A Moment of Hope

by Marilynn Chadwick This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. John 21:24 (NIV) Let's take a minute to consider the written word. Think about how different your life would be if you could not read or write. And how would our beliefs even exist if no one had captured the Scriptures in written form? We complete our 21 Day Experiment with a reading of John's final chapter. I hope you've set aside some time to reflect on what you've been reading. Have you noticed God's presence in special ways? Are you seeing any answers to prayers, large or small? John repeatedly tells us the reason for his eye-witness account of Jesus—so that we would believe Jesus is the Messiah (John 20:31). John ends his record with these solemn words and my watchword for today: "This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true" (John 21:24). John goes on to tell us that Jesus did other miracles and that if "every one of them were written down…the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written" (v. 25). The Greek word for "written" is grapho. We find the phrase "it is written" sprinkled throughout the New Testament. This phrase carries the implied weight of Scriptural authority. Remember how Jesus resisted the devil's alluring temptations to power and personal glory with the words, "It is written..." (Matthew 4:10). Jesus wielded Scripture as his sword and his shield of authority against the tempter's wiles. The devil and his minions still tremble at God's written (and spoken) Word. If Jesus needed to wield the "sword" of the written Word, how much more do we? In my reading of John, I am reminded of my inability to withstand the battles of life without the power of the Holy Spirit, the presence of Jesus, and His Word. Moreover, this same written Word "feeds" my soul as food feeds my physical body. Moving forward from our 21 Day Experiment. I challenge you to make the reading of God's Word the top priority of your day. Your power in prayer correlates with your relationship with the "written Word." When you read and believe the words of Scripture, your faith grows (Romans 10:17) and you find yourself on solid ground to claim God's promises and withstand the devil's attacks. Recently a friend of mine, one of the busiest women I know, told me of her life transformation since she made her morning "quiet time" her priority. I agree. There is something extraordinary that begins to happen in our life of prayer and our relationship with God when we give him the first fruit of our day.

by Marilynn Chadwick These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ. John 20:31 (ESV) "Seeing is believing," says the old adage. It is much easier to believe when we can see the evidence. Yet sometimes faith is the belief in the unseen—otherwise, it wouldn't be called faith. Much like the t-shirt I saw recently with this bold slogan emblazoned across the front: BELIEVING IS SEEING! The disciples fought to cling to their faith as they watched Jesus die on that wretched cross. Everything they could see pointed to utter defeat! But what they could see with their eyes was not the whole story as they would soon discover. The word "see" is sprinkled throughout today's reading of John 20. Mary Magdalene was the first to visit Jesus's burial site. All she could see was an empty grave! Peter and John raced to the tomb to see for themselves. They looked inside to see the grave cloths folded, but no sign of Jesus anywhere. The Bible says they "saw and believed" (v. 8). Later, Jesus appeared to Mary. She sees and believes. Then, he walks through a locked door and appears to the trembling disciples. They were overjoyed to see Jesus—and they believed! Somehow Thomas missed the first showing and refused to believe unless he saw for himself the nail marks in Jesus's hands. Jesus makes a special visit to the one we know as "doubting Thomas." He lets him see and touch the nail holes—then challenges Thomas to stop doubting and believe (v. 27). The Lord understands we sometimes wrestle to believe. Especially when it looks like evil has won the battle. That's why John's Gospel leaves us with these words of encouragement: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples…but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (vv. 30,31). Signs are like God's fingerprints. He wants us to believe that Jesus is the Christ. That's why Jesus left signs—to help us believe! Have you seen God's fingerprints during our 21 Day Experiment? Have you experienced any form of encouragement? Maybe there's a friend or family member that would be similarly encouraged by your story. As we come to the end of our journey, I encourage you to carve out some extra time tomorrow to reflect on—and even write down—what you've seen. What you've heard from God. And what you believe about Jesus the Christ. Prayer: Lord, thank you for your fingerprints. Keep me watchful. Alert. Above all, help me to believe, even before I see what you are doing in and around me. That's called trust—so today, I simply trust you. Thanks for reading and listening with us this week! The "21 Day Experiment" blog and podcast will resume again on Monday.

by Marilynn Chadwick He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. John 19:35 (NIV) I noticed the well-worn Bible sitting on my bedside table and the collection of prayer journals stacked below. They were reminders of the times I'd seen God move in my life. Answered prayers, healings, even a few miracles. A testimony to my close walk with the Lord. Suddenly, it hit me. If my Christian life was only about my relationship with the Lord, my world of personal concerns, and my blessings, then so what? Now don't get me wrong. I am incredibly thankful for my relationship with the Lord. I treasure those prayer journals—their record of answered prayers; footsteps of my journey with Christ; knowledge I had gained through years of Bible study. But as important as these blessings are, they were given to me so that I would be a blessing to others. Much like God said to Abraham, we are blessed so that we will be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2,3). I sensed the Holy Spirit quietly whispering, "Your life is either a so what or a so that." That scenario—just as I described it—happened nearly thirty years ago. My epiphany that day marked a dramatic shift. I began to look for ways to step out of my well-managed life and into a broken world. That shift has since taken me to those who are hurting in my own neighborhood and to fragile communities all over the world. So many are thirsty for the good news of Jesus Christ. As we approach the final chapters of John's gospel, we catch a glimpse of John's purpose in sharing his eyewitness account. He writes, "The man who saw it has given testimony...He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe" (John 19:35). John's words are for us. He told his story of Jesus so that you and I, and all that have come before us or after us, may believe! We can be sure the apostle John was blessed by his close relationship with Jesus. He was also blessed to be an eyewitness to Jesus's signs and wonders. But all of these blessings were so that he would be a blessing. So that others will believe. How can we do less? Pray now for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to someone along your path today who needs to hear your story about Jesus and how he has changed your life. Don't forget to remain alert so you'll notice the opportunity when it comes!

by Marilynn Chadwick My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36a (NIV) Welcome to day 18 of our 21 Day Experiment. We're near the finish line—so hold on tight! Jesus talks a lot about his heavenly kingdom. This kingdom, he said, dwells within us. I've heard the caution that we shouldn't become "so heavenly minded that we're no earthly good." Yet Jesus tells us to set our mind on things above. To be absorbed with his kingdom. Our challenge is to dwell in Jesus's kingdom, while also living as temporary citizens of earth. God must have thought we could inhabit both kingdoms, or he would have simply taken us to heaven the minute we accepted Jesus. Biblically, the word "kingdom" describes the royal dominion and eternal sovereignty of God. Jesus knew this, and when interrogated by Pilate, he said simply, "My kingdom is not of this world" (v. 36). Think about it: We live on earth and in heaven. Sometimes the two worlds clash. So how do we respond? I'm sure the disciples wrestled with this "dual citizenship." Let's look at what Jesus taught them about the kingdom. His disciples had watched him wage kingdom battles. He healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons. The forces of darkness had to bow before this Savior. Yet, the only thing the disciples ever specifically asked Jesus to teach them was how to pray. Jesus responds with a short tutorial—what we call the "Lord's Prayer." He teaches them to pray from a kingdom vantage point: "...your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Notice the kingdom focus of this prayer. Jesus tells the disciples (and us) to pray for God's kingdom to be accomplished here on earth, just like it is in heaven. In heaven, God's will is done perfectly—so when we pray for his kingdom, we are praying for his will. In the original Greek, this verse is in the imperative tense—more of a command than a request. It's as if we are to pray, "Kingdom come! Will be done on earth!" I sometimes think the Lord wants us to stamp our feet, shake our fist, and shout a bit as we speak his Word into a fallen world that is still crawling with enemies. Spiritual victories don't come without a fight. Without God's Word as our authority. But the Bible calls it a "good fight" (1 Timothy 1:18 AMP). Jesus wants us to have a heavenly perspective to our prayers, but a watchful eye toward earth for our results. Prayer: Lord, I declare your kingdom will come and your will is to be done. On earth and in my own life as it is in heaven. Help me to be "kingdom-minded" as I go about my day. And give me open eyes to see your results here on earth!

by Marilynn Chadwick My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. John 17:15 (NIV) Ever feel like you're not of this world? I know I do. Shouldn't come as a surprise. What the world believes is often opposite to the principles in Scripture. Just another reminder that this place is not our home. So why don't we Christians just gather up all those with like-minds and form our own little separate society? A survivalist community where we all share the same biblical worldview? Wouldn't that be the safest way to live out our time here on planet Earth? Maybe the disciples wondered the same thing. Jesus knew his disciples would be out-of-step with the world. He also knew his time on earth was short. So, he prays to the Father: "I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world" (v. 14). But look what he prays next. This verse is my watchword today: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one" (v. 15). God could airlift his followers out of the fray and send us all to more peaceful pastures. But here's the catch: The very same world that sometimes hates us actually needs us. They need our message of good news. They need grace. They need Jesus. There are many in this broken and hurting world who are desperately thirsty for the Gospel. That's why Jesus doesn't call his disciples out of the world. "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world" (v. 18). If we're believers in Jesus, we have those early disciples to thank. They didn't retreat to a safe place, but rather risked their lives to take the Word of Christ to the ends of the earth—so that somewhere along the way, someone would share the Good News of the Gospel with you and with me. Jesus prays for us, too. Let the words of his prayer soak in: "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one. Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (vv. 20,21). Jesus knew you and prayed for you before you were born. Astounding, isn't it? Take comfort in that assurance. Go boldly into your world today. Jesus prayed for you so that you will seek and save the lost. Stay alert. Watch for the person in your path who desperately needs to know how much the Lord loves them. And remember, he has already prayed for your protection as you go!

by Marilynn Chadwick If I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7b (ESV) Spirit. What comes to mind when you hear the word spirit? There's a lot of talk these days about what it means to be "spiritual." And confusion about the Holy Spirit—the One Jesus calls the "Spirit of truth." For starters, the Holy Spirit is not an "it." Or a ghostlike vapor. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit a he—a person. In John 16, we read about the Holy Spirit's personality and his job description. I'm so glad you're still with us for the 21 Day Experiment in Prayer. The Lord rewards us today with some special secrets that will strengthen both our walk and our prayer life. Jesus, knowing the cross awaits him, prepares his followers for the trying days ahead. They will face persecution, he warns them. But they will not be alone because the Holy Spirit will be with them. Jesus gives a wonderful glimpse into the person and work of this somewhat mysterious Spirit. The Amplified Bible is one of my favorite study tools. I appreciate the way its translators unwrap the original languages. Let's take a minute to reflect on what Jesus tells the disciples about the different roles of the Holy Spirit: "However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you] (John 16:7 AMPC). Comforter. Counselor. Helper. Advocate. Intercessor. Strengthener. Standby. Jesus promised it would be for our good that he would go to the Cross. Because only then would he be resurrected and send the Holy Spirit to be with us—to dwell in us—forever. Today, as my watchword, I think I'll simply meditate on each word in Jesus's job description for the Holy Spirit: Comforter. Counselor. Helper. Advocate. Intercessor. Strengthener. Standby. Prayer: Lord, thank you for the astounding gift your Holy Spirit. Help me understand more fully what it means to have close fellowship with the Holy Spirit. To pray in the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit. To abide in the Spirit.

