Mankind was doomed to the grip of hell when Eve took the first bite from the forbidden fruit and shared it with Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:6). At that moment, we were left to wander through the roads of uncertainty to retrieve that which we lost when we were separated from God. Because sin took its toll on the human mind, instead of finding God, we moved farther away from Him.

I have participated in so many Christian conversations that always end with us talking about how people viewed Jesus. Regardless of what the topic is, it is always convenient to shift the focus from ourselves to the inadequacies of others. We embrace the comfort of merely knowing Christ as a good God and disregard the need for us to constantly focus on our personal walk with Him.

I woke up to a loud whizzing sound outside my window. It was so loud and constant that I thought there must be more to it than just air, so I opened the window to see. As soon as I lifted the window, I was welcomed by a gush of breeze so strong that it lifted the curtains. Yes, it was the wind, the invisible companion of humanity and the proof of life for every living thing. Until you take that last gasp of it, you are welcomed among the living.

In this tech age of living behind our computer screens, we have grown accustomed to taking the judgment throne of our self-designed castles to condemn others. We live like hunters looking for the next prey to fall into our bucket of “the unforgivables.” The moment we hear someone somewhere is caught on camera doing something wrong, we scramble for our justice wand and banish them from the circle of “the perfect people.”

Dear God,

As your people, we come to you with a heart of gratitude and worship. Thank you for seeing us through all the dark holes and lifting us above all the hurdles of the year 2021. It is by your mercy and grace that we were not consumed.

Comprehending the story of the birth of Jesus can overwhelm our human minds. It is hard to fathom why the creator of the world would leave His throne to be born as a vulnerable little baby just to save His creations. Although everything was made by Him, He laid them all down to walk the path of humanity.

How often do we tell God, “If you answer this prayer, I will trust you forever?” But the next discomfort we face leads us scrambling over everything and cowering in defeat. The fact that God delivered us from the missteps and troubles in the past does not count towards His faithfulness, and we search for alternatives outside of His grace.

The whole point of the Christian faith is to spend eternity with Christ, and nothing in the world can match that expectation. With all we deal with here on earth, as Christians and non-Christians, where we end up is determined by our response to the cross of Christ.

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines fear as “An unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.” No matter the form it takes, fear is unpleasant, and it sends our minds to the darkest alley of thoughts. Fear connives with our insecurities and limitations to render us hopeless.

A while back, I received a piece of news that overwhelmed me to the point of exhaustion. It was like being in a cage with all doors locked and the keys far from reach. I paced from one room to the other, sitting for a while then standing again.

Each time I turn on the television, read an article or hear about Christians making news for reasons other than for the kingdom, it breaks my heart. I find myself ashamed of the conduct because of how it clouds the cross of Christ.

I still remember details about that day like it was yesterday. I received a call from my uncle, asking me to stop by his house when I get off work. It was not the first time I visited him and his family.

With the voices all around me, it’s easy to forget that my journey is beyond this world I’m fighting so hard to embellish with my life’s earned treasures. My faith is at the core of all that I am but the mere function of making it through each day without the pulls and shrugs of sin and immorality leaves me panting and gasping for breath.

I’ve heard the story of Jesus and Barabbas told too many times to count. It’s at the center of every salvation discussion and the core of many Easter messages. The story stimulates empathy for a man who knew no sin and was condemned to a gruesome death. It channels our hearts to focus on the crown of thorns on Christ’s head and the blood dripping from every part of His body.

I was fifteen years old when I received Christ and I can clearly remember the circumstances that got me on my knees in my brothers’ room. Raised by Christian parents meant I knew who Jesus was and His amazing heroic story.