preparing for the hoildays

 
Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
- Luke 1:38 (NKJV)
 
We are definitely in full preparation mode this time of year. We might go a little crazy decorating—the inflatables alone are kind of over the top with a 20-foot snowman, a 20-foot Santa, a 10-foot Christmas tree, a talking, singing, joke-telling snowman head, and lights all over the house. It’s a lot… and I love it.
But if no other decorations go up, there are two things that will always find a place: my willow tree in memory of my dad, and the nativity scene.
Those two things say everything about what this season really means to me—remembrance and Jesus.
Mary’s words in this verse always stop me in my tracks: “Let it be to me according to Your word.” She didn’t have a perfectly decorated home or a neatly wrapped plan. What she had was a willing heart. A heart that said yes to God even when the future looked uncertain and overwhelming.
We can prepare every inch of our homes and still forget to prepare our hearts. We can hang the lights, wrap the gifts, fill the calendar—and still miss making room for peace, humility, surrender, and worship.
Let's stop and ask God to help us prepare our hearts for Him above everything else this season. Let our "yes" be genuine, our focus be right, and our hearts be ready. What if our greatest preparation this season isn’t what goes on the outside of our homes… but what we allow God to do on the inside of our hearts?
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

waiting with expectation

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)
 
There is something about this season of waiting that feels different than any other kind of waiting. We wait for packages to arrive, for travel plans to fall into place, for family to gather—but Advent reminds us that God’s people waited for something far greater. They waited for a Savior.
I think about how impatient I can be with the everyday stuff. Traffic lights feel too slow, checkout lines feel too long, and unanswered prayers feel unbearable at times. And yet, God works beautifully in the waiting. The world waited centuries for Jesus, and God’s timing was perfect.
Advent isn’t just about counting down to Christmas—it’s about training our hearts to wait with hope instead of frustration. Let's pray daily asking God to help us slow down and trust Him in the waiting. We need Him to teach us to wait with hope, not impatience. If God kept His promise then, He will keep His promise now.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible
 

after the mess

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.
- Nahum 1:7 (NLT)
 
It always makes me laugh how Thanksgiving has this incredible slow build — planning menus, cleaning the house, thawing the turkey, getting the tables set — all leading up to one giant, delicious meal that disappears in about fourteen minutes. And then, before the dishes are even dry, the world slingshots straight into Black Friday madness.
Crowded stores, long lines, sales flashing everywhere, people running on leftover pumpkin pie and very little sleep… it’s enough to make even the calmest person say, “Lord, help me.”
After the warmth of Thanksgiving, the noise and chaos can feel jarring. The house is a mess, the fridge is stuffed with leftovers, and your feet are still tired from either shopping or hosting — or both. The “day after” can leave you feeling drained instead of joyful.
But this is where Nahum 1:7 speaks right into our tired hearts:
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble.”
Even when the “trouble” is just the overwhelming swirl of holiday crowds, noise, exhaustion, and expectations… He is still our refuge. He is still our calm. He is still the One we can run to when our soul needs rest.
I love that the verse ends with, “He knows those who trust in Him.”
He knows you — your limits, your stress, your heart, your desire to make the holidays special, and the weight you carry trying to keep everything running smoothly. He sees the effort, the exhaustion, and the mental overload that can follow a big celebration.
And He invites you to take a breath.
Thankfulness doesn’t end when the leftovers go in the fridge or when the Black Friday crowds take over the stores. Gratitude grows in the quiet moments afterward — when you stop long enough to feel His presence and remember that He is your stronghold, even in the chaos.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

happy Thanksgiving

 So let us never stop offering to God our praise through Jesus. Let us talk openly about our faith in him. Then our words will be like an offering to God.
- Hebrews 13:15 (NIRV)
 
