Walk in the Light

December 20, 2025

December 20th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Luke 2:6-20

Highlight Verses:

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The theme of the third week of Advent is Joy.

That word can get confusing.

I put up lots of lights and cute creations in front of our house because it’s fun.

We put up Christmas trees and garlands and stockings inside our home because it’s both fun and nostalgic.

We exchange gifts at Christmas because it’s fun, we want to express our love for our friends and family, and because it reminds us of the gift that God gave us through the birth of Jesus.

But the angels spoke of JOY that night, because it was finally the day when history split in two –

BC, (Before Christ) and AD (Año Domini – year of our Lord).

JOY came to the World in the person of Jesus aka Emmanuel – God with us.

No other amount of Christmas celebration could top that fact.

It is truly the reason for the season.

What brings you joy at Christmas?
How do you spread that joy?
December 19, 2025

December 19th, 2025

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 16-18

Highlight Verse:

““Nevertheless, this man of Israel’s royal family rebelled against Babylon, sending ambassadors to Egypt to request a great army and many horses. Can Israel break her sworn treaties like that and get away with it?”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭17‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

God did something unique with Babylon.

Babylon never fully embraced the God of Israel.

Sure, there were incidents during the time of Daniel where faith seemed to flare up but they didn’t amount to much.

But God still used Babylon to restart the faith of the Israelites.

God still does stuff like that today.

Music is one of those ways.

I’ve been seeing videos on YouTube lately by Christians criticizing the Christian music industry for not presenting a pure Gospel with every song.

I agree that there are problems within the Christian music industry, but I’ve never considered it to be a source of theology but of wholesome entertainment.

I’ve been encouraged to action through the lyrics of many of those songs.

But here’s the kicker – I have also been encouraged to action by songs by people who have nothing to do with the Christian faith.

While I certainly don’t want to emulate their lifestyles, I will accept their lyrics when they agree with the principles in the Bible.

Just like God used the Babylonians to preserve the faith,

He can use all facets of His creation to further His kingdom – even those He created who don’t believe in Him.

How has God used unexpected sources to move you to deeper faith in Him?
What influences to you believe you need to avoid to keep your faith strong?

My answers – The Michael Jackson song Man in the Mirror comes to mind as encouraging me to start changing the world by changing me – of course, I see it in the context of faith in Jesus.
As far as what I avoid (or at least should avoid) would be anything that degrades my faith by encouraging me to think of myself or others before God (as in over prioritized romance).
December 18, 2025

December 18th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 2 Timothy 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

At the time of this letter, there were some heretical teachings going on that focused on knowledge as a means of salvation rather than faith and grace.

Paul basically tells Timothy not to even give these teachers the time of day.

Today, we have so many different denominations and differences within these denominations. It can be tough to know who to believe.

When I went to Bible college, one of the things they taught us was “In the essentials, unity, In the non-essentials, diversity.”

I’ve talked here before about how I think diversity between denominations is a good thing as long as they don’t ignore the essentials.

In light of today’s reading, I think it’s important to emphasize the essentials.

If your church or denomination is concentrating on accepting everyone while ignoring sin and our need for forgiveness from it, there’s something wrong there.

Trust includes repentance.

If you are a normal human, you’ll likely need to repent every day.

And if you downplay the seriousness of sin, you downplay the need for the cross.

I’m not saying we should go back to hellfire and brimstone preaching, but I am saying we should never lose sight of the need for the cross.

In trusting Jesus’ sacrifice, we also need to trust His direction that would lead us to a more righteous life.

God made us. He knows what we need and what is best for us. When we fully trust Him, we’ll try to do what He says.

The more we succeed in that, the richer and fuller life we’ll live here on Earth and for eternity.

What does your church teach about sin?
And what do they teach about salvation through grace that Jesus showed us on the cross?
December 17, 2025

December 17th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Kings 7

Highlight Verse:

“One of Solomon’s buildings was called the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. There were four rows of cedar pillars, and great cedar beams rested on the pillars.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

America has large homes. The average size now is about 2300 square feet. In 1950 it was 1000 square feet.

In King Solomon’s day I’m sure it was much smaller even though the average family was likely much larger.

