Sunday’s Blessing – 01/18/2026 – Holidays

Sunday’s Blessing – 01/18/2026 – Holidays

Monday is a national holiday in the United States. It is a day set aside to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The word holiday is derived from the term “holy day,” and has its roots, at least for Christians, in the writings of Moses, where God directed Israel to “remember this day and keep it holy.” We have pretty much lost that concept in the West, but nonetheless we still call ourselves keeping holidays.

Israel was commanded to keep the seventh day holy unto God, who called it the Sabbath. I wrote several articles a few months ago on the Sabbath. Perhaps you can look them up here on the blog. There were other days where God Himself directed Israel to celebrate. They are represented by the various feasts implemented under the Law of Moses; things like Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, etc. Others have been added through the years by Jewish leaders to include things like Chanukah, Yom Kippur, etc.

Western Christian cannibalized the Sabbath and called it Sunday yet apply the commandment to it to guilt their members to attend regularly. Sunday has never been the Sabbath. For most Western Christians, Sunday is anything but a day of rest. Some denominations (cults as others consider them) still meet on Saturday (Seventh Day Adventists) while others do not regard any day above another in terms of spiritual significance (Jehovah’s Witnesses).

Personally, I do not think God cares much about what we call this day or that day, or what we do or do not do on any given day. His whole focus is for His people (all of them, Jew and Gentile alike) to recognize their rest is found in the True Sabbath, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, the Good Shepherd, the Son of God. He alone is our sabbath and He is worthy to be honored and remembered every day!

Today’s Blessing:

May you find sabbath rest wherever you are

So you can declare like Paul who said, “Regardless of my state, I am content.”

And you can maintain your rest (or peace as I like to call it) at all times

Bringing the rest of God with you into every life you touch

May all the days between holidays be joyful and fulfilling

Since Christ came to redeem you every day of your life

Including the ones which have already past

Washing you with forgiveness past, present, and future

May you realize that every day is a “holy” day because of THAT day

When Jesus was “begotten” of the Father and became His True

May you hear the same words the Father spoke over Jesus

This is my beloved child (you) in whom I am well pleased

Sunday’s Blessing – 01/11/2025 – Epiphany

Sunday’s Blessing – 01/11/2025 – Epiphany

This past week the Day of Epiphany was celebrated on the liturgical calendar. It marks the event when the magi (kings from the east) came to see the Messiah born in Bethlehem. It was a very significant moment in the plan of God to redeem all of mankind, not just the people of Israel. All the debate about whether there were only three kings has caused us to miss the real importance of this part of Advent.

The kings which followed the star to Bethlehem were not Jews, yet God included them in the telling of the story of the birth of the Only Begotten of the Father. You see, this Grace and Truth was sent for all people, including the Gentiles (anyone born outside of the Twelve Tribes of Israel). The promise God made to Adam in the Garden of Eden was spoken to a human, not a Jew. Even though God later designated Israel as his Chosen People, He never excluded the rest of humanity. The Messiah would come from Israel, but He would be sent as the Savior for everyone! That is very good news.

Epiphany simply means, “a moment of sudden revelation or insight.” As we saw with the angel appearing to the shepherds, then Simeon outside the temple, and Anna inside the temple walls, God has now revealed His plan to the magi. These kings (regardless of the number) represented all people outside the Nation of Israel. God led them by supernatural wonders, drawing them to see the Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love embodied in the tiny Babe of Bethlehem. They, more than most, understood the importance of lineage and heritage. The throne was handed to the heir of the king if there was one. They realized this Child represented God Himself, and this “epiphany” led them to come and worship Him. Not only did they bring themselves, but they also brought treasures to bless the Messiah.

Today, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to draw people to Christ. If you have not already experienced the “sudden revelation” that God loves you and wants to care for you – all of you – to bring His hope, joy, peace, and love into your life – every part of your life – then perhaps today will be that day. It is the whole meaning of the celebration of Advent. Without the coming of Messiah, Easter would be pointless. Without Easter, then Advent is pointless. This is why both are celebrated in the life of Christians. Join in the celebration and see all that God can do.

Today’s blessing:

May you have an encounter with the Babe of Bethlehem/Sacrifice of Calvary

So your life can be transformed into the fullness of all God brings

So you may realize your purpose in the earth

Which will lead others to a place of Epiphany

May you find the grace, like the magi, to present yourself to the Savior

Withholding nothing, including your treasure

So in return, God can give you His entire Kingdom

Which will bless so many more than you could ever imagine

May the impact of “finding the King in Bethlehem” change you forever

Leading you into a life of seeking the True Treasures found in God

By learning the character and nature of the Creator

And “the chief end of man is to worship God and enjoy Him forever” (the Shorter Catechism)

Sunday’s Blessing – 1/4/2026 – The Year Ahead

Sunday’s Blessing – 1/4/2026 – The Year Ahead

I’m not big on numerology. Some base their life on it like a horoscope. I’m more prone to follow what I believe to be the leading of the Holy Spirit, Who always leads us toward peace. However, I do like to take a look at the meaning of numbers from the Bible, not for direction, but for confirmation. Take a look at what this year’s number means:

In the Bible, the number 26 is significant through its connection to God's sacred name, YHWH (Yahweh), whose Hebrew letters (Yod, Heh, Waw, Heh) sum to 26, symbolizing divine presence and perfection, while the biblical book of Numbers 26 details the crucial second census of the new Israelite generation ready to enter the Promised Land, signifying new beginnings, God's faithfulness to His covenant, and judgment on the rebellious former generation. 

The reason I like this so much is because it is true every year! God has promised those who are in covenant with Him that He would be present in us (via the Holy Spirit) forever, and that He would continue to work in us toward completion of perfection, the image of His Son, Jesus! Also, as I mentioned last week about the New Year, every day is a New Beginning in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Regardless of what is behind you, there is hope for a better future. As saw in the weeks of celebrating Advent, the Messiah came to bring Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love. Those things are not just for feeling around the yule log sipping cider or hot chocolate. Those same four things are God’s desire for you every single day. When the pipe bursts or the car dies or the child is sick or you are late for work or … hope is still available; joy can still be found; peace can slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure; love is always a possible response. These are not obtained through self-will, motivational TED Talks, or crystals (nothing inherently wrong with any of that) but will be manifest when the acknowledgement of the presence of the Prince of Peace, the Hope of Heaven, the Joy of the Lord, and the Agape Love of God.

These are not trite catch-phrases learned in church. These are descriptions of the various aspects of God Himself. Just as you can know a person (friend, spouse, co-worker) in many different ways (e.g. spouse can be friend, lover, confidant, one who meets your needs, one whose needs you can meet, co-laborer in house chores/repairs, co-explorer in adventures on vacation or at the mall, etc.) God is multifaceted and is to be sought after in order to discover the many ways He impacts your life.

That is the motivation behind my fascination with the Names of God. It’s not a hobby. It’s a deep dive into learning more about the One who loves me most. The more you discover the more ways you can relate to Him and to His ways. Learn His character so when you encounter something that is not from Him you will quickly recognize it. Become aware of His presence in every aspect of your life. It’s not a New Year’s resolution, it’s a way of life.

Today’s Blessing:

Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior. Isaiah 45:15 ESV

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 ESV

Because He is not hiding from you, but for you!

…but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. Daniel 11:32b ESV

Jesus said, “But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.” John 8:55 ESV

Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9b ESV

When you receive Christ, He will reveal the Father to you, then you can live!