A Moment of Hope

by Marilynn Chadwick "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." Proverbs 20:1 A good friend once noticed I didn't order wine at a meal. She asked me whether I ever drank alcohol. Interesting question for a pastor's wife and one I've been asked before. Back in the seventies I attended a large Southern university. I was active in sorority and fraternity life. I attended my share of parties and had occasions to drink. In those days, I didn't even believe in God. So, I obviously didn't look to him for guidance about behaviors like drinking. But near the end of college, I had a radical conversion to Christ while reading Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis, the famous Oxford scholar and former atheist himself. Everything changed. Soon after, I met and married my husband, David. We will soon celebrate 48 years of marriage. Over the years in ministry together, we have both come to the conclusion that it's better that we do not drink in public, so as not to put a stumbling block in front of someone who may struggle with alcohol. It's not that moderate drinking is immoral. Or even wrong. But here's the thing: I want to be alert to hear God's voice. I know this might sound silly. But I want to remain mindful of those little nudges to pray for someone. Aware of the Holy Spirit's guidance, or conviction, or instruction. I especially want to hear his whisper—that still small voice that's so easy to miss. I find even one glass of wine can dull my "spiritual hearing." Moreover, the Bible tells me that as a believer in Jesus, I have an enemy. He continually prowls around looking for someone to devour. As long as I live on earth, I'm at war. It was George Washington who once said, "To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace." One of the best ways to prepare for our spiritual war is to remain alert to the wiles of the enemy. The Bible says it this way: "Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8 AMP). I want to win my spiritual battles. To hear what the Lord wants to reveal. In short, I want to stay fully awake. For me, I've come to believe it's not wise to use wine as my method to deal with worry, stress, or anxiety. For those, I think I'll choose to be "filled with the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).

by Marilynn Chadwick "Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." Proverbs 13:3 I have a friend who raised five amazing boys. All her sons were excellent football players, receiving scholarships to play in various colleges around the country. She also happened to be a real prayer warrior—probably a requirement for raising all those strong sons. She used to remind me that just like in football, the secret to winning in spiritual warfare is the "guard." The Bible takes the importance of "guarding" very seriously. In various places, the book of Proverbs reminds us to guard our words, our thoughts, and even our manner of daily living. It gives clues as to the root of strife, which it tells us is often driven by pride (Proverbs 13:10). Proverbs strongly warns us to guard our temper and our words—which usually go hand in hand with outbursts of temper: "A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but one who is slow to anger quiets contention" (Proverbs 15:18 NIV). "When words are many, sin is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is wise" (Proverbs 10:19). "Where there is no wood, the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases" (Proverbs 26:20). In summary, the book of Proverbs teaches us that true strength is found in controlling our own spirit rather than winning an argument (Proverbs 16:32). I'm especially drawn to this convicting piece of wisdom: "It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling." (Proverbs 20:3). When we let our guard down and say things that are disrespectful, hurtful, and demeaning, we damage our relationships and open the door to strife. And you can be sure that wherever you find strife, you'll find many other kinds of evil (James 3:16). I guess my friend got it right. She truly discovered the key to good football and to winning our spiritual battles. The secret is the guard!

by Marilynn Chadwick "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." Proverbs 31:25 One of the things I love most about my husband David is the way he would always encourage our three children to laugh at the very things they were afraid of. He referred to their fears as "fret flies." He used to say that fear and worry attract the devil, just like honey attracts flies. I've never forgotten those words. I've always been glad David is not a worrier. But that doesn't mean he's unaware of danger. He just doesn't overthink imaginary scenarios. What's more, he doesn't spend needless energy looking back at the "if onlys" or ahead to the "what ifs" of life. Like any pastor, he's had to deal with all kinds of tragedies and emergencies throughout our years of ministry. But I've seen firsthand how his faith has strengthened him. I've often told him that the greatest gift he has to give others is his faith. And sometimes his laughter! When our daughter was very young, she struggled with various troubling fears. I leaned into David's strengths to help her learn to overcome these early fears by finding ways to laugh. One evening, our family went to an amusement park. She was especially scared of riding the Ferris wheel. David challenged her to conquer her fear and told her he would ride with her. With Daddy cheering her on, she was overjoyed to finally defeat another "fret fly!" Every time she would defeat another fear, her courage muscles would grow stronger and stronger. Eventually, she became my child who would fly all over the world by herself and fearlessly tackle all sorts of challenges. If you are a parent, I would encourage you to be careful about coddling your children's fears. The Bible tells us not to fear over and over again. This is a discipline that must be developed from a young age. Like learning to walk or learning to ride a bike, we all must learn to conquer fear. David really is right. It is incredibly liberating to laugh in the face of fear. Laughter is a healthy way to lighten up. I wonder if the secret to having such strong faith in the Lord is that we really can laugh at our fears. Like our young daughter battling her fears, we may discover greater joy than we ever thought possible when we conquer our "fret flies!"

by Marilynn Chadwick "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV When I became a follower of Jesus many years ago, I was intrigued to notice how the words in the Bible suddenly made sense to me. What I had dismissed as a "dead book" in my early twenties suddenly came to life. Two verses that became anchor verses for me over the years are found in Proverbs 3:5-6. They promised that if I would trust God, something very new for me at the time, and not lean on my understanding, he would direct my paths. Since I had leaned heavily on my own mind and problem-solving ability, this was a radical shift. The Bible challenged me not only to trust God but also to depend upon his mind. The promise that followed was powerful: He would direct my path, my "way of life." Moving from an unbeliever to a devoted follower of Jesus was a huge adjustment. So, I memorized these and other Bible verses as I continued to immerse myself in God's Word. Fast forward to more than a decade later when we finally had our children. As our three children grew, I was passionate about helping them understand God's Word from the earliest days. I would find verses that were easy to memorize and make up simple songs to go with them. I happened to ask my now grown son the other day if he could remember Proverbs 3:5-6. I had to laugh when he immediately sang the verses, complete with hand motions to go with them: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight!" He knew the verses by heart. And I'd like to think he has applied them over the years when he faced decisions or needed wisdom. I know I have. But here's the thing. Since I have hidden these words in my heart (Psalm 119:11), they are ready and available whenever I need them. Just the other day, I was talking with a young technician trying to solve our internet issue. When he finished, we struck up a conversation. Turns out he was trying to decide about whether to make a career change that would involve a big move. I casually quoted these verses from Proverbs and explained how I've turned to them when needing guidance. He was visibly moved and asked if I would pray for him. I prayed a simple prayer and encouraged him to read Proverbs 3:5-6 on his own. God's Word is living and active, so you never know. Two short verses from Proverbs may just open the door for this young man to "trust God and lean not on his own understanding."

by Marilynn Chadwick "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1 NIV Did you know that women talk more than men? It's a proven fact. The average woman speaks about 20,000 words each day to the average man's 7,000, or nearly three times as many! So if women want to use our words to build our house, we certainly have no shortage of building materials. As wives, we sometimes forget the weight our words carry. I've discovered that one of the most powerful ways to build up my husband, David, is with my words, both the words I speak to him and the words I speak about him. Careless words can easily tarnish our husband's reputation in the eyes of others. Proverbs 14:1 reminds us that "the wise woman builds her house," but a foolish one "tears hers down." In the Bible, the term "house" is often synonymous with "family." So when we build up our husbands, we strengthen our family, our "house." This principle applies to both men and women. The Bible talks about two kinds of words—words of life and words of death. It repeatedly cautions us about the dangers of the tongue and reminds us that our words have great power for good or evil. We should pause here to consider that God holds us accountable for the words we speak. Think about it. Families and friendships are broken apart by words. Wars are started with words. Our tongue "sets the whole course of one's life on fire and is itself set on fire by hell," according to James 3:6. We are warned that "death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21 KJV). So it naturally follows that our words would be some of our most powerful tools for building up or tearing down our marriages. One of my wise young friends with a very strong marriage sums it up this way: "I try to compliment my husband in front of others when he is present, but also when he is absent. In situations where it is tempting to criticize publicly, I try to say nothing and follow up on the conversation when we are at home in private. Then, I choose my words wisely—and above all, prayerfully. Think about it. Our words can give life and encouragement. Or they can bring death and discouragement. Which will you choose?

by David Chadwick "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed." Proverbs 15:22 My wife Marilynn and I are taking a look at some of our favorite verses from the book of Proverbs. In a world where everyone has an opinion, but few have wisdom, we find this book of the Bible to be of utmost importance. What do you do when you have to make a hard decision? When you are faced with a dilemma and must act in wisdom? The first thing you should always do is turn to the Lord and to his Word. Pray for the power of his Holy Spirit to lead and guide you to truth that will encourage, strengthen, and fortify you. Secondly, you should seek the invaluable support of trusted friends and advisors who love God and seek his will for their own lives. Solomon specifically said to seek a multitude of these kinds of advisers to succeed. Do you know why he suggests this? Because sometimes it takes many different people's perspectives to give a full picture of understanding. God often uses other wise individuals to help you navigate difficult decisions because trusted people can help you discern the right thing to do. Having many advisers helps you to see through your blind spots in order to make the right choice. May I add one other insight here? Proverbs 16:31 says that gray hair is a crown of glory that comes from a righteous life. Do you know what this means? It means that people who have gray hair have learned certain things that only life could teach them. They have come face-to-face with situations, trials, and dilemmas that give them unique perspectives. They often have some of the best wisdom simply because they've lived life the longest. Glean from these people. Lean into their perspectives. They have invaluable resources. In summary, when making a difficult life decision, here are some things to remember. Read God's Word. Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring you both wisdom and knowledge. Seek counsel from a wise friend. Give trusted advisers the ability to speak into your situation, especially those with gray hair. Then with humility, make your decision. And trust God with the outcome.

by David Chadwick "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1 Have you ever had someone speak an angry word toward you? Maybe a friend? Your spouse? A boss at work? We live in a broken world where self-control is lacking and anger is commonplace. Angry words can trigger shame, condemnation, and deep pain. It can be very hard to navigate angry words. So how should you respond when someone speaks angrily toward you? The answer to this question and so many others can be found in the book of Proverbs. This book gives us practical wisdom for everyday life. It provides the answers to confusing questions and the knowledge to handle the difficult things we face. In Proverbs 15:1, Solomon gave us the best answer for how to handle an angry attack. The answer might shock you! He says that "a soft answer turns away wrath." When someone speaks an angry word against you, a gentle response without a lot of emotion is sure to confound the angry assailant. Whereas an angry response only intensifies the anger, gentleness leaves the angry person dumbfounded. A soft response almost sedates the fury coming from the other person. When you respond to someone's anger toward you with a soft answer, it ratchets down the emotion. It prevents anger from increasing. It gives the angry person a chance to calm down and engage in a civil conversation. That is always the best option to keep a relationship intact. One of my favorite quotes that I have heard over the years says, "If you fight might with might, it usually leads to trouble." Anger begets anger. Wrath begets wrath. Kindness begets kindness. After all, you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7-9). Sow softness, gentleness, and kindness. Yes, even in the midst of anger. And watch as God works on your behalf.