by Marilynn Chadwick Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7 (NIV) I often go to God with big prayer requests. Prayers for my family, friends, and people who need help. I believe God answers prayer. The Bible encourages us to ask God for what we need—to go boldly with our heartfelt desires. To bring our "big ask" to him. But in John 15, Jesus calls us to a relationship with him as the starting point for our prayers. He calls himself the "true vine." He reminds us that we're his "branches." Branches can't bear fruit apart from the vine. In our busy, noisy world, I'm likely to blow right past the relationship with Jesus in my quest for answered prayer. Jesus stops me dead in my tracks with these words which are my watchword for today: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (v. 7). The word "remain" comes from the Greek word meno which means to "abide, or dwell." I'm to make my "home" in Jesus. I'm to plant myself in him and his words in me. This sets up the condition for fruitful living as well as answered prayer. When I remain in him, I'm more likely to be praying his will. Powerful words. Powerful reminder. I'm struck by the fact that Jesus uses the word "remain" eleven times in the first ten verses. If I told my kids something eleven times, you could bet I meant it! Surely, Jesus's challenge to "remain in him" is an important take away from our reading. What does "remaining" look like for me practically? I carve out time with the Lord each morning. I plant the seeds of God's Word first thing. I pace myself throughout the day to keep in step with the Lord's leading. I remain alert to the voice of the Holy Spirit. I'm fierce with my "Sabbath." Humans need to come apart or we "come apart." Rest is vital if we want to remain in Christ. I seek wise counsel from those who have learned the secret of resting, reflection, and remaining in Christ. Prayer: Lord, it's all about the relationship with you. Answered prayer is just a by-product. And like any habit, the reward of learning to remain in you takes time. Help me to be faithful in the "dailiness" of this habit. Thanks for reading and listening with us this week! The "21 Day Experiment" blog and podcast will resume again on Monday.

by Marilynn Chadwick I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV) "No way!" My older son used to exclaim to his younger brother when something amazing or unexpected had just happened. To which his little brother would answer back, "Way!" The word "way" describes a course of action. Or directions to a destination: "What's the quickest way to go to the beach?" A method of doing something: "What's the best way to prepare a healthy meal?" Or execute a good golf swing? The word way in the Bible comes from hodos, translated "road." It expresses our course of life, conduct, or behavior. The "way of the Lord" is the revealed will of God. That's why the early church was called "The Way," well before believers were referred to as "Christians." But the word way brings up an important question: "Is Jesus the only way to God?" Some people believe that Jesus is simply one of many ways. Sounds appealing at first—easier to swallow. Until you think about the reality that without Jesus, there is no firm assurance of the forgiveness of sins. No promise of eternity in Heaven. There are really only two world's religions, as my husband David often says: You're saved by perfectly obeying a standard of rules or laws, thus trying to work your way to God. Impossible for imperfect humans. Or you are saved by grace. You accept Christ's sacrifice on the cross as full payment for all your sins and follow him as the only way to God. My watchword for today is short and simple: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (v. 6). Skeptics argue that Jesus was a good man, wonderful teacher, humanitarian, but not the only way. Yet, Jesus himself claimed to be the long-awaited Messiah and the only way to the Father. Such a claim—if not true—makes him an out-and-out liar. The very same man people esteem as a great moral teacher would be the greatest of imposters. Or as C.S. Lewis so eloquently put it, Jesus is "a liar, a legend, a lunatic, or the truth." I would also add, he is the "Way." Prayer: Lord, I pray for your Holy Spirit to open the door to a conversation with my friend ________ who has been seeking you—but doesn't know yet that you are the Way.

by Marilynn Chadwick By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35 (NIV) New! Don't you just love the sound of that word? New songs, new homes, new seasons, new beginnings. Each kind of new carries its own special magic. New comes with a promise to erase the past. New comes without baggage or wear and tear. New seems so...well…easy. That is, at first. Then, reality sets in. New must be maintained. And eventually, new becomes old. New becomes worn. Because new cannot last. "A new command, I give you" Jesus tells his disciples (v. 34). Can you imagine how they perked up their ears? They had seen him do amazing things. And now, he had something new for them. Wonder what it was? Would it promise power, or glory, or greatness? The word translated new in this passage means "novel, fresh, unused." It points to something previously unknown, unprecedented, never before known to exist." So just what was this new command? Jesus simply says: "Love one another." (v. 34) What? That's it? Any good Jew knew love was commanded. Loving God. Loving one's neighbor (Leviticus 19:18). What was new or novel about that? But let's look at the context. Jesus had just given the disciples a hands-on lesson on servanthood by washing their feet. Rather shocking, since foot-washing was a task reserved for the lowliest servant—something akin to scrubbing toilets. Why would the King of Kings stoop that low? While the commandment to love was not new, to love as demonstrated by the self-sacrifice of Jesus was unprecedented. Self-sacrifice. Laying down one's life for another. Serving in a way that costs something. Becoming less than so someone else can be greater. This kind of love never goes out of style. Never wears out. Never fails. I've been pondering the weight of this "new" commandment. It's my watchword for today: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (vv. 34-35). I'm not sure I fully grasp all that it means, but I know this love is costly. Maybe it means serving in secret so someone else can shine. Or sacrificing my "want to" for the sake of another. This much I do know. It starts at home. With my husband and children. If I can't live out this new command where no one is watching, nothing else matters. Jesus tells us that as we do these things, we will be "blessed" (v. 17). But even greater is his promise that when we dare to love in this new way, "all men will know that you are my disciples..." (v. 35). Friends, this is your witness today...your testimony. Your willingness to follow this new command. Would you dare to love one another? Let's begin at home. There's a hurting and broken world out there that's watching. If you're interested in learning more about the 21 Day Experiment, please visit momentsofhopechurch.org/books to request a copy of Sometimes He Whispers, Sometimes He Roars by Marilynn Chadwick.

by Marilynn Chadwick For they loved human praise more than praise from God. John 12:43 (NIV) Who doesn't like to be affirmed? I know I do. And I have yet to meet a child who doesn't respond better to praise than criticism. But the desire for praise can be a liability when it comes to our faith. My commitment to follow Jesus often brings me face-to-face with a hard choice. Will I speak and act in ways that win praise from people or from God? Sometimes, it's impossible to have the respect and admiration of both. Praise comes from the Greek word doxa, which means "honor, respect, prestige, fame, or approval." In John 12, we see that despite the controversy surrounding Jesus, many religious leaders had come to believe in him. But they wouldn't openly acknowledge their faith to the religious "in-crowd," for fear they would be put out of the synagogue (v. 42). The next verse challenges me to take a look at my own motives. It's my watchword today: "For they loved human praise more than praise from God" (v. 43). The Message Bible paraphrases the same verse this way: "When push came to shove, they cared more for human approval than for God's glory." Ouch! Any approval-addicts out there? Ask yourself this question: "Do I say or do things that make me look good in the eyes of those around me or in the eyes of God?" Some time ago, I sensed the Holy Spirit nudging me to approach the topic of abortion with a friend. She's intelligent and has strong opinions—but we have very different views on this volatile subject. So, I prayed and took a step. I shared with her how my beliefs about the sanctity of life are grounded in the Bible. Jesus is called "the author of life" (Acts 3:15). Since we didn't create life, I explained, I don't believe we have the right to take life—even in the womb. She listened and paused to think about what I had shared. Silently, I continued to pray. I sensed the Lord's presence. The conversation did not turn hostile, but my words carried some risk. I think doors were quietly opened to further conversations with her about my faith in Jesus and my belief in God's Word. I am praying right now for those of you following along in the 21 Day Experiment. Perhaps the Lord will give you the courage today to speak truth in love. I pray he is putting someone on your heart right at this very moment. I pray for open doors, and for you to have the right words. May the Holy Spirit be present in a powerful way. And may you hear the quiet whisper of his approval—the best kind of praise of all!

by Marilynn Chadwick It is for God's glory, so that God's Son may be glorified through it. John 11:4 (NIV) Believe. To believe means to accept something as true. What you believe impacts your thoughts, feelings, actions—and ultimately, the course of your entire life. "What do you believe?" just might be the most important question you'll ever answer. If you're with us for the 21-Day Experiment, you're halfway through John's Gospel! It's not too late to jump on board. Go here to read day one for a few simple ground rules. In John 11, the word believe is used eight times. Here we find two of Jesus's dearest friends, Mary, and Martha, grief-stricken over the death of their beloved brother Lazarus. Can you imagine their hurt and confusion? They knew Jesus could have saved Lazarus if he'd just gotten there sooner. They had seen him heal many times. The disciples were also perplexed — especially when Jesus told them, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe" (vv. 14,15). When Jesus finally arrives—four days late—Martha cries out, "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died!" Jesus reminds her that her brother will rise again. "I know he will rise again at the resurrection," replies Martha. I can just imagine her blurting out, "But what about now? I am hurting now!" (vv. 21-24). "I am the resurrection," Jesus says. "The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" he asks her. "Yes, Lord," she responds, "I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world" (vv. 25-27). Martha presses through her grief and testifies that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. Jesus knew the big picture—the ultimate story of redemption. But he was also moved by his friend's present grief. The text tells us he was "deeply moved in spirit and troubled." The word translated "troubled" implies a great agony of soul and is the same word used to describe Jesus as he contemplated the cross (John 12:27). Jesus agonizes over the death of his friend and weeps intensely. "I knew that you always hear me," he prays to the Father, "but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." Then in a loud voice that must have shaken all of creation he shouts, "Lazarus, come out!" (vv. 42,43). And out of the tomb walks the "four-days-dead" Lazarus who came back to life. No wonder many onlookers put their faith in Jesus. Maybe you're facing a huge disappointment. You know Jesus could fix it, so why hasn't he shown up yet? Maybe your faith has been shaken to its core. Let's remember what Jesus said when he learned of Lazarus' sickness. This verse is my watchword for today: "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory, so that God's Son may be glorified through it" (v. 4). Jesus knew the end of Lazarus's story. He knows the end of yours. Would you entrust that heartbreaking situation to him, believing that your pain may be the raw material for a miracle? Dare to pray that those who see his work in your life may truly believe he is the Son of God.

