“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:5 (NIV)
LIGHT IN THE JOURNEY
Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem was physically exhausting and emotionally draining. Yet each step was leading them closer to the arrival of Light itself, Jesus. Sometimes the hardest seasons we walk through are the very ones where God is bringing us something new and something radiant. When the path feels dark, whether parenting challenges, emotional burdens, or fear of the future, be reminded that Jesus is already on His way. He sees the big picture, not just the trial that lies in front of you.
I pray today that you would shine your light into every building, school, community center, and office space you come into contact with. May we be reminded that, although we cannot see the full picture, the small part we are walking through will be used for His glory.
Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea. She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders. She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan. She stays active in the Dallas area as a photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.
“Genuinely love one another, and take delight in honoring each other.”
Romans 12:10
GENUINELY HONORING OTHERS
One of my closest friends in professional baseball is longtime Major League scout Kirk Fredrickkson with the Boston Red Sox. Kirk has signed many MLB players in his scouting career and was recently selected by his peers as the “2025 Georgia Scouts Association Scout of the Year.”
For me, I genuinely delight in getting to honor and recognize my friend Kirk — not only as a tremendous scout, but as a humble man who models the character and conduct of Christ in his life. It brings me great joy to honor my friend and competitor.
In a world obsessed with self, self-promotion, self-importance, and self-achievement, it’s easy to forget the quiet beauty of honoring others. We live in a culture that rewards those who climb higher, self-promote, speak louder, and shine brighter. However, the kingdom of God flips that on its head. Instead of exalting ourselves, we are called to “delight” in honoring others.
So what is “honor”?
To honor someone means to see them the way God sees them, to recognize their worth, their divine design, and their place in God’s story. It’s not flattery, selfish motives, or empty praise. True honor flows from humility. It is the willingness to celebrate the victories and successes of others as if they were our own, to listen before we speak, to serve before we seek recognition, and to give dignity where the world offers jealousy and disregard.
When Paul tells us to “take delight in honoring each other,” he is inviting us into joy. There is something life-giving about honoring others — not out of duty, but out of genuine delight. Imagine what would happen in our world if believers became known as people who delight in honoring others: coworkers, spouses, children, strangers, even those who oppose us. The light of Christ would break through the evil in our culture.
Listen closely: In a world consumed with self-promotion and personal gain, God calls us to a higher calling, to “delight” in honoring others. It is more than polite words; it is the posture of your heart that celebrates others, lifts them up, and reflects the servant heart of Jesus. When you choose to honor those around you, not out of duty but with joy, you push back against a self-centered culture and make God’s love visible for all to see.
Delight in honoring someone today.
Love God. Love people. Live sent.
Be Worth Being.
Kevin
Kevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 44 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.
“…to act justly, and to love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 (NIV)
SHOWING SUPPORT
When I think of Joseph, I often picture a strong, silent figure standing next to Mary. But Joseph was more than a supporting character in the story. He was a parent stepping into a calling he did not ask for, yet embraced wholeheartedly. Joseph’s obedience was the quiet kind, the kind that shows up early in the morning, sacrifices without applause, and chooses faith over fear—the kind every parent understands. He was obedient even without a full set of instructions. Joseph reminds us that God uses parents—not perfect ones, but willing ones—to shape, protect, and nurture His purposes in the lives of their children. And like Joseph, your obedience may not be applauded, understood, or recognized, but Heaven sees it. God sees every quiet yes, every sacrifice, every moment you show up.
If you have ever made a decision with trembling hope that it was the right one, if you have ever carried the weight of your family on your shoulders while crying out silently for God’s help, if you have ever been scared to be obedient but trusted God anyway, know this: God is with you. He strengthens you. He honors your quiet obedience. Just as He guided Joseph, He guides you step by step, moment by moment, season by season.
PRAYER Lord, thank You for the example of Joseph’s steady heart. Please help us lead with humility, love with courage, and support our families and communities with grace. Strengthen us in the quiet, unseen moments, and remind us that You are guiding us just as You guided him.
Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea. She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders. She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan. She stays active in the Dallas area as a photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
OBEDIENCE IN THE UNKNOWN
Mary traveled nearly 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, pregnant, uncomfortable, unsure, and likely afraid. Yet she moved forward because she trusted God, who had called her to do it. As parents, teachers, and believers, obedience often looks like walking through seasons where we cannot see the full path—caring for our families, making hard decisions, or stepping into unfamiliar roles. Mary’s story reminds us that obedience is not about having clarity; it is about having trust. God’s presence goes before us just as it went before her on that long road to Bethlehem.
I pray that as you start this week, you would look to Mary’s heart and be willing to obey even when the path is unclear. Be willing to trust God’s guidance and rest in His presence in every unknown.
Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea. She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders. She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan. She stays active in the Dallas area as a photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.
“blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Luke 1:45 (ESV)
UNBELIEVABLE
Have you ever been told something would happen, but that thing seemed like an impossibility at the time? Last fall, I was with our high school ministry as we took a group of 20 students to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip. When we arrived at our missions facility on Saturday, we were given an orientation and informed about the kind of work we would be doing for the week: the construction of a church in a poor, remote village about two hours away. I remember the leader saying, “Monday we will begin construction, and a team will go out to the site and begin to prepare the foundation. On Thursday, we will complete the building and have a ceremony dedicating the church and giving the keys to a local pastor.”
I remember thinking, “Did they just say we will build a church in four days? Something isn’t right here. Some aspect hasn’t been explained fully. Maybe we’re preparing the site and a team of engineers is coming in behind us. Of course, that’s what it is.” My world was about to be rocked. Over the next four days, we worked tirelessly cleaning the site, laying the foundation, assembling the walls, doors, shutters, windows, and roof, down to every last nail and screw. Everyone gave it their all. And guess what? Thursday afternoon we completed the building! Afterwards we met with the pastor who was to take over the new church and had a prayer service over the future of his ministry. I remember getting emotional because what had taken place was so spectacular.
In Luke 1:34 Mary asks the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Hers is a natural response to an extraordinary announcement. Reason is stretched to its limit as she ponders the events foretold to her, not out of doubt but out of curiosity. Gabriel obliges her question and tells her the manner by which the Holy Spirit will accomplish these things. But my favorite moment from the scene comes ten verses later, when her cousin Elizabeth says to her, “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (1:45).
Mary believed. She may not have understood, but she believed. The Scriptures are full of people, like you and me, who may not understand all the time, but who believe. And our God, the God of the impossible (recall yesterday’s devotional), accomplishes the truly unbelievable. The words that were given to Mary are written for us as well: blessed are we who believe that there will be a fulfillment of what is spoken by the Lord.
Ryan Hoffer serves as NextGen Production Director at NorthStar. He holds an M.Div in Church History and enjoys playing the harp. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Acworth and have three children.
In the middle of his conversation with Mary, the angel Gabriel nonchalantly delivers a one-liner that is so loaded, yet so easy to gloss over: “Nothing will be impossible with God.” It is easy to dismiss the moment as if it were a bumper sticker or a lyric of a song you have heard a hundred times, but that would rob the statement of its unfathomable implications. Therefore, let’s take a moment to reflect on the principle behind the angel’s words.
Earlier in this week’s devotions we talked about Gabriel’s attending to humanity during pivotal moments in salvation history: first to Daniel (8:16; 9:21) and then to Zechariah and Mary. To an unbelieving Zechariah, he stressed the position of his office (an emphatic “I stand in the presence of God”) and maintained that his words would be “fulfilled in their time” (Luke 1:19). In the case of Daniel, this included the rise and fall of empires over hundreds of years, all the while effecting the will of God in history. To Zechariah and Mary, it included miraculous births that fulfilled prophecies spoken long ago in Israel’s history.
Thus, the will of God marches on throughout the ages, immovable and immutable. I am reminded of Job’s simple resignation after God answers his ignorance: “I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2–3). Indeed, nothing is impossible with God, and no purpose of his can be upended.
Take a moment to read Luke 1:37 and consider how you can apply “nothing is impossible with God” to your personal challenges today.
Ryan Hoffer serves as NextGen Production Director at NorthStar. He holds an M.Div in Church History and enjoys playing the harp. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Acworth and have three children.
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
Luke 1:26-27 (ESV)
HOW OLD IS GABRIEL, ANYWAYS?
In Luke 1:26–27 Gabriel visits Mary to announce the coming of Jesus, the famous Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. The text tells us, “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth.” It is a great privilege when we are given windows that allow us to peer into the names and roles of the dispatching agents of God. The author of Hebrews tells us that angels are “ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). The word angel comes from the Greek angelos and means “messenger.” Here we find Gabriel, one of two messengers or angels named in Scripture (the other being Michael). His name is of Hebrew origin and can be rendered “God is my strength” or “Hero of God.”
There are only four instances in which we see Gabriel in Scripture. They are:
Daniel 8:16 – He interprets the ram and goat vision to Daniel. Daniel 9:21 – He gives Daniel “insight and understanding” concerning the prophecy of the seventy weeks. Luke 1:19 – He announces John’s birth to Zechariah. Luke 1:26 – He announces Jesus’ birth to Mary.
I find it fascinating that Gabriel appears in these two moments separated by more than 500 years. It begs the question: How old is Gabriel, anyway? But seriously, his reappearance in Luke only underscores the unity of Scripture and the timetable of God’s plan of salvation. Additionally, the long interval between the scenes in Daniel and Luke demonstrates that divine silence is not divine inactivity. Quite the opposite, Paul tells us, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law” (Gal. 4:4).
The fact that we meet Gabriel again along the way, attending to humanity at pivotal moments in salvation history, underscores the unfolding of the plan first announced in Genesis: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Gen. 3:15).
Ryan Hoffer serves as NextGen Production Director at NorthStar. He holds an M.Div in Church History and enjoys playing the harp. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Acworth and have three children.
But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greetingthis might be.