by David Chadwick "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight." Proverbs 12:22 "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood." Proverbs 6:16-17 Can a good and loving God hate anything? Yes! If you have ever spent any time reading the Bible, you know that God can, and does, hate many things! While God is love (1 John 4:8), he still has the capacity to emotionally respond with hatred. I find great comfort in this side of the Lord because in order for love to truly exist, there must be an abhorrence for everything that hinders love. Things like wickedness (Proverbs 15:8-9), pride (Psalm 5:5), evil deeds (Revelation 2:6), selfish motives (Proverbs 15:26), and those who love violence (Psalm 11:5). Take some time to read through some of these verses for yourself. As you do, you will see that even the things that God hates reveal his nature and character as a good Father and the embodiment of love. Today, let's take a deeper look at one more thing that God really hates: lying lips (Proverbs 12:22, Proverbs 6:16-17). Why does God hate deception? Because God's word is holy and true (John 17:17). Jesus himself, in John 14:6, said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Because God is truth, there can be no falsehood in him. The devil, however, works in direct opposition to the truth. From the beginning of time, his native language has been "deception." He is both a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). Lying lips destroy people created in God's image. It's a devious weapon to kill, steal, and destroy. Do you remember what the devil's first temptation of Eve was in the garden of Eden? He said in Genesis 3:1, "Did God really say this?" Satan is a master deceiver and has built his entire mission around deception. May we all act faithfully in our quest after the truth. And may we always bring truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). The world would be so much better if we committed to love what God loves and hate what God hates! After all, it is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32).

by David Chadwick "An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." Proverbs 18:15 Knowledge is "the awareness gained by experience of a fact or situation." Wisdom is defined as "the quality of having knowledge and good judgment." Biblically, both wisdom and knowledge are frequently discussed. They are very important qualities to have in living life well. It is impossible to lead well without knowledge and wisdom. But what is the difference between the two? Knowledge gathers information and forms understanding, especially about God. It is inadequate to simply know a lot of facts. True, biblical knowledge understands who God is and forms an awareness that is centered around his heart. Whereas knowledge is the gathering of information, wisdom comes as you learn how to apply the knowledge practically. Wisdom is developed by asking "Why?" and "How?" and seeking direction. It comes as you ask why something exists, why someone is acting the way they are, why something happened the way it did. And it asks, "How do I move forward with what I know?" It is important to pursue a life of wisdom and seek to understand both the facts and the nuances of life and human behavior. When God offered Solomon one gift, Solomon did not choose riches, power, or success. Do you know what he asked God to give him? Wisdom! Solomon's request pleased the heart of God. The biblical books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes contain much of the wisdom that the Lord gave Solomon. Historically, these books are called "wisdom literature." Additionally, did you know wisdom in Scripture is often personified as a woman? Proverbs 1:20-21 is an example of this personification. It says that wisdom calls aloud and raises her voice in the street. Proverbs 8:1-3 is another example, which says that wisdom calls out. In the same way that a man seeks after a woman, we must seek after wisdom. We should desire it, pursue it, and receive its imprint on our lives. With all our hearts. Without it, we are in danger and vulnerable to deception and folly. Seek both wisdom and knowledge. Together. A fruitful and faithful life comes from rightly pursuing and rightly using both of these tools God has given us.

by David Chadwick "The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him." Proverbs 18:17 Our world is full of so many perspectives, sides, and stories. And in this social media generation, opinions are running wild. Everyone is a self-acclaimed expert, and there are many different stances everywhere you turn. So, what do you do when you hear something about someone? Or when you catch someone's opinion about something occurring in the world? Or when you read a story in the news? How do you intercept so much information and so many opinions with wisdom and discernment? Proverbs 18:17 tells us exactly what to do, and it is so practical. Let's look at it today. This verse essentially encourages all of us to pause. It teaches us that someone's opinion sounds right until you hear the other side. What a powerful insight this is, especially when trying to mediate two different opinions. You hear one side, and you think you have the necessary insight to draw a right conclusion. Then you hear the other side, and you realize it's a completely different story. Most often, the truth lies somewhere in between the two sides. But it's important to always hear both sides of a story. The Bible also encourages us to have two or three witnesses whenever an accusation is brought against someone. Why? Because we all see things differently. That's why this proverb provides important wisdom before reaching a conclusion. This verse is a great truth for parents, bosses, pastors, coaches, and leaders. Anyone who finds themselves in a position of leadership must practice this principle when presented with any difficult situation. Go slow. Listen. Take in all sides. Most often, the truth lies somewhere in between, something my dad used to say all the time. Above all, pray for discernment. Sometimes you must examine to find the truth. It must be searched out. Remain shrewd as a serpent, innocent as a dove. Search out the truth with all vigilance, but as you do, keep your heart pure. Don't let your heart become hardened as you see the complexities you will inevitably witness in this broken world. One day, Jesus will make all things right. We will know his truth in all things.

by Marilynn Chadwick "Where there is no vision the people perish" Proverbs 29:18 KJV Our God-given dreams can impact the entire direction of our lives. The Bible reminds us of the importance of dreams: "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). Some of the most courageous parents I know have raised their children in fragile neighborhoods. For them, dreams can divert their children from drugs, gangs, and prison. Dreams mean survival. My young friend Dominique was just ten when some gang members befriended him. "I was kind of a mascot," as he puts it. But gang mascots eventually become gang members, and he was headed for trouble. One day, Dominique discovered an online chess game. He got the hang of it and became good—really good. Before too long, he was "busy" when gang members called. Dominique was way too busy finding his purpose to run with gangs. By the time he was in high school, Dominique had become the top scholastic chess player in the state of North Carolina. In his college application, Dominique wrote, "By getting closer to the One who allowed me this chance, and continuing with the plan that we dreamed up together when I was a young child, I feel that I will be able to help someone else and make a lasting impact." Dominique didn't attend church growing up. But as a small child he had a sense of God's destiny and a mysterious awareness of his calling through his childhood dreams of playing chess. And when he heard a clear presentation of the Gospel his first semester in college, the vibrant young man accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Dominique won a prestigious Seeds of Hope Scholarship. He finished college and began to teach kids how to play chess. He met the love of his life, also a chess player. They married, bought a home, and had a little baby girl. He is now on the board of the Seeds of Hope Scholars program, opening doors to college for talented kids who simply need a financial boost and some Christian mentoring. And Dominique continues to play chess. He's made his way into the realm of international competition, competing against some of the best in the world. He continues to work in schools, helping kids learn chess. One thing is clear. Dominique's earthly dreams had eternal implications that went far beyond the mastery of chess. A good reminder to take seriously the hopes and dreams of those children entrusted to our care. Mother Teresa put it this way: "Tread gently around the dreams of a child. You might be treading on the dreams of God." Seeds of Hope is dedicated to building community and providing financial support for talented young adults. The Seeds of Hope scholars are leaders with big dreams and have a heart to serve their communities. Click here for more stories and to learn how Seeds of Hope is helping to make big dreams come true.

by Marilynn Chadwick "Humility comes before honor." Proverbs 18:12 If you want to be strong, be humble. Strength comes through humility. The Bible consistently reminds us of this paradox. As believers, we are called to be servants. To give up our rights and die to self. I'm reminded of Paul's realization that only when he was "weak" was he truly "strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). We hear a lot about humility, but it seems to be the virtue nobody really wants. We admire it when we see it in others. But it's so against our nature to walk in humility that most of us run the other way. I once read a quote that said something like this: "Truly great people are also the humblest. Arrogance is the consolation prize for the less talented." I've found this to be true. The most outstanding and honorable people I've met are also humble. Bottom line? If I truly want to be strong in the Lord, I must also be humble. So let's reflect on the delicate balance in the Bible between strength and humility. The Bible is clear about the connection between humility and honor. "Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up," comes the strong admonition in James 4:10 (KJV). Humbling ourselves literally means "to be made low." Another Bible version adds weight to this promise: "He will lift you up and make your lives significant" (James 4:10 AMP). A friend of mine who has always appeared to be quite confident expressed his understanding of humility this way: "Without Christ, I am an incredibly insecure person, and so I stick close to him." Isn't that what humility really is? Apart from Christ, I'm weak, and I know it. So I'm going to make a point of sticking close to him. Sticking close to Jesus is called "abiding." Jesus himself made it clear that abiding in him is the secret to strength. "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5 ESV). If you want to be strong, be humble. More importantly, learn to abide in Christ.

by Marilynn Chadwick "Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 AMPC Proverbs 22:6 became one of my "go to" parenting principles. I discovered early on that one of the best things I could do for my children was to study them. What delighted them? How did they best learn? Proverbs 22:6 reveals that every child has a "way" or path he or she should go. This path will vary according to their God-given gifts, talents, and temperament. For example, education should be a delight, not drudgery, and yet for many children, learning is a source of pain and confusion. What works for one child doesn't for another. One of the most exciting parts of mothering for me was to watch the amazing characteristics that began to emerge in each child. Ours are now grown with children of their own. But their "gifts and bent," as described in Proverbs 22:6, were apparent from an early age. Bethany had amazing people skills, a grasp of languages, and a love for learning. DB was a strategic thinker, good with math, and was shooting trash through lampshades at two, giving clues about his love for basketball. Michael was my hands-on learner; thus, he enjoyed a few years of Montessori school. Swimming became his thing and opened doors to college and beyond. Each child was created uniquely by God to fulfill a purpose. Part of the adventure in parenting was helping them discover and develop their gifts. But what about the parent who may lack resources? Maybe you are a single mom living on the edge of poverty. Is there any hope for your child? Does God have a destiny for all children? In Hebrews 11:23, we find these words about a couple of Hebrew peasants: "By faith, Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was a beautiful child and they were not afraid of the king's edict." Pharaoh had begun an extermination of the Jews beginning with the murder of all baby boys at birth. Yet Moses' parents defied the edict upon threat of their own death. They saw a "gift" or "bent" in Moses that no one else could see. The Greek word, asteios, translated "beautiful," is used only one time in the entire New Testament and only to describe Moses. It means "lovely, beautiful, elegant, artistic" and describes one who dwelled in the city and thus was well-bred, cultivated, and sophisticated. How could two rural, Hebrew peasant slaves see this kind of "beauty" in a baby they held in their arms for just three months? I wonder if we as parents are enabled in some special way to see "into" the character and destiny of our children in ways that others might not? We can certainly pray for them. See the beauty in them. Believe in them even when they don't believe in themselves. We can look around and see the beauty in other children, too.

by Marilynn Chadwick "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels." Proverbs 31:10 What does it mean to be a godly wife? As a new believer when David and I married, this question came to mind often. There were plenty of "how to" books out there, but I wanted to know what the Bible had to say. I found some practical tips on marriage tucked into the pages of Proverbs. Widely appreciated by scholars as "wisdom literature," Proverbs contains real-life advice on everything from marriage to parenting. From finances to serving the poor. But I found a beautiful portrayal of what it means to be a godly wife in Proverbs 31:10-31. I encourage you to read these verses, which are actually an acrostic poem. The poem begins like this: "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels" (Proverbs 31:10 ESV). Some translations refer to her as the "virtuous woman." The Hebrew term in Proverbs 31:10 for this famed "virtuous woman," eshet chayil, is more accurately translated "woman of valor." The concept of a woman of valor is quite common among Jews, even today. A long-standing custom the evening before Shabbat is for the husband to recite or even sing the words of Proverbs 31, "The Woman of Valor," as a way to honor his wife. The woman of valor revealed in Proverbs 31 is a wife and mother. She is also a warrior, a "fighter" at heart. She fights not only for her personal world but also for the world around her. For her marriage and family. For her community. As I listen to conversations with women of all ages, stages, and walks of life, I'm hearing a recurring theme—their heart's desire to be strong for their families and communities. In short, they long to be strong women of God who influence the world. Simply put, valor is personal bravery in the face of danger. In its nearly 100 uses in the Old Testament, the word for valor, chayil, is most often used to describe warriors, such as King David's "mighty men." Sometimes it's used to describe God himself, especially when he gives power to his people to fight a battle. I find the term "woman of valor" both compelling and poetic. Younger women tell me they like this expression of womanhood that is both kind and strong. I believe we need to become women of valor as we face our battles today. As wives, we not only nurture and care for our husbands and children, but we are also called to fight for their well-being. A fresh look at eshet chayil, the woman of valor in Proverbs 31:10, has opened my eyes to a greater understanding of the joy, fulfillment, and impact God desires for us to have as wives, mothers, and grandmothers. Perhaps it's time to reclaim this strong, brave, and beautiful portrayal of womanhood. This Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You, by Marilynn Chadwick. For more inspiration or to order the newly Revised Edition of this book, please click here.

