminate hopelessness by focusing our eyes on Jesus, and to live differently because we trust the One who is coming again. Christ is our anchor, our expectation, and the object of our hope – what a beautiful reminder of why we celebrate his birth.

If joy is an essential feature of the Christian life, then why are so many Christians so miserable? Pastor Christopher Wright invites us to begin experiencing joy in the ordinary moments by living “in step with the Spirit.” When we dig deep into the Word of God and walk by the Spirit, we grow in Christ-likeness and learn to cultivate joy.