Isaiah 9:6 NIV — For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Today is Christmas Eve. Children and adults are filled with excitement about gifts, good food, and the fellowship tomorrow brings. Let’s take a moment to ponder Christmas Eve in Bethlehem thousands of years ago.

Imagine how Mary and Joseph must have felt. They were surely exhausted from their travels and ready to rest for the night. The two of them had been visited by the angel and told of the holy child Mary was carrying, but did they really understand? Did Joseph and Mary realize the son she was carrying would deliver each of us from our sins? Did they comprehend the heartache they would later face? Think of the worries each of them carried.

As we go about our Christmas Eve, let’s be mindful of the true meaning of this day for Christians. Today is the day before our Savior’s birthday, which in turn should be a birthday celebration for each of us. Take a moment to listen to Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant before you spend some time in prayer.

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for today and the blessing today holds. I am so thankful for the willingness of Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of our Savior. As I go throughout my day, help me to be mindful of the true meaning today holds for me as a Christian. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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@youversion

Spend some time reading and meditating on our featured scripture for this week.

Isaiah 9:6 NIV — For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:1-21 NIV

Philippians 4:4-7 NIV — Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Romans 15:13 NIV — May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 5:9 NIV — Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

@biblegateway

@youversion

Let’s join in worship today by listening to the following songs. May the words and music prepare our hearts for our Savior’s birth.

Make Room by Casting Crowns featuring Matt Maher

I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day by Casting Crowns

Let’s recap our week on practice. Take a moment to read Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV @biblegateway or @youversion.

Think about who is within your influence. Are you encouraging them to develop healthy practices? And are they encouraging you? Be reminded that iron sharpens iron. May we all be encouraged and use our talents for God’s glory. We must press on because God will continue to work in our lives for our good and for His glory.

This week, Jon Gordon‘s Daily Positive suggests we shift our mindset and put into practice: “I EXPECT great things to happen TODAY. I will look for the good and be open to the opportunities around me.”

Keep practicing, keep putting in the effort, and God will bless it! 

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

This week we are talking about the practice of doing things repeatedly. I have been practicing with baking sourdough for almost a year. I have had many successes and many failures. I feel the process of the journey has been worth the practice. I can confidently say that my family and friends have enjoyed the goodies along the way. I have even given a few starters away. The biggest concern seems to be failure. We must learn to let go of failure because we will have days when what we make is not perfect and that is OK.

In meditating on today’s key verse, think about how God has created you to do great things. Notice Paul writes that God has prepared good works in advance. He doesn’t say anything about perfection or how many tries it will take. The saying goes, “practice makes perfect.” Simply meaning, keep practicing, keep putting in the effort, and God will bless it! 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for creating me to do good works for Your glory. As I practice through this life, help me be reminded that You do not expect perfection. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

This week we are talking about the practice of doing things repeatedly. Over the years Deborah has been encouraging us to practice the writing of our gratitudes. I may not do this daily but I practice it often enough that it helps keep me focused on God because He is the ultimate source of my joy. In practicing, I learn to not always focus on big things but rather look for the tiny blessings.

Today’s key verse is what I consider my life verse. It keeps me grounded in God’s word and helps me not get discouraged. I am reminded that life isn’t always easy. Sometimes we need a little extra hope when our hallelujahs are hard-fought and our feelings of gratitude are forgotten. We must press on because God will continue to work in our lives for our good and for His glory.

Take a moment to pray through your Hard Fought Hallelujah’s with Brandon Lake

Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬ –“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ‭‭

This week we are talking about the practice of doing things repeatedly. Today I will share a little history on our Water Walkers blog. Deborah and I have developed the practice of writing through the blog. We have been practicing now for nine years. On November 29, 2015, we had to let go of worry of what others would think or say. 

It took me a few years to call myself a writer. Who was I? Could God use me? What I say on paper, in speech, and in actions, would it make me look different? Toby Mac says, “Never speak words that allow the enemy to think he is winning.” We should remain humble in Christ but feel honored that He has chosen Deborah and I to write for His glory. We are humbled and blessed that God brought on our friend, Ray White, to assist us with our practice of writing and to provide beautiful images. 

In 2017 we started the practice of our Word of the Year. It is such a beautiful practice that we will continue. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the Water Walkers blog. May we all be encouraged to use our talents for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Take a moment to look back are our first posts:

Am I Coachable? by Deborah Ard

Today by Julie Wicker