Another year has come and gone, though 2020 is one for the history books. Think about that we've seen in the past 366 days—yes, 2020 was a long year! We saw impeachment accusations, Covid-19, lockdowns, racial strife, lockdowns, more racial tension, lockdowns, a tumultuous election complete with fraud accusations, more lockdowns, and a terror attack on Christmas Eve. Did I mention lockdowns? And that's just here in America! Others fared less well than we did. I didn't even mention deaths, sickness, family strife, canceled dinners, lockdown boredom, tense conversations, job loss, and other trials that come in everyday life.

As Christians, many of us had seasons of virtual church followed by socially-distant (a new phrase for 2020!) indoor or outdoor services. Some of our churches may still be having virtual services. Some of them never shut down at all. For most of us, small groups, potlucks, and get-togethers were also canceled indefinitely. Spending quality time with groups of people has seemingly come to a halt.

But is that all we should remember from 2020?

Though 2020 was a crazy year, there is plenty to reflect upon with joy and thanksgiving. How many relationships were you able to invest in through Zoom calls, Facetime, texting or calling? Were you able to spend time with your spouse, children, friends or families? Did you meet anyone new? Perhaps the Lord used these days of adversity to strengthen you and increase your faith. For me personally, 2020 is a good reminder of Ecclesiastes 7:14:

"In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him."

God was as sovereign in 2020 as He was in 2019 and as He will be in 2021. We can rest in the fact that He is with us in the days of prosperity as well as in the days of adversity. He will often use these lean times to prune us and prepare us to bear much fruit. Isn't that one of the benefits of abiding in the vine? Check out John 15:2.

Though 2020 was a crazy year, there is plenty of room for repentance and spiritual growth. 2020 revealed some sinful habits and attitudes buried beneath the surface of my heart. What about yours? There were moments of intense frustration and pride because people didn't agree with me. I experienced days and weeks of melancholy and discouragement from one-two punch of Covid-19 and race discussions. It's heavy being "the black evangelical friend" who doesn't fit the mold, but I need to entrust that weight to the gentle and lowly Savior who gives me rest. I've realized that while I want people to listen to me, I am often slow to hear, quick to speak, and quick to anger. Needless to say, I can take this all to the Lord in prayer in 2021.

God is still gracious to me in my sinfulness. If I draw near to Him, He will draw near to me. He will graciously grant me repentance when I come to Him with a broken spirit and contrite heart, because He is pleased with that. And it is by His Spirit and through His Word that He even draws me to conviction. 

Though 2020 was a crazy year, God is unchanging. God is unchanging. His character and attributes don't shift with wind of the times. When the earth crumbles beneath us, He hasn't lost control. The enemy wants us to fear that God is somehow out of loop or socially distant from us, but He is alive and well. Don't forget that. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present. He's here when we need Him. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are ever interceding on our behalf—we're in good hands!

As we usher in 2021, let's be mindful of God. We could face many more challenging days in 2021 than we did in 2020. If we send 2020 off with "Good riddance!", we may be in for a shock when 2021 arrives. I long for a "normal" year, even though I can hardly remember what that's even like. With continuing lockdowns, vaccine talks, presidential transitions, key verdicts, and unknown days ahead, we need to focus on knowing God. He is the only source of stability in all of this, and that gives us great hope. Though we'll still feel the weight of the days too, abiding in the vine is where our strength is found.

As we welcome 2021, keep dwelling with Christ. He will carry us through. 

Merry Christmas! Today is a day of celebration! As we spent the past 24 days (or more) remembering and rehearsing the anticipation of Christ's first advent, we now celebrate the Savior who was born. Today is a day of feasting and joy, for we know the rest of the story. We who have trusted in Jesus have received the greatest gift ever given to anyone on earth—the love of God.

In Christ's coming the love of God was made manifest among us. God's act of sending Jesus to the earth was the visible manifestation of the Father's love to us. Love is more than a feeling. It is action. And God acted! He didn't just tell us He loved us. He didn't just say He felt love toward us. He showed His love to us! And this love came to underserving sinners like you and me. God is love, and He shared Himself with us in Immanuel—God with us.

God sent his only Son into the world. He came to us in His Son. He didn't make us climb the ladder of good deeds, religious sacrifices, or sinless perfection. Who could actually do that? Don't you remember what happened in Babel? Haven't you read of Israelites who thought their law-keeping could get them to heaven?

We always fail. Every time. Epically.

Sometimes we praise ourselves with pats on the backs and religious trophies. At other times, we simply beat ourselves up with self-pity and self-hatred. But God already knew that and gave us a better way. He took the initiative and came to us. It's  far better to give than to receive. Yet, salvation requires that we receive a free gift without any sort of payment on our part.

Jesus came so we might live through him. He didn't come to be a good teacher, though He was that. He didn't come to give us more rules to follow—in fact, He gave us the spiritual essence of God's law in two great commandments. Though He is no less than a good example for us, He is even far more than that.

Jesus is a Savior. He came that we might have "life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). That sort of life is more than Christmas gifts. It's more than a nice, comfortable Christian existence. It's more religious liberty in a Christianized nation. Most Christians have never experienced that, nor will they ever have that luxury. Most importantly, He gave us eternal life (John 3:16).

Even as 2020 came crashing down on us, the candle of our security in Christ never flickered. When job security, health, relationships, and everything else are in upheaval, a mighty fortress is our God (Psalm 46)! Why? Because Jesus is here! Herod couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't either. His earthly enemies couldn't crush Him. Neither could Caesar. Not even sin, death, or Satan could phase Him. Jesus is more powerful. He is victorious. He is the Savior.

