Everyone wants to be home for Christmas. You can probably think of at least two songs with lyrics that reminisce about being home for this holiday. I’m humming one right now.

What is it about home and Christmas that makes them almost inseparable? Both words conjure up feelings of warmth, security, comfort, nurture and love. The smells call to us too – bread baking (if mom has a baking machine), a turkey in the oven and pine wreaths on the door. It almost seems you can’t have one without the other. Being away from home at Christmas makes people feel sad and nostalgic.

It’s been said the human heart has a hole the same shape and size as God. We have longings, desires and needs no human being can ever fulfill. But so many search for fulfillment everywhere else before turning to God – if they ever do. Longing for home and the good things we associate with home is in reality a longing for the presence of God in our lives. And Christmas is the time of year people seem to long for home the most.

Christmas and home go together because Christmas symbolizes when God came to earth. He came to our home, to be one of us, so that eventually we could make our home with him. God is like home – he’s warm, loving, nurturing and secure, and smells good too, like a fresh rain or a sweet rose. All the wonderful feelings and good things of home are wrapped up in God. He is home.

He also wants to make his home within us. He lives in the heart of every believer, at home inside of us. In John 14:17, Jesus talked about how he lives in us and we live in him. We make our home in him. He said he was going to prepare a place for us, in his Father’s home. So we know when we die, we will be home – with and in God.

But what if thoughts of home don’t evoke warm fuzzies? Some don’t have happy families or the memories that come with them. Family members may let us down. They get sick and die. Then God and home must become even more synonymous. Just as he can be mother, father, sister or brother for us, he can also be home. God loves, nurtures and comforts us. He is the only one who can fill all the deep longings of our heart.

Instead of only going to your physical home this Christmas season, take some time to go home to God. Recognize and acknowledge those longings in your heart for what they really are – the desire and the need for God. All the good things of home and Christmas are in him, with him and through him. Make yourself at home in him and come home to him for Christmas.

My kids can’t imagine a world without CDs, cable TV, DVDs, computers and now cell phones (and I’m getting quite used to them too). When I tell them when I was born, my parents lived in a little shack with no running water, they hardly believe it.

I’m not that old, but I can remember only four channels on TV, no seatbelts in cars and my sister and I amusing ourselves by acting out silly stories using sheets and kitchen items for props.

I remember what life was like in the 60s. My mother remembers what life was like in the 30s and 40s. My (late) grandparents lived in the teens and 20s. It wasn’t that long ago. But things have changed so much.

They say those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. Is it also true if you do not remember history you are doomed to become ungrateful?

When I remember using the outhouse on my grandma’s farm (she only put in toilets in the late 60s) I am thankful for my indoor bathroom. When I remember pumping water from my grandpa’s well, I’m thankful to have a kitchen faucet.

When I use e-mail, my word processor or watch a DVD that will last forever, I think back to handwritten letters (almost a lost art, but still…). I recall typing documents on a typewriter (I learned on a manual), correcting carbon copies or starting over, and only being able to watch a movie once—in a theater.

And when I remember living in fear that if I took out the trash on Friday night or didn’t finish the dishes until after sundown I would be punished, I’m thankful Christ is my Sabbath now.

When I remember being afraid of a God who was more judge than Father, I’m thankful Christ came to show us how loving and merciful he is.

When I remember my uncertainty about salvation, wondering am I going to make it into the kingdom, I am so thankful for grace. The grace of Jesus reassures me my sins are covered—in the past, present and future—and my salvation is sure.

When I remember the past I am extremely thankful for the present and getting more and more excited about the future. It’s a future that will be better than anything ever imagined because we will be with Jesus. We will see him as he is and we will be like him.

I hope I can always remember the past, be grateful for the present and cherish our glorious future with the Lord.

Expressing gratitude and appreciation doesn’t seem to come naturally to most of us. We have to teach our children to say thank you and then remind them over and over until it becomes a habit (if it ever does). Writing thank you cards for gifts and thoughtful deeds used to be done immediately following the event. Now you read questions to advice columnists from people wondering how many months can pass before one must tackle this chore and still be considered on time. We seem to need a holiday to remind us to be thankful for our blessings.

