“In this life I can never say, ‘I have arrived; it is finished; look at me—I am holy.’”— Francis Schaeffer, True Spirituality

Life is rarely a smooth journey, and just like a plant needs resistance to grow strong, our spiritual growth often requires navigating through obstacles and challenges. These “roadblocks” can feel daunting, but they are opportunities to deepen our faith and resilience, drawing us closer to God’s transformative power.

“Something’s got to change!” Have you ever said that in January? It’s not for lack of trying that our situations don’t change.  We work hard. We try adding or subtracting things, but the result seems the same. This challenge applies to our spiritual life as well.  We have great ideas on what we want to do for God, and on top of our bucket list is to grow spiritually. But there are some obstacles. What can we do to overcome those obstacles?

There’s a story in the Bible where Jesus told a disciple to change his approach. It happened at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, as He identified and called His disciples. In Luke 5, Jesus borrowed Simon Peter’s boat to teach the people on the shore. “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear” (Luke 5:4-6).

Peter was probably skeptical. He explains he’s been fishing all night and hasn’t caught anything. And he was probably thinking I am a fisherman, so I know a thing or two about catching fish.

But to Simon’s credit, he obeys Jesus’ unusual request to fish differently. The Scripture records that they caught so many fish that the nets began to break. This story should challenge our status quo. It’s a call to challenge what we do and how we handle spiritual matters. It can change how we both evaluate and solve problems. If we want things to be different next year, we must do things differently.

This passage in scripture confirms what Peter learned: spiritual growth starts with listening to and obeying the voice of Jesus for new directions. It may not be easy; It may be uncomfortable. But God can and will give us some new perspective and help us overcome the obstacles to spiritual growth.  

That day on the lake, Jesus invited Simon Peter to go into the deep waters—a place Simon had been to many times before. But Simon saw amazing results under Jesus’ direction and with a new approach. Can we do the same thing? As we start 2025, we must be willing to listen to the voice of Jesus and trust Jesus even if He takes us into deep waters.

Discussion Questions:

1. Are you content with your spiritual growth? Where would you like it to be? What needs to change to get it where you want it to be? 
2. What does the Bible say about spiritual growth? Have you committed specific verses to memory?
3. What method of learning works best for you? How can you use that method to help you grow spiritually?

“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day”. – 2 Corinthians 4:16.

We are just a few days away from starting a new year.

The year’s final days are special for several reasons. Christmas, the indescribable wonder of God with us, has passed for another year, so it is time to reflect and prepare for 2025. We’ll continue to pinch ourselves for the next few days, saying, “Is this really another year?” Will 2025 be better? What does the new year hold in store for us?   

Paul’s words to the church of Corinth in 2 Corinthians 4:16 give all of us believers hope in times of transition and change: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.” He was writing to a persecuted church, telling them and us that there is something better coming in Christ regardless of what we are experiencing today. And isn’t that the longing in our hearts as we approach the new year? Whether we are a child, high school or college students, middle-aged or in our golden years, there is a belief that the future will be better. We “are being renewed every day” by God. His mercies are new each morning, and we are able to grow each day in our understanding of Him and our relationships with Him.

We will determine what happens in 2025. If we want to make positive changes, it will take some effort on our part. 2 Peter 1:5-8 says, “ In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”The message is obvious; it is not the same ole, same ole: It requires an intentional effort on our part to be everything God wants us to be. We must remember His sovereignty, power, and presence as we move into a new year.

The new year brings with it the thought of new opportunities. The new year seems the perfect time to make commitments and take action because you will have opportunities.   

Our prayer is that we will embrace the new year. It may be filled with headwinds, transitions, and trials, but for the believer, as we grow more and more into the likeness of Christ, there is such incredible hope and unexplainable joy as we serve Him no matter the circumstances. May this be a new beginning for a new you where you see the Lord move in your life.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you want to pursue in the new year? 
2. How can we be better as followers of Jesus in the new year?

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year – Charles Dickens.

It’s the day after Christmas. The relatives have left. The family get-together is over, and the leftovers are chilling in the fridge. A pile of wrapping paper is in the corner, and the candles have been blown out. Even the colorful, sparkly Christmas tree has been unplugged. The stress of the season is gone, and all the hustle, bustle, and preparation are in the rearview mirror.  Our minds make the transition to “now what?” What’s next to do?” It begs the question of what it would look like for Christmas beyond December.

We often hear stories of people doing wonderful things for others during Christmas.  We collect money for the needy, think about those less fortunate than us, and are encouraged to help them.  We can do that all year long.  We do not have to wait to be generous. We do not have to wait to make peace with others. We do not have to wait until Christmas to serve others by putting their needs ahead of ours, walking around with a smile, joy in our hearts, and a song on our lips.