Merry Christmas from Dwell With Christ! Enjoy food, family, and fun. But most importantly, enjoy the love of God made manifest in Christ Jesus!

Photo by Dominika Gregušová from Pexels

Just before my alarm at 6:30 AM, I hear the loud creak of a door followed by the scurrying of little feet across the cold hardwood floor. As I register what's going on, I hear a peppy two-year exclaim, "Good morning, Daddy!". It's immediately followed by "Can you get my cheese?". I always shake my head at that request, but at least it's protein and fat rather than sugar in the morning! As I wipe the sleep from my eyes, muster up the energy to get out of bed and get my coffee going, my influence has already started. Whether I like it or not, those little eyes are watching my every move. They're learning what it means to be godly—at least that's my hope.

Though our children learn from our examples, they also need to learn from our words. Family worship is an amazing opportunity to pass on our faith. When Paul wrote his letter to Timothy, he mentioned the godly legacy of Timothy's grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). They shared the message of the gospel with Timothy, a man who God used mightily to spread the gospel across the globe. Thousands of years before this letter was written to Timothy, we see that God values family worship. From the moment those warm, bright beams of sun break through their curtains to the dimly lit hours of bedtime stories, warm milk, and cuddles to finish off a busy day, God calls parents to teach their kids about the glorious truths of the gospel.

As a father, I have been greatly encouraged by the plethora of solid, biblical resources being written for children. One of my favorite publishers is The Good Book Company. They release a lot of great titles for the whole family! I recently received two books that I'd like to share with you and your family!

Moses and the Very Big Rescue by Tim Thornborough*
This retelling of the story of God rescuing Israel from bondage in Egypt is sure to keep your kids' attention. The illustrations are vivid but not scary. The story is told in a catchy way, even sneaking some counting in there for little ones who are learning their numbers! One thing that stood out to me was that Thornborough preserves the delicate balance between Pharaoh hardening his heart and God hardening Pharaoh's heart. It is good to know that they aren't afraid to let the tension between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility remain for our children (and their parents!) to wrestle through. Further, it shows a commitment to stay closely aligned with the actual story of Scripture. I also love the fact that Thornborough included Moses' and Israel's song as they celebrated God's very big rescue. This book is very appropriate for children as young as two years old. There are enough pictures to keep them interested and enough details to keep the interest of older children.

Deborah and the Very Big Battle by Tim Thornborough*
This rendition of Deborah and Barak's story is also an excellent storybook for children. To add to the engagement of this book, Thornoborough has some clever actions to accompany various scenes in the story. This is a great way to keep little minds from wandering while also getting them engaged in the story. My daughters absolutely loved acting out some of the scenes as they listened to the story. The illustrations are catchy and convey the appropriate emotions of the story as the people worshiped idols and faced the impending wrath of God for their sin. Thornborough did a great job of emphasizing God and His Word, even when pointing out the stories of Barak and Deborah.  Rather than overemphasize Deborah and her heroic efforts (which were indeed amazing), the focus is on the fact that Sisera and his army "could never beat God". Again, they included the song of joy and victory that Israel sang when the Lord brought them victory. The story is engaging and helps our children see the power of God as He brought about the physical and spiritual salvation of His people. 

If you've read this far, you've made it to the giveaway! We are giving away a free copy of Moses and the Very Big Rescue and Deborah and the Very Big Battle. In addition to those, you will also receive The Biggest Story by Kevin DeYoung and Family Worship by Donald Whitney.

If you're already subscribed to Dwell With Christ, you will be automatically entered. If not, sign up below for a chance to win some awesome books! Be sure to check your email to confirm your subscription! This giveaway will end on Sunday, December 27th, so be sure to sign up soon!

​*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to leave a positive review.

The Light entered the dark womb of a young virgin—a miraculous conception to say the least! Though the sun's rays could hardly pierce the skin of this unexpected expecting bride-to-be, she was as bright as she had ever been. The Light Who is the life of men was nestled within her body and soul.

She was dually filled with the Son of the Most High  (Luke 1:31-32). Not only had the Light entered her body through the miraculous, overshadowing work of the Spirit of God, but He had also entered her soul through the mysterious blowing of that same Spirit who blows where He wishes. She was lit up with joy from the inside out!

The Light didn't stay put for very long, though. The heavenly lights aligned on the night of His birth, and the magi followed it. They had been searching for the King. They wanted to worship, and they came prepared. Yet the luster of their shiny and aromatic gifts paled in comparison to the dazzling glory of the gift lying before them, wrapped in swaddling cloth.

A few shepherds also got a glimpse of the Light. The glory of God shone around them, brighter than the sun, bringing great terror. Yet the message they received was far from dreadful: "The Light of the world is here! This is good news! The Messiah, the Lord is here! He's lying in a manger in Bethlehem." They found Him and walked away with their souls glowing with beams of unspeakable gladness.

The Light who shined bright on that first Christmas night is the same God who said, "Let there be light." That's earth-shattering. The Son of God who created all things and who upholds the whole universe broke through the gloomy darkness once again to show us the love of God that would be shed abroad in the hearts of all who believe through the Holy Spirit! The Son of Mary is the Son of God. He is Light. He is Life. He is Love. He is God.

The Savior in the manger that night wasn't just for Mary, the shepherds, or the magi. He is our Light. We need Him to break through the sin in our hearts. We need the gleaming power of God's gospel to bring us forgiveness, hope, and joy—especially in these dark days.

Are you basking in the rays of the Son this Advent season?