In October we typically take time to express thanks to pastors for the work they do throughout the year. And while we always include the pastor’s wife, it would be nice to do something special just for her. But what to do? Flowers, jewelry, a silver coffee service? How about a three-day retreat, where she would be pampered, see old friends, be spiritually refreshed and return home ready for another year?

About seven years ago, one of our own — Jannice May, an elder’s wife here in Southern California — responded to the Holy Spirit about this very thing. She was led to realize and later act upon the need for spiritual and physical nurturing for these hard-working, faithful women in service to God. She began a ministry for them, holding a special conference each Labor Day weekend (the first weekend in September) featuring wonderful speakers, good food and warm fellowship with their peers. (See the October Worldwide News for details about this year’s conference.)

Ask anyone who has attended one of these conferences and you will hear nothing but enthusiastic comments about everything from the beautiful hotel, the gift bags, the friendship teams, the great food, the book and clothing swaps to the inspiring worship and meaningful teaching. They will tell you it was worth every penny.

So this is my proposal: instead of these women saving their own pennies every year, why don’t we as their loving congregations save the pennies for them? One dollar a person once a month, from even the smaller congregations, would be enough to send your elder’s wife to this conference. If you have a surplus or circumstances don’t allow you to send someone, consider supporting future conferences in the United States, South Africa, the Philippines and England with your monthly donation.

Let’s get together and prove that gratitude hasn’t gone out of style. Designate a treasurer, take up a collection each month — only one dollar a person — and send it in to Connecting and Bonding, 556 S. Fair Oaks Ave. #101-176, Pasadena, CA 91105. Registration starts in January and payments can be made over a period of time. You may contact Jannice May at conbond@acninc.net or 626-304-6138 for more information.

It’s been said a woman’s work is never done. The work of an elder’s wife is also never done. It’s an ongoing labor of love for God’s sheep. So next fall, forget the flowers, the chocolate and the dust collectors — well, maybe not the chocolate — and give a gift your elder’s wife will never forget. Thank her for her work in the Lord and send her to Connecting and Bonding.

September - What Are You Getting Away With? 

Some make a game of it. Some do it out of confusion or fear. Some do it with malice aforethought. Most of us do it at one time or another, either habitually or accidentally. We try to get away with something we know isn’t right. 

We often do this when driving. Can we get away with passing that truck on the wrong side? Can we get away with not coming to a complete stop, or running that yellow light? Will we get caught speeding—after all, we’re in a hurry. 
Sometimes I try to get away with things when I’m cooking or sewing. Oh, they’ll never notice I used a different spice, or that I sewed that part crooked. Or I try to get away with eating an extra chocolate, or not exercising when I should. 

Do we ever try to get away with spiritual things, hoping God won’t notice or will overlook it? Obviously God sees everything, so we know we don’t really get away with anything with him. Grace covers everything anyway, doesn’t it? 
But we still try it. Well, we might reason, I can get away with not praying today. Or, I can get away with telling this little bit of gossip, or looking at this questionable website. But do we really get away with these things?

The blood of Christ covers the sin—past, present and future—of a Christian. But does that mean we can do whatever we want? Some ask this question after learning that grace, not law-keeping, is all we need to be right with God. Paul gives a resounding no in Romans 6:1: “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? (verse 2) By no means!” (NIV). He says it again in verse 15. Grace is not a license to sin. The author of Hebrews reminds us that “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (4:13). 

If our sins are gone from God’s mind as far as east is from west and grace covers everything, why would we still need to give an account of ourselves? Perhaps the answer to this question is something I remember hearing often at Ambassador College: attitude. 

“How much can I get away with?” is not an attitude God appreciates. It wasn’t his attitude when he made his plan for the salvation of humanity. It wasn’t Jesus’ attitude when he went to the cross. God gave—and continues to give—all. He doesn’t look for the shortcut, the minimum requirement or for what will just get him by. He expects no less of us. 

God wants our attitude to be one of giving—generously, lovingly and often. More than what is required. If we go through life trying to get away with whatever we can because it’s covered by grace, we may have a lot of explaining to do. 

Let’s stop trying to get away with less than our best and instead do everything with our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10) and for God’s glory. 