by Marilynn Chadwick "My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings." Proverbs 4:20 Consider the miracle of speech. Our voice sets us apart from the animals. It allows us to communicate with each other and with God. Think of the people whose voice is familiar to you. When my husband David calls, he doesn't have to identify himself. I know 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. A recurring theme throughout the book of Proverbs is the importance of listening to God. Proverbs 4:20 challenges us to be diligent. Let's reflect on three different versions of this verse: "My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings" (Prov 4:20 ESV). "My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words" (Prov 4:20 NLT). "Listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart!" (Prov. 4:20 MSG). I like how the Message Bible paraphrase reminds us to "tune our ears" to God's voice. One way we can do this is by spending time reading and meditating on his Word. It helps to follow up with prayer—ongoing conversations with God. 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. Not every voice we hear in our head is from God. 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 30:19-20a NIV). Many years ago, when I decided to follow Jesus, I began to recognize his voice. Suddenly, God's Word began to make sense. I reminded our children when they were very young that when they trusted Jesus as their Savior, they, too, could hear his voice. Jesus promises, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). Listen to the Lord. Tune your ears to his voice. He is always speaking. Will we be listening?

by David Chadwick "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10 There is power in the name of the Lord. Today's proverb reminds us of that. The name of the Lord provides safety to all who call upon it. In the Old Testament, the Jews thought God's name was so holy they would never even utter it, but in the New Testament, all of the world comes to know that the name of the Lord is Jesus. The name that always carried such power is revealed through the life and ministry of the Son of God, who took away all the sins of the world. A strong tower. Some translations say a "fortress." This should bring such confidence to all sons and daughters of the Most High. We are impenetrable to the enemy. A place of protection and refuge. According to the Word of God, when the righteous run into this tower, they can look down on all of their enemies and be safe. Did you know that whoever has the highest position in a battle most often wins? That's why when we look at the name of the Lord and see him as a strong tower, we should walk in complete confidence that we are safe and secure. His ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). In the New Testament, Jesus regularly instructs his followers to pray in his name. What does it mean to pray in his name? It means to pray according to his character and his will. There is something so powerful about the name of Jesus. Just the mention of his name makes enemies flee. Did you know that there are even stories of young children who have been captured and begin to sing songs in the name of Jesus, and their captors set them free? When we pray, let us pray in the mighty name of Jesus, running into the strong tower of the Lord. As we do, we go higher and higher. Our perspective will change because we will be seated with him in the heavenlies. Because of the name of Jesus, we are declared righteous once we put our faith in him. He controls and oversees all. And we are forever safe from all of the enemy's onslaughts and attacks.

by David Chadwick "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will." Proverbs 21:1 This proverb is a wonderful reminder about the sovereignty of God over everything in this world, even rulers and kings. He rules and reigns above everything. This verse shares a similar truth to another proverb in Proverbs 16:9, which says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Think about a stream of water for a moment; the way it flows, twists, and turns. Solomon declares this stream is directed by the Lord. The Lord directs a leader's heart in any way he pleases. Leaders and influential people in the world might think they control the destiny of the world, but they don't. God sovereignly controls his world. He oversees everything with intentionality for our good, for his purposes to be accomplished on the earth, and ultimately for his final glory. For a moment, let's jump to Daniel 2:21, which says, "He (God) changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding." I love this verse. God has raised up and lowered leaders throughout all of history. Contextually, Daniel was sitting under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar. But according to the Bible, even this king, the most powerful man in the world at that time, was under God's sovereign power. The same is true today. There are leaders and rulers making all kinds of noise and "rattling their sabers" to flex their power and establish their importance. As followers of Jesus, what should be our response to this? First, continue to look to our sovereign God, the maker of heaven and earth, the one who controls everything! Secondly, pray for those who are in authority over us. Pray for wisdom for our president and for other leaders throughout the world. Pray that they would seek God and his will above all else. Above all, may we never be anxious, trusting fully in God's perfect plan over all nations and leaders.

by David Chadwick "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold." Proverbs 22:1 Today's proverb focuses on the importance of having a good name and a positive reputation. In fact, terrorists and extortionists have found one of the greatest motivations for paying a large ransom is the threat to someone's good name. Interestingly, throughout the Bible, whether for better or worse, we often see how someone's name's meaning indicates their character. Let's look at a few examples from Scripture. Jacob's name means "supplanter" or "trickster," and he was the one who tricked his father into giving him the blessing that was meant for Esau, the firstborn son. Isaac's name means "laughter," and he was the child born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. I am sure he brought tremendous joy to his older parents. David's name means "beloved." He was the beloved king over all of Israel. Jesus's name means "Savior," and sure enough, he came into the world to save us from our sins. Have you ever looked up the meaning of your name? For some people, your name's meaning shows a lot about who you are. Whether or not your name accurately describes your character, we should all strive to have a good name–a reputation that points to the finished work of Jesus Christ. At the end of your life, you will not take anything with you from this world. No possessions, no power, no success. All that will remain is your name: your character, your integrity, your impact on those around you, and the reputation you established. Guard your name. Make sure it always honors God. This is one of your most valuable possessions on the face of the earth. But always remember that you have no control over what other people think about you. Ultimately, your reputation is between you and God. If you are a follower of Jesus, he is the one who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light. The Father called you to be his son or daughter and your identity is in Jesus alone. How he sees you should be the driving force in how you think of yourself.

by David Chadwick "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23 Today's proverb tells us about the importance of guarding our hearts. Out of our hearts flow the springs of all life. There is a phrase that I've lived by for many years that I want to share with you again today: "The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart." The core of everything that you have experienced, are experiencing, and will experience is a heart issue. Your heart carries the depths of your joys, pains, trials, and victories. Because of that, it must be regularly purified (Psalm 51:10), for it is only with a pure heart that we see God (Matthew 5:8). Think of your heart as a door through which anything, both good and bad, can enter. How do things enter this door? Well, it first has to come through one of your gates. There are all sorts of gates in which things can access your heart: your eyes, your ears, your mouth, words from others, and even your mind. We need to make sure we are vigilant toward anything that could enter our heart. Think with me for a moment. What do you watch on TV and in movies? What do you listen to? What kinds of material do you read? What thoughts do you imagine and ruminate over and over again? Once something comes in your gates, it will either edify your heart or defile your heart. This is why it's so important to guard your gates. Is there anything you are letting your eyes gaze upon that is corrupting your heart? Are there any words entering your brain that are hurting your heart? If so, I pray you will be diligent to guard yourself against anything and everything that could negatively impact your wellspring of all life–your heart. People often wrongly think that feelings must be the root of our actions and wrongly believe they can only respond to what they feel. But the Bible teaches differently. It says that our thoughts are the root of what we feel, and then we respond to our feelings through our actions. Therefore, if we guard our hearts rightly, we will feel rightly and will then behave rightly. Everything flows from the heart, so guard your heart with all vigilance.

by David Chadwick "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." Proverbs 18:21 King Solomon is the primary author of the book of Proverbs. Over the next few weeks, we are going to look at some of the simple truths and wise sayings from this book of the Bible. I pray that as you read each of these truths, your faith life will deepen and that you will grow in wisdom. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that life and death are in the tongue. If you have spent any amount of time on this broken planet, you have most likely experienced the pain of slanderous words, gossip, and words of death. Some people are scarred for life because of destructive negative words. An age-old phrase says, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." This is such a lie! Words are incredibly powerful and can hurt deeply. However, on the other hand, words can bring great life, produce incredible results, and often have an eternal impact. Words of life exhort, encourage, bring life-giving correction, call someone to a higher standard of living like Jesus, and give strength to the soul to keep moving forward in difficult times. In fact, James 3:3-5 tells us so much about the power of the tongue. A tiny bit in the mouth of a stallion can turn the horse one way or the other. It also tells us that a small rudder can steer a gigantic ship. A little spark from the tongue can set ablaze a forest fire. Do you get the picture? It really is sobering that such a small part of our body, the tongue, has such power. I will never forget how my college basketball coach, Dean Smith, would huddle us together during the last minutes of an important game to speak words of encouragement to our team. Time and time again, I saw how his challenging encouragement would ignite us to play harder and often bring home a victory. As we live in this broken world, may we seek to use our speech in ways that promote unity and victory instead of pain and destruction. May we seek to bring life to other people. Even in times of correction, may we allow the power of our tongues to produce life! In doing so, we are living like Jesus and revealing the love of the Father to those around us.

by Marilynn Chadwick "Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12 NIV Dad encourages me to finish my own race strong. Live a life of sacrifice and honor. Give yourself for the larger good. Put others before yourself. Don't give up. Family is worth it. Hold onto your faith. No matter what comes your way, persevere. And always do the right thing. These are some of the messages Dad continues to teach me, even at 98. Dad has always believed in dreaming big. He encouraged our dreams. Through the years, nothing brought him more joy than to watch his children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren shine. But the last chapter of his life with Mom was hard. Doing the right thing, day after day, required endurance, faith, and sometimes a good sense of humor. I watched their courageous battle, and I agree with whoever said, "Old age is not for sissies." I watched my mom's quiet and uncomplaining spirit even when she was in pain. And I saw Daddy's cheerful attitude as he persevered day after day. "How did you do it, Dad?" I asked him. "He just shrugged his shoulders and said matter of factly, "Your mom was worth it." Their life together captures the meaning of the word honor: "To treat someone as though they have great worth." Honor by its very nature is strong, solid, and above all, enduring. Toward the end of Mom's life, she and Dad had an especially difficult morning which had stretched Daddy to practically the end of his strength. Later that day, Daddy quietly beamed as he told me about how Mom had looked at him intently and then spoke these words with perfect clarity: "You are so patient. I am so proud of you." Just a few simple words from his wife who didn't talk so much anymore. And yet Daddy wore those words like they were a medal of honor. And if you think about it, I guess that's truly what they were. Dad is truly a man of honor. Honor is a concept so simple even a child can grasp it. "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12). God set the bar low so that even the youngest and weakest among us can practice honor. But God has also set the bar high. People defend freedom, fight, and die for honor. Believers around the world honor Jesus by suffering for their faith. That same honor inspires husbands and wives to love each other for a lifetime. It safeguards our families. In good times and in hard ones. Honor guards our marriages and sets them on solid ground. No wonder it's so important in our homes. God has set before us the most noble and enduring way to live together. My dad stands as a testimony that if we treat others with honor—especially those in our own family—we too can finish strong. Looking back over my life, I can see how Mom and Dad's values quietly shaped my own. Dad and I believe it's important to write down these stories for future generations. Plus, it has been rewarding to spend time together recalling the values which influenced our home. I hope you'll take time to think about your own life. What values do you hold dear? What stories of God's protection, provision, and providence, do you want others to remember? Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Eight Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here to download your free copy.

