By: Vivy Fomengia

When I hear the word peace, I remember who the Prince of Peace is, Jesus. I reflect on the joy that fills my heart when I heed the Holy Spirit’s instruction. I ponder the calmness that I experience during hardship. With exceptional gratitude, I consider walking into my home, a physical space where no distress lingers. I tend to get lost in my thoughts, so when my inner peace is disrupted, I experience external anguish through sickness, pain, and restless nights. “Anything that costs you your peace is too expensive.” A mandate that I abide by as this beautiful truth fosters my desire to do all that I can to protect the glorious gift of divine peace. 

One of the most memorable experiences related to peace is when I quit my first full-time job shortly after graduating with an MBA from Hampton University. Once I left this company, I endeavored on about ten different job interviews and did not receive one offer in return. I was distraught and felt rejected. Unexpectedly, I was positioned to engage in conversation with the president of a consulting firm. Following our enriching dialogue, God moved on his heart to extend a job offer to me without a formal interview. Although I was overwhelmed with gratitude, I vacillated with if this was God or the enemy taking advantage of the desperation I felt in securing stable employment. 

By: Tamika M.

Tis' the season to celebrate Jesus.
We do not celebrate a tree; we do not celebrate Santa; we celebrate the answer to the sin of the world.
The answer that you and I needed before we even knew that we needed it.
Jesus is the answer that takes away the sin of the world.

​The Bible reminds us in Romans 3:23:

Jesus is the full answer for our sins, but his sacrifice calls us to greater. 
His sacrifice calls us to change the way that we live.
His sacrifice calls us not to leave the presence of Jesus unchanged. 
What love it was that he died for us. And what beauty is our heart's response to live for him.

This season ought not to be one where we miss the true answer that Jesus gave to the earth, but this season ought to be one when we walk in and share the truth of what Jesus did, why he did it, and what our hearts response ought to be.

Salvation cost something, and not just today, but every day. And our hearts response should be one that lives in reference, giving all glory, honor, and praise to the Lamb! 

By: Tamika M.

Over 2000 years ago, God became flesh and walked this earth.
He walked this earth with a purpose.
Born in a manger, walked the earth, facing persecution. 
He came, he died, and he rose, so that we can be adopted as his sons and daughters.

Many people can not honestly say they could answer that call.
While the truth is that Jesus was altogether God, he was also fully man.
He hurt as we hurt, he suffered as we suffer, he was ridiculed, despised, and shamed.
But despite the things that came up against him, he preserved, he pressed, and he did what no other man on this earth has done.

He did the impossible; he answered the impossible call so that you and I can have eternal life.
What beauty is found in the Savior. 
What beauty found in the truth that he answered that call.
And what beauty that the answer represents.

In this season, let us keep the truth of the cross at the center.
Let us not get so focused on our problems that we miss the problem solver.
Let us not miss the beauty of the answer to the call.
Let us not forget the answer that is found in the cross!

By: Shanine A. 

Some seasons are more difficult than others. There are seasons when you feel like giving up. There are seasons where you feel invisible or unloved. There are seasons where you want to see the fruit of your labor. Life gets rough sometimes, and we may not enjoy every season we encounter.

Seasons change. I want to remind you of these two powerful words; seasons change, just like there's winter, fall, summer, and spring. There are joyful seasons and painful seasons. This year has been rough on a lot of people. Some of you might have lost your job or lost a loved one. Some people are dealing with depression and negative thoughts. This may not be the most comfortable season for some of us to navigate through.

By: Tamika M.

God, the one who sits on the throne, the ruler and creator of this world,
he came on this earth in the flesh and walked, dwelt, and taught among us.
He did not just sit in the heavens, commanding for change down on the earth.
He gave us a chance at change by walking out the truth here on the earth.

When Jesus walked the earth, the Bible says that he was without sin.
He taught truth; he walked truth, he lived truth.
Though tempted, he did not let sin overrule us.
Fully man and fully God, he walked in this world without being of this world.