An old television commercial for bath powder shows a woman in the throes of a very stressful day—traffic, bills, laundry. She sighs, "Take me away, Calgon!" The scene switches to the same woman, relaxing in the bathtub, smiling and happy, while the kids are making noise in the other room.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could that easily soak away our troubles, sending them down the drain with the bathwater? Unfortunately, our trials and problems are more than skin deep, and don’t just wash off. We’re stuck with them.

Mother Teresa once said her life was not "strewed with roses." We can all agree with that statement, although I have tried to do my part by planting as many rose bushes in my yard as I can!

Doubt, disappointment and grief come to all of us. It starts when we’re toddlers and just keeps coming through the golden years. We learn to deal with the doubts, disappointments and griefs and get on with our lives.

But why do some seem to handle these inevitabilities better than others? The difference is, of course, faith. Terrible experiences are still terrible, but faith can take the edge off the pain.

Does it hurt to lose a job and face the difficulties that can come as a result? Yes, but faith assures us God will provide for our needs (Matthew 6:25). Does it hurt to lose a loved one? Of course, but faith assures us we will see that person again, with a new body (1 Corinthians 15:42).

Is any trial or problem easy? No, but faith convinces us Jesus will never leave us alone, no matter what difficulty we face in this life (Hebrews 13:5). He gladly bears our burdens for us (Matthew 11:28-30). He is always with those who trust him (Psalm 37:28) and he guards the faithful (Psalm 97:10).

Faith won’t make our problems go away. And there will still be pain. But knowing and trusting in the one who gave his own life for us—suffering more pain than we could ever imagine—can get us through the pain.

So go ahead and take that long, hot bubble bath. Light a candle, eat a chocolate and open up a good whodunit. When you emerge from the tub, the problems will still be there, but so will Jesus. He won’t take us away, like Calgon claims, but he won’t disappear down the drain either. He’ll always be there.

Do you ever feel under pressure? Is that a silly question? They say diamonds are formed only under great pressure. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel more like a squashed bug than a diamond.

There are different kinds of pressure, but the one we think of most often is the pressure of everyday life. It can be harmful or it can shape us. But another also potentially harmful kind is the pressure to be and act a certain way. Some of this pressure we undoubtedly put on ourselves. Some comes from the media. Even though we try not to be influenced, the subtle messages still get into our minds and affect us.

Some of the pressure comes from those around us—spouse, boss, peers and even our kids. Some comes from our backgrounds. I remember hearing about the yellow pencil phenomenon when I was a freshman at Ambassador College in Big Sandy. We weren’t all the same, but the expectation seemed to be that we would fit into a certain mold. Some of us managed to turn various shades of yellow, but others never did change color.

One of the demands of our past legalism was that everyone must follow the same rules, the same standards of behavior and even the same path. That didn’t leave much room for individuality or freedom of expression.

For the most part the pressure to conform seems to be gone, but sometimes we still feel it. This pressure can cause feelings of inadequacy and maybe even rebellious urges too. We may still feel pulled to stifle our uniqueness. When we do, we also stifle the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit.

God doesn’t want yellow pencils and he doesn’t want us to compare ourselves with each other. But it’s difficult to establish or hold on to your identity when you’ve been conditioned or pressured to strive for others’ standards of perfection.

God wants us to listen to the gentle lead of the Holy Spirit and express the individuality he created us to have. To do this we need to listen to the still, small voice of God and respond to what he says. We can only listen and respond to him when we are in tune with the Holy Spirit and allow him to lead us. Remember, Jesus told us not to be afraid.

But what if the pressure comes from other Christians or your congregation and they seem to be pulling you in a direction you don’t want to go? Is it wrong not to follow along? No, because if we’re all tuned in to the Holy Spirit, we will all be going in God’s direction for our lives. And, we won’t judge or put pressure on others to go where God is not leading.

Let’s tune in to God and discover his expectations for us. As we respond to his gentle pressure, we’ll become the spiritual diamonds he wants us to be.

In Old Testament days, the Hebrews made sacrifices for everything. Different occasions and circumstances called for sacrifices such as a burnt offering, a grain offering, a fellowship offering, a sin offering or a guilt offering. Each offering had specific rules and regulations. Sacrifices were also made on feast days, new moons, full moons, etc.