by Marilynn Chadwick My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 (NIV) Consider the miracle of speech. Our voice sets us apart from the animals. Our voice allows us to communicate with each other. Our voice can be a powerful tool for good or for evil. We're on day 10 of our 21 Day Experiment. In John 10, Jesus encourages us to listen to his voice saying, "I am the good shepherd." A good shepherd proves his love by laying down his life for the sheep. He's willing to defend those in his care, even if it means dying for them (John 10:11-13). Like any loving parent, I'd give up my life in a heartbeat to defend my kids or grandkids! Not so with the hired hand, who cuts and runs when danger hits. Think of the people whose voice is familiar to you. When my husband David calls, he doesn't have to identify himself. I easily recognize his voice because I know him so well. So it is with God. The better we get to know him, the more easily we recognize his voice. "Tune your ears to my voice" (Proverbs 4:20 MSG), says the Lord. One way we "tune" our hearts is by spending time reading and meditating on his Word. Training our heart to hear God's voice is one of our most important tasks as believers. Quite a challenge in our busy, noisy world! Daily, we're bombarded by so many voices. Some speak the truth, but others lead us astray. God's Word promises us that listening to his voice will bring blessings and protection. "...I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). When we make a decision to follow Jesus, we begin to recognize his voice. My watchword today from John 10 encourages me to listen carefully to the Good Shepherd: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27). A few simple tips that help me sharpen my hearing: I carve out time first thing for God's Word and prayer. I call this my "morning launch." I have a special chair in my bedroom. I shut my door—and unplug from technology. I don't evaluate my day until I run, have my coffee, and pray—not always in that order. Then throughout my day, I try to remain watchful for little "God winks" that remind me he's "got this." Prayer: Lord, you're the Good Shepherd. It's worth my first and best energy to spend time listening to your voice. Open my eyes to catch even tiny glimpses of how you're at work all around me today. Thanks for reading and listening with us this week! The "21 Day Experiment" blog and podcast will resume again on Monday.

by Marilynn Chadwick One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see! John 9:25 (NIV) The man had been born blind. Just imagine. He had never seen daylight, his own hands, or his parents' faces. We can tell from today's reading of John 9 that the man had never even heard of Jesus. And yet, he was about to experience a dramatic encounter with this controversial Rabbi. When they first noticed the blind man, Jesus's disciples asked this question: "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," answered Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:1-3). When life hits hard, we may wonder if our pain is payback for some unknown sin. We've agonized in prayer, but for whatever reason, the answers just haven't come...yet. Jesus assures his listeners in these verses that it wasn't the man or his parents' sin that caused the blindness. Rather, it happened, "so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." Jesus healed the man—an astounding miracle that resulted in yet another demonstration of God's mighty power to the incredulous onlookers. Once again, the Pharisees were eager to accuse Jesus. "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath" (John 9:16). They aggressively interrogated the previously blind man, intent on coercing him to discredit Jesus. The man's short but powerful comeback is one of the most eloquent testimonies in Scripture and my watchword for today. "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25). His response got him kicked out of the synagogue. But guess what? His time of testing became his testimony. Courage compelled the man to take a stand for Jesus and for truth. A fitting challenge for us in a turbulent world that often feels like it has lost its way. Friend, maybe you're just a beginner in your faith. You may not know all there is to know about Jesus. You may not even know how to answer your critics. But if you have experienced the saving, healing mercy of Jesus, you know the One you have encountered. You know that you were "blind" but now you "see." And you know his Word is true. Perhaps your time of testing can also become your testimony. Would you dare to pray now and ask God if there is someone in your life today who is spiritually blind and needs to hear your story? And don't forget to be alert and watchful so you'll be ready to speak the truth when your opportunity knocks!

by Marilynn Chadwick The truth will set you free. John 8:32 (ESV) What does it mean to "get real?" It's a challenge to take off the mask. Let go of pretense. Speak the truth. Be authentic. Sadly, we live in an age where people will do almost anything to create a good image. More time, attention, and money is spent on our outer self than on our inner soul. We end up comparing our insides with everyone's outsides. It's not surprising that research tells us the main emotion people experience when they get on social media is envy. Jesus is all about the truth—authenticity over image. In John Chapter 8, he shakes up the religious leaders by claiming he has been sent by God. But many Jews put their faith in him (John 8:30). To those who believed, he made this promise. It is my watchword for today: "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). The Greek word for "truth" is aletheia. It means "genuine, authentic, real." This Jesus-kind-of-truth is real. It sets us free. But the promise of freedom has a catch. If I abide in his Word, then I'm his disciple. There's a connection here between spending time in God's Word and knowing the truth that sets us free. In our busy, noisy world, we have to be intentional to abide in his Word. That's another reason for doing the 21 Day Experiment. It helps us learn to abide. If you're following along, that means you're committing at least fifteen minutes a day to reading a chapter of John's Gospel. Then a few minutes praying for specific needs that are on your heart. I encourage you to stick with this experiment until the very end. Don't evaluate whether it works until the end of the 21 days. Over the years, I've had friends doing this experiment tell me they're glad they stuck it out—sometimes God's message for them finally came on the 21st day. There are times when being obedient to God's Word means we simply abide. One purpose of abiding is for Jesus to become more real. For his Word to come alive. And for us to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit within. John uses the word "abide" nine times—more than any other Gospel. John wanted us to truly know our Savior and abiding is the secret. Prayer: Lord, thanks for the reminder that it's all about my relationship with you. Everything—even answers to prayer—come out of abiding in you. That's the real secret to freedom. I pray for that same freedom today for those I love.

by Marilynn Chadwick Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! John 7:37 (NLT) Even before I believed in Jesus, I observed a great divide between those who followed him and those who did not. As I've shared earlier, I was firmly in the "those who did not believe" camp. Christians seemed so well…needy. Deep down, I knew I'd have to admit I was weak and broken before I could accept Jesus as my Savior. And I repeat—I did not want to see myself as needy. Maybe you can relate. We're on day seven of our 21 Day Experiment. In John 7, Jesus is speaking at a Jewish Festival. All of a sudden, he singles out the thirsty ones: Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" (When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.) (John 7:37-39). Jesus spoke of "living water" only twice in John's Gospel. The first time was in John 4. He was sitting by a well when a Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus asked her for a drink. She was shocked because he was a Jew—everyone knew Jews hated Samaritans. Jesus said to her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water" (John 4:10 NIV). "Thirsty" is just another word for needy. Jesus promises, not a cup, but a river to fill us to overflowing. Living water reminds me of rushing rapids. White water—rough, wild, extravagant. Beyond my need, expectations, or imagination. That's how Jesus describes the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person. Not an "it." The Bible says he dwells in us once we invite Jesus to be our Savior. That means we get to talk to God by way of the Holy Spirit. We train our heart to recognize his voice. To receive the living water, I must first admit I am thirsty. Needy. I must slow myself down so I can reflect on this wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit. I must eliminate pride if I truly want to hear his voice. The Bible encourages us to commune with the Holy Spirit. Listen to his nudges—they're always consistent with Scripture. They're personal—just for you. The Holy Spirit knows your needs. He speaks your language. Prayer: Lord, I'm thankful for your gift of the Holy Spirit to all who are needy. You gave us this gift so we could have a relationship—an intimate friendship with you—for all eternity. May "the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you" (2 Corinthians 13:14 MSG). This Moment of Hope is adapted from the book Sometimes He Whispers Sometimes He Roars by Marilynn Chadwick. To request a copy of this book please visit momentsofhopechurch.org/books.

by Marilynn Chadwick The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent. (John 6:29 NIV) I grew up in an era when the threat of nuclear war loomed large. So my childhood television viewing was often interrupted by an annoying, high-pitched, 60-second blast and this announcement: "This is a test...of the emergency broadcast system...this is only a test." The Bible talks a lot about tests. A test shows our strengths and weaknesses. Any good coach or teacher tests their students. In today's reading of John 6, Jesus gives a "pop-quiz" to his disciple Philip: Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, "Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do (John 6:5-6 NLT). Philip replied that even if they worked for months, it would be impossible to feed all those people. True enough if one is looking at the problem from an earthly point of view. But Jesus wanted Philip to peek behind the veil. To look at things from heaven's vantage point. To trust him to bring heaven's resources to bear upon earth's need. Jesus took the small offering of a young boy's lunch of five loaves and two fish. Looking to heaven—the source of his miracle—he gave thanks. Then he handed out food—as much as people wanted. He provided such an abundance there were baskets left over. Jesus's miracle feeding of the five thousand was a wow! The same crowd who had seen the miracle later asked Jesus, "We want to perform God's works, too. What should we do?" I'm intrigued by Jesus's answer, so I've chosen this verse as my watchword for today: Jesus told them, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent" (John 6:29 NIV). The "work?" To believe. Maybe you're facing a situation that looks impossible—especially when you consider your resources. Not enough money. Not enough time. Not enough strength, talent, training, or connections. Not enough _____________. Fill in the blank. What would happen if you looked at your problem from heaven's vantage point? What if you believed Jesus wants to bring heaven's resources to meet your earthly needs? What would happen to your anxiety and fear if you rest assured that Jesus has "got this?" What if you believe in the one God has sent? Trust Jesus. Give him your five loaves and two fish and see what he can do. Then, take a small step of faith in the direction you know he's leading you. You can't do everything…but you can do something. Prayer: Lord, you know I'm overwhelmed with impossibilities. My plate is too full. Needs are too great. But with you, all things are possible. My work today is simply "to believe" that you will use all of heaven's resources to solve my earthly problems.

by Marilynn Chadwick Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. (John 5:8 NIV) Make a wish. Wish upon a star. I grant you three wishes. All are lines from my favorite fairy tales. A wish is exciting. Magical. But there's something about a wish that seems out of reach. Webster defines a wish as a "a strong desire to have or do something—usually unattainable." It's day five of our 21 Day Experiment. Today, we read about a crippled man with a wish that looked unattainable. He had been an invalid for thirty-eight long years. Life had passed him by. Jesus noticed the man lying by the pool called Bethesda (which means "site of mercy"). The disabled would often gather around this pool. Rumor had it that people sometimes got healed when they bathed in the water. "Do you want to get well?" Jesus asked the man (John 5:6 NIV). Seems like an insensitive question to ask a crippled guy at a healing pool who had been desperately trying to get well for thirty-eight years. Or had he? Let's take a closer look. The word Jesus used here for "want" is thelo, which means "to will, wish, or desire." It not only describes a wish but also a pressing on to action. In short, thelo executes. "Do you want to get well?" Notice the man never really answered Jesus's question. Instead, he gave a couple of excuses. He had no one to help him get into the water. Every time he tried to get near the pool someone else got there first. Jesus's response? A startling command: "Get up! Pick up your mat, and walk" (John 5:8 NIV). Look at what happened next. "At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked" (John 5:9 NIV). Could the crippled man sense that Jesus had already healed him when he took that staggering first step? What was there about Jesus that ignited the faith to stand up after thirty-eight years as an invalid? That guy went from passive to active, hopeless to faith-filled in an instant! The watchword I've chosen today is the same word Jesus spoke to the man: "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk" (John 5:8 NIV). Sometimes the best response—after we've prayed and prayed and prayed about a problem—is to "stand up, pick up our mat, and walk." Even if we've asked before. Even if the answer has been slow in coming. Even if we've been disappointed or delayed or distracted. What is the Lord saying to you through his Word? What is your big ask? Dare to take Jesus at his Word. Today could be your breakthrough! Prayer: Lord, fill me with faith to believe you can heal that broken place that has caused me to lose hope. I take you at your Word. Give me courage to stand up and step out in faith!