by Harper Brame as told to Marilynn Chadwick "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart." Col 3:3a NIV …Continued from Wednesday… After I graduated from boot camp, my superiors discussed my next steps. They asked if I would volunteer for submarine school. "No sir," I told the officer. "I don't want any part of that." I had wanted to go to the Hospital Corps school, the U.S. Navy training facility that taught recruits medical skills for battlefield and shipboard service. At the last minute, it turns out we were not needed. So we were put on a S-Draft and sent on the Troop Train across the country. We were headed to Pearl Harbor for our assignment. I got assigned to the Submarine Tender, the Bushnell, a vital support ship in the war for submarines in the Pacific. It served as a floating submarine base, refitting subs at Pearl Harbor. The Bushnell was home base for the subs—like an airport for planes. I guess you could say we were the Mother Ship. My shop classes in high school came handy because I got in the carpentry shop aboard the Bushnell. I was in line to "strike" for a position. This meant a new sailor could seek on-the-job training in a specialized field. A sailor could learn one of many highly skilled trades needed to repair and maintain submarines. For a sailor, striking a skilled rating was a significant advancement, moving us from general grunt work to a respected and specialized role. For the Navy, using submarine tenders as training platforms was a critical strategy, allowing them to quickly train us. One day, they asked for volunteers to learn how to weld. That sounded like a good place for me to start. After four days on welding duty, over the loudspeaker I heard, "Brame report to personnel office." Now I was worried. I had gone to the movie theater on the base a few nights earlier. My friend was on deck watch. I asked him if I could sneak over and watch a movie. "Sure," he said. "Everybody does it." I was sure I was in trouble. When I reported to the personnel office, the Chief Officer said, "Brame, do you still want to get on a submarine?" I said, "No sir, I never did." I guess I should tell you that about two weeks earlier—on a whim—I had taken the physical and mental tests for sub duty. It was open to volunteers. I was more curious than serious. And taking the tests sounded a whole lot better than cleaning the carpenter shop for the upcoming Admiral's inspection! The Chief Officer in the personnel office had become a good friend of mine. He had been on submarine duty since the early 1930s, but he was too old now to serve on the sub. He looked at me and said, "Harper, if you don't take this opportunity to get on a submarine, I'm going to make your life so miserable, you will always wish you did." So out of fear alone I went into submarine service. And that was the best thing that happened to me in the navy. To watch several short videos of Harper Brame sharing his stories, click here to view "Witness to War"

by Harper Brame as told to Marilynn Chadwick "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 NIV So how on earth did I end up working on a submarine? Well, it was definitely not my original plan. The war was wrapping up after Japan was bombed, but the military draft continued because there were still many dangers all over the world, especially in the Pacific. My father was with the Army Corps of Engineers, so our family moved around a lot. I was nearing the end of my senior year. I had attended five high schools in four years. I played basketball and baseball at every high school I attended. At my last school, I realized I was too small for football, so I joined the tumbling team and marching band. I took just seven lessons on the trombone and learned how to march. My short time in the marching band turned out to be one of the best things that happened for my navy career. My draft number was really low, and I knew I would be called up. So I enlisted in the Navy, just under the wire of what was still considered World War II. We would have headed for Japan except the Bomb hit and Japan surrendered soon after on September 2, 1945. I was off to Navy Boot Camp. The US Navy Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland trained hundreds of thousands of navy recruits during the war and prepared them for service on land and sea. But I had been prepared for military life in other ways I couldn't have foreseen. Right off the bat, it turned out I had better training from my time in the marching band than we got in bootcamp. Since I already knew how to march, I didn't get fussed at and didn't get awakened at 3am to go out and learn how to march. The second-class petty officer in charge appreciated my marching ability and put me in a leading position. Plus, since my dad's work kept him away, I had learned how to help my parents and be the man of the house. I was given lots of responsibility and had even learned how to clean well. That, too, would come in handy. Inspections were a big deal in boot camp. I knew how to keep my room clean and had learned how to clean up our houses after moving from place to place. So, the officer put me in charge of inspection—especially the bathrooms. Our inspection went with flying colors. I graduated from Boot Camp and received a plaque as the honor man for my entire company. Knowing how to march and clean helped move me ahead. I found out early that if you just do what you're told, it sure was easier than doing what you're not told. For one thing, I got to sleep all night. After graduation from boot camp, they had a big parade with people from the community and all four companies. We had one honor man from each of the four companies, and I was our honor man. We received our honors alongside those who had just returned from war. Now, we awaited our orders. To be continued tomorrow… To watch several short videos of Harper Brame sharing his stories, click here to view "Witness to War"

by Harper Brame as told to Marilynn Chadwick I was barely 18 when I entered the Navy. But I have a lifetime of memories from my tour of duty as a submarine sailor. It's been such a long time since I've thought about that blue whale. It's funny how things can suddenly come to mind out of nowhere. It's sort of like the time we had a hot running torpedo on the sub. The captain quickly sent us to the front of the sub where we went below if we didn't have required duties to bring it under control. There was a very real danger of explosion, and we had 24 loaded torpedoes. If that thing had gone off, I'd have beaten the rocket to the moon! I had heard that some torpedoes, when they finished their run, would randomly explode. Or they got too hot and heated up the dynamite. But our torpedomen, doing what they knew best, got the thing stopped. In more technical language, on a World War II diesel submarine, a "hot running torpedo" was one that accidentally activated its propulsion system while still inside its launch tube. The risk of an internal explosion was one of the most immediate dangers we faced on the submarine. That was just one of the many potential problems aboard a diesel sub in that era. During World War II, the United States lost 52 of their 200 submarines. That meant about one out of four were lost, making submarine service one of the most dangerous assignments. Over 3500 sailors perished. Forty subs were sunk by the enemy, but 12 went down due to mechanical failures, including hot running torpedoes. Some were lost for unknown reasons, never to be heard from again. Submarines played a vital role in the Second World War. It took a lot of sacrifice and hard work from their crews. It was a dangerous job that left people submerged for hours to days in unfriendly waters. Somebody needs to speak about this part of our country's history. I don't know how many have seen the things I have seen, and there are not too many World War II submarine veterans still alive to tell about it. That's why I'm telling these stories. I want my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and the next generation, to hear my stories about a great blue whale. But more importantly, I want to leave a legacy of life lessons about the cost of our freedoms, and of course, the value of our family and the faith we hold so dear. To watch several short videos of Harper Brame sharing his stories, click here to view "Witness to War"

by Marilynn Chadwick "The earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small." Psalm 104:24b,25 NIV …Continued from Friday… My Dad paused before continuing the story and got real quiet. He was thinking back to the astounding size of the creature he had seen. "I was up in the shears of the conning tower. Back then, if you were on lookout duty, you had to always scan the horizon for threats like enemy ships or aircraft. You would also keep watch for any navigational hazards. We were an extra set of 'eyes' for the submarine when it was on the surface. But we never in a million years expected to see what appeared in front of our very own eyes that afternoon." "I just don't have the words to describe it." "It" was a great blue whale that had surfaced a few yards from Dad's submarine. "It was like the end of the world coming up," he said. "I think if it would have come up under us, it might have tipped the sub over. She had a calf with her that would have been huge on her own, if not next to her enormous mama. I just don't have words to describe how large it looked. The 'fountain of youth' was coming out of her breathing apparatus. I only wish she could have stayed up longer. It was a once in a lifetime experience, and I've often wondered how many people have ever seen a great blue whale." Dad had grown up on a farm surrounded by family and extended family. There was always lots to learn and someone to ask about everything. Uncle Harold, who lived to be 104, used to call my dad the "curiosity box." "So if you are a curious sort like me," Daddy told the enthralled children, "you might be interested in a few facts about the great blue whale. My interest was sparked and I have since learned that a great blue whale can weigh as much as 30 elephants—that's 200 tons or 400,000 pounds! Blue whales can grow more than 100 feet long, the largest animal to have ever existed." "Not only is the blue whale the largest animal ever to live on the earth, it's also the loudest. Blue whales are the loudest animals on the planet. A jet engine registers at 140 decibels, while the call of a blue whale reaches 180 decibels. Their 'whale language' can be heard up to 1,000 miles away!" "That was eighty years ago." Daddy told the children, "But I still can remember the awe and wonder of seeing that great blue whale like it was yesterday." This story inspired us to start writing about Dad's memories from the war*. Life lessons learned and the importance of passing on a legacy. I encourage you to find a way to capture your own memories about your faith, family, and freedom. Talk to your parents or grandparents or start writing your own memories for your children and grandchildren! *To watch several short videos of Harper Brame sharing his stories, click here to view "Witness to War"

by Marilynn Chadwick "Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps" Psalm 148:7 It was Christmas Day and the entire family had gathered at our home. Our grandchildren gazed at their great grandfather with wonder as he unwrapped his special Christmas gift. We had just finished Christmas dinner and the children crowded around "Great Grandaddy" as he opened his present. What could it be? The mysterious gift was packaged in an unusual antique box that had to be at least as old as Harper Brame, their ninety-eight-year-old great grandfather, and my father. Great Grandaddy still had his razor-sharp mind, a twinkle in his eye, and an easy laugh. Turns out the gift box had been the carrying case for an antique auto harp, a hand-held stringed instrument often used to accompany folk music. Our good friend George had stumbled upon this beautifully carved box in a mountain antique shop and realized it was the perfect box to contain his special, hand-crafted gift for my dad. The dining room filled with gasps from children and grownups as my dad delicately unwrapped his gift. It was an exact replica of the USS Besugo, the US World War II era submarine Great Grandaddy had served on during the war. George, a more recent war veteran himself, had spent months painstakingly and lovingly assembling and painting the intricate model sub. George was as excited to give the submarine as Daddy was to receive it. "Wow, I've never seen a real submarine before," exclaimed little Joshua. "Tell us a submarine story, Great Grandaddy," the children pleaded. My Dad paused, carefully examining every inch of his new "toy." His mind drifted back to an earlier time. He searched for a memory he thought the children would enjoy. As he told this story, other memories from his war years flooded back, leading to a collection of childhood stories, growing up years, and life lessons. Some are stories I remember him telling me in my childhood, but this story was not one I had heard before. "Well, did I ever tell you about the time I saw the largest animal to live on the earth?" The children settled in, eager for the story. Great Grandaddy continued, "It happened one day when three of us sailors were standing lookout on our submarine deck. All of a sudden, our Captain cried out, "Y'all look ahead!" "There right in front of us was about the biggest thing I'd ever seen in my whole life..." To be continued on Monday.