Christ, the Lamb of God, was the perfect sacrifice, once and for all (Hebrews 10), making the Old Testament sacrifices no longer necessary. Just as Jesus came to fulfill the law, magnifying it so the intent of the heart can be a sin, even though not acted upon, he also fulfilled and magnified the sacrificial system. Now we are to offer spiritual sacrifices.

In the past, when I read the first verse of Romans 12 and verse 17 of Psalm 51, I would nod my head, and say, yes, of course, spiritual sacrifices. But I would never have admitted I didn't have a clue as to what this meant. What is a spiritual sacrifice? And how do I make one? Am I supposed to find a spiritual lamb, place it on a spiritual altar and with a spiritual knife, slit its throat? Or did Paul have something else in mind? (That's a rhetorical question!)

The dictionary definition of a sacrifice is "an act of offering something precious to deity." What do we have that could possibly be precious to God? He needs nothing from us. But he does want a broken spirit, prayer, praise and our bodies.

These may not seem like big sacrifices to make, but consider what each of these mean to the human, carnal nature. Pride is the natural state of humanity. Bringing a sacrifice of a broken spirit means giving up our pride and arrogance in favor of something unnatural: humility.

Prayer - talking to God, listening to him, meditating on his word, fellowship and communion, Spirit to spirit - require us to give up other things we may desire so we can spend time with God.

Praise happens when we get our minds off ourselves and focus on the great God of the universe. Again, the natural state of a human is to think only of him or herself. Praise transports us to the throne room of the Lord, where we sacrificially kneel to his sovereignty.

Romans 12:1 says we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is our spiritual act of worship. Instead of offering our bodies to the god of this world, we make ourselves available to serve the Lord bodily, and worship him in our everyday activities. There is no line between worship time and non-worship time - our whole life becomes worship when we lay down our bodies on God's altar.

If we can bring these sacrifices to God daily, we won't be in danger of conforming to this world. But we will be transformed by the act of laying down our pride, our wills and desires for worldly things, our preoccupation with self and our selfishness in living for number one. We can bring no more precious or valuable sacrifices than these.

Have you ever thought you had something all figured out, only to realize you didn't have a clue? How many do-it-yourself projects follow the old adage, "When all else fails, read the directions?"

I've even had trouble after reading the directions. Sometimes I carefully read through each step, perform them as I understand them, and end up starting over because I didn't get it right.

Have you ever thought you had God figured out? I have and I know I'm not the only one. I used to have God in a box. I thought I knew who he was and what he wanted from me. I thought I knew what he wanted his church to look like and how he wanted that church to act.

How many people - Christian and non-Christian alike - have God in a box? Putting God in a box means thinking we know his will, his nature and his character. We put the bow on top when we also think we understand how he works in our lives and for all of humanity.

Author Elyse Fitzpatrick, in her book Idols of the Heart, says, "Ignorance of the will of God and error about the nature of God are two serious causes of idolatry." And I say, these are the causes of a lot of problems people have about religion and life itself. Ignorance and error cause us to put God in a box.

I won't cite any examples because God and I both know that I and my church have "been there and done that." And I'm sure until we see God face to face, we will never be able to shake off the ignorance and error that seem to be part of the human condition. I'd rather focus on how to pull off the bow, loosen the tape, tear off the wrapping paper and open the box.

Pull off the bow - learn about the nature of God. Who is he? What are his characteristics and his character? Let him reveal himself through the Scriptures. Loosen the tape - study his will for the men and women of the Bible. Which prayers did he answer for them and how? Tear off the wrapping paper - look over your life to discover what his will has been so far and how he has shaped your life. His plan has no doubt been different from yours. Open the box - realize and openly admit you don't know everything and your church doesn't know everything. Repeat after me: God is God and I am not.

Because of our needs, desires and fallen nature, we humans have a tendency to create God in our own image. Through our thoughts and imaginations, we shape him into who we want or need him to be to suit our particular circumstances.

But let's be open and honest to the leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit. With his help, we can break open the box and let God be God.

In May, a pioneer woman of the Worldwide Church of God will move to Texas with Ed, her husband, who is retiring from his job with the Los Angeles County School District. For my article this month, I would like to give her a proper send-off by paying tribute to this inspiring, encouraging and wonderful woman — Sheila Graham.