Christmas may be one day, but it can be a way of life.   We can have the Christmas feeling all year round as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. We can see the world through our Christmas eyes instead of our everyday eyes. So, how can we do that?  We can do it by living our lives as God intends.  We can do it by having faith that God is in control and letting Him be in control. We can do it by looking for opportunities to help others and going out of our way to perform random acts of kindness for people.  We can do it by allowing God’s peace to fill our hearts and demonstrating that peace with others.

Christmas reminds us that the season is ultimately not about us; it’s God. Tim Keller writes: “Christmas is telling you that you could never get to heaven on your own. God had to come to you. It is telling you that people who are saved are not those who have arisen through their own ability to be what God wants them to be. Salvation comes to those willing to admit how weak they are.”

Christmas reminds me that spiritual habits are made possible because of Jesus. The author of Hebrews describes it this way: “ And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Christmas reminds me that our salvation is not rooted in our good works. No matter what good we do in life, God had to come to earth to rescue us from our sins. Remembering this truth of Christmas all year will move us to respond to life with thankfulness and humility instead of pride and self-righteousness.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do we best practice the spirit of Christmas all year round?
2. What are some practical steps we can take to do that?

“So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture…None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” – Romans 8:31-39 (MSG).

Merry Christmas from the Northstar family. We rejoice with you as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This Christmas, remind yourself and your family that hope is only found in how much Jesus has loved you. It will be tempting to look for hope in the gifts that you receive or in the gifts that you give, or in the people that you celebrate Christmas with. Still, those gifts will get old, your generosity will wrestle with your selfishness, and the people who say they love you will find a way to disappoint you once again. The real hope you have this Christmas is in the perfect love God has for you.

Christmas is a time to marvel in awe and gratitude at the lengths God has gone to show us His love and save us. The Creator came to His creation. The infinite God became an infant son. The God of the universe, who is present everywhere, did not have a room to be born. The Son of God left His throne in heaven, surrounded by the unceasing praise of angels, to come to earth where He would ultimately receive a crown of thorns and hear crowds shouting, “Crucify him!”

The Romans 8 passage reminds us what the Christmas story is all about by defining the glorious result of the birth of Jesus. That glorious result is summarized in the word love. Jesus came to earth in a humble and lowly way. Coming to earth as an infant allowed His life to be more accurately, historically proven, and documented. Secondly, He better understood our human lives–how fragile and weak the flesh truly is.  Jesus deserved to be loved, but he was rejected so that we, who deserve to be rejected, would be eternally loved by the Father. During His life, He dealt with His followers’ fickle and failing love so that we will know the faithful and unfailing love of the Father. He experienced separation from the Father so that nothing could separate us from His love.

On this Christmas Day, remember the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

  “God gives God. That is the gift God always ultimately gives. Because nothing is greater and we have no greater need, God gives God. God gives God, and we only need to slow long enough to unwrap the greatest Gift with our time: time in His Word, time in His presence, time at His feet.” ― Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas.

It’s Christmas, and that means gifts. Lots of gifts, some small, some large. TV commercials show a wife presenting her husband with a brand-new car as a gift. It’s a pretty impressive gift if unrealistic for most people. In another commercial, the husband bought a present for himself, a new truck, and a present for his wife, a brand new SUV. his and her new vehicles.  It’s even more impressive and even more unrealistic.

It would be great if you could give such lavish gifts to your spouse or child. But even if you did give such “grand” gifts, it would not come close to being the greatest gift of all time. Giving a gift every time the person needed it would be wonderful. A perfect gift that would bring joy to the person who opened it? That is what God did.

The greatest gift you’ve ever been given wasn’t bought in a store. No cash exchanged hands. It wasn’t even wrapped. Yet it cost the Giver everything. The Bible says God sent His Son to Earth to give you the greatest gift ever. He came to Earth to die—so that you could be made right with God. Romans 3:24-25 says, “Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin” (MSG).

God knew we needed a Savior, Deliverer, Redeemer, Healer, and Friend, so He gave us the greatest gift that no one can afford, no one can earn, and no one but God can give. This gift is Jesus. The babe in the manger. The Savior of the world. And He brought the promise of unconditional love, unending hope, and eternal life to every person who believes in Him. Jesus is God’s perfect, indescribable gift. No amount of money on Earth could ever purchase a gift that can measure up to the value of the first Christmas gift.

It is not enough to look at this gift and admire it. This gift must change us. Opening the Scriptures is the way we unwrap our gift. Our gift is Jesus, and the Scriptures unwrap Him for us.

“So God throws open the door of this world—and enters as a baby. As the most vulnerable imaginable. Because He wants unimaginable intimacy with you. What religion ever had a god that wanted such intimacy with us that He came with such vulnerability to us? What God ever came so tender we could touch Him? So fragile that we could break Him? So vulnerable that His bare, beating heart could be hurt? Only the One who loves you to death.” ― Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas.