But this one palace of his was 11,250 square feet just on the first floor, And there were two more floors!

When they say that Solomon was the richest person in his day, they’re not exaggerating.

Despite his incredible wealth, he put God first. He completed the temple before he started on his own palaces.

His palaces were more luxurious and larger than the temple, but the temple was built with far greater care and reverence and artistry.

He put great effort into ruling wisely and reverently.

I’d like to make the point that a wealthy person can still serve the Lord wholeheartedly.

That statement is true, though a wealthy person has to overcome far more temptations than a poor person. We will see that later in Solomon’s life.

For now, lets just be satisfied with the point that God should always come before material gain.

It is good when we can do great things for God with our wealth, but serving God should always come before gaining wealth.

Has it been easier for you to serve God wholeheartedly during time of prosperity or lack?
What are ways that you would like to use wealth to serve God?
December 16, 2025

December 16th, 2025

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Exodus 30-31

Highlight Verse:

“Like a skilled incense maker, blend these ingredients to make a holy anointing oil.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭30‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This chapter contains formulas for both incense and anointing oil.

I had a pastor friend once who followed the formula for the anointing oil – and it smelled good, very good.

But wait, wasn’t that formula meant to be reserved for the priests and the temple?

Yes. Yes, it was.

And ever since Jesus’ sacrifice, we who have accepted His salvation are the priests and the temple rolled into one.

Just as Jesus’ sacrifice makes us pleasing in God’s sight, the idea of incense is to represent us being a pleasing aroma to God as well.

Just imagine stepping into a friend’s home and getting hit with the aroma of fresh baked bread or cookies. Or maybe for you, it’s stepping onto the patio for the aroma of meat cooking in a smoker.

Either way, it is a wonderful aroma that draws you in closer to its source.

Today, if we wear the incense of salvation and the aroma of anointing,

we will bring delight to God’s heart, not to mention joy to ourselves.

Have you ever been anointed for ministry? Tell us about it?
If not, what ministry would you want to be anointed for?
December 15, 2025

December 15th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – Matthew 25

Highlight Verse:

““But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I admit that this parable has confused me in the past.

To be completely honest, I’m still not completely sure of the entire meaning of it.

I mean, why speak of bridesmaids when the groom returns and not the bride? Is there a subtle meaning there?

Some is lost in fully understanding the cultural context. A bride in that culture would traditionally have ten bridesmaids for whom it was an honor to serve the bride through the wedding.

Therefore, it would be a great dishonor to be barred from the ceremony for being unprepared.

To miss out on the ceremony would be a big disappointment, but today’s highlight verse zeroes in on the greatest pain.

They were cut off from relationship with God.

He did not KNOW them.

The other two stories in this chapter reiterate the theme.

The unwise servant did not have a close enough relationship with the Master to act on his knowledge of the Master and invest the money.

The person who doesn’t understand the Father’s heart enough to help their fellow man has that relationship with the Father completely cut off for an eternity of punishment.

As for me, I want to be prepared by doing all I can to understand the Father’s heart and act accordingly.

What stood out the most to you in this chapter?
What does it mean to you to be in relationship with the Father?
December 13, 2025

December 14th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Proverbs 2

Highlight Verses:

“Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I just watched a YouTube video from a family from New Zealand who were at their wits end because their flight was cancelled and there was no place to spend the night. This happened last summer but they had a group of fans who followed them in real time, so they literally cried out to them for help. One of their fans found a place for them and told them where to go.

It is with that kind of desperation that God wants us to call on Him for wisdom.

Even if you are not in a desperate situation, we need to desire wisdom desperately with an attitude that is willing to listen to His response.

Whether you are in a desperate place or a place of comfort, God always has a best path for you. It might not look like what you expect but it always be the best in the long run.

You just need to earnestly seek it and be willing to accept it when God shows it to you.

When have you desperately sought wisdom?
How did God provide insight or guidance in that situation?
December 13, 2025

December 13th, 2025

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Luke 2:1-5

Highlight Verses:

“All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The second week of Advent in the traditional calendar is one of Peace.

But the next part of the Advent story was not full of peace. The census ordered by the Roman Empire required everyone to go their Ancestral homelands.