Sheila thinks of herself as an ordinary woman, and in many ways, she is. But in many ways she’s extraordinary. Sheila became a single mother while expecting her fifth child and moved to Big Sandy on faith. She was able to provide for her children through the generosity of Worldwide Church of God members, for which she often expresses deep gratitude. While her kids were in school, she worked on graphics part-time at the college press. Eventually this turned into a full-time job.

Sheila spent several years working on The Worldwide News, learning to write, edit, plan layouts and take photographs. When the college in Big Sandy closed, she was transferred to Pasadena, where she began working in the Editorial Department and taking college classes. She became managing editor of The Plain Truth, even though that was still considered a man’s job.

In 1996, Sheila was retired from her job at The Plain Truth, a job that had stretched and matured her far beyond her humble beginnings at the press in Texas. Sheila felt discouraged, thinking her productive years were over. Little did she know God had something else in mind for her, something her retirement from The Plain Truth allowed time to pursue.

A couple of years before our doctrinal changes, a minister who worked for Church Administration asked Sheila to do some research on something he’d heard about called women’s ministry. Sheila wrote a paper and presented it to CAD. She was told it was a good concept, but nothing came of it. The paper went in her file cabinet and she decided to wait. The time just wasn’t right.

Then early in 1995, after a frustrating day at the office, Sheila pulled out that paper and reread it. She wondered if maybe this was the time, and called me for a meeting to discuss it. When I read it, I immediately sensed this was something that would be good for the church. We began taking it to the pastors’ wives, and soon we were speaking at conferences around the country and the world, promoting women’s ministry.

In all her experiences, Sheila has been a woman willing to take a risk, stepping out in faith. Her example of hard work, common sense, faith in God and quiet strength have been an inspiration to me and to everyone else whose life she has touched.

Sheila is truly a pioneer of our church — a woman pioneer whose life quietly demonstrates Galatians 3:28: In Christ, there is neither male nor female. May God bless her and Ed in their new phase of life. By the way, she is now working toward her doctorate in religion. She continues to be an inspiration to us all.

If you'd like to e-mail Sheila, her address is sheila.graham@gci.org 

Did you enjoy the trip? This is usually the first question you are asked as you deplane. How many times have you answered, "No, it was terrible. The plane was late taking off, we had a turbulent flight, there was no meal, and now I have a headache!" (Oops, that sounds like me after one of my more unpleasant flights!)

I’ve also lamented that a whole day might be wasted just getting from one place to another, so I try to use my travel time. I always take several books, letters to be answered, articles to be edited, audio tapes, and of course, a little chocolate for nourishment! That way even if the ride is bumpy or late, I can still say I enjoyed the trip because I didn’t just sit there worrying or fuming about all of the things that went wrong.

Isn’t life like that sometimes? Life is a journey, and we can either enjoy it and use the time God has given us, or we can wring our hands, worrying about the circumstances and wishing things were different.

In a way, all of life is made up of travel days. It seems we go from one place to another, at times frantically rushing to appointments, meeting people and crossing items off our to-do lists. Do we ever just look around, take a mental snapshot of the day and think, "This is a moment of my life. Thank you Lord, for this moment and for this life"?

We should live more in the present moment, says Jan Johnson, in her book, Enjoying the Presence of God, because it helps us "value the processes of life as well as the products."

Life is more than just finishing our lists. Sometimes we get caught up in being productive and only feel satisfaction after we’ve accomplished as much as possible. While it’s good to enjoy accomplishments, they are a lot sweeter if we "can relish this present moment instead of dwelling in the past or muddling over the future" (Ibid.).

Not only will the good things in life seem better when we savor each moment, but the bad things become less troubling when seen as part of the process. The trials and problems aren’t permanent – they are only rough stones in the path. I know that’s easy to say, but think of all the rough places you’ve already passed, and remember the one you’re standing on right now will soon be behind you.

It also helps to remember that we are not here just for this. We are on our way to someplace else, someplace better. Paul encourages us in Philippians 3:13-14: "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Let’s keep pressing toward the goal, but let’s also enjoy and make the most of each travel day. Boy voyage!

February - More Than Ants

Have you ever been in a huge crowd of people and felt small and insignificant? Or been up in an airplane and noticed how the people on the ground resemble bugs? Sometimes I think that’s how we look to God — grasshoppers hopping around in the dirt.

