My question for you this Lent season is this: are there parts of your story you have never been able to share or confess? Certainly, opening your heart to God is the key, but God also uses his people to listen to our stories of pain, hurt, and even sin. It is in these confessions that we see powerful healing.  Jesus longs to meet you there.

Let us also choose to believe that we can change because Jesus really is alive to help us. Our perspective on ourselves, others, and life itself changes forever because of this resurrection hope.

Whatever your house may look like, be reminded in the coming year that true protection comes only from faith in King Jesus. Build your life and home on faith, hope, and love.

He came, born as a tiny baby, helpless and vulnerable. Just like us.

This is the message we point to on Christmas Day—the message that a Savior has been born to us all, for we are all image-bearers of God. This is the Good News.

Remember, it is often the simple and humble things that we do that make us the greatest in God’s eyes.  What humble thing is God calling you to in your life?  It may be the greatest thing you ever do!

Jesus came into this world to fill our hearts with His love and to heal our broken hearts.  He could be using your own loved ones to speak powerfully into your heart this season to help you find your heart in a new way this year. 

We were dead in our trespasses and sins, a people spiritually blind and without hope.  But Christ came out of the brightness of His heavenly Kingdom into our dark world of sadness and tragedy.

He offered forgiveness of sins, comfort in times of sorrow, and assurance that He will never leave us no matter what our circumstances.

"For many Native kids, the best place to get a listening ear is in a sweaty dressing room after a grueling game of hockey."

Rick Martin, LIM missionary in Manitoba, tried staying away from hockey. With all the counseling needs he and his wife, Linda, address in their ministry, other things seemed more serious. More important.

But, "Somehow, God seems to keep bringing opportunities back to ministry through hockey, and when I follow them He blesses."

"It was an amazing experience," Rick recalled. "They set the stage up on the ice of the frozen shore of Pikangikum Lake, candles formed a glowing heart in front of us, and thousands of sets of eyes looked at us, waiting for the comfort our music could provide them."

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that you help us in a new way to begin to understand this promise and to speak it to others.  You know best what we need, whether it is healing or growth, help us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.