by Marilynn Chadwick The man took Jesus at his word and departed. (John 4:50 NIV) Some say talk is cheap. But remember, words are the mysterious raw material of God's creative activity. He literally spoke the world into existence. I have always loved words. I'm intrigued by their power both for good and evil. I'm glad you've joined us for the 21 Day Experiment. Today's reading in John 4 brings us to Jesus's second miracle. Much more is at stake than a bridegroom running out of wine at his wedding party as we read in John 2. This time, a royal official's son is sick and close to death (John 4:46-54). The official swallows any pride that went with his title and begs Jesus to come with him to heal his son. "You may go," Jesus tells him. "Your son will live." But Jesus tells him to go home alone—without Him. I can only imagine the leap of faith it took for this father to return home with only Jesus's promise. His word, but not his actual presence. The father's response is one of great faith. I'm so inspired that I've made this verse my watchword for today: The man took Jesus at his word and departed (John 4:50 NIV). The phrase "took him at his word" comes from the Greek word pisteuo, which means "to trust." While the man was still on the way home, his servants met him with the news that the boy was alive! What's more, he got better at the precise time Jesus spoke his promise. "Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, 'Your son will live.' So he and his whole household believed" (John 4:53 NIV). I'm bumping into this trust theme a lot lately. It's tempting to focus more on the problem than on God's ability to solve it. But as a friend of mine reminds me, we should "glance at the problem but gaze on the promise." Has Jesus spoken a promise to your heart? It may require great faith to take him at his word and walk away from your problem—without worrying. Sometimes being obedient simply means holding onto your faith and refusing to fear. Prayer: Lord, you know the problem that weighs heavy on my heart today. I ask you to give me complete confidence in your Word. Help me to fully trust you. Empower me to turn my back on this problem and keep my eyes on your Promise. No more fear!

by Marilynn Chadwick For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:17 AMP) "Are you saved?" I used to hear that question a lot growing up in the deep South. We were a family of churchgoers. But the message of the Gospel never made its way into my heart until years later. Saved from what? I'd wonder. Life was good. I didn't need to get saved—or so I thought. Maybe you can relate. In our reading of John 3, we meet a religious leader named Nicodemus who came to visit Jesus. Jesus rocked the boat of this respectable Pharisee when he told him he needed to be saved. Jesus said no one could even see the kingdom of God unless he was "born again" (John 3:3). I'm intrigued by all that's wrapped up in the word "saved." It comes from the Greek word sozo and has earthly and heavenly meanings. In the physical realm, sozo describes how we're healed from physical disease or rescued from danger. In the spiritual realm, sozo means to save someone from spiritual death. Jesus saves sinners and rescues us from spending eternity in hell. He brings us safely into a heavenly kingdom. We are saved from sin and death and born again to eternal life. Pretty weighty stuff! The watchword I selected from today's reading is John 3:17. I especially like the Amplified Version: "For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him" (John 3:17 AMPC). Jesus's assignment on earth was to save us so we can spend eternity with him. To make us "safe and sound." All other world religions grasp the need for people to be saved. But they teach that we must live up to some standard or law—an impossible task for imperfect humans! The good news is that we have a Savior—One who gave his life for our salvation! Salvation is a free gift of grace. If that seems too easy, just remember it cost God everything. I'm amazed at how the very same word that used to offend me as an unbeliever now fills my heart with peace. What verse from John 3 did the Holy Spirit impress upon your heart—your watchword for today? Who is on your prayer list? Maybe you know someone who needs Jesus. When reflecting on this question, I was reminded to pray for my friend Hana (not her real name) whom I met on a missions trip to the Middle East. Hana is a devout Muslim. For years, she has tried desperately to work her way to God. It's obvious in her emails and texts, though she might not admit it. I've heard countless stories of how Muslims throughout the world are coming to believe in Jesus after seeing him in a dream or vision! I am praying she will encounter the saving, unconditional love of Jesus. Prayer: Lord, I ask for an open door today to share the gift of grace with Hana. May your Holy Spirit give me the right words at the right time. Or send someone to speak of Your love for her—maybe even through a dream or vision.

by Marilynn Chadwick You have kept the best until now! John 2:10 (NLT) John records more of Jesus's miracles than any other Gospel. Some even call John "The Book of Miracles." Miracles grab our attention. Just the idea of a miracle makes my heart beat faster. Let's look at Jesus's very first miracle recorded in the Bible. You'd expect the event to be carefully orchestrated and designed for maximum impact—a dramatic launch to his earthly ministry. Instead, we see a reluctant Savior gently prodded into a demonstration of power by his mother. We can't tell from the text whether Mary was incredibly discerning or just plain pushy. Sometimes we mothers can be like that. Mary alerts her son to the embarrassment faced by the wedding couple who was just about out of wine. Jesus responds, "Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn't my time. Don't push me." She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, "Whatever he tells you, do it" (John 2:4-5 MSG). No doubt, Mary had observed God's divine imprint on the life of her son since birth. She was certain he could handle this situation. Plus, she probably felt compassion for the bridegroom. Jewish weddings lasted for seven days. Keeping a full supply of wine for the guests was the bridegroom's responsibility. For a peasant farmer, this was an enormous expense. It would be a huge embarrassment to run out of wine, and the bride's parents could even sue the poor guy if he didn't fulfill his end of the deal! This story is significant on many levels. Some scholars contrast the water of the law to the wine of Jesus's grace. But I simply love the heart of our Lord as he does his first mighty act. He helped a nervous groom save face, providing not only a miracle of wine, but the best wine. And after Jesus's miracle, the master of the banquet goes up to the baffled but probably delighted young man, surprising him with words of praise. I've chosen this verse as my watchword for today: "A host always serves the best wine first. Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!" (John 2:10 NLT). The results? "This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in Him" (John 2:11 NLT). Today, I am praying for those on my prayer list. I am asking God to not only take care of their daily needs but also to bring each of them joy like new wine at a wedding feast. Are you going through a trying time? Don't give up. Listen to the Lord's voice. Practice his Presence. Watch for signs—however small—of the Savior at work today. You just may discover he has been saving the best wine in your life until now.

by Marilynn Chadwick In him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4 (ESV) It's been said that it takes 21 days to form a habit. For me, the beginning of every new year is the perfect time to launch a new habit. Forming a habit is much like an experiment. An experiment gives me permission to try something on for size. If I'm pleased with the results, I can repeat the steps. If not, I can toss it aside. Simple as that. If you were to ask me my single most important habit, I would say, hands down, it's the daily reading of Scripture. Saints of old like Charles Spurgeon and George Mueller pointed to Scripture reading as the secret to their legendary faith. They combined Scripture reading with prayer—thereby turbo-charging their prayers. Starting today, I invite you to join me for what I like to call "The 21 Day Experiment." We'll devote just fifteen minutes each day to reading one chapter from the Gospel of John. It's a good place to start, since John has exactly twenty-one chapters. This simple experiment could change your life. I know it changed mine. Many years ago, when I was a new believer, I heard about a former atheist and newspaper reporter who told of her dramatic transformation after reading the Gospel of John—as a skeptic, not as a seeker. Her story captivated me, since just one year earlier, I had been an atheist who happened to be a journalism major in college. The reporter said her "experiment" opened her eyes to the reality of Christ. Instead of confirming her conviction that the Bible was a "dead book," she became a totally devoted follower of Jesus. What's more, she challenged fellow skeptics to set aside 21 days to read John's Gospel. Miraculously, many of those same friends were also born again. I like to conduct my own version of "The 21 Day Experiment," adding a few ground rules: Set aside 15 minutes each day to prayerfully read one chapter of John's Gospel. Ask the Holy Spirit to "highlight" a verse from your reading. I call this my "watchword." Write your "watchword" on a card (I use a 3x5 note card). Then list a few prayer needs on the back of the card. Simply pray that verse over each need. Find other times to reflect on the verse and pray. I keep my card handy for when I'm stuck in traffic, folding clothes, waiting in line, or going for a walk. During today's reading of Chapter 1, I noticed Jesus anew as the Creator. John writes: "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made" (John 1:3 NIV). I was also struck by references to the word "life." "In him was life and that life was the light of mankind" (John 1:4 NIV). I've decided John 1:4 will be my "watchword" today. This theme of "life" has prompted me to ponder God's astounding gift. I encourage you to stick with this experiment. Don't evaluate until the END of the 21 days. You can even say to yourself, "Well, nothing seems to be happening today, but I will postpone judging its impact until after 21 days." Over the years, without fail, each time I have repeated this 21 Day Experiment, God has spoken to me in a special way. I am praying the same will be true for you. This Moment of Hope is adapted from the book Sometimes He Whispers Sometimes He Roars by Marilynn Chadwick. Also, if you would like to join us as we read through the Bible together in 2024, please visit www.momentsofhopechurch.org/bible for the reading schedule and weekly commentary from Pastor David Chadwick.

by David Chadwick Today we will look at one last hidden gem in the Christmas story. Daniel and the wise men. Wait? Daniel is an Old Testament character. He lived 500 plus years before Jesus was born. What does he have to do with the Christmas story? When Daniel lived in Babylon, he had an excellent spirit and worked very hard. God gifted him with spiritual insights. Eventually, he became like a Prime Minister of Babylon and was given authority over all of the enchanters, astrologers, and magicians. This last group of magicians were actually called "magi" in their original language. Fast forward to the Christmas story. The wise men who visited Jesus are often called "the Magi." They came from a distant land in the east, which was in the same general direction as the former Babylon. Here are a couple of profound questions to ponder: How did the Magi know about the star? What to look for? Where to go? Could it be that Daniel, some 500 plus years prior, taught them what to look for in the stars? Could he have shown them the gospel preached in the stars in Genesis 1? (Virgo the Virgin Mary; Leo, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, etc.). Do you think the Magi may have passed down this information for generations? Until one day, they saw a star in the east and knew that it was THE star Daniel had told their forefathers to look for? And thus making sense of why they brought expensive gifts from afar to worship the Son of God. It could be. And, if so, this should certainly make one pause. And contemplate the greatness of our God who controls every second of history and uses all for his glory and purposes. Another Christmas hidden gem? Sure does seem to hold some merit. I pray these two weeks of hidden gems have encouraged your heart during the most wonderful time of the year. A most blessed and merry Christmas to you all! Thank you for sharing a moment of your day with us throughout the year. We look forward to sending you a Daily Moment of Hope again beginning January 1, 2024. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year!

