I have this little tradition that I started a few years ago. I learned of it on Facebook of all places.
It was someone's tradition to read through the book of Luke. They would read one Chapter a day beginning on December 1st. They explain that they chose Luke for a few reasons. The first was it gives us the most known story of Jesus' birth in Luke Chapter 2. Then we get to know Jesus from the prospective of Luke in his gospel as information gathered from many sources. The last reason is that Luke is 24 Chapters long. We finish the reading on Christmas Eve.
Last year was the first year I missed doing this. I was at a loss for the entire Christmas season. I don't want to miss it this year.
I have don't the readings each night. My home fellowship has often read Luke with me. We hold each other accountable. There is no shame in falling behind either. We encouraged each other to catch up and finish strong. Just like running a race. I don't do this as a mindless devotion. I pray before I read the scripture. I want the Lord to show me something new. And he has each time I did this. I think that is why I was at a loss of missing something when I didn't read Luke last year.
Would you like to join me, we can post here how we are doing, in my little Christmas Tradition? I think it brings me closer to the Lord.
There's No Peace Without His Presence
Moses was standing in the middle of a desert—both literally and spiritually. The people had just rebelled against God by building an idol of a golden calf, and now their future felt uncertain.
Yet in this moment of deep tension, Moses makes a bold request: If God’s presence won’t go with them to their destination, Moses says, he’d rather not go at all.
It’s not that Moses didn’t want the promised land. But more than the land, more than progress, more than answers, Moses wanted God Himself. He knew that no amount of success, comfort, or direction could ever replace the nearness of the Lord.
There are seasons in life when we find ourselves in our own wilderness: confused, dried up, uncertain of the next step. In those moments, it’s easy to crave clarity. But what we truly need is God's presence, not just answers.
Peace doesn’t come from knowing the plan. It comes from knowing He is with us in it.
God's presence is our distinguishing mark. ...