by Marilynn Chadwick "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:3 NIV Daddy is one of the few remaining World War II era submarine veterans, and the last man still alive from his submarine, the USS Besugo. "Guess I'll have to turn out the lights," he smiles. He and my mom vividly remembered the war—they didn't take our freedoms for granted. So, growing up, neither did we. One of the ways they helped us appreciate our heritage was to tell lots of stories—especially about our family. I grew up hearing about Daddy's submarine adventures in the South China Sea. About rations and blackouts, and brave young friends who lost their lives in the war. Mom and Dad were also proud of our family's long history in this country dating back to before the Revolutionary War. Captain Simon Hunt, from Daddy's mother's side, was one of the original 80 minutemen who fought the British in the famous battle on the Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. It was on that bridge that the "shot heard round the world" signaled the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Our youngest, Michael Hunt Chadwick, loved hearing his stories about the Hunt family and his namesake. Education was a given in our home. Mom and Dad were both college graduates back in the day where that was not common. Mom had been the valedictorian of her small country high school and Dad was a campus leader and played basketball at his high school, finishing early to go into the navy. He qualified for submarine school and left for his tour of duty, then returned after World War II to go to college at Virginia Tech on the GI Bill. Mom's mother, my Grandmother Eunice, taught first grade for about 50 years. I found her fascinating. One of eight children, her parents had died when she was very young, back in the late 1800s. She left home at an early age and somehow managed to go to college and become a teacher. Then she hopped on a cross-country train going west and taught school in various places along the way. My dad's mother, Grandmother Lois, was another special role model for me, and I adored her. Like my Grandmother Eunice, she also attended college and played on the very first women's basketball team at William & Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia. But it was an episode at a recent family Christmas gathering and our grandchildren's fascination with one of Daddy's stories that sparked our interest in putting some of his memories into writing. I'm hearing some of my dad's stories, especially about his time on the submarine, for the very first time. Tomorrow, you'll read about one of those adventures.

by Marilynn Chadwick "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." Galatians 5:1 Daddy was always proud of his family. Not only his parents and siblings, but also his grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. He often shared stories from his growing up years and said the way he felt about his family reminded him of the old country music song by Merle Haggard, "The Roots of My Raising Run Deep." Growing up, I was incredibly fortunate to know my dad's parents, my grandparents, along with a wonderful collection of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Daddy often talked about his grandparents, with whom his family had shared farmland. I grew up hearing about "Mama Hunt" and "Papa Hunt" who had come from Massachusetts by way of Minnesota, to launch their sawmill business among the hardwoods of eastern Virginia. As a boy, Daddy spent a lot of time talking with Mama Hunt during the years leading up to World War II. She was quite interested in international politics and world affairs. She stayed up to date on the unrest brewing over in Europe through the radio broadcasts by the famed H. V. Kaltenborn. Dad was a young teen when World War II broke out, and the United States declared war after the shocking attack at Pearl Harbor in 1941. Dad's entire family became involved in the war effort, along with families all over our nation. His older cousins served in North Africa. A favorite cousin was a nurse in a medic tent on the battlefields of north Africa. His aunts and uncles were invested in the farming efforts, victory gardens, rations, and blackouts. He talks about how the country united. As he put it, "We were all in." Shortly before his eighteenth birthday, Dad entered the Navy. Japan had just surrendered, but the violent aftermath of World War II continued, erupting into the Korean War, China's Civil War, and what became known as the Cold War. After reporting to Pearl Harbor, Dad ended up in China during the turbulence leading up to the takeover by Communist Mao Tse Tung. Dad always said that any sacrifices made by his family were to "protect our freedom" and fight against the totalitarian regimes in Germany, Japan, and the Axis forces, and other threats to our democracy. "After those difficult years of the Great Depression, the war effort united us as a family and as a nation," he said. "Even as a youth, I knew that our freedom, our family, and our faith were well worth the fight.

by Marilynn Chadwick "Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him'." Genesis 2:18 During our growing up years, Mom was more than just Dad's companion. She was what the Bible refers to in Genesis 2:18 as his "helper." The original word in Hebrew is ezer, which means a strong, often heroic, source of support. Mom was both strong and kind and she was Daddy's rock. Mom stopped teaching school when the kids came—family was everything to her. She especially loved Dad's parents and his three sisters and their families. Dad's job required quite a bit of travel, but Mom never complained. She kept life going for her three daughters. But invariably, most of our life crises seemed to hit when Daddy was away. Like the time I tried to do a cannonball dive into three feet of water and didn't tuck quite fast enough, hitting my head on the bottom of the swimming pool. After Mom and I took a fast trip to the emergency room and 27 stitches later, Daddy finally made it home. Recently, when I asked Daddy to describe my mom's strength, he pointed back to that incident. "I never worried when I was traveling," he said. "Even when you cracked your head open, I could always count on your mom to handle things. She was always so calm." Daddy's right. Mom honored him through her strong resolve and her ability to keep the family on track. The popular World War II expression "Keep Calm and Carry On" was originally created to inspire the Brits to keep up their courage during the war. And I think it also describes my mom quite well. Mom and Dad suffered two especially hard losses as a young couple. When I was two, Mom delivered a near term baby girl who died shortly after she was born. Today's neonatal technology could easily have saved the baby. I have no memories of this incident. Tragically, the very same thing happened again when I was five. This one I vividly remember. There were two of us girls now. My sister Susan and me. Mom went into premature labor again and delivered a baby—another nearly full-term baby girl, who died soon after birth. Mom, just 28 at the time, somehow managed to keep life moving forward. She had a quiet, but deep faith. I'm sure it was her faith that gave her the strength to persevere. She and Daddy kept hope alive, and two years later welcomed my youngest sister, Janice, whose name means "God's gracious gift," into our family. When I look back at those times in my mother's life, I don't know how she kept going. I'm amazed at how Mom and Dad refused to allow those terrible losses to overwhelm our lives as children. They didn't retreat to fear or hold us back from an active and happy childhood. They bravely kept moving forward—for us. Evidence, again, of their courageous and enduring faith. For more inspiration and to learn about honor within marriage, click here to download a free copy of Eight Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick and Eight Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick.

by Marilynn Chadwick "Let marriage be held in honor among all…" Hebrews 13:4a When people meet my 98-year-old dad, they often ask me, "What's his secret?" "How does he look so young and stay so sharp?" Daddy would be the first to tell you that part of his secret is that he had a great wife. When my mom went home to be with the Lord three years ago, she and my dad had been married just shy of 70 years. My mother was bedridden for the last ten of those years. A ruptured appendix and complications from subsequent surgeries robbed the once robust grandmother of her ability to walk. Some of her ability to think and talk also faded. But enough of her brilliant mind remained, so that conversation was possible, though difficult. Daddy insisted upon caring for her at home with the help of nurses' aides to help him with wheelchair transfers and daily care. If you asked them, Mom and Dad would each say they "married up." Mom would always tell us three girls how lucky she was to find Daddy. And Dad said he was just glad his "turn in line" with the other young men who wanted to date Mom finally came. To which Mom would answer back, "Well I was hoping you would ask me out!" One afternoon, near the end of her life, Daddy looked at my mom, lying in the bed after he had just brushed her hair, and said to me, "Doesn't she look pretty?" Few can imagine the daunting challenges Mom and Dad faced on a daily basis just so she could live at home. Daddy did the grocery shopping, the cooking, the cleaning, the laundry. There were medical procedures he performed each day. Catheters, baths, diapers. There were occasional trips to the emergency room and hospitalization because of infections. In good times and in hard times, Mom and Dad honored their wedding vows. That, just by itself, is a beautiful legacy which they passed on to David and me, to our children, and their children. But there is so much more. Sometimes when we're in the middle of daily life, we don't realize the truly heroic nature of the people right in front of us. It all seems so normal at the time. As I reflect, I feel enormous gratitude for my parents' sacrifices that paved the way for the life I have today. And especially for my faith, my family, and my freedom. Daddy and I are working together to collect and preserve these and other memories. We're also including important life lessons he learned as a World War II era submarine sailor. My dad especially wants to pass on this legacy to his great grandchildren, and as he puts it, "anyone else who will listen." So, over the next two weeks, I'll be sharing life lessons I've learned from my dad. For more inspiration and to learn about honor within marriage, click here to download a free copy of Eight Great Ways to Honor Your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick and Eight Great Ways to Honor Your Wife by David Chadwick.

by David Chadwick Matthew 2:19-23 is how we will wrap up our study of the Wise Men. Today also completes our eight-week series where we have looked at the many characters who found themselves connected to the cradle of Jesus. Herod finally died in 4 A.D. While in Egypt, an angel of the Lord appeared once again to Joseph in a dream. He told Joseph that it was now safe to return to Israel. Joseph rose and went back to Nazareth in Israel. As I have heard my daughter say to her children, obedience brings blessing, and disobedience brings discipline. Thankfully, once again, Joseph obeyed. Immediately. Fully. Completely. At this point in Joseph's life, he was very skilled in hearing the Lord and responding with both obedience and faith. Joseph heard that Archelaus, Herod's son, was now ruling over Judea, and he was not a good guy either. So, Joseph was afraid to go back to Bethlehem. Then it appears in verse 22 that Joseph may have had another dream with a warning that caused him to go to the district of Galilee. Back they went, specifically to Nazareth, the town where Mary and Joseph lived before Jesus's birth. You know there must have been some hesitation with this decision. Mary and Joseph had to live among many whispers that this child had been conceived before marriage. Others may have wondered if Mary had committed adultery. These rumors and shadows would always be there in Jesus's life and upbringing. But at least they had familiarity there, a carpentry business, something they most assuredly did not have in Egypt. And in spite of knowing the whispers surrounding them, they still obeyed! Perhaps this return to Nazareth would, in part, fulfill the prophecy that said that the Messiah would be despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3). We also know that Nazareth was despised in the time of Jesus (John 1:46). But this part of the story shows, once again, that God can take the most despised, broken, insignificant people and places and use them for his glory. He does not need ability, but availability. Mary and Joseph were available. The Wise Men were available. And most of all, Jesus was available. And through all of these characters' availability, the world was forever and positively changed through a baby in a cradle. And from that moment on, the ministry of Jesus was ready to begin! Explore it further in your own study as you come face to face with the MAIN character at the cradle… Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior of the world.

by David Chadwick Herod came to the realization that he had been tricked by the Wise Men. He found out that they had departed and gone home instead of coming back to tell him where the new baby king was located. Now, Herod did not know fully who this baby was, but he knew enough to make him afraid. His paranoia heightened as he knew his throne was threatened. Fear makes people do crazy things! The most devastating part of this biblical account is that Herod, in his fury, sent out an edict to kill all male children in Bethlehem who were two years old or under. Herod's genocide fulfilled the prophecy in Jeremiah 31:15 about the groaning of Rahab. Imagine the tears, sadness, laments, and broken hearts of parents. The horror of Herod's actions is incomprehensible. He calculated from the Wise Men's arrival to the time of the child's birth and landed at the age of two years. This was a Satanic act. Demonic to the core! Again, Herod's actions were an attempt to destroy the seed of the woman who would crush Satan's head, as prophesied in Genesis 3:15 after the Fall of humanity. All evil in this world finds its ultimate source in Satan. Every child that dies, every genocide that occurs—especially against the Jews—but ALL EVIL, is caused by Satan. He tempts our fallen, selfish hearts by filling us with things like envy, jealousy, and selfish ambition. When we obey his temptations, anyone can be vulnerable to sinning in the worst possible ways. These are the kinds of terrible situations that cause many people to step back and wonder how a "good God" could ever let such bad things to happen. Especially to innocent children! I fully empathize with this question. We must go back to the reality of sin in these moments of questioning. When sin entered the world, brokenness became normal. Evil was unleashed on all of us. Outside of the grace and mercy of Jesus, there would be no hope for any of us. The moment sin came on the scene, destruction became everyone's destiny, and nothing could be worked for good. But God, rich in mercy, created a hope through Jesus (Ephesians 2:4). Now, for those who love Jesus, everything works together for good (Romans 8:28). Yes, even bad, horrific, catastrophic things. As you've heard me say many times, I looked up "all" in the dictionary, and guess what it means? It means ALL! And always remember this as well: Jesus came as a baby to grow up, die on a cross, be raised from the dead to defeat the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). In you. In the world. Forever. This baby born at a cradle would carry a message and live a life that would permanently alter Satan's previously existing narrative that destruction is the end of the story! While we live in a broken world, believe that Jesus is coming back to permanently make all things new! Hallelujah!