Sometimes praise really is a sacrifice. We don’t always feel thankful. Life doesn’t always make sense. Our emotions don’t always line up with what we know is true.
And then there’s Thanksgiving week — a beautiful time, yes, but also a whirlwind. If you’ve ever been responsible for preparing a huge Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends, you know exactly what I mean. The menu planning, the grocery shopping, the cleaning, the baking, the endless list of “don’t forget this!” running through your mind. By the time the turkey is in the oven and the pies are cooling on the counter, you’re already wondering why your feet hurt and how you managed to dirty every dish in the house.
It’s in moments like these — when life feels busy, overwhelming, and anything but peaceful — that offering praise truly becomes a sacrifice. Not because we don’t love our people, but because the weight of responsibility can crowd out the gratitude we intended to carry.
But this verse gently reminds us that thankfulness isn’t about everything going perfectly. It’s about who God is. He walks with us through the stress, the noise, the rushing back and forth. He meets us in the kitchen chaos as much as He meets us in the quiet morning prayer.
So even while stirring the mashed potatoes or setting the table for the tenth time, we can whisper a simple, sincere “Thank You, Lord.” Not because we feel calm, but because He is still worthy.
Thank Him today — not because everything falls into place, but because He holds everything together.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

restoration

Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
- Jeremiah 30:19 (NKJV)
 
This verse is tucked inside a chapter of restoration — and isn’t that such a beautiful picture? God tells His people that after everything they’ve been through, thanksgiving will rise again from their lips.
Maybe that speaks to you today. Maybe you’ve had a year where gratitude felt just out of reach. 2025 has been a challenging year for a lot of people. I personally have experienced so much heartache — job loss, death, medical issues — and I know so many who are carrying their own quiet storms. It’s hard to be thankful when life has felt heavy, uncertain, or downright painful.
But God has a way of restoring us from the inside out. He breathes life into places we thought were permanently broken. And when He does, gratitude returns — not forced, not faked, but flowing from a heart He has healed.
Your thanksgiving doesn’t have to be loud. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be honest. And even if it feels small right now, trust that God is rebuilding you — and joy is coming.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

every day

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
- Psalm 68:19 (NIV)
 
I love that little word — daily. God doesn’t wait for us to “have it all together” before He pours out blessings. He doesn’t check to see how spiritual our week has been. He just keeps loading us up with gifts, one after another, every single day.
And yet… sometimes I get so frustrated with life that I just have to vent. Call it venting, call it ranting, call it having a come apart — whatever you call it, it’s all the same. Life gets heavy, and my heart starts to feel like it’s carrying a backpack stuffed with worries, expectations, and the things I’m trying way too hard to handle alone.
But here’s the truth I have to remind myself of in the words of one of my favorite artists, “You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross.”
How fortunate are we that our God cares enough to take every burden we drag around and let us leave it right at the foot of the cross? Every frustration, every worry, every late-night overthinking session — nothing surprises Him, and nothing is too heavy for Him.
My heart is filled with awe and wonder that my God is so powerful, so faithful, and so close that there is nothing He can’t handle. And in that truth… I am blessed.
And so are you.
When we pause long enough to notice what He does for us — the help He gives, the strength He provides, the peace He brings — gratitude rises. Those “daily benefits” aren’t just nice ideas; they are lifelines that prove His love over and over again.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible

for our sakes

For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 (NKJV)
 
Isn’t it amazing how God can take all things — even the parts of life that make zero sense — and somehow use them for our sake?
I was thinking about how grace doesn’t just touch one life; it spreads. It catches on like a spark in dry grass. Someone forgives you, and suddenly you find yourself quicker to forgive someone else. Someone shows kindness, and your heart softens enough to pass that kindness along. Before you know it, grace is multiplying, and thanksgiving follows right behind it.
This week, look at your life through the lens of grace. Even the hard moments have left something behind — wisdom, resilience, compassion. And when we recognize how God has woven grace through our story, thanksgiving naturally sounds louder in our hearts.
Thankfulness abounds when we realize He wastes nothing — not even the parts of our story we’d rather skip.
 
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Daily Inspiration from the Bible