“And the sky was bright with a holy light. 'Twas the birthday of a King.” – William Harold Neidlinger 🎄 Dear persistent performer, Are you always watching your actions to get a reward? To be on Santa’s Nice List, did young you strived hard? That can really be tiring. It can feel hopeless at some point when you realize you can’t do it all, for your strength isn’t enough. But do you know the Hope of humanity? Do you know the reason for Christmas’ gaiety? We’re taking a break from our journey from the beginning of the Bible. If you’re following along this blog, you’re likely expecting Leviticus to be next. We’ll have that next to this. Right now, think of this as the holiday episode. Luke 2:10-12 (Celina’s Version) The angel said, “Fear not, for lo, Today, I bring you good tidings: All will be joyful for a Savior is born In the city of David, great among kings. He’s the awaited Christ the Lord! To you I will give this harbinger: You will find a Baby wrapped i...

“You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart.” – Alfred H. Ackley ❤ Dear solitude sufferer, There are times I feel empty or like there’s something missing. I think that’s a common feeling. There are times you wish for someone to understand, times you long for someone to hold your hand. Perhaps you don’t want to be single anymore. Perhaps you’re bored of your quiet floor. Well, suffer no more, for there is the Savior, knocking on your heart’s door. Let Him in, and you won’t feel alone anymore. We have a God who desires to be with His people. He is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). It’s so timely that we’re at the beginning of the Christmas month and I’m blogging about one of the glorious names of the Son born for us this season. Today we’ll tackle one grand design that God used as the way to be with the Israelites. It may not be as monumental as Solomon’s temple, but this design is more than its appearance, for its beauty is in its symbolism, its pa...

“Our sins, they are many; His mercy is more.” – Matt Boswell & Matt Papa ⚖ Dear serial sinner, You’re trying not to do it again, aren’t you? What you know is wrong, that you do. You’re not alone; everyone’s like that, too. Even Paul the apostle said, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do (Romans 7:15 NIV).” Welcome to Earth, my friend! Here, it’s like sin has no end. Fear not, wrongdoer; we have a Savior, a Redeemer! Let’s see how God’s mercy works through this story. Exodus 32:7-14 (NASB) 7 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have behaved corruptly. 8 They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a cast metal calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this pe...

“All Your ways are good. All Your ways are sure. I will trust in You alone.” – Chris Tomlin ✅ Dear petered-out perfectionist, Are you one who likes seeing all items marked with checks? Is your report card something you want to flex? Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with that, literally when you got a perfect grade. I know the satisfaction this accomplishment brings, but I also know the exhaustion behind it stings. I was the kind of student who stays up all night trying to finish school projects. I do my best in everything. There was one time in high school when I cried because I got a violation for forgetting to wear my ID. This is a huge deal for someone who wants to keep a clean record. If you’re like the past me, get ready to lament because you’re going to read the Ten Commandments. Before you grab tissues, I’ll tell you the good news: Jesus paid the price so that we don’t have to get punished for breaking any of God’s laws. Now, this is something worth shedding your tears...

“I’ll sing forever for You. I’ll sing forever. My life is my song for You. I’ll live forever.” – Celina 🎶 Dear soundless sulker, Got no reason to smile? Haven’t hummed in a while? Waiting for a spring on your step? Tired of that frown you timelessly kept? I myself am not a cheerful person, but I have found the joy that makes me sing. As my confidence grew, I’ve become the singer-songwriter-Youtuber I never thought I’d be. My source of delight is none other than the God whom the Israelites sang to after He delivered them from Egypt’s oppression. Exodus 15:1-11 (HCSB) Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said: I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; He has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name. 4 He threw Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea; the...

“Would you o'er evil a victory win? There's wonderful pow'r in the blood.” – Lewis E. Jones 🩸 Dear bluebird in bondage, It’s time to fly! Spread your wings and soar the sky. “How can I,” a question you may cry, “when these chains are no lie?” Yes, there are things that will limit you, burdens that will battle your briskness, barriers that will block you, and bullies that will beat your emotions, but there’s one thing, which also starts with B, that can free you from any bondage—the blood of Christ. Why His blood? Find out in today’s passage. Exodus 12:12-17 (NASB) 12 For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and fatally strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the human firstborn to animals; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will come upon you to destroy you when I stri...

“You’re the wonder-working God. All the miracles I’ve seen, too good to not believe!” – Brandon Lake 👀 Dear despairing doubter, Ever felt so useless when it comes to bringing people to God? Or do you yourself doubt the power of His blood? Whatever your unbelief, whether your doubt in God or self-doubt, some proven truths to you I’d like to shout. Previously, I blogged about the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt. Now, we’re going to see a glimpse of what the country had to suffer because its king wouldn’t let go of God’s people. See what truths you can learn. Exodus 8:6-19 (NKJV) 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt. 8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lo...