by David Chadwick Yesterday, we looked at the part in the story where the Wise Men found Jesus. Did you know that the three gifts from the Wise Men do NOT mean there were only three wise men? The Magi most likely traveled with a large number of attendants. There could have been numerous Magi who followed the star and found themselves with the Christ child. Today, let's look at Matthew 2:13-15. After the Magi departed to their home, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream. While described as an angel of the Lord, could it have been Gabriel again? Biblically, Gabriel is always sent from God to give messages about the Messiah. This dream that followed the Wise Men's visit came with a message that was very clear and intended to protect the Messiah. Notice how God uses dreams throughout the Bible as a powerful tool to warn, encourage, and share insights that a human mind, in its awake state, might otherwise miss. The angel warned Joseph to "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him" (Matthew 2:13). Herod was motivated by Satan, who wanted the "seed" of Genesis 3:15 completely destroyed. Throughout biblical history, this has been Satan's consistent attempt to thwart God's plan of sending his Son, the "seed" into the world. But it never works. It always backfires. Anything he kills ALWAYS rises up stronger. Joseph obeyed. Immediately. Fully. Completely. There is really no other way to obey! By night, he took Mary and Jesus, departed, and went to Egypt. Egypt was a part of the Roman Empire. There were no borders. They were no immigrants. They remained there until the death of Herod. This part of the story fulfills the prophecy in Hosea 11:1 that says, "Out of Egypt I called my son." Israel was called out of Egypt with Moses to go to the Promised Land. And this time, God called his Savior back into Egypt to be protected for two years. Egypt provided safety for them because it was outside Herod's jurisdiction. Don't you wonder where they stayed? Who did they meet? How did God provide for them in Egypt? Was there something that happened there to help sow seeds for the gospel to come to Egypt years later? So many questions! In everything, Mary and Joseph experienced the protection of their Father in heaven. God is our safe place. He is our shelter. He is our protector from life's storms. And an ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1-3).

by David Chadwick Matthew 2:7-12 is where the story of the Wise Men continues. After Herod heard of this Christ child they came to worship, Herod was troubled. While not exactly described with these words, one can assume that he grew in anger and jealousy at the thought of someone coming after his throne… especially a baby! Herod's desires were nefarious to the core. Verse 7 says that "Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared." He pretended to be an ally and told the Wise Men that he wanted to know exactly where in Bethlehem this child was born so that he could go and worship him as well. What a deceptive liar! The Wise Men listened to Herod and then went on their way. They followed the star with great joy until it rested over the place where they would find the child. Seeing the star, "they rejoiced exceedingly and with great joy" (Matthew 2:10). Verse 11 says they went "into the house." Don't you wonder whose house this was? Maybe some of Joseph's relatives? This verse implies that they were no longer in the manger. So, again, while not technically at the physical cradle, their lives had a divine intersection with the arrival of the Savior by way of a cradle in Bethlehem. The Wise Men saw the child with Mary, and Scripture says they fell down and worshiped him. Even as a young child! They just knew! The profound reality of Jesus as Lord is seen all over this story. Traveling from Babylon, most likely from pagan backgrounds, they recognized whispers of the one, true God revealed in the stars and in this small child. These Magi opened up their treasures and gave them to Mary. Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. Precious commodities. Imagine Mary pondering all of this in her heart: Gabriel's appearance, Elizabeth's story, the birth of John, the shepherds' visit, the words from Simeon and Anna, and now these Magi. Remember that in their purification ceremony all they had to offer were turtledoves and not a lamb? A symbol of poverty? Now they have boundless riches! Thankfully, as we see in Matthew 2:17, the Wise Men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. They had enough discernment to know Herod's evil intent. So after finding the Christ child in Bethlehem, they did not do as Herod had asked and instead, protected the location of the Messiah and went home another way. Let's be like the Magi in these two ways. May we always recognize the presence of Jesus when we see it. And may we always steward and protect what God reveals to us, even in the face of intimidation, evil plots, and fear to do otherwise. And once we have discovered the Christ child, to go home a different way. Never again to walk in sin, but righteousness for He is righteous!

by David Chadwick This week, we wrap up our Characters at the Cradle series by looking at the Wise Men, or the Magi, as they are sometimes called. If you have ever heard the Christmas carol "We Three Kings," you have heard of the Wise Men. An account of the Wise Men's story is only found in Matthew 2, not in Luke's gospel. So, we are going to take a break from our verse-by-verse study of Luke and turn to Matthew to understand the significant role these characters played at the cradle. It would be an oversight to not acknowledge the Wise Men's place in God's story. Turn with me to Matthew 2:1-6. Verse 1 tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the city where King David was born, which is about 6 miles from Jerusalem. As Anna said in Luke 2:38, Jesus would be the redemption of Jerusalem. But why Bethlehem? What is so important about this little city from which King David also came? Well, it is important because God made a covenant in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 that Jesus was to come through David's kingly heritage. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Matthew also points out that these were the days when Herod was king. He reigned from 37 B.C. to 4 A.D. From the tribe of Edom, Herod was known to be hostile to the Jews. If you have read the book of Genesis, you should remember Jacob and Esau. A family feud existed between Esau, the head of the Edomites, and his brother Jacob, the one God chose to found the Jews. Eventually, birthed through this lineage of Edomites, came King Herod, and he was evil and wicked in every possible way. The Wise Men came from the east to Jerusalem. Biblical historians think it was probably around two years after Jesus's birth. It probably took them a couple of months to arrive from Babylon, which was 800 miles away. Once they got to Jerusalem, they went to ask King Herod where they could find this king. Herod was "troubled" hearing this because he saw this king as a threat to his throne. He assembled his chief priests and scribes and asked the Magi where this child was born. They respond, "In Bethlehem," which perfectly fulfilled the prophecy in Micah 5:2, given 700-plus years beforehand. As astrologers and wise men, do you think the Magi studied the Old Testament prophets, perhaps even back to the days of Daniel? Did Babylonian "wise men" initially learn about the coming of this Messiah through the Hebrew prophets in captivity there? The Bible says they followed a star. Maybe a supernova? Could it have even been an angelic appearance that looked like a star? Or a conjunction of planets? Wherever this bright light came from, it led them precisely to a house with the King of the Jews, the baby they had come to worship. So, while technically not at the manger's cradle, they still saw the Christ child in his younger years. The providence of God, hundreds of years after being spoken by Daniel in Babylon, was perfectly fulfilled in that moment Jesus was born. What a mighty God we serve!

by David Chadwick Have you ever experienced something in your life that you had to wait a long time to see realized? Do you have any testimonies in your life of waiting for the Lord to answer a prayer and finally seeing it come to pass? This week's character at the cradle is Anna. She waited a long time to see the promise of her coming Messiah fulfilled, and she eventually saw it happen. Anna SAW Jesus in human form after all of her times worshipping, fasting, and praying in the temple. Described by Luke as a prophetess, she was able to witness all of her prophecies fulfilled. What did Anna speak over Jesus? Luke 2:38 says, "And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." To everyone who would listen, Anna said that this child was the one sent to redeem Jerusalem. Jerusalem. The holy city. The city of David. A central part of biblical history and of world history. But for no other reason than it being a profoundly important part of God's story. There is no river near it. It is not on the oceanfront. It is on a mount called Zion, which is surrounded by wilderness. And yet, it is the focal point of worldwide tension even today. As prophesied by the Old Testament prophets, Jerusalem will be the city that nations will attack in the end times. It will be the city that Jesus rescues. And it will be the city from which Jesus will rule in the establishment of his eternal kingdom. Don't allow anyone to convince you that Israel is not in God's end times plans. Anna's prophecy was especially powerful because back then, Jerusalem was controlled by the iron-fisted Romans. And before that, the Greeks, the Persians, and the Babylonians. Even in recent history, for the last 2,000 years, up until 1967, Jerusalem was trampled underfoot by Gentiles. But this won't always be the case! One day, Jesus WILL return to Jerusalem and rule forever from there, and the redemption of Jerusalem will happen in full. Anna knew that Jerusalem was key to God's eternal economy and that Jesus's birth was the key for the redemption of Jerusalem. We must all see its importance as well as we wait expectantly for that glorious day when Jesus brings full redemption to Jerusalem and to the world. This WILL happen. God's Word says so.

by David Chadwick This week we are looking at Anna, a beautiful figure in the early days of Jesus's life. At 84 years old, this woman shows us a real-life example of what happens when someone abides in Christ. Jesus says in John 15:4, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." There is no replacement for a life that has been marked by the Spirit, is full of the Spirit, and is producing the fruit of the Spirit. As we saw yesterday, Anna regularly worshiped, fasted, and prayed in the temple, even at the age of 84! She was a prophetess who sought God's wisdom for Israel's future. Don't you think that Anna must have seen baby Jesus while worshiping, fasting, and praying in the temple day and night? At that moment, she just knew, deep within her soul, that he was the Messiah, the one for whom she and many others longed, prayed, and hoped. How do we know that she saw him? Because Luke 1:38 says, "And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God…" All her years of waiting were now realized, and all of her prophecies about the coming of the Messiah were now satisfied. At that very moment when her eyes saw Jesus, her prayers were answered. She saw the one who would redeem Israel and the world. You and me. When your prayers are answered, what else can you do except give thanks? That is what Anna did. It is also what we should do whenever God finally gives us our breakthrough. We should also train ourselves to praise God BEFORE the breakthrough occurs, believing we've received, knowing God's promises are true, and claiming them before we actually see them. I want to challenge each of you as you read about the life of Anna. Do you have a life that would recognize Jesus if he were standing right in front of you? Anna knew it was Jesus because she KNEW Jesus. Too often, people learn about Jesus through other people but don't actually encounter him personally. An abiding life is marked by worship, prayer, and fasting. It prioritizes King Jesus and wants to see glimpses of his kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.

by David Chadwick Anna is this week's character at the cradle. Her story is found alongside Simeon's story in the temple where Mary and Joseph took Jesus to present him to the Lord at their purification ceremony. Anna lost her husband after being married seven years and is described by Luke as a prophetess and a widow at 84 years of age. She did not depart from the temple, seeking God with all her heart. How did she seek God? Luke made sure to outline very precisely how Anna lived a life that was fully dedicated to seeking the Lord. First, she worshiped. Evidently she had a deep love for worshiping God and being in his presence. Worship seemed to be the foundation of everything else that Anna did to cultivate a deep walk with her Creator. I can almost picture in my imagination a faithful, older woman who loved to simply sit and praise God. Do you think she sang the psalms? Maybe meditating on the greatness of her God? Do you think she replayed the stories she had heard through generations of the Messiah who would come? Secondly, the Bible says that Anna worshiped with fasting. When the Bible references fasting, it was typically from food. Fasting forces our bodies to be in submission to the Spirit who lives in us. Every growl of the stomach should remind us to seek God for our needs, our hopes, and our desires. As followers of Jesus, we, too, should practice this spiritual discipline of fasting. Did you know that even in the secular world, medical professionals speak to the benefits of fasting for your physical health? But remember, as evidenced in Isaiah 58, that God cares more about our hearts than anything. Whatever we abstain from, God's desire is that we increase in holiness, purity, humility, and repentance. So, maybe it's food. Or maybe you need to take a break from social media, entertainment, shopping, or anything that could take the place of God. So that you can fully and clearly focus on him and his promises to you. Finally, Anna worshiped with prayer. Prayer is simply a conversation with God. Anna most likely expressed her love for God, and God expressed his love for her. She did this "night and day." Day and night, night and day, she worshiped, fasted, and prayed. Even at 84 years of age! Anna should be an example for all of us of how to abide no matter our age. No wonder Dr. Luke wanted to include Anna in the Christmas story. What a godly woman who lived in adoration of her loving God!