by David Chadwick These hidden gems in the Christmas story are like precious jewels that you can go back to again and again during this time of the year to stir up your faith and renew your hope for Jesus's return. Today's hidden gem: Mary the songwriter. After Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that Jesus was on the way and explained the role he would play for the world, Mary wrote a song of praise called The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). This song is full of poetry, passion, and joy. She worships the Lord, praises his name. She speaks of the generations to come that will call her blessed. Declaring the characteristics of this coming King, she stirs up faith with each word. I have always wanted to write a song. A poem of sorts. Especially to God. I marvel at people who have this gift. Well, why not write one? It doesn't have to be published. It doesn't even need recognition. Let it be from your heart to God. Tell him how much you love him. Speak to what Jesus being sent into this world has done for you. A psalm of praise and worship. Why not try? Mary did. And she was a simple teen, most likely from a poor family. Her simple, childlike poem of faith went on to be published and read and sung for all eternity! This Christmas season, inspired by this hidden gem, stretch yourself and try something you may have never thought to try. Write a song to the Lord from your heart to his! This just may fill your heart with joy like never before. Thank you for sharing a moment of your day with us throughout the year. This is our last week of distribution of the Daily Moment of Hope for 2023. We look forward to sending you a Daily Moment of Hope again beginning January 1, 2024.

by David Chadwick We are a little over halfway through a Christmas treasure hunt. Looking for hidden gems found throughout the Christmas story. I believe when you search out the treasures beneath the surface, it stirs your faith and renews your hope. One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is the number of angels God uses. Angels are everywhere! Hebrews 1:14 says this, "Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" Angels are ministering spirits assigned specifically to care for God's elect. The prophet Daniel tells us in chapter 7 that there are 10's of millions times 10's of millions of angels around God's throne. God sent ministering angels to people throughout the Christmas story. Think about it for a second. Mary (Luke 1:26-56). Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25). The shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). And another instance during the escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13). The same God who sent angels to his children back then wants to do the same for you in your times of need as well. Today, choose to call on the name of the Lord. And then ask God to help you in your time of need. Ask him to command his angels to minister to you. Psalm 91:11 says, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." The Christmas story proves that angels are everywhere. They are on assignments and have been used throughout history to minister to and protect people, to battle against the devil's wiles, and to bring about the purposes of God. And God just may be ready to send one to you today as well! Thank you for sharing a moment of your day with us throughout the year. This is our last week of distribution of the Daily Moment of Hope for 2023. We look forward to sending you a Daily Moment of Hope again beginning January 1, 2024.

by David Chadwick Yes, a virgin. That's today's hidden gem. That a virgin would carry the Savior of the world, conceived by the Holy Spirit. A miraculous phenomena. The normal way the transmission of sin in the world was thwarted by this Holy Spirit conception. Jesus had to be sinless to die for our sins. And this was the only way that could happen. This perfect God/man was the only hope for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. The first Adam brought sin into the world. The second Adam, Jesus, brought eternal life into the world. Romans 5:14 says, "Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come." This is why Mary had to be a virgin! And Jesus's conception had to be miraculous! Solely by the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Jesus is an essential doctrine of the Christian faith. Many have tried to minimize the importance of the Virgin Birth over the years and they couldn't be more wrong. This doctrine is a crucial part of the power of the Gospel of Jesus. It must be tenaciously guarded no matter what. And we only have this story given to us in the Christmas narrative. Ponder it. Contemplate it. Let it stir in your heart. It should cause your worship during this time of year to abound. Yet another hidden gem in the Christmas narrative. Thank you for sharing a moment of your day with us throughout the year. This is our last week of distribution of the Daily Moment of Hope for 2023. We look forward to sending you a Daily Moment of Hope again beginning January 1, 2024.

by David Chadwick "Be quiet, Zechariah!" This is essentially what God ended up saying to Zechariah after his doubt and unbelief. It's today's "hidden gem" found in the Christmas story. Let me explain. Zechariah was a priest. He served God in the temple. But he and his wife, Elizabeth, really wanted a baby. They had waited so long for one. Finally, an angel named Gabriel appeared in the temple and told him the baby was on the way. Do you know what his first response was? He expressed words of doubt. Unbelief. He questioned God. And God shut his mouth for the next nine months. Why, you might ask? I can only guess that the Lord didn't want words of unbelief spoken around this baby. Science proves that babies can hear even in the womb. And I can't help but wonder if God wanted only words of faith spoken around this child, John the Baptist, an essential person in Jesus's life. Could it be that faith needed to be so deeply ingrained in John the Baptist's life and story that God didn't want one word of unbelief spoken that he might hear? It is certainly worth considering. Still. Quiet. Sober-minded. And a heart filled with joy, love, hope, and faith. These are all words that should describe a faithful follower of Jesus. Psalm 46:10, paraphrased, says to be still and know that God is God. During this season especially, speak only words of faith, hope, life, and blessing. A lot of word pollution in our world comes from critical tongues. May we choose the better path. And help little ones grow in their faith. Another Christmas gem to cling to during this special time of year. Thank you for sharing a moment of your day with us throughout the year. This is our last week of distribution of the Daily Moment of Hope for 2023. We look forward to sending you a Daily Moment of Hope again beginning January 1, 2024.

by David Chadwick We are halfway through our Christmas treasure hunt. Looking at hidden gems in the Christmas story. There are so many special messages that can be found in this story. Today's hidden gem is connected to Joseph. We can't forget about Joseph. He, too, had Gabriel visit him just like Mary did. God chose HIM to be Jesus's earthly daddy. Like Mary, he was godly. He was essential in raising Jesus. Dads are so important. They model faith. Their presence should give life to those around them. They show their daughters and sons how to live for God. God chose Joseph to be Jesus's daddy because he was a man of great faith. He was obedient. As whispers of scandal enshrouded Jesus's hometown and beyond, that the child in Mary's womb was conceived out of wedlock, Joseph stood by her. Protected her. Stayed committed to her even though he was tempted to leave her and could not explain the child in her womb. Joseph was a Godly man. He exemplified Godly manhood. What an example for all men to follow! And his story is told nowhere else except in the Christmas story. Another hidden gem? I think so! The humility and quietness of his role speaks volumes. May we not miss or overlook the significance of this man. To all the fathers and men reading this, I want this to speak directly to you for a moment. Your role matters. The significance of what you carry as a father figure matters. I don't care if you have biological children or not, if you know Jesus, you have been called to lead, protect, care for and father those who are younger than you in a God-honoring way. Let today's hidden gem encourage men to grow in biblical manhood! And total obedience to Jesus.

by David Chadwick We are taking two weeks to look at hidden gems in the Christmas story. Proverbs 25:2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." I want to help you search out some of the wonders and often overlooked parts of this Christmas story. I believe that with each hidden gem that we seek out, we gain a new appreciation for the wonder of this season. Did you know that when the early church was formed, everyone was considered equal? Jesus made a point to demolish the systems of man that made a relationship with God inaccessible and a hierarchy of partiality that had previously existed in religious structures. With Jesus's death and resurrection, male, female, Jew, Greek, slave, free - all became one in Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Because of Jesus, there is no caste system in the church! Or in heaven. But this idea really began in the Christmas story. Note who some of the first visitors were to the manger. Shepherds. People who, in the world's eyes in that day, were at the bottom rung of society. Low caste and class. Excluded. Marginalized. Yet there they were: Front and center in the Christmas narrative. Some of the first to worship and adore Jesus. Jesus made us all equal in him. Rich and poor. Great and small. Grand and lowly. Shepherds and wise men. Servants and kings. The ground at the foot of the cross is level. And this message began at the cradle. Take a look around. Even unbelievers find themselves sensitive and tender this time of year. Maybe some of these hidden gems will give you ways to converse with all those around you—especially ones who may be a bit more open than usual to the profound message of Jesus Christ.

by David Chadwick Did you know the Christmas story is built on a foundation of family? Ministry that is knit together by a strong family carries such a powerful expression of the heart of God. In fact, I have heard it said that the government of heaven is family. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit - they work in perfect unity and are a powerful reflection of whole, pure love. And all of us who believe are the Father's children, eternally living with our big brother, Jesus, who places his life in the Holy Spirit inside us all. So, whether you have strong family connections on this side of eternity or not, there is always a place for you in the family of God - the church. Marilynn and I have known the joy of sharing ministry with members of our family. At first, we wondered if it would work. Now, after several years, we see the beauty of it. Ministering together as a family to carry forth the Gospel message should not be unusual. It's found throughout the Bible and especially in the Christmas story. Did you know that Mary and Elizabeth were cousins? That made John the Baptist and Jesus cousins, too! They probably grew up as close friends. Did you know Salome was a sister to Mary? That means James and John, her two boys, were cousins to Jesus as well. James and John went on to be chosen by Jesus to be an essential part of his apostolic band. Jesus could have built out his ministry alongside anyone, but he chose to build it out, at least in part, through family. Look at James, John's brother, who became the first martyr. John, James's brother, was the disciple whom Jesus loved and wrote several books in the New Testament. As Jesus was dying on the cross, he looked down and saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved and told them to take care of one another (John 19:25-27). And don't forget Mary and Joseph. They raised God's Son. They taught him holiness and godliness. Jesus's family ministry worked! And it all began at Christmas! Another Christmas hidden gem. A beautiful treasure to unearth during the Christmas season to point you to the wonderful gift that came through Jesus Christ.

by David Chadwick There are so many hidden gems in the Christmas story. Often overlooked little treasures God has placed to stir up our faith and renew our hope. Nothing generates excitement like a birth announcement. A gender reveal party. The coming of a new baby! I have experienced this first hand with the birth of Marilynn's and my three kids and soon to be ten grandkids. It never gets old. Each time a new life comes on the scene, the excitement swells! And it feels like the world has new hope. This is especially true when you have had to wait a long time for a baby. Year after year of faith. Believing. Trusting. Marilynn and I know this firsthand. We waited years and years for our first child. Finally, God came through! Some of the BIble's most significant characters had babies at older ages. They had to wait for and contend for the promise of children. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years. Jacob and Rebecca had to wait a long time, to the point where she said, "Give me children, or I shall die!" (Genesis 30:1). Samson was born to aging parents. Hannah waited, cried out, and begged the Lord for Samuel (1 Samuel 1). And each child was used magnificently by the Lord. And, of course, in the Christmas narrative, there are Zechariah and Elizabeth. They waited and waited and waited. Elizabeth is even described as being hunched over, thus showing how old she was. But God finally gave them John the Baptist. A significant character in the Christmas story. John the Baptist was Jesus's cousin and was born just six months before him. John the Baptist paved the way for the King of kings and Lord of lords. Born to parents in old age, his birth was a miracle that led to Jesus - the ultimate miracle. Dear friends, don't ever give up! Don't lose heart! Maybe you, too, are begging God for a child. Your age is not a hindrance for the Lord. He is all powerful. Keep trusting him. Your Christmas miracle may be just around the corner.

