Hello friends. As we enter into the season of Christmas I pray that you’ll find these articles and resources helpful, inspiring and thought-provoking. I’ve been on my faith journey for 15 years now. I’ve changed so much. I believe I’ve changed for the better. There’s peace in my family relationships since I have God’s love and power enabling me to “forgive and bless”.
Every morning I ask Jesus to help me to be a better ambassador for him. It is impossible to do this with my own strength and grit. If I do a decent job then I thank God and give the glory all to Jesus Christ. I also like to repent as soon as possible when the Holy Spirit convicts me and follow through with any instructions to restore and repair whatever I destroyed. Usually it’s to say sorry to family members who I had a fight with. Thankfully as I am maturing, I am doing less fighting and more reflecting. If anyone had fights during Thanksgiving week, please swallow your pride and just do what the Holy Spirit tells you to do.
With Christmas comes Santa Claus, and many movies and shows about him. I had no idea that the original Saint Nicholas was a persecuted Christian! Here is a free children’s book about him if you want to get a copy for your children and grandchildren.
https://www.persecution.com/nicholas/?_source_code=EL142K25B2
One thing that I’ve noticed about the top leaders of our faith is that many of them sacrificed themselves for others and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their sacrifice reminds me of brave military leaders like George Washington. Like I’ve said before, saying “yes” to Jesus is like joining a military family. The higher you go up in rank, the more sacrificing and giving you’ll be doing. It’s a complete opposite of the world’s system. So don’t go ahead of the Holy Spirit by promoting yourself into leadership. The Holy Spirit will place you in the frontlines when you can handle the pressures and challenges of service and sacrifice. In the meantime, He will test you in smaller doses to see if you can pass the tests on difficult relationships and situations. Here’s a good example of Joseph’s story in the Bible. Joseph was used mightily in Egypt and to save his family from famine. He had to pass many years of very hard tests.
https://influencemagazine.com/practice/dealing-with-delays
Here’s a list of the twelve apostles and how they were martyred for spreading Christianity. They were the top Generals of our faith when they lived on earth. Please don’t feel bad for them when you read how they died. They are in heaven now, and for all of eternity they will be rewarded for their great service and sacrifice. If you read Revelation 21, it says that their names will be written on the foundation in the new Jerusalem. Wow what an honor and reward for all of eternity!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021&version=NKJV
I’m sharing this information with you so that you can identify a Christian leader who is in ministry for themselves, and not for Jesus Christ. I’ve been subscribed to Christian journalist Julie Roy’s newsletter for about two years now and I am so appalled by the exposed leaders who are in ministry for their own personal ambitions and pleasures. It makes me sick to read how they have abused the flock and the funds that God has entrusted them with. They will be punished if they don’t repent if not in this lifetime, then for all of eternity. If you tend to be a trusting, naive person like me then I recommend you subscribe to her newsletter so that your guard is up even in church. My Pentecostal friend would often say, “the devil never misses church.” Of course the enemy will try to infiltrate the church to destroy and divide within.
Prophecy Pros is a good podcast to follow. They do a good job explaining the book of Revelation and also they tie in today’s current events with prophecies in the Bible. These two gentlemen also tour across the country to speak in churches if you want to check out their website for a nearby church that is hosting them. In this episode, they talk about Revelation 21 and 22. It was really interesting! And I was just wondering what is going to happen to the sea animals and fishes after reading Revelation 21.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prophecy-pros-podcast/id1503243159?i=1000738489434
(By the way, these two men were saved as teenagers when they were taught the book of Revelation. Please teach the WHOLE Bible and not just the easier books. Young people can handle it. Remember that Jesus’ disciples were young people – teenagers and young adults. Peter was probably the oldest, being in his mid-20s. I would have greatly appreciated this teaching in my college church. They only taught from the New Testament books (minus Revelation), and books of Psalm and Proverbs. Because I did not see the big picture, it was easy to fall away as a young professional in NYC during a good and booming economy of the 90s.)
I came across this Bloomberg article and it caught my attention. It writes about the great “stuff” transfer that will happen to the Millennials and Gen Xers as the Boomers pass away. In the last 15 years, I’ve been to many funerals and have seen that most people will hire a company to get rid of their parents’ “stuff”. It’s a huge emotional burden and expense for the children and so it’s something we, as Gen Xers, should take into consideration and pray about. (Sorry about the long link but since it is a free article, I think you will need the full link.)
