This challenged me, and gave me purpose as a stay at home mom, working to raise up my son knowing and understanding this love. To raise up the next generation to continue on in the war against all odds to love unconditionally and share the hope of Jesus Christ, and I hope it challenges you too in whatever role you are called to serve right now.

I am a planner. A big one. Planning makes me feel responsible, prepared, and productive. And yet, as the new year begins, I find myself questioning, not whether planning is good—but whether I plan too much.

We live in a culture that celebrates hurry. Busy is worn like a badge of honor. Calendars are full. Rest is postponed. Stillness is uncomfortable. Silence is awkward. If we are not producing, posting, responding, or achieving, we feel behind.

But Scripture tells a very different story!

How do we not get wrapped up in the materialistic side of December? How do we let go of all that is not perfect and just be grateful? How do we rejoice in the often cold and bleak season of winter?

We do this by seeing Jesus in the season. Giving him the credit for the beauty and the good things and leaning into Him in the hard and stressful parts of the ending year. We remember the amazing gift that we have in Jesus and the hope that His birth brings to the world. Fixing our eyes on Him we choose to let go of the temptation to stress over all the temporary things that don’t matter eternally.