There are 7,360 languages spoken on this earth. Did you know that? I guessed a few hundred. I was way off! Out of that 7,360, there are 3,415 languages into which the Bible is not translated. Approximately 255 million people speak one of those 3,000+ languages. So that’s 255 million people who do not have access to a Bible that is written in their own language. We are privileged to have something that over 250 million people do not have—the Word of God, written and readily available to us in our language.

Over the past two weeks I have heard the word “division” more times than I care to count. Our nation is divided, our homes are divided, and even our churches are divided. The riot at Capitol Hill last week is just one of many examples of just how restless our world has become. There seems to be no peace in sight.

The start of a new year gives us the perfect opportunity to stop and reflect on all that God has done for us in the previous year. That might be hard to do, given the year we just had. Through all the heaviness of 2020, it might not seem like there is much to be thankful for, but even in our hardships we can find reasons to praise God.

Beholding the Lamb of God is what Christmas is all about. Like I said in last week’s post, Christmas is not a feeling, and it’s most certainly not about us. It is about worshiping our Savior and beholding the miracle that is God incarnate.

I was feeling kind of blue last week thinking about Christmas. I can’t get together with friends and family like normal. Santa Claus is in quarantine before his big gig on the 24th, so he can’t come see my kiddos at work this year.

Can you think of any songs that were written about Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph? Not ones that mention him, but ones that are specifically about Joseph. It’s hard to come up with some, right?

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” This sentiment rings true in the lives of many around Christmas. But for those who have lost loved ones, Christmas may not be the most wonderful time of the year.

“He’s Always Been Faithful” is a beautiful song that incorporates the classic hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” into its music. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is my favorite hymn to play at church around the Thanksgiving holiday. For me, when I think of giving thanks to God my first reaction is to thank him for his faithfulness because that is the thing for which I am most grateful.

For many, the upcoming holiday season is not going to be a normal one. Large, indoor gatherings are a “no-no,” and many may be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas by themselves, or only with a select few loved ones. I’m going to miss seeing and getting together with my friends and family this year for Thanksgiving.

My room is a mess. It’s been a mess for weeks, maybe even months. I don’t know, I lost track…it’s been a while since I last gave my room a good cleaning. Point is my messy room is causing me stress. You’re probably asking, “Bailey, if your room is that messy that it’s stressing you out, why don’t you just clean it?” Well, I know I need to clean it, and my heart really wants to clean, but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet because…