by David Chadwick There is something about a treasure hunt that invites every person into wonder and delightful suspense. I want to spend the next two weeks taking you on a treasure hunt. I want to pull out ten gems that are in the Christmas story. Treat them as precious jewels, as treasures you can go back to again and again during this time of the year to stir up your faith and renew your hope for Jesus's return. Remember: Jesus's first coming set the stage for his Second Coming! Because our God can change everything in a moment! There were 300 plus prophecies in the Old Testament about Jesus's coming, one of which included prophesying the exact city where Jesus would be born. Micah 5:2 says, "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, whose origins are from old, from ancient times." What a lot of people don't know is that between Malachi and Matthew, between all the 300 plus prophecies in the Old Testament to the coming of Jesus, there were 400 years of silence. Not one prophetic word. Nothing! Can you imagine waiting that long for an answer? Waiting and silence. We have all been through it. It's the reason for the great Christmas hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." People were longing for Jesus's first coming. Are you in one of those times right now? If so, don't give up. Like when Jesus finally came, God can suddenly break through darkness and change everything. In a moment. With one word. God's light shatters darkness. And immediately, there is hope! Take this gem from the Christmas story and treasure it always!

by David Chadwick Christmas. Said by many to be the most wonderful time of the year. As followers of Jesus, we know it's even more wonderful than most know. It's a rescue mission full of good news and miracles. Christmas is about the presence of God. Today, we learn it's also about the victory we have through Jesus. Victory is defined as "an act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game, or other competition." Everyone knows that it is far more fun to win than to lose. Victory is always a better outcome than losing. As we talk about the impact of the victory that comes with the Gospel of Jesus, always connect the cradle with the cross, remembering that the final chapter of the story of the cross is the empty tomb! That baby who grew up and perfectly obeyed all the righteous requirements of the law is the same one who took our place and our punishment on the cross. But on the third day, he rose from the dead. He has VICTORY over sin, death, and the devil. The miracle of all miracles! The Jesus who lives in us always gives us the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). Thanks be to God who always gives us triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14). If you believe this, you should have HOPE. Now and forever. The story begins with the incarnation. But it ends with the resurrection and the victory. A miraculous story from beginning to end. This is the true meaning of Christmas!

by David Chadwick Christmas is all about Jesus. The true miracle of Christmas is found in the rescue mission God sent Jesus on to save the world. It's a miraculous story full of good news! It's a story that tells the greatest miracle ever told, and this is a time to remember that miracles can still happen today. In a time that often centers around presents in our consumer culture, let's all remember this truth: Christmas is really all about God's presence. Sure, we love presents. They are fun! But the true meaning of Christmas is about the presence of God. God came down to be with us. When Gabriel appeared to Mary, he referred to God as Immanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1:23-25). Sometimes God used angels in Scripture to increase people's awareness of his presence. In 2 Kings 6:16, Elisha and his servant saw the host of angels and realized, "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." This miracle of the awareness of God's support and nearness gave them great courage in a time of need. In Luke 2:13-21 we see the heavenly hosts, angel armies, that accompanied Jesus's birth. They were praising God and giving glory to him! This miracle, heaven meeting earth to reveal God's nearness, gave great joy and wonder to the shepherds as they were tending their flocks. When we receive Jesus, he promises to be with us forever (Matthew 28:20). Indeed, he is even IN us (Colossians 1:27). Never leaving us. Never forsaking us. Never deserting us. Forever caring for us. Always empowering us in all things (Philippians 4:13). Meeting our every need. A miraculous promise to all of us who believe. And promising us an eternal home with him (John 14:1-3). And our loved ones. And the other saints who have trusted in him. What HOPE! This is another true miracle of Christmas!

by David Chadwick Christmas is a beautiful time of year to reflect on the birth of Jesus and the historic moment that marked eternity! The first miracle of Christmas: it is a rescue mission. God sent his son to save us from our sins and to rescue us from the effects of sin. Second, Christmas is good news! The goodness of God's love has chased us down and re-established a connection between us and the Father. And today…Christmas is for miracles! The entire Christmas narrative revolves around one major miracle. A baby, the perfect God/man named Jesus, is supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit in a virgin teen named Mary. But there are other miracles in this biblical story as well. Gabriel, an archangel, appears out of nowhere to give Mary this news of Jesus's coming birth. Shepherds miraculously show up because angels tell them to go and visit Jesus. Wise men from the east show up following a miraculous sign from heaven, seen in a bright star, that led them to Bethlehem to meet the Savior of the world. Perhaps the greatest miracle in the entire Christmas story is you and me who believe. That God would take our dead spirits (Ephesians 2:2) and miraculously make them alive in Jesus. "Born again" out of death and into marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). The many miracles found in the Christmas story show us that miracles are a part of how God displays his power, his might, and reveals his kingdom to his people. And miracles still happen today. Maybe there is a Christmas miracle around the corner for you? Something you have longed for, waited for, believed for? My dear friends, please remember that all it takes is for God to speak a word for something to be done! Don't give up. Keep believing! Hope begets hope! May we thank God for the true meaning of Christmas!

by David Chadwick You don't have to look far to find a headline blasting bad news. Bad news is everywhere. Wars and rumors of wars. Creation gone awry and groaning (Romans 8:22). Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes everywhere. Disease. Unabated anger in the streets. Division, disruption, and chaos seem to be the norm. Yesterday, we learned that the first miracle of Christmas was that it was a rescue mission. A valiant quest to rescue the crown of God's creation, you and me, from the influence and power of the evil one. The Christmas season highlights this rescue mission. Today, we see that Christmas really is the opposite of bad news. It's good news! From the earliest pages of the Old Testament, God promises a good and everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7). The First Coming of Jesus was to forgive us from our sins and to set the stage for good news to prevail for those who follow him. His Second Coming will be to establish a perfect world here. Upon salvation, we are grafted into a kingdom that brings hope and light in the midst of brokenness. We are also given the assurance of a Second Coming where a new heaven and new earth will be established and none of this bad news exists (Revelation 21:1). Heaven will be our eternal home. This is our HOPE and expectation. One day, the earth will be rid of all bad news. It will happen. Jesus said so. This is the very hope, and the second miracle that tells us the true meaning of Christmas! We are forever forgiven. Fully loved. God's goodness in and through us. What good news!

by David Chadwick Christmas is a rescue mission. A mission to rescue mankind, the crown of God's creation, from the influence and power of the evil one. To set us free from the curse of sin and death. Before Jesus came as a baby in a manger, we were all dead in our sins and trespasses with no hope of living forever with our eternal Father (Ephesians 2:1-2). The wages of our sin is death. Separation from our heavenly Father forever. A fragmented life bound by the kingdom of darkness. After 400 long years of waiting and longing for a Savior, a Deliverer, and a Rescuer (from Malachi to Matthew), the Father said to the Son, "Will you go? And rescue my children from their sins?" The Son, named Jesus (which means "Savior"), said "Yes" to his Father's request. Jesus put on human flesh, took on the form of a servant, and went to the cross to rescue us from our sin. He then rose from the dead to show us that his resurrection is now our resurrection, for those of us who believe (Philippians 2:5-11). We now sit with Jesus in the heavenlies, ruling over all (Ephesians 2:6). A mysterious reality of grace that Jesus made possible. Amidst the pain, turmoil, stress, and problems of this broken world, we have this hope as an anchor for our soul. We have been forgiven of our sins and rescued from the kingdom of darkness and placed into our Father's glorious kingdom of light. Ruling and reigning with him forever. This is the true miracle of Christmas. A rescue mission that secures our eternal hope. And gives us new citizenship in an everlasting kingdom.

by Marilynn Chadwick Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13 NIV). Our two boys loved to wrestle with each other when they were little. If things got out of hand, the one who felt overpowered could cry out, "Mercy!" This was their signal of surrender. All tickling and roughhousing (at least in theory) was supposed to cease. Mercy calls out to the stronger to acknowledge the weaker one and show compassion. Mercy is woven throughout the Bible. Mercy is at the very heart of God's motivation for our salvation. Yet mercy is sometimes treated as a lesser virtue. Mistaken for mere sentimentality or emotionalism, mercy is seen by some as weak. James wants us to raise mercy to its rightful place of honor. Mercy is worthy of our deepest respect, he argues. Mercy is the social code by which believers are called to live. James exhorts followers of Jesus to a life of words and deeds governed by mercy: Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:12-13 NIV). Mercy, or eleos in the Greek, describes the compassion which moves us to alleviate another's misery and relieve their suffering. Jesus used the story of the Good Samaritan to demonstrate eleos (Luke 10:37 NIV). To be hard-hearted, letter-of-the-law insistent, and unmoved by any extenuating circumstances, violated the spirit of the law. Plain and simple. Mercy characterizes the way God treats me. So naturally, it should characterize the way I treat others. Lord, slow me down today. Show me what causes my heart to be hard at times. Resistant to giving or receiving mercy. Could it be that I am simply moving too fast to notice the one in need of your mercy? I pray for a new vision of mercy as the true heart of Jesus. Make me especially alert to watch for opportunities today to show eleos to one of your children. Amen.

by Marilynn Chadwick If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:3-4 NIV). This word "discriminate" is a hot-button for me. I grew up in the deep South during the birth-pangs of the Civil Rights movement. Our town was the headquarters for the KKK. The first African American cheerleader in our high school's long football history was on my cheer squad. It was the 1970's in Georgia. Racial tensions were high. As cheerleading captain, I fought hard to help our team learn to stand strong against discrimination and care for one another. To remain unified. I wasn't a follower of Jesus at the time - that would come later. But in my heart, I knew discrimination was wrong, sinful, unjust. James hammers home the dangers of discrimination. Racial tension wasn't so much a problem for the early church as were religious and class distinctions. Some things never change. There was still a wrestling match among believers about whether to allow all those "unclean Gentiles" into their fellowship. It was not an easy marriage. As leader of the Jerusalem church, James probably had to oversee his share of disputes. No wonder they called him "camel knees." I'm sure he spent lots of time praying for love and unity among the believers. Over sixty years ago J.B. Phillips, a minister in the Church of England, authored a New Testament translation which was one of the earliest attempts to capture God's Word in a modern language. Notice Phillips' word choice as you prayerfully meditate on James' warnings about the dangers of discrimination: Don't ever attempt, my brothers, to combine snobbery with faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ! Suppose one man comes into your meeting well-dressed and with a gold ring on his finger, and another man, obviously poor, arrives in shabby clothes. If you pay special attention to the well-dressed man by saying, "Please sit here—it's an excellent seat", and say to the poor man, "You stand over there, please, or if you must sit, sit on the floor", doesn't that prove that you are making class-distinctions in your mind, and setting yourselves up to assess a man's quality?—a very bad thing. For do notice, my brothers, that God chose poor men, whose only wealth was their faith, and made them heirs to the kingdom promised to those who love him (James 2:3-4 PHILLIPS). I'm reading those words with fresh eyes this morning, asking God to guard my heart against judging anyone by their outsides rather than their insides. Holy Spirit, I ask for your conviction. Don't let me show special favor because of someone's wealth, social standing, gifts, abilities, or attractiveness. Give me your eyes to see into their heart and love others as you love them. Thank you Lord, that you never discriminate.