 Discussion Questions:

1. Where do you see areas in your life where you should appreciate the gift of Jesus Christ more?
2. What do we do this week to reflect on receiving the greatest gift ever given?

 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

A group of people were asked what their wish for Christmas was. The instructions were to develop a “wish” that didn’t affect them individually but would affect all humanity. A large majority said they would wish for “world peace.”

Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. Isaiah refers to Jesus as the “prince of peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Zechariah said that Jesus came “To guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79).   2 Thessalonians 3:16 says, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.” And Romans 15:13 says, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him….” Jesus reassuringly says, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).

This title, “Prince of Peace,” presents Jesus as the antidote to the peace we are searching for in the world. His peace doesn’t just have the potential to impact our environments, such as our homes, places of work, or schools. His peace provides peace for our minds.   Even when our circumstances are not peaceful, our hearts and minds can be filled with peace because of Jesus.

The incredible Christmas story of God breaking into this world is true, and it is an incredible story of peace, love, and hope. The peace of Christmas is the idea that Jesus came to bring peace on earth and that the Christmas season is a time to practice that peace. The peace of Christmas is a reminder that people are not alone in facing life’s challenges. With Jesus on their side, people can live with confidence and know that no obstacle is too great for him. Yet, within the chaos of Christmas, we find little peace.

We can blame the stressful circumstances around the holidays, but we need to remember that the first Christmas was very stressful, too. There was an unmarried, pregnant teenager. There was a scared but faithful fiancee. There was no room in the inn. There were smelly animals and scratchy straw. There was an unidentified star in the sky.

Yet God gave the gift of prevailing peace in that story in the same way He longs to give our hearts the gift of peace. How did Mary and Joseph overcome the chaos of their circumstances and embrace peace instead? They trusted God.  When they were given the startling and stressful news of being parents to the Messiah: “Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47).

Perfect peace isn’t dependent on circumstances. It comes from a steadfast, trusting heart. During this Christmas week and throughout the year, let us find peace by focusing our trust on God, who is faithful. The resulting peace will point to the Savior we’re celebrating during the Christmas season.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we find peace this Christmas season and throughout the year?

“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.” – John 1:4.

Christmas lights inspire wonder throughout this season. Everywhere you go, you find opportunities to enjoy Christmas lights: lighting Advent candles, stringing colorful bulbs on Christmas trees, visiting holiday light shows, and wandering through neighborhoods looking for creative light displays. Why do lights inspire awe? It’s not just because of their beauty. It’s also because of what they symbolize. They direct our attention to Jesus Christ.

In John’s telling of the Christmas story, he skips the stable and shepherds and goes directly to the one who “brought light to everyone” (John 1:4). When John later writes of a heavenly city, he describes the source of its light. This “city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light” (Revelation 21:23). Jesus is eternal light and the source of all light.  “…I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12).

John tells us that Jesus is the light who has come to conquer the darkness. Jesus came to earth to give us the light only He could give. He is our only hope against the darkness. Without Christmas, our world would be in complete and utter darkness. We would be lost and wandering forever. Light is always stronger than darkness. That’s why Christmas is all about the lights—the reminder that Jesus, the light of the world, has come to save us from the dark.

2024 may have been a great year, or it may not have been all that good. But there is a light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. This is the season to let the lights of Jesus shine through us.  Isaiah challenges us, “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance”  (Isaiah 60:1-3).

We are lights to the world insofar as we reflect the character of Jesus. This Christmas season, let’s point people to the great Light of the world, the Savior of all peoples. Let’s also be lights, ourselves, showing the greatness of the character of our Lord by reflecting Him to a world that lives in darkness.

 Discussion Questions:

1. How can we shed a little light into the world this week?

 “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” – Ephesians 5:15-17.

Moments can define us and direct us; a single moment can change our lives. God has entrusted us with each moment, a precious gift that should not be taken for granted. Every sunrise, every conversation, every breath is an opportunity to live intentionally and make a difference. Most of us gravitate to “big” moments and don’t give much thought to others. And that includes our spiritual life.

People often think “doing ministry” will be this huge epic moment. They think building God’s Kingdom will be this “out of the ordinary” cosmic event. That is just not the case.  The vast majority of epic Kingdom-building stories emerge from truly mundane and ordinary moments.

The reality is that few of us will ever stand on a stage in front of thousands to proclaim Jesus. Few of us will ever become pastors of churches or traveling evangelists. Most of us will live ordinary lives off the stage and out of the spotlight. As a result, it is natural to think our “moments” won’t be as successful. However, the average ordinary person can significantly contribute to building God’s kingdom.   

Jesus gave us both sides of that equation. He spoke to large crowds where people encountered God and to individuals in ordinary moments where people also encountered God.

