Beltway Weekend Services (Audio)

Christmas is not only about what Jesus did for us by coming to earth - it's also about what He wants to do through us. God often chooses ordinary, unknown people to carry His extraordinary message. Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, and even the shepherds were not famous or powerful, yet God used them to prepare the way for Jesus and to share His light with others (Luke 1:76–79). In the same way, every follower of Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit and called to help others see Jesus. We don’t have to be Bible experts or have big platforms. We simply love, pray, invite, and share what Jesus has done in us. Christmas reminds us: it’s not just “Jesus for me,” it’s also “Jesus through me.”

God’s timing often feels confusing to us, especially when we are waiting on something important like healing, a job, a relationship, or a breakthrough. We live in an instant world, but the Christmas story reminds us that God is never rushed and never late. Jesus came “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4), at the exact right moment in history, in the exact place God had planned, fulfilling promises that were hundreds of years old. From Caesar’s census to a “no vacancy” sign in Bethlehem, every detail showed that God’s timing is purposeful and powerful. The same God who perfectly arranged the coming of Jesus is still writing our stories today. Our times are in His hands (Psalm 31:14–15), and we can trust that His timing is always good, even when it isn’t easy or fast.

Thanksgiving reminds us that followers of Jesus are called to live with joy, peace, and hope, but many of us struggle to do that. One big reason is that we treat complaining like it's no big deal. Scripture says otherwise. Paul tells us to "do everything without complaining or arguing" (Philippians 2:14), because grumbling slowly steals our hope, feeds a victim mindset, and dims our witness to the world. When we replace complaint with rejoicing and thanksgiving, we remember who our Father is, what He has done, and that our future is secure in His hands (Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11). The Spirit of Thanksgiving is not pretending life is easy; it is choosing to see God’s faithfulness even in hard things, and letting gratitude reshape our thoughts, words, and attitudes.

Jesus ends the Lord’s Prayer with a humble request: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). These words admit a simple truth…we are not strong enough on our own. Temptation comes from our flesh and from a real enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10). God does not tempt us (James 1:13), but He will lead us through trials and rescue us when we call. “Lead us” is a prayer for guidance away from the paths that trap us. “Deliver us” is a cry for God to pull us out when danger is near. Our hope is not our willpower; our hope is the Father’s presence, the Spirit’s power, and the truth of God’s Word. When we pray this way daily, we grow alert, dependent, and free.

Forgiveness is central to the Christian life. Jesus teaches us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” (Matthew 6:12). Sin weighs us down like a heavy vest, making life harder, heavier, and more exhausting than God intends. Confession brings freedom. When we bring our failures to God, He forgives and cleanses us (1 John 1:9), removing shame and restoring joy. But Jesus also ties our forgiveness tohow we treat others. When we refuse to forgive, bitterness takes root, peace fades, and our hearts grow heavy. Forgiving others doesn’t mean ignoring hurt or pretending everything is okay, it means releasing the right to hold the debt against them and trusting God to deal justly. Forgiveness is often a process and sometimes painful, but it is always freeing. As we daily practice confession and forgiveness, we can experience the lighter, easier life Jesus promises (Matthew 11:28–30).