Isaiah 40:22 says God sits on the circle of the earth. "He judges the great people of the earth and brings them to nothing. They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and their work withers. The wind carries them off like straw" (verses 23-24, NLT throughout).

Does this mean we mere "grasshoppers" don’t mean much to God? Can we
actually matter to such a powerful being?

The 40th chapter of Isaiah shows us the ludicrousness of comparing human beings to the great God "Who created all the stars (and) brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away" (verse 26).

But this chapter of Isaiah also addresses the question of our importance to God. He does see our troubles and never refuses to hear our case. He has depths of understanding beyond us. He cares about the weak and tired, and gives them power and strength.

If God sat on a throne high above the earth, perhaps he would only see us as insects. But he is here with us, inside us, giving us significance by his very presence.

We humans seem engaged in a universal search for significance. It has led some to believe we are here by chance and our lives are meaningless, so let’s party up! In reality, we are already significant because we have been created in God's image. He sees us as individuals, each one important, each one giving him glory in his or her own way. In a crowd of a million others, each one is just as important as the other — each is precious to the Maker of our souls.

So why are we also seemingly engaged in trying to disprove each other’s significance? At times, we insult, demean and abuse those who bear the image of the Creator. We forget or choose to ignore that God loves each one. Or we arrogantly believe some are put on this earth to be subservient to their "superiors."

Humanity seems plagued by ignorance and arrogance — and abuse. The only real answer to this major problem is, of course, knowledge of and belief in the one who gave us life and therefore significance. In the meantime, we must face and deal with these issues the best we can.

Our example of how to treat each other as beings of significance is Jesus, who never treated anyone as a throw-away. Our responsibility to Jesus and each other is to follow his example by recognizing the image of God in each person we meet and treating him or her accordingly.

Do we matter to God? As his image bearers, we are so important to him that he sent his only Son to die for us. And that says it all.

January - Unimaginable Inheritance

Have you ever wished someone would knock on your door with the news a rich uncle you’ve never heard of died and left you a fortune? The idea of money coming out of nowhere is exciting, a dream of many and the premise of many books and movies.

What could you do with your newfound wealth? And how would it change your life? Would all your problems be solved? Would life turn into Easy Street?

Wish no more, because this has already happened. You do have a rich relative who died. He left a will, naming you as his primary beneficiary. The will cannot be contested or overthrown in any court. None of it will be taken to pay taxes or lawyers. It’s all yours.

The final element of our identity in Christ is that of being an heir. This one is at the top of our identity cross – the grand finale: "We are children of God and joint-heirs with Christ, sharing his inheritance with him" (Galatians 4:6-7 and Romans 8:17).

The New Covenant went into effect at Jesus’ death. We are his heirs and "all the promises God gave to him (Abraham) belong to you" (Galatians 3:29, NLT throughout). The promises of Jesus’ will are not the earthly promises of an uncles’ will – money, a house or a car, paintings or antiques. We have the best and brightest future anyone can imagine, but we can’t even imagine what it will be like to be in God’s presence, to explore eternity, "to boldly go where no one has gone before"!

We don’t have to wonder what will actually be left to us when the will is finally read. We can be sure of our inheritance. "We know that we will inherit eternal life"(Titus 3:7) and "the kingdom of God promised to those who love him" (James 2:5). We have been given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that we will receive everything promised in the will (Ephesians 1:14), and it’s a rich and glorious inheritance (Ephesians 1:18).

Paul said in Ephesians 1:13, "Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago," so in a sense, we’re already on Easy Street! It’s in the bank.

Can you imagine what it must be like to inherit such riches? Perhaps we can get a feeling for it by picturing the Disney character, Scrooge McDuck. This cartoon character is filthy rich and likes to visit his vault. One of his favorite activities is to swim through the piles of gold. But our inheritance with Christ will be even more fantastic than Scrooge’s vast wealth.

Who are we? Our identity is in Christ. We are chosen to be God’s children, made into new creatures, covered by his grace, chosen to produce fruit and express the life of Christ, and at the end of it all, we are to inherit all the riches and joy we have merely tasted in this life.

May we never again wonder who we are or seek our identity in anything or anyone other than Jesus.