Luke 1:29 (ESV)
GREATLY TROUBLED
Upon receiving a visitation from the angel Gabriel, Mary is described as “greatly troubled,” an odd designation for one who is “favored” by God. This, however, is a common biblical theme for those who receive divine messages from angels (not to mention a natural reaction to witnessing the supernatural!). For example, earlier in the same chapter Zechariah is “startled and gripped with fear” during his encounter with the Lord’s angelic herald. Gabriel’s subsequent reassurance (“Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God,” v. 30) and Mary’s quick acceptance reveal that her initial fear was met with responsiveness to God’s plan.
There is another person, however, who was also “troubled” upon hearing the news of Jesus: King Herod. In Matthew 2:1–3 we read:
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Like Mary, Herod was “troubled” at the news; in fact, the same Greek root is used, but for completely different reasons. Upon hearing the prophecy, the paranoid monarch devises a plan to eliminate the Christ child that includes manipulation, violence, and tyranny, for even the populace was disturbed at his disturbance.
These two responses, that of Mary and that of Herod — that of submission and that of control, of compliance and rebellion — highlight people’s different reactions to the Gospel. Today, invite personal reflection on these responses to Jesus’ authority. Do you respond with fear or faith, control or submission? In what ways can we, like Mary, humbly resign our will to that of God and say, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38)?
Ryan Hoffer serves as NextGen Production Director at NorthStar. He holds an M.Div in Church History and enjoys playing the harp. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Acworth and have three children.
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy–the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Luke 1:26-45 (ESV)
REJOICE!
One of my favorite Bible verses (in fact, the first tattoo I ever got) is 1 Thessalonians 5:16: “Rejoice evermore.” It also happens to be one of the shortest verses in the Bible and is even shorter in the original language than John 11:35 (the famous “Jesus wept”). Yet so much is packed into this one simple word: rejoice.
The verb χαίρω (chairo) is where we get English words like charity and charisma. It is used 74 times in the New Testament and denotes a state of gladness, whether it is used in its imperative form, as in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, or as a greeting. And this is my point: the word rendered “greetings” in English (or “hail” in more archaic translations) is actually chairo — rejoice. Some English translations such as the NKJV and Holman Christian Standard translate it this way:
“And the angel came to her and said, ‘Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.’”
When taken in this sense, the word is much deeper than a simple salutation; it is consistent with one of the major themes of the Gospel message. After all, when the wise men saw the star leading them to Jesus, they “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matt. 2:10). This is also the same expression that Jesus uses when he meets the women at the grave upon his resurrection: “And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’” (ESV), or as it is rendered in the NASB, “Rejoice!” Thus, the Gospel message begins with joy at the Annunciation and ends in joy at the Resurrection.
Go back and reread Luke 1:28. What appears to be a basic greeting becomes, under inspiration, a proclamation. Take a moment today to reflect on the joy we have in the Gospel and hear what the apostle Paul says when he writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (ESV).
Ryan Hoffer serves as NextGen Production Director at NorthStar. He holds an M.Div in Church History and enjoys playing the harp. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Acworth and have three children.
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'”
6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)
Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
NEVER STOP PRAYING
We have plenty to pray for! When the Bible says, “Pray continually,” we might initially push back against the idea. “How can I pray all the time?” you may ask. I would answer, “Look around you.” There are unlimited prayer needs.
We live in a world full of injustice, sin, cruelty, and idolatry, maybe more so than ever before. I think there is so much of it that we face every day that we become overwhelmed. We get numb. We shut down and focus on our own little sphere, and we pray for the ones we know and see every day. We pray for ourselves and our tribe.
But isolated in our bubble is not who God calls his people to be. He names us a “kingdom of priests.” We are priests to the world, meaning we are an example of how God wants people to live on earth, but we are also representatives of the people to God. We have a whole world to pray for.
But even if you are praying only for your little spot on the globe, there is no end of things to pray for. We are powerless little things in a big world. When we pray in a way that reflects that, we tap into God’s power. Like C. S. Lewis said, “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”
Pray in a way that changes you. Pray in a way that changes your family. Pray and intercede for a world that is sorely in need of a savior. You will never run out of things to pray for. But we have to cultivate that constant readiness to pray. Like an Old West gunfighter with his Colt on his hip, be ready to draw on prayer at a moment’s notice. Keep your eyes open and your heart seeking what God wants.
I know people who set alarms on their phones to remind them to stop and pray. I know others who write prayers on their bathroom mirrors to start their mornings or tape them to their dashboard so they remember to pray in traffic. For most of us, taking time away from the radio and the drivers around us and taking time to pray instead might be the best idea.
Take time now to pray for your prayer life. Ask God to bring prayer to mind as you go through your day. Ask God to make your heart more prayer-focused and less complaint-focused as you turn over to him the things beyond your control, acknowledging his power in this world.
Chris Boggess is the Next Generation/Family Pastor at NorthStar Church. He grew up in St. Albans, West Virginia, and still cheers for the Mountaineers. He and his wife, Heather, have two grown children and one granddaughter.
