Jesus came to bring light into darkness. Today, we celebrate that the light has come into the world, and the darkness cannot overcome it! Merry Christmas!

Hope can seem to be in short supply some days, and that can especially be true at the holidays. Yet hope is more than a feeling or a wish. Hope is an expectation, trust, and desire for a good outcome. And, as we learn from Mary’s story, hope is knowing God will show us what to do when we need to do it.

In our more honest moments, we recognize that Christmas can be a time of fear and anxiety. What will happen when I sit next to the empty chair where my loved one used to sit? Do we have enough money to buy all the presents for my family, friends? Can I keep it together the whole time we are visiting family? These are real. And, there is hope. In a scary world, home is a place where we can be safe.