For most of us, if we wait for that “epic” moment to share Jesus with people, we may never contribute to building the Kingdom. On the other hand, if we make the most of every opportunity, whether over a cup of coffee, with a random stranger in line at Publix, or with a neighbor, we will see God’s Kingdom built. Every day, ordinary followers of Jesus build the Kingdom of God. Every time someone shares how Jesus has changed them, the Kingdom is built. Every time someone lives out their love for God in how they treat people, the Kingdom of God is built.

Consider for a moment all the Kingdom-building moments that happen during large events and compare them to a list of Kingdom-building moments that happen through ordinary Christians; which list would be longer? While it is impossible to quantify those numbers, the ordinary list would most likely be considerably bigger because a few people cannot have the same Kingdom-building impact as the collective body of Christ.

God uses ordinary people and ordinary everyday moments to build His Kingdom all over the world.

 Discussion Questions:

1. What are some everyday moments that can help build the Kingdom?
2. How can we best recognize those moments?

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things… He has helped his servant Israel  and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever”.” – Luke 1:46-54.

The Luke passage is Mary’s song of praise. How could this teenager express such confidence in God when she is pregnant and unwed? How was she able to say “yes” to God under such challenging circumstances? She could surrender to God when she agreed to mother a son in a most unusual fashion: “…“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true… (Luke 1:38).

Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem in Judea because Caesar Augustus wanted to take a census of the whole Roman world. This directive brought Mary and Joseph to the place where it was prophesied that the Messiah would be born. God sent unlikely witnesses to sing the praises of the newborn King. Unsuspecting shepherds, hanging out in a field with sheep, were urged by an angel to find the Messiah baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Mary treasured God’s Words to her, actively remembering and reflecting on what He had spoken to her through Gabriel and the Holy Scriptures. Mary did not turn aside because she remembered God’s promises. We, too, can remember what He has done in our lives, His promises fulfilled. Every Word He has ever spoken remains: “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

Everything God does will directly correlate with who He is, so it will always be good. It is easy to forget just how good our God is. The good news is we can rest in who He is and trust His plan. We can trust that what God promises, He will fulfill. Even when life doesn’t look how we thought it would, we can trust what God has promised us. Joshua 21:45 says, “Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”

Some of us have a hard time putting our trust in promises. The Bible gives us many stories that show our faith in God’s promises is not misplaced. Many people throughout the Bible received the blessings of God’s fulfilled promises, including Noah, Abraham, David, and the Israelites. We do not have to fear that God will not keep His promises. We can put our trust in Him and the promises He has given to us in His word.

His greatest fulfilled promise was through Jesus Christ.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you tend to trust promises or react with skepticism? Why?
2. How do you think the promises people have broken in your life affected your ability to trust God’s promises?  
3. What are some of the promises God has given us that we can hold on to when it feels like others aren’t keeping their promises?

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” – John 14:27.

There are a lot of folks who are stuck in the past. They are always looking back. They regret bad decisions from their previous days. They are haunted by what they did wrong or failed to do right in years gone by. Then, other people will live in the future. They are preoccupied with what could be down the road.

While the Bible helps us understand how to process our past and inspires us with hope for our future, its emphasis is on “today.” God does not dwell in our past or future. He only relates to you in the present. God calls us to pay close attention to now —  to live in the present.

Mary exemplifies living in the present and finding peace. Her world was turned upside down when an angel appeared, and she was told she would deliver the Messiah. Mary knew there was a good chance she would be disgraced by her community, disowned by her parents, and disavowed by Joseph. And how did Mary react to this turn of events? She remembered God’s character and His ways. Mary concentrated on the present amid indescribable circumstances that would drastically change her future. Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true….”(Luke 1:38). She still saw herself as a servant of the Lord and trusted in Him in the present circumstances she found herself in.

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel  and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever” (Luke 1:46-55).

What a beautiful example of how having faith embedded deep within our hearts will help us to keep a Biblical perspective in the twists and turns of life. Her trust of God helped her accept Gabriel’s message. Her understanding of Scripture assured her of God’s promises and gave her the faith to rejoice at God’s call on her life. She is also an example of how knowing and believing God’s Word and His promises gives us the faith to praise Him when life doesn’t turn out how we thought it would.

And this is the secret to our peace as well. We need to see ourselves as servants of the Lord, to do what He commands, to walk where He leads, and to serve in humility where He puts us. Faith in God’s promises frees us to live for the Lord in the only moment we can: the present. Yes, believers have a bright future, but at the same time, we live in His kingdom here and now.

Every moment of every day is a gift. Remember that no matter what any given moment brings, you can always know peace—like the peace in the eye of a hurricane—by simply trying to live and love in this moment.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can God’s promises help us live in the present moment?
2. How can we stay focused on the present this week?