by Marilynn Chadwick If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless, and he deceives himself (James 1:26 CSB). I love words. Words allow us to connect with each other—and with God. But I've seen the damage words can do to individuals, families, churches, even nations. James warns us to use our words wisely. He gives us a sober reflection on the dangers of the tongue. I may think I am walking out my faith well. But James warns that if I don't watch my words, I'm in trouble. The exact translation of this verse from the original Greek reads like this: "If someone thinks that he is religious, yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" (James 1:26 MOUNCE). Notice the translator adds a twist: If I don't "bridle" my tongue, then I actually deceive my own heart. What's more, my religion, James says, is worthless. The word translated worthless conveys "purposelessness or futility." My faith is futile. Ouch. Words prove what's in our heart. Jesus said it this way: "A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart" (Luke 6:45 NLT). Sometimes, I speak before I think. I need to grow in the area of governing my speech. Maybe you, too, struggle with your words. Bridling my tongue goes deeper than just my words. Jesus reminds me it's a heart issue. The message of James is straightforward. If I keep my heart clean, my words will take care of themselves. Lord, put a watch over the door to my lips. Catch me before I speak words that wound. Fill my heart so full of your love that my words will bring life to those around me. Make me sensitive to your voice and receptive to your Word. Daily.

by Marilynn Chadwick Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2 NIV). The Olympic Trials to be held in 2024 are always a spectacular event. Young athletes in various sports from all over the United States compete for the few coveted spots on the US Olympic team. Swimmers endure some of the most grueling training schedules of all the Olympic hopefuls. They often practice before dawn. Miss out on vacations. Barely remember a lazy day off. Pretty much sacrifice a normal life. All for the chance to make it to the Olympic Trials. "Training for trials" was familiar jargon around our home since our youngest son was a highly competitive swimmer and made it to the previous Olympic Trials. As believers we, too, should train for our trials. Like any good coach, James encourages us to face our trials head on. Today's Scripture focus is on the word trials. Have you thought about how your daily routine of prayer, reading God's Word, listening, and obeying—day after day after day—prepares you to stand strong when you are faced with a trial? Training for trials prepares you for the battles ahead. Do you love the fight of faith? Paul calls it a "good fight." It's been said that we should love the fight of faith in the same way an athlete loves his sport. I don't know if I'd say I love trials. But there's something invigorating about approaching each day on the offensive. Strengthening myself in God's Word. Being intentional about prayer. I believe we should walk away from our devotional time armed and ready. Expectant and watchful. Alert to signs of God at work. Prepared for opportunities to step out in faith. Ready to share the Gospel. Meet a need. Take back territory from the enemy. Determined to stand strong in the inevitable trials of life. Let's reflect on the rest of this passage from James: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4 NIV). As we meditate on these verses, let's pay special attention to the word trials. Notice that James takes us beyond merely enduring trials. He encourages us to consider our trials as an opportunity for joy. Think about the joy of an athlete winning his race. What if that same kind of joy awaits us when we prevail in our trial? Why? Because trials are the very tools God uses to strengthen us, build endurance, and make us complete! Today, let's agree to train for our trials. And look forward to our victory through Christ!

by Marilynn Chadwick But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (James 1:22 ESV). Keeping our faith—and our cool—can be challenging when the stresses of life hit. Maybe you need a little "faith-fix" as you approach this busy holiday season. I know I do. The book of James is filled with lots of practical wisdom. That's why some call it "The Proverbs of the New Testament." This is just the book to help us focus on what really matters this time of year! Let's face it. The turbulence in the world today threatens to wreck our calm. Plus, the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season can cause us to lose our focus. Let's look to God's Word and discover what the book of James has to teach us as we anticipate the birthday of Jesus. Each day, we will focus on one simple word from this practical epistle written by the half-brother of Jesus. James encourages us to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only" so today's word is doer. These reflections are designed to help you meditate on a single truth from Scripture. Why just one Word? For starters, your minutes matter—especially when life gets busy. What's more, meditation on a small portion of Scripture helps you laser-focus on one facet of the message. It's a simple but effective way to fill your mind with God's Word. Plus, it helps you frontload your prayers with a burst of power for the rest of your day. I confess I'm a bit of a "word nerd." And reflecting on one word is a good way to unpack every morsel of truth in the Scripture. A single word may be just the inspiration that moves me to action, to be a "doer" of the Word, and not only a "hearer," as James challenges us (James 1:22). I've had a number of "aha" moments over the years when reading this short epistle. James prods me to a dangerous trust. To stick my neck out. Take a risk. Leap into the unknown. Obey and grow. But don't rush off too soon, James cautions, and forget what you've heard (James 1:24). Allow the words to sink in deep and change your heart. Reflect on what you've learned through your reading. What is God prompting you to do? James packs a wallop. The powerful truths in his little book have ignited life-change for countless readers for centuries. God's Word never returns void. Never leaves us empty. So...are you ready? Let's learn from James. Expect to be changed. Stay alert. Watch for signs of God at work all around you. And remember, Jesus loves to surprise us with Christmas miracles and sometimes it's with something as simple as one word from his Word!

by Marilynn Chadwick What about you—have you ever seen a sign or wonder? If you start paying attention, you might be surprised like I was when I started to find all those pennies! I continued to save these little reminders—pennies from heaven—I called them. Over the next months, pennies continued to appear. One day, I shared my "penny story" with my friend Kenna. I told her how these crazy pennies kept showing up. Pretty soon, she began finding her own pennies. A few days later in my morning quiet time, I was reading in John's Gospel about the man we know as "Doubting Thomas." Jesus' disciples suffered terribly after the death of their beloved savior. But miracle of miracles—he appeared to them—alive! All the disciples saw him. Except for Thomas, that is. Thomas had wandered away and missed the first showing when Jesus appeared to the others. I could imagine how his face fell as the disciples excitedly told him, "We have seen the Lord!" Sullen and discouraged, Thomas vowed, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were…I will not believe." Still, Thomas continued to hang around the others, hoping Jesus had not forgotten him. I felt for Thomas. For I, too, sometimes struggled with doubt. Jesus appeared again eight days later. This time, he singled Thomas out. But instead of scolding him, Jesus spoke to Thomas's deepest longing for proof that he was really alive. "Put your finger here," he told Thomas. "See my hands," he said. "Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas gasped and cried out, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:27-28 NIV). Something about those verses got me thinking. Could it be that God cares enough to encourage sincere doubters like Thomas, or even like me? If so, maybe all those pennies I'd been finding were truly God's way of speaking to me. Lord, I prayed silently, I do believe you're sending those pennies to strengthen my faith. But I need more. Then, as an afterthought, I added, Lord, you showed your nail-scarred hands to Thomas. I want to see your nail marks, too! I never told anyone about my prayer to see a nail mark. How could God answer such an impossible request? A few days later, I received a card in the mail from Kenna. "Dear Marilynn," she wrote, "I found this penny in my dryer and I thought of you. Perhaps the Lord sent this penny as an encouragement to us both." I caught my breath. Taped to her card was an ordinary penny. But as I looked closer, I saw something that stunned me. Right through the center of the penny was a nail hole! I sat transfixed. And suddenly I knew. God had sent me my own nail mark, just as I'd prayed. For a moment, as I touched that penny, I felt like Thomas touching the nail hole in Jesus' hand. What could I say but "My Lord and My God!" Suddenly, it all became clear. My God is awesome and powerful enough to rule the universe. But he's also personal and tender enough to send a nail-pierced penny to another "Doubting Thomas" like me, in need of encouragement. I want to close this week with five reasons why I believe that giving thanks matters: Giving thanks to God is a good way to counter-attack discontent. It's easier to replace grumbling or complaining with thanksgiving than to simply try to "not gripe." Gratitude feeds my faith. I discovered that thanksgiving can stand up under a fiery trial. Giving thanks also seemed to use less energy than praying for a specific end—a good thing when you're in a hard place. Giving thanks is an effective way to roll my burdens into God's hands, which, in turn, calms my anxious heart. Having a thankful heart makes me more aware of my surroundings and more in tune with God's blessings. So I find myself more expectant—watching for him to show up. For some reason, giving thanks made me more sensitive to the needs of others—opening the door to holy conversations—a blessing in themselves. I don't have to understand all the reasons why giving thanks is a good thing in order to experience its benefits. Forming a habit of giving thanks changes my attitude and my actions. I discovered that giving thanks is a form of worship. It connects me to the Lord and places my focus on him. And when I focus on Jesus, it changes everything.

by Marilynn Chadwick I wanted to find a practical way to remember the amazing things God has done in my life. So I began to save my spiritual souvenirs, my "Ebenezers'' in a special box I call my "Ebenezer Box." Not much bigger than a shoebox, it looks like one of my grandmother's old hat boxes. What about you—have you ever seen a sign or wonder? If you start paying attention, you might be surprised like I was when I started to find all those pennies! My granddaughter Anna Grace was intrigued by the stories in my box. I gave her one of her own so she can collect her Ebenezers. Why not start your own Ebenezer Box? My Ebenezer Box holds treasured reminders that God is still in the miracle business. Some of my spiritual victories have been dramatic, such as the medically validated miracle that allowed us to have our three children. Those moments were like a roar. God was using his outside voice! Miracles like that get our attention. But I've learned that God's wonders are often much quieter—more like a whisper—especially when he's working in the everyday details of my daily life. And if I'm not watching, I just might miss him! A penny taped to a greeting card in my Ebenezer Box reminds me of one of those times. After all, what could be more ordinary than a penny? Who would think that a penny might be a whisper from God? A little penny may seem commonplace. But it tells of the time God answered my prayer in a way that was unmistakably him—and left me speechless with awe. I don't remember the first penny that caught my eye. For months I had been noticing pennies in the strangest places. Sometimes I would discover one at my feet—just as I was praying about something. Funny, I thought. It's almost as though God wants to let me know that he hears my prayers. I sure hoped so. I was going through a spiritually dry season in my life. I can't remember all the details. What I do remember is that I desperately wanted to believe God was still at work and that he cared about me. I was a young mom with two small children. David and I had worked hard together for over ten years of ministry building our church. Sometimes, the sheer load of caring about so many people became exhausting. Could these pennies really be little messages of encouragement from God? I wondered. Perhaps it was wishful thinking. After all, the world groans with the weight of earthquakes, injustice, and war. God has better things to do than send me pennies. Still, I hoped. And there it was. Another penny. This one in the heel of my shoe, just as I was preparing to put it on! The last penny had been under a glass on the kitchen shelf. The one before that, right in the middle of my bed! (To be continued tomorrow...)