As the family lines were reckoned through the fathers, that would be like requiring me to go to Spain for a census.

I’ve never been there. I don’t know a soul there. But that’s where the Solano paternal line originated.

I don’t think I would feel much peace if I were forced to go there and then be unable to find lodging and have to stay in someone’s barn – with a very pregnant wife.

I cannot imagine how tough that would be.

But they had one thing going for them.

They had a clear calling from God and were acting on that calling.

That clear cut purpose made the trivial and not so trivial hardships tolerable.

Their goal of raising this Child of God named Jesus became their focus.

And when you put your eyes on God’s calling for your life everything else becomes less important.

What distracts you from your calling?
How do you keep the important things important?
December 12, 2025

December 12th, 2025
Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 13-15

Highlight Verse:

““This will happen because these evil prophets deceive my people by saying, ‘All is peaceful’ when there is no peace at all! It’s as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash!”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Who are these prophets today?

There could be several different answers but I think they can be mainly found in two categories.
- Those who believe they operate in the capacity of a prophet but either don’t understand the Word of God and let their flawed understanding color what they proclaim.
- These can be tested by taking what they say and comparing it to the Word of God found in the Bible.
- Those who say that all paths lead to God and that, as long as you have faith in something, you’re fine.
- If you get on a plane to New York and declare you are heading to Chicago, does that mean that you will still get to New York? (In case you’re wondering, the answer is NO!)
- Jesus proclaimed “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) (insert mic drop here).
So, just like Ezekiel, listen to the prophets and compare what they say to the Truth in God’s Word.

Let the Truth win.

Have you ever heard someone proclaim that they are speaking for God but were actually not?
How could you tell?
December 11, 2025

December 11th, 2025

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Timothy 6

Highlight Verse:

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Right now, in this country, there is an explosion in the popularity of Christian culture and music, especially among the young.

That’s a very good thing!

But it also sets up the temptation to use that popularity to get wealthy.

The Bible doesn’t say that being wealthy is wrong.

But pretending to be a believer to get wealthy is specifically named in this passage.

“Do not covet” was one of the Ten Commandments.

But now getting people to want more stuff has become an art as well as an industry..

Today’s highlight verse gives us the formula for true wealth.

Godliness + contentment = great wealth.

Sounds like a simple equation.

But it’s not so easy to live out.

How do you get past the materialism inherent with the Christmas season?
How can you tell when someone is just acting Christian to gain wealth?

The theme of the third week of Advent is Joy.

But the angels spoke of JOY that night, because it was finally the day when history split in two –

JOY came to the World in the person of Jesus aka Emmanuel – God with us.

But God still used Babylon to restart the faith of the Israelites.

But here’s the kicker – I have also been encouraged to action by songs by people who have nothing to do with the Christian faith.

He can use all facets of His creation to further His kingdom – even those He created who don’t believe in Him.

When I went to Bible college, one of the things they taught us was “In the essentials, unity, In the non-essentials, diversity.”

Trust includes repentance.

The more we succeed in that, the richer and fuller life we’ll live here on Earth and for eternity.

When they say that Solomon was the richest person in his day, they’re not exaggerating.

He put great effort into ruling wisely and reverently.

For now, lets just be satisfied with the point that God should always come before material gain.

I had a pastor friend once who followed the formula for the anointing oil – and it smelled good, very good.

Either way, it is a wonderful aroma that draws you in closer to its source.

we will bring delight to God’s heart, not to mention joy to ourselves.

He did not KNOW them.

The other two stories in this chapter reiterate the theme.

As for me, I want to be prepared by doing all I can to understand the Father’s heart and act accordingly.

It is with that kind of desperation that God wants us to call on Him for wisdom.

You just need to earnestly seek it and be willing to accept it when God shows it to you.

The second week of Advent in the traditional calendar is one of Peace.

They had a clear calling from God and were acting on that calling.

And when you put your eyes on God’s calling for your life everything else becomes less important.

Who are these prophets today?

Let the Truth win.

But pretending to be a believer to get wealthy is specifically named in this passage.

But now getting people to want more stuff has become an art as well as an industry..

Godliness + contentment = great wealth.