Evangelists would tell us that we can only take people to heaven with us. Pastor Rick Warren’s devotional said we will also take our character traits. Hmm…it’s something to think about.
https://www.pastorrick.com/current-teaching/devotional/change-is-good-even-when-its-hard-2025
(FYI – Pastor Rick Warren started the Saddleback Church in Southern California about 40 years ago. His church kept on growing and growing and growing. Few years ago he transferred the pastoral mantle to another pastor who is not a family member. Today he is more like a grandfather to the Saddleback Church. He seems more relaxed and happier. He is now working in the global church as an evangelist and mentor/teacher. I remember him saying once that he was the happiest as a pastor when pastoring about 200 members because he knew everyone including their dogs’ names. 😂 I highly recommend you subscribe to his daily devotional. It’s packed with biblical wisdom from many years in ministry, and passing through many tests and valleys.)
This year I’ve been listening daily to Bible Recap. Her recap is more like the Cliff Notes version of the Bible. I really like her commentaries. Here is one about being in an “unequally yoked marriage”.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bible-recap/id1440833267?i=1000738954836
I’ve thought a lot about this chapter since I’m in this kind of marriage. My husband and children do not share my faith in Jesus Christ. However, like Apostle Paul, I have learned the secret to being content in my circumstance.
Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Here is another good devotional about living life with nonbelievers.
In case you missed this CBN story, a teen boy fell into icy water and died, but his mom’s prayer brought him back to life. Her pastor wrote a book about their story, and other miracles that he was involved with. I like hearing and reading victory stories like these to learn from them. Athletes and coaches do that all the time to become better in their sports and so, why not as believers of Jesus Christ when it comes to healing and miracles.
I’ve been checking out the Novo website and they have so many great blogs, resources and short inspiring videos. On the last day of my Novo prayer cohort, we each shared what we received. When it was my turn, I couldn’t help but cry as I realized that our weekly group was such an oasis for me. If you need a weekly oasis too, please sign up for their next semester. They start in January. It’s free but if you can pay, they only ask for a $100 fee. My cohort group met virtually for 12 weeks.
Novo ministry is based out of Anaheim, California and so they have many blogs and videos from their groups in California. Here are a few that I read and watched.
– Our Airbnb was in Escondido, California. This is about a high schooler in Escondido. ❤️
https://map.novo.org/2025-stories/escondido
– Our last night dinner in California was in Encinitas. This is about their young adult ministry and evangelism in this lovely beach town.
– I shared this video with my friend who is a nurse. These young nurses in Dallas, Texas are bringing so much light, joy and hope into their hospital unit and patients.
– If you want to see more videos, please watch one video and it’ll take you to the rest. There’s a good video about their cohort in Japan. A missionary family that my church supports is being moved to Japan after serving in Thailand for many years. Japan 🇯🇵 is one of the hardest countries to reach. Here is Novo’s cohort in Japan and their short video.
I used to think that God only wants his people to be pastors and missionaries because these were the only testimonies that I heard publicly in college. That’s why I like to find and share stories of believers who are in other careers. Here is an excellent sermon about putting God first in your work. But before the sermon, a very successful business entrepreneur in his church shares his story in the first ten minutes. Please hear his story and advice.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jentezen-franklin-at-free-chapel/id506354054?i=1000739051080
In this podcast, Dr Michael Youseff talks about happiness. Please give him a listen with an open heart and mind.
“In this powerful opening message of Happiness Is in You, Dr. Michael Youssef unveils the true foundation of happiness according to the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Contrary to worldly wisdom, true joy is not found in achievement or pleasure, but in deep spiritual brokenness—a recognition of our absolute need for Christ. With clarity and conviction, Dr. Youssef proclaims that poverty of spirit is not weakness but the gateway to salvation, the first step in a life built on Gospel Truth. This is not a fleeting emotion, but a lasting happiness rooted in repentance, dependence on God, and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.”
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-the-way-radio/id273093852?i=1000737105028
Please check out this Christian apologist, David Wood. He was the pivotal friend who helped Nabeel Qureshi, a devout Muslim to turn to Jesus Christ. I read his autobiography about his journey. It was an excellent book. It’s called “Seeking Allah. Finding Jesus.” I didn’t know too much about his best friend, David Wood. In this interview, David Wood shared a little bit about his backstory. Wow. I’m so glad David Wood is a Christian or else he’ll probably be a dangerous threat to society. David Wood would be a good person to direct someone who might be interested in learning more about Islam. He knows his stuff and history very well.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/maybe-god/id1329159271?i=1000731695947
I threw a lot out there for you this week. Listen to some when you can. Today as I was cleaning my house, I had a lot of time to listen to these great interviews and sermons. My house is very clean now. 🙂 God bless you always and abundantly.
Journal of Faith 