by Marilynn Chadwick Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us" (1 Samuel 7:12 NIV). The Bible tells how the Children of Israel came back to God after many years of wandering. They began to copy the evil behavior of the pagan people around them and even started to worship the demon gods of their enemies—sometimes sacrificing their own babies! Finally, they'd had enough. They were sick and tired of the consequences of their rebellion. Sick and tired of fear and failure. Sick and tired of feeling like they were under a curse. They had forgotten how to pray so they asked their leader Samuel to pray for them. Samuel called them together to confess their sins. Then, he challenged them to commit to following God with their whole heart. Above all, he warned, they must stop their wicked worship of pagan idols. While Samuel was still praying, their mortal enemy, the Philistines, launched a surprise attack. But instead of fighting back, the people pleaded with Samuel to keep praying. I can imagine how they all began to cry out with the prayer that gets God's attention. "Help!" The Lord rushed to their rescue and brought fierce thunder and lightning from heaven that day. The entire Philistine army was terrified and thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them and won a thrilling victory. Samuel took a large stone and placed it as a monument in their town. He named it Ebenezer (which means "the stone of help"). "This marks the place where the Lord has helped us!" He wanted them to always remember how God gave them victory and to never drift from Him again (1 Samuel 7:12, MSG). The word Ebenezer comes from two Hebrew words. Eben, which means "stone or rock" and ezer, which means "help or support." That's why an Ebenezer is a "stone of help." Even to this day, people sometimes use the word Ebenezer to commemorate an important victory. I don't know about you, but my faith grows when I hear stories of God's power. And when I personally experience a miracle, my faith seems to soar! Over the years, I've collected spiritual mementos of my own victories—my Ebenezer Stones. Photos, small artifacts, scraps of paper, pages of my journal, little bits of "this and that" point me back to times when God showed himself strong or interrupted the ordinary flow of daily life with a miracle. When that happened, it seemed important to pause and thank God. Then, to preserve the evidence. These little reminders help me hold onto my faith when answers to my prayers are slow in coming or when life gets really messy. My "Ebenezer Stones" remind me that nothing is impossible with God. You see, it's not enough to simply witness God's miracles. We also have to remember them. No wonder the word remember occurs about 400 times in the Bible!

by Marilynn Chadwick Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV). The Bible actually speaks more about praise than it does prayer. I call it the "protein of prayer." Protein comes from a Greek word meaning "of first importance." And to me, thanksgiving is like "praise in detail." I am more of a pragmatist than mystic. I can't tell you why praise lifts my spirits and sometimes turns situations around faster than endless amounts of asking. It just does. Praise is like a one-two punch to the solar plexus of the enemy. Praise prompts breakthroughs in my prayers. Willie Myrick is one of my heroes. Nearly a decade ago, the then ten-year-old boy was the victim of a crime that became international news. Willie was kidnapped from his home in Atlanta by a knife-wielding assailant. His kidnapper placed a ten-dollar bill as "bait" at the foot of a tree near Willie's driveway. When the curious youngster reached down to pick it up, the man came from behind the tree, forced Willie into the car and began to drive. Speeding across town with the little boy in the back seat, the man spewed profanity and threats. The frightened ten-year-old decided to sing. And not just any song--Willie began to sing his favorite worship song, "Every Praise." When Willie was later asked why he sang this particular song, he answered, "Well, because I knew that Jesus was gonna be with me and he was gonna take me through the steps of getting out!" Willie continued to sing—for three hours! Finally, his kidnapper stopped the car, still cursing and shouting threats, and shoved Willie out unharmed. Just imagine the faith of this young boy. Instead of dissolving into tears or panic, he praised and worshiped God! I'm inspired by Willie's story. When faced with the worries or fears of daily life, I'm trying to respond with praise. To use annoyances as a trigger to praise God instead of complaining. It's amazing how quickly my mental climate changes when I begin giving thanks. And when it doesn't lift right away, I remind myself that Willie kept singing his simple praise song for three hours! "Rejoice always," the Bible tells us. "Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). I want to refresh the habit of being thankful. I invite you to join me as we devote the next few days to thanking God in all circumstances. Thanksgiving is so powerful. Let's take a lesson from a brave ten-year-old and become people of praise.

by Marilynn Chadwick In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch (Psalm 5:3 NASB 1995). "Mom, you seem to see God work in the craziest ways," my daughter Bethany laughed after hearing about my latest answered prayer. My now-grown daughter, who was fifteen at the time, was used to hearing my "God stories." After all, she herself was the product of a miracle. Bethany had grown up hearing the story of how I had experienced a dramatic healing that enabled us to finally have her after many years of waiting and praying. Her two younger brothers were also the result of God's mysterious healing hand. Our soon to be ten grandchildren share in the legacy of this healing miracle. I've often thought back to Bethany's comment. Why do I seem to see God work in such "crazy ways?" Being the wife of a minister in no way guarantees that I get to see God more clearly. Maybe it's simply because I'm always watching. I have come to believe that God is involved in even the tiniest details of my life. I suppose I'm a bit like the character in a now-classic movie, Fools Rush In, who said, "Signs are everywhere. You just have to watch for them." And because I am usually watching, I often see God at work in the big moments and the small. Maybe you're like me—always on the lookout for God. The Bible talks a lot about "signs and wonders." I think they are kind of like God's fingerprints. I personally believe that when we see a sign from God, we should wonder, "What is he trying to say to me?" Looking back over my life, I can point to times when God showed up big and did something only he could do. Heal a sick body, rescue someone from danger, send an angel, or answer a prayer. I've seen miracles up close and personal—in my own family, my neighborhood, and in faraway places. David and I have served God in the same city for over forty years, but our ministry has taken us to six continents. But no matter where I go, I find men and women, boys and girls, who have discovered the amazing grace of Jesus. Many have shared their own stories of how God showed up with a miracle when they cried out for his help. And just like I did, they have seen him move in mighty ways when they reached the end of their rope. That's why I like to say that the prayer that most often gets God's attention is simply: "Help!" Watching for signs is crucial to seeing God at work. But so is desperation. Praying to him like you really mean it. Even in our modern world, God still speaks through signs and wonders. I've had mysterious encounters that convince me that angels are real. That prayer works. That some stories can only be described as miracles. Over the next few days, I hope you'll join us as we take time to remember our miracles. May we all pray more, watch more, and especially thank God more—especially during this Thanksgiving season.

by David Chadwick We have spent the past three weeks learning how to live a life of faith, hope, and love. "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). They are the three qualities of this life that will exist forever in heaven. Love is our theme this week and we are wrapping it up today. I pray we all pass the agape test in 1 Corinthians 13. We must know God is love. We must look at the cross and see the Father's love for us in Jesus. We must understand the power of love. And today's tip: love one another. Dear friends, go love someone who is worse off than you. Quit feeling sorry for yourself. Quit living as a victim. It does not matter how bad your situation might be, there is always someone worse off than you. Go visit them. Try to love them like Jesus would. Practice agape love. Find someone in a desperate situation, and go give your life away. If you are suffering from depression, this might be a cure. As you choose to give your life away, taking the focus off yourself, watch as your own depression might lift. It's a spiritual principle and it's personified in Isaiah 58:10. "If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday." I would encourage you to memorize this verse and put it into practice. Remember that at the end of the apostle John's life, at the ripe old age of 95, he gathered his congregation together and just before he died he purportedly said, "Little children, love one another." It was true back then and it's true for us now. May we all seek to cultivate a life of love. After all, it's one of only three things that remains forever!

by David Chadwick Huey Lewis wrote a wonderful song called "The Power of Love." It perfectly captures the incredible power that love has. He says, "It's strong and it's sudden and it's cruel sometimes, but it might just save your life. That's the power of love." 1 John 4:8 states that God is love. And his love is the most powerful force in the universe. It convicts us of our sins, which at times can feel cruel, but will end up healing us. It is strong enough to transform us. It is captivating and comprehensive. We must know the power of love. Read stories about how unconditional love changed a life. They are numerous! People like Anne Sullivan who sacrificially poured into Helen Keller and taught her in the midst of Helen's blindness. Watch movies that show the power of love. Stories where someone actually sacrifices his or her life for another. McFarland, USA is a wonderful example of this. Coach Jim White moved to McFarland, Texas, a town that was economically challenged, and invested into that community. The power of this coach's love changed the lives of many students, turned their entire sports program around, and transformed generations to come. As you fill your mind and heart with stories that show sacrificial and powerful love, remember the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for each one of us. I would encourage you to memorize John 15:13. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." Once you understand the power of love, it will inspire you. Once you realize that, in Christ, God has given his unconditional love to you, it will humble you. Then, and only then, can you represent Jesus and become a conduit of unconditional love to others. This is our highest calling in life.

by David Chadwick As followers of Jesus, we are to be demonstrators of love because God is love. As we understand more and more who God is, our lives will emulate the characteristics of agape love. What helps you live a life of love? Look at the cross. Remember it. Stare at it. Remind yourself of its power. Jesus's pain. His suffering. The price he paid all because he loves you. He took all that pain upon himself as a substitute for your sins. It was our cross. Our sins deserved that punishment. But Jesus went through it on our behalf. Read and reread 1 John 4:10. "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Real love is that God loved us first! He initiated the love relationship. He made the first phone call, so to speak. There was nothing meritorious in us to make him love us, but he did! And he gave his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins! Contemplate that! Wow! This is how Jesus wants us to love others. In John 13:34-35 he says, "...just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." Take a moment and think about all of the ways Jesus has loved you. Starting with the cross. Loving others as he has loved you. Yes, even difficult people. Even your enemies (Matthew 5:44). Maybe it's a person in your family. Your spouse. Your kids. Someone in your workplace whom you are called to love. Remember a time when you know God expressed his love to you. A time he healed you. A moment where you felt alone and God comforted you. Once you start thinking about the list, it's almost hard to stop. You'll begin to see God in everything and the love in your heart for him and for others will increase. The cross is just the starting point for a life of love. Contemplate the cross! It's there where you begin to learn a life of love.

by David Chadwick It takes intentionality to discipline ourselves in a life of faith, hope and love. This week we are learning how to live a life of love. Yesterday we talked about the many qualities of agape love found in 1 Corinthians 13. Do you pass what I like to call "the agape test"? Is your life patient, kind, not easily angered? Are you quick to forgive? If not, maybe today's tip will help you learn to pass that test. In order to live a life of agape love, you must know that God is love. He is the only One who fully encompasses the definition of love found in 1 Corinthians 13. 1 John 4:8 says, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." Verse 16 goes on to say, "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." Love is inherent in the Trinity. The Father loves the son. The Son loves the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit loves the Father. Love can only exist if there is a direct object of the love. That is why the Trinity, though mysterious and unexplainable this side of eternity, is a crucial part of understanding God as love. Do you know one of the major reasons God created you, me and the angels? To extend the love in the Trinity outward. To have more creatures that he could love and who would love him in return. Think about this for a second. You were created by perfect love to love! That is one of the major reasons why God made you and put you on this earth. As you understand God as love, it will spill out onto other people. Who can you love today? Make a point to love them somehow, some way, today. Then feel God's love grow within you.