by David Chadwick Anna, a prophetess, is this week's character at the cradle. The name Anna means "grace" and "favor." True to her name's meaning, Anna was a beautiful display of the grace that would fully be made known to the world through the life of Jesus. Anna was also the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. Do you think Dr. Luke interviewed Anna personally? He certainly gave details of her family line in great specificity. I can't help but wonder what kind of father Phanuel was to have raised such a wonderful daughter like Anna. A really good one I'd bet! Along with Simeon, Anna was in the temple when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus for the purification ceremony. Her presence there was divinely ordained, and both she and Simeon were used to prophetically confirm all Gabriel had already told Mary and Joseph. In the context of this story, we see in verse 36 that Anna was advanced in years. Let me first stop and point out the importance of knowing people who are older than you. Proverbs 16:31 says, "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life." It is reflected in those who have gained a measure of wisdom simply because of the number of years they've lived. We also see that Anna had gotten married later in life and had been married for seven years before her husband died. She clearly understood grief and the sadness of losing a loved one. At the age of 84, she found herself a widow after only a short time of being married. Again, notice the specifics of Luke's writing. We are able to deduce based on his fine details that she was a virgin until she was married and now lives alone again. Anna was a shining display of maturity and integrity and the Biblical virtue of chastity. Paul talks about the command to honor older women in all purity in 1 Timothy 5:2. Then in Titus 2:3-5, Paul addresses how older women are to teach younger women how to be self-controlled, wise, and pure. Anna's life modeled the exhortations Paul had for young people. This is such a good message for younger women and men today. Find older mentors who really love the Lord and have lived a faithful life to the Lord. Let them speak into your life. Learn from them. There are certain things that can only be learned by someone who has lived life. Learn from their stories of how to get up when knocked down, how to persevere, how to pray, how to be faithful to your spouse, and how to live for God's "Well done."

by David Chadwick Following Simeon, our next character at the cradle is Anna. Join me in Luke 2:36-38. In just three simple verses, we will learn so much about the life of Anna. Described in the Bible as a "prophetess," Anna had a spiritual gift from God to be able to rightly hear the heart of God and declare it accordingly for particular situations, sometimes even for future situations. In this case, Anna was testifying and prophesying to the fact that Jesus was the fulfillment of all of God's promises. We know that the prophets in the Old Testament were from God because their prophecies came true. Over 300 were about the coming of the Messiah, and every one of them was fulfilled in Jesus. The probability factor of all these 300 coming true, given hundreds of years before Jesus came into the world, is astonishing. Let's take a look at some of the notable ones. Micah 5:2 says the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, 700-plus years before Jesus's birth. Psalm 22 prophesies of Jesus's death, 900-plus years before Jesus died on the cross. Isaiah 53 prophesied 600-plus years before Jesus's death that a Messiah would come to pay for our sins. The probability factor of just eight prophecies to be accurately fulfilled in specificity through Jesus is off the charts! Much less 300 of them accurately fulfilled! We can wholeheartedly trust the reliability of God's Word, at least in part, because of fulfilled prophecies. Don't forget that one out of four verses in the Bible is prophetic. In the New Testament, they point not to Jesus's First Coming, but to his Second Coming. While this hasn't happened yet, these prophecies will also come to pass. Are you living each day in anticipation of his Second Coming? It will happen! Are you ready? I am! I can't wait for this glorious day! But for this week, let's look at Anna. She was a widow. Therefore, she knew heartbreak and loss. She loved God. Therefore, she trusted God in her pain and hurt. But she also exercised a gift of prophecy that God had given her about Jesus. She saw in this baby in the temple the redemption of all humanity. The way to heaven for those who believe in him. May her words of prophecy give us all great hope this week and beyond.

by David Chadwick Luke 2:33-35 wraps up this week's character at the cradle named Simeon, a righteous and devout man who knew of the Christ child's arrival through the Holy Spirit's revelation. He just prophesied over Jesus and knew that God had just fulfilled a promise he had made to him to let him see the salvation of the Lord through the Messiah before he passed away. Mary and Joseph marveled at all that Simeon had prophesied over their child. They obviously knew all of this to be true from the angelic visitation from Gabriel giving them insight about Jesus. But can you imagine how it felt to hear another person confirm all of God's promises over their son? This baby boy named Jesus. The Savior of the world. Called by God. Miraculously conceived. Simeon blessed both Jesus and his parents with his word of prophecy and encouragement. Mary and Joseph needed courage as they parented this special child. Simeon then spoke a special, specific word to Mary about the appointed child God had given her. "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:35). It's as if the Lord used Simeon to take Mary aside and speak words directly to her soul to help her endure the calling she had ahead of her. This child would divide Israel; some would believe in Christ, and others would not. Simeon knew this. "A sign that is opposed" alluded to that great opposition that would come upon Jesus. "The sword" referred to the future crucifixion of Jesus. The accuracy of Simeon's word would prove to be true over the course of Jesus's life. As Mary saw the opposition arise over her son, I can imagine Simeon's words came back to her remembrance. Paul says that prophecy is meant to be used as a weapon for believers. They are words we should use to fight in the midst of opposition and spiritual warfare. I am sure Mary did this. As Jesus began to be scrutinized and questioned. As the anger of Rome and religious leaders intensified. As she stood at the base of the cross and watched her son die. Even in Mary's sorrow, she had faith. She believed that God had sent her his son to carry in her womb, to raise up, and to love deeply. Simeon's words gave her courage to live this out. Mary, too, was an essential part of God's redemptive history. You and I have a role to play as well. You are not just saved for eternity. You are saved to build the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

by David Chadwick We are following the story of Simeon. Mary and Joseph were in the temple with Jesus, awaiting his purification according to the Law of Moses. Simeon had just realized that Jesus was the Messiah, the fulfillment of all of the prophecies. Let's keep reading to see what happens with this character at the cradle whose life intersects with the Son of God. As we learned yesterday, Simeon's life was led by the Holy Spirit. On the very day that Jesus and his family were going in for Jesus's purification, Simeon, who had been waiting for years for "the consolation of Israel" to be born, was led to the temple by the Holy Spirit at the exact moment when Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus would be there. This alone should be enough to stir all of our faith to believe that God is always working from every angle, with every person, to accomplish his plans on the earth. Nothing. And I mean nothing is outside of God's sovereign control and timing! God knew when Jesus would be in the temple. Therefore, the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, guided Simeon, this devout and righteous man, to the temple at that exact moment. In doing so, the Father answered all of Simeon's prayers for years as Simeon came face to face with his Messiah. According to Luke 2:28-32, Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms, blessed God, and then began to prophesy over the child, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." Can you imagine what Simeon must have been feeling at this moment? He was fully aware that everything happening was divinely authored by God himself. One can presume that he was fully present and fully aware of the miraculous majesty of the moment. If I can, let me encourage you for a moment in this new year. Stay alert. Don't become numb to all that God is doing in your life and in the lives of those around you. So often, in a broken world, people become hardened to the ordained wonders of the Lord, to the little whispers of grace, and to his glimpses of glory. Like Simeon, keep your eyes open to the promises fulfilled all around you. Simeon knew he could die in peace after seeing Jesus; the greatest desire of his heart had been met. He knew he was holding in his arms the only one who could save all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. This baby would become a light to Gentiles on how to live and how to go to heaven, and Israel would be glorified through his life. Through the life of Jesus, Israel's purpose in salvation history was unfolding.

by David Chadwick The birth of Jesus changed the course of history forever. God, in flesh, came to mankind in the greatest rescue mission the world has ever seen. Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem for Jesus's purification ceremony, a cultural practice in the Jewish faith where the parents presented their child to the Lord. They brought a humble sacrifice of two turtledoves and two young pigeons. It was all they could afford, but God always honors whatever sacrifice someone is able to bring. Today, let's look at Luke 2:25-27, where a man in Jerusalem named Simeon comes on the scene. Verse 25 says, "This man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him." While there is not a great deal revealed to us in this verse about Simeon, what is revealed is important. Simeon was a man of integrity who was dedicated to the Lord. As a strong man of faith, he was contending for what God had promised to Israel, and he was awaiting the day that God would come and rescue and comfort his chosen people. Aware of and alert to all of God's unfolding plans, Simeon must have been a student of Scripture, and he must have been aware of all of the times where God promised to come rescue and comfort his people (Isaiah 40:1, Isaiah 49:13, Isaiah 51:3). But there is one more unique description for Simeon in this verse that should capture all of our attention: "The Holy Spirit was upon him." Luke 2:26 goes on to explain that the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not see death before he had seen "the Lord's Christ," God's Son, the Messiah. God had made a promise to him, and God always makes good on his promises. Simeon then came "in the Spirit" to the temple where Mary and Joseph would bring Jesus as was the custom of the Law (Luke 2:27). Simeon was led by, engulfed by, and overcome by the Holy Spirit, who guided his entire life. We should learn from his example. The Holy Spirit should guide every part of our lives! When Simeon saw Jesus with his parents, he knew. He just knew, undoubtedly by the Spirit, that this child was the Messiah. The chosen one of God. The one for whom he had waited so long. At that moment, all of Simeon's patience, prayer, and waiting was finally rewarded. May all of us learn how to be patient as we wait in faith for God to fulfill all he has promised!

by David Chadwick There are so many characters whose lives purposefully and divinely intersect at the cradle with the main character we know as Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. We have looked at Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph. Last week, we saw how all of these characters' lives were leading up to, anticipating, and preparing for the birth of Jesus. From there, we looked at the angels who visited the shepherds in the field. Following one angel's instructions, the shepherds set out to find the manger and the Christ child. Today, we are going to look at Luke 2:24. Mary and Joseph went to bring their offering to the Temple for Jesus's purification. This was a historical practice of the Jewish culture. What did they bring to offer as their sacrifice? A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. This seems like a basic enough verse to understand until you realize that this kind of simple offering indicates that Mary and Joseph were poor. The turtledoves and pigeons were a sacrifice of modest means. Look at Leviticus 12:8, "And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean." This kind of offering was the Old Testament option given to people who did not have as much. Wealthier people were able to offer a lamb as the sacrifice, but turtledoves and pigeons were typically the offerings of those who couldn't afford more expensive things. Unlike Hinduism and other religions that have caste systems and look at the poor with contempt, the God of Christianity came for the least and the lost. He loves the humble sacrifice. He holds a special place in his heart for those who are poor, destitute, and lacking material wealth. The God of the Bible loves both a small sacrifice of two turtledoves and a larger sacrifice of a grand lamb. He cares more about a genuine love of God and a heart of faith than the size of a gift. Mary and Joseph's simple offering shows that great kids can come from even the poorest of homes! Two parents who love God, love one another, and are committed to raising their kids in the nurture and admonition of the Lord can produce fantastic kids who are great in the sight of the Lord. A great reminder for us all.

