Christmas isn’t just the celebration of a baby in a manger — it’s the announcement that a King has arrived. We’re comfortable with Jesus as Comforter, Counselor, and Savior, but Christmas forces a deeper question: Is He King? The child given to us came with a throne, a kingdom, and authority. And while we love the peace He brings, we often resist the rule He requires. It’s possible to admire the King without ever surrendering to Him.

Surrender isn’t a vague spiritual idea; it’s very practical. In the simplest sense, surrender means laying down the right to always have things your way. In Scripture, surrender carries the idea of placing yourself under authority — choosing obedience over preference and trust over control. It’s saying, “God, You outrank me.” Surrender shows up not just in what we believe, but in what we do after God speaks.

The Bible says every knee will bow to Jesus. The only real question is when. Grace gives us the opportunity to bow now — not out of fear, but out of trust. Surrender isn’t loss; it’s freedom. Because the safest place in the world is under the authority of a good King — and the King who asks for our surrender is the same King who gave His life for us.

Just a thought,

          PSS

Christmas reminds us that the soul was never designed to be satisfied by things that fade, break, or need replacing. We can chase success, accumulate possessions, and reach milestones we once prayed for, only to discover the emptiness is still there. That restlessness isn’t a flaw — it’s a signal. God placed eternity in our hearts, and anything temporary will always fall short of filling an eternal soul.

The danger is not in having things, but in expecting things to do what only Christ can do. When we look to money, relationships, comfort, or control to give us peace and identity, we place a weight on them they were never meant to carry. That’s why contentment doesn’t come from having more, but from treasuring the right thing. When Christ becomes our treasure, circumstances lose their power to rule our joy.

This Christmas, the invitation is not to upgrade our lifestyle, but to receive a Savior. Jesus did not come to add something to our lives — He came to be our life. And when Christ is enough, we discover what Paul learned long ago: true satisfaction is not found in what we gain, but in whom we belong to.

Just a thought,

      — PSS

There are seasons in our lives when God seems quiet, and the silence can feel unsettling. But silence is not absence — and it’s never inactivity. During the 400 years between the Old and New Testament, God didn’t speak, but He was preparing the world for the arrival of His Son. He was aligning kingdoms, shaping culture, and even allowing one universal language to spread across nations so the Gospel could travel farther and faster than ever before. What looked like silence was actually divine preparation.

That’s how God works in our lives too. When you feel like heaven is quiet, don’t assume God has forgotten you. He is setting things in motion that you can’t see yet. He’s aligning opportunities, strengthening your faith, and preparing you for what He has already planned. God is never late — He is always precise. And sometimes the quiet seasons end up being the seasons where God does His greatest work in us and around us.

So, if you’ve been praying, believing, and waiting… don’t give up. God hears every prayer, remembers every tear, and honors every step of faith. When He breaks the silence, things begin to move quickly. Trust that He is preparing something good, something purposeful, something bigger than you imagined. Your silence is not wasted — it’s a setup for God to speak again.

Just a thought,

- PSS

There are moments in life when the pressure feels unbearable, and everything in us wants to escape rather than endure. But God never wastes pressure. He uses it to form strength, character, and faith that lasts. Deliverance changes your situation, but endurance changes you. And sometimes the very thing we’re trying to pray away is the thing God is using to build us into who He created us to be.

Endurance doesn’t mean you don’t get tired. It doesn’t mean you don’t feel discouraged. It simply means you refuse to quit. You keep walking even when it’s uphill. You keep trusting even when the answers seem delayed. You stay on the narrow path because you know God is working in the unseen places — producing something in you that comfort could never produce. When you stand in grace, hardship becomes shaping, and trials turn into training.

So, whatever you’re facing today, don’t turn back and don’t lose heart. God is more committed to your transformation than your temporary comfort. He started a good work in you, and He will be faithful to finish it. Keep your eyes on Him, stay the course, and let endurance do its work.

Just a thought, 

        — PSS

So much of our walk with God comes down to one simple question: Which path am I choosing today? Jesus said there is a wide road and a narrow road, and every decision I make nudges me onto one of them. The wide path is easy, convenient, and crowded — it doesn’t require anything from me. But the narrow path? That path requires intention, conviction, and a genuine desire to honor God even when it costs me something. You don’t drift onto the narrow path. You choose it daily.

I’ve realized that many believers confuse inconvenience with sacrifice. Being inconvenienced interrupts my preferences — but it doesn’t cost me anything meaningful. Sacrifice, on the other hand, always costs something of value. It stretches my faith, confronts my flesh, and calls me to place something on God’s altar that actually matters. When Paul tells us to be a “living sacrifice,” he isn’t talking about giving God the leftovers of our time or our energy. He’s talking about living in a constant posture of surrender — staying on the altar even when comfort calls us off of it.

Maybe today is a good day for all of us to evaluate: Am I offering God inconvenience, or am I offering Him sacrifice? One leads to the same life I’ve always had. The other leads to transformation. The narrow path may be harder, but it’s where God shapes us, strengthens us, and grows us into who He has called us to be.

Just a Thought

      - PSS