He came as an example; he came as a propitiation; he came as a change of change.
What a beauty found in this truth. What a beauty found in the Father. What a beauty found in his love for us.
His love walked this earth for you and me. His love suffered, was abused and beaten, yet his love overcame.
The word became flesh for you and me so that we can have a chance at eternity.

By: Arrica H.

By: Tamika M.

Jesus, he truly is the reason for the season.
Jesus, he walked this earth, he died for you and me, and he gives us a chance at eternity.
Paul reminds us in the book of Ephesians of what salvation means.
It is grace saving us through us having faith.
It reminds us that the grace our Father gives is a gift.

It's a gift we do not deserve; it's a gift that works alone will not get us.
Salvation is a gift that we receive when we choose to walk in the faith that comes from the Father.
It is so amazing that the gift that comes from God calls us to have faith.
And the beauty in walking in faith is that our heart's faith response is displayed in obedience.

While it is essential to understand salvation's truth, it is also vital to understand that God's grace and love call us to walk in obedience. The gift of salvation was paid with a cost; salvation was delivered with the blood of Jesus. He came, died, and rose. His love was in the blood, His love was on the cross, and his love is with us every day. As we walk through this holiday season, let us not forget the gift given, and as we reflect on the gift, let us not forget to walk in the truth of what that gift represents.

By: Oris M.

Jesus stood before the tomb of Lazarus and offered a prayer of thanksgiving. The man had been dead for four days, so Mary and Martha, his sisters, must have been wondering why Jesus was thanking God while they were grieving. Yet the reason wasn't that Jesus didn't share in their grief; it was because Jesus wanted to show that God is present even in the most painful times. 

The same thing happened when there were just five loaves of bread and two fish available, while a multitude looked longingly at Jesus for provisions that day. It was hopeless to the disciples that there was just no way they could feed five thousand hungry people, so they suggested to Jesus that he send them away. Instead of sending them away, Jesus took what was available and gave thanks. It was not because he was in denial of the situation but to remind us that God is near even when circumstance seems hopeless. 

By: Tamika M.

There is such a beauty found in the message of Christ.
There is such hope and truth in who God is and what he has done.
God is love and not just any love; he is a love like none other.
He is agape love.

Agape love is a love that is without measure; it is a love that can not compare; it is a love shown in sacrifice; it is unconditional, unmatchable love.
It is love that is given to those who are undeserving, with no requirement or criteria. 
It is freely given to us. That love is found in Jesus.
​
The Bible says in John 3:16:

And in this verse, we see that agape love made a sacrifice for you and me. The Bible does not say that to receive this love, we have to do anything; it does not say to receive this love that we have to have it all together.
​
It reminds us that this love made a sacrifice for us even before we made a decision to choose him.
Love on this earth, as we know it, comes with conditions and stipulations. 
It's usually self-serving and based on if you do this, then I will do that.

But the Bible teaches us of a different type of love.
It teaches of a love that holds no record of wrongs. It teaches of a love that is forgiving. It teaches of a love that makes sacrifice.
It teaches us and shows us the love of Jesus.

And this holiday season, as we bask in the truth of Jesus, in the truth that he came on this earth, was born in a manger, as we reflect on that, let us not forget what his coming represents.
It represents redemption; it represents forgiveness; it represents another chance even when underserving. It shows true sacrifice in the face of adversity.
As we reflect on the love of Christ in this holiday season, let us not forget to share that love with others.

By: Tamika Mahomes

As I revisit this scripture time and time again, I reflect on the truth that it unpacks.
In this verse we not only see the beauty in the birth of our Savior, but we also see the truth in who Jesus is.
And today I want to talk about that name, Wonderful, Counselor.

In his time on earth and even now, Jesus was a Wonderful Counselor. 
He not only counseled the sick, raised the dead and help those in need, he also showed that he knew people.
We as humans can often look for our substance in people. We can run to our pastors, or to a counselor, or to a friend, but the Bible tells us right in this scripture that all we need can be found in Jesus!