by David Chadwick This week, we continue to look at the characters at the cradle. These are the people whose lives divinely intersected with the incarnation of Jesus. Even from the womb, Zechariah and Elizabeth's lives were impacted by the miraculous conception of this soon-coming King of kings. So, what is currently happening in the story? And what character is at the cradle this week? His name is Simeon. You will find his story in Luke 2:22-35 and we start by looking at verses 22 and 23. Before Simeon comes on the scene, it is important to understand the context of what is happening in the story. Today and tomorrow, we will look at what is happening before Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus meet Simeon. The birth of Jesus had just occurred. An angel, along with an angelic host, appeared to the shepherds and told them that the Savior of the world had just been born. The angel told them to go to the city of David, Bethlehem, where they would find the baby lying in a manger. Luke 2:22-23 says that the time had come for their purification. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus "up to Jerusalem." What does this mean? It implies walking up on Mount Zion, where the Temple was built. This was where they needed to take Jesus for the purification ceremony. As written in Leviticus 12:3-4, this "time" was 40 days after birth, 33 days after circumcision (which is eight days after birth). According to the Law of Moses, the firstborn male child was to be presented to the Lord and called holy to the Lord. Notice how devoted Mary and Joseph were to keeping the Law of God. Why did God choose them to be the mom and dad of his Son, the second person of the Godhead? I supposed it had a lot to do with their total devotion to God and obedience to his Law. They were not casually committed. They loved God with all their hearts. Think about what most parents want for their kids—prestige, popularity, success, position, and prosperity. Now look at what God wanted for his Son: a mom and dad who would raise him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This should make all parents pause and refocus our priorities for our kids. Just as Jesus was brought to the temple for purification, we should live our lives in a way that always asks God to give us clean hands and pure hearts. A fervent love for God and a willingness to wholeheartedly follow Jesus should be the primary aim. There should then be an intentional desire for husband and wife to love one another and extend that love to their children. From there, love should overflow into the world. That is what is most important in a family. That's the strong foundation and Christlike environment that is needed to raise great and godly kids.

by David Chadwick Philippians 2:10-11 says, "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." There is power in the name of Jesus. Wonder-working power. Even at conception, his name caused John to leap in his mother's womb and Elizabeth to be filled with the Spirit. His mere presence on the earth, even in utero, began to have a profound impact on the world. After Jesus was born. What happened next? Today we will finish by looking at Luke 2:21. It says, "And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb." Two important things took place. Mary and Joseph's new baby was circumcised and given the name Jesus. Mary and Joseph were committed, orthodox Jews. Remaining true to their Jewish faith, they desired to obey every requirement of the Law and Jewish tradition. Oh, that all parents would be like this! Hungry and humble. Obedient and pure. Out of all of the parents that God could have ordained for Jesus, these are the types of people who the Father wanted for his Son on earth. The one who wrote this Law is now obeying what he wrote! I pray that those of us who follow Christ would model the same with our kids, obeying all that God requires of us. A home full of grace and truth, righteousness and holiness, obedient of the Word of God, and filled with the Spirit is the kind of environment in which God wants to raise his children. For eight days Mary and Joseph waited. Loving this new baby. Can you imagine the conversations that occurred between them over these eight days? The long looks at the baby. The cuddling. The feedings. Wonder and awe! On the eighth day, in fulfillment of the Law, Jesus was presented for circumcision. His name was also given to him, just as the angel Gabriel had instructed: the name Jesus. Both John and Jesus's names were given in heaven to their parents before they were conceived in the womb to their respective moms. Again, never forget to take note of Mary and Elizabeth's hearts of obedience in every detail, big and small. God will always honor a heart desirous of obedience to him. Jesus, the main character at the cradle, the most important person in the entire story, is now alive in the story! There are more characters to come, but his presence in the world, God in human form, has marked history forever!

by David Chadwick Did you know Jesus is alive? Not just in the Christmas story, but today and forevermore! As we continue to study the birth of Jesus, the most compelling reality of the Christmas story is that the same wonder and glory that came with his birth is still available to us today. His birth unlocked an eternal promise. Jesus's birth impacted all of history and all of eternity. The first coming of Jesus was a foretaste of his second coming. As we read Luke 2:1-21, we should swell with anticipation in our hearts for our soon and coming King! Today, we are going to look at Luke 2:15-20 where the angels ascended to heaven and the shepherds set out to find the manger. Verse 16 says that the shepherds went "with haste" to find the couple and the baby. Haste. What a powerful word; meaning excessive speed, urgency, hurry. They knew they had been given a very important assignment and they acted swiftly! I love to presume all that might have happened along the way with the shepherds. Did they have to ask around to find the manger? Do you think they found the innkeeper and asked if he knew of a couple giving birth in a manger? Was this one of only a few mangers in Bethlehem, making it relatively easy to find? Maybe the only manger? Although Luke, once again, left some of these details missing, he was detail-oriented enough to show us the most important thing–that with very little information, these shepherds found Jesus. When they saw the baby, they remembered the angel's words. Everything was just as they had told him it would be. After all, angels can't lie! The shepherds went on to tell Mary and Joseph all that had just happened. The appearance of the angel. The message of how to find them. The angelic choir proclaiming the glory of God. The shepherds returned to their fields praising God. They saw and heard exactly as they had been told by the angel. Their lives would never be the same! Don't you know Mary and Joseph must have added this info to their own list of angelic appearances, to the many stories they were already collecting, and to the promises that had been made to them through the birth of their son? This was prophetic fulfillment happening before their very eyes. From that day forward, they surely had a lot to talk about in their newly married lives. After the birth of her son and subsequent events, what did Mary do? The Bible says that "she treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." Do you think she ever shared all of the intricacies with Jesus? Or directly to Dr. Luke? She clearly told someone. Otherwise, we wouldn't have this account today. Not only did Mary treasure and ponder, but she also shared it. Because when you know something is life-changing, you can't help but share it! It changed Mary personally, but it changed everyone around her. And even more, it's changed all of us today! Praise be to God for this good and Godly woman.

by David Chadwick Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to be registered for taxes. While there, Jesus was born in a smelly manger instead of a nice inn. The God of all creation chose to enter the world in the most humble of states. Jesus is the main character at the cradle. His birth was the catalyst to draw every other character to the cradle. So what happens next in the story? Let's look at Luke 2:8-14 to see who were the first characters at the cradle following Jesus's birth. Verse 8 says that the shepherds were "out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." Suddenly, an angel appeared to them. Like we see in many biblical accounts, when an angel would show up, the shepherds were filled with great fear as God's glory shone around them. Do you remember how Zechariah and Mary responded? They were afraid. But this fear is different from sinful fears. Think more of an awe and reverence as sinful humans stand before holy angels. The angel said to the shepherds, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." The angel's message, one of enormous joy, would both change their lives forever and touch all of humanity for all of time. The angel went on to tell the shepherds where they would find this baby, "wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." This is all the detail Luke included. Somehow, some way, the simplicity of that statement would take the shepherds straight to the Christ child. Could it be that God chose the most radically humble of locations to be the very way that people would find the King of kings? Following the angel's message, astoundingly, a mass heavenly angelic choir appeared, saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" While the Bible clearly says that the angels were "saying" this, I can't help but hear it put to music every time I read these words! Whenever I hear Christmas songs that say, "Glory to God," I immediately think of this verse. I picture a multitude of angels singing, almost like a military choir singing in perfect harmony because, after all, angels are God's armies! The shepherds heard the news! God had finally come! Immanuel. The 400 years of silence had been deafeningly broken. Per the angel's instructions, it was time for some to begin to visit him! Can you believe it? The first human guests to come visit God in human flesh were the shepherds. Not the rich and powerful, but lowly shepherds. Another theme of humility invading the Christmas story. God made a statement by inviting the lowly, seemingly insignificant ones to be the first to come to his birth party. How great is our God!

by David Chadwick When Caesar Augustus gave a decree mandating everyone to be registered for taxes, Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem began. Remember as you read the Christmas story that there was not one aspect that was outside of God's control or plan. In fact, every moment was a part of his plan. The twists and turns, the ups and downs – all of them point to our great need for redemption through Jesus. While in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth. Let's look at Luke 2:5-7, where God, through Jesus, entered the world. The main character of the entire story! For being such a detail-oriented author, Luke does leave some mystery in these verses surrounding Jesus's actual birth. So many questions and so few answers! I can't help but wonder if Luke intentionally left some mystery around the birth of Jesus. Sometimes humans become fixated on understanding all of the details and lose sight of the wonder of the Savior. As we follow Jesus, we must embrace mystery, realizing that some things will only make sense in heaven. While we don't know for sure what the exact context was of Joseph and Mary's wedding celebration, we know from Luke's account that Joseph was with Mary, caring for her during the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Determined to obey God to be her caring husband. In verse 7, God in human flesh entered the world. Baby Jesus was born. In a stable. With straw. Surrounded by animals who were probably quite smelly. They were the first invited guests for the actual birth. Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes, which, as a side note, was the same material used to wrap him up and lay him in the empty tomb following his crucifixion. The King of kings and Lord of lords was born in a smelly stable, as there was no place in the inn. He came in humility, not splendor. Surroundings that were so meager and so humbling. The God of the universe led the way in a life that was opposed to the proud. Humility is the heart of God and the beginning point for eternal salvation. As his followers, we, too, should choose humility. The Bible says that if we do, he will lift us up to a place of honor.

by David Chadwick This week, we are going to look specifically at the birth of Jesus and the important role that the shepherds and angels played as characters at the cradle. However, before we look at some more of these secondary characters, we must first STOP and look at the main character. Jesus is the main event. He IS the ultimate character at the cradle, around whom God's entire story is written. He is the pinnacle of all creation, the peak of all prophecies, and the climax of the story! Join me today as we look at Luke 2:1-4. Did you know that everything in human history is under God's control? There is not one atom outside of his creation. Even the disappointing, confusing, and discouraging parts of life are used for the glory of God and for his purposes to be accomplished both in us as individuals and in the world. Luke 2 starts with a decree from Caesar Augustus to conduct a census. In his decree, everyone had to return to their hometowns to register for the taxation. What began as a tax request paved the way for the birth of Jesus to take place in Bethlehem! Before we continue, notice Dr. Luke's detail-oriented insights. His medically trained mind, once again, gives us details that others may have overlooked. He shares the name of the emperor and the governor of Syria. Because of that, we now know that the history of Jesus's birth took place during the same time as Quirinius was governor of Syria, which confirms that history aligns with God's Word! While Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome and Quirinius was over Syria, God remains the eternal "emperor" of the world! He is the King of kings. The Emperor of emperors. God is in control and every intricate detail exists to fulfill Old Testament prophecy. From Nazareth to Bethlehem, everything took place the way it did in order to carry out God's plan! Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy in Micah 5:2, specifically in the city of David, called Bethlehem, where David, too, was born. Did you know Joseph was from Bethlehem as well? Jesus was in the lineage of King David, another fulfillment of prophecy. Always remember this truth: man proposes, God disposes. Daniel 2:21 says that God "changes times and seasons; removes kings and sets up kings…" Augustus, so mighty and powerful, was nothing but a mere puppet in God's hands, used strategically for God's glory. This is true of every ruler and authority throughout human history, and it's true of rulers today. Take heart. God is always in control. The Father is the master author, Jesus is the main character and, through his Spirit, he continues to be the conductor of the world!