God has ordained us to reach a place where we are not here for what we can get, but what we can give. (1 Sam. 18:6-9; 2 Sam. 6; & Selected Scriptures)

When we learn to obey in the natural things we will more readily respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading in spiritual things. The Holy Spirit’s message to us from Bethlehem is: bring the kingdom of God to your everyday life! (1 Samuel 16 & 17; 1Cor. 15:44-46; Luke 16:10-12)

Jesus had a journey between Bethlehem and the right hand of the Father. He was not born on the throne, but in a manger—a lowly, common place. There was a process that carried Jesus into all authority, and we are subject to that same process. (Matt. 11:29; 1 Tim. 3:5-7; Prov. 16:32; Gal. 5:16-17)

Today we must consider how we can daily, diligently, and deliberately weaken our greatest enemy—pride, and strengthen our greatest friend—humility, all motivated by grace in the shadow of the cross. (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Ps. 127:2)

God asks, “How much would you give for My Kingdom?” (Luke 10:38-42; 7:37-50)

Worry is common but deadly. It can kill us. Tomorrow belongs to God. Today is to be lived by faith. The opposite of trusting God is worry. (Matt. 6:24; Prov. 3:5-6)

Jesus’ first miracle tells us a few things about God and about what we can do to witness and receive his miraculous intervention in our lives today. (John 2:1-11)

Running from God equals despair. God’s mission is received, rejected, and restated in Jonah’s life until God’s love finally prevails. The final victory is the Lord’s. (Jonah 1; Psalm 139:7-10; John 3:16; Phil. 2:10-11)