The Beauty of Advent12/24/2025 2025 has been a whirlwind of a year. My church closed in March, and we celebrated our daughter’s birth a few weeks later. I began barber school, planted a church (which we later disbanded), and joined another church. We have had plenty of opporunity to demonstrate a greater trust in our Lord.
Put another way: This year has been a rollercoaster. There has been plenty to grieve, mourn, and celebrate. And these emotions are not mutually exclusive of each other; some days, they occur together, and on others, separately. This Advent Season has been an opportunity for me to remember the beauty of the incarnation: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). How wonderful that the Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of the whole universe, would condescend to us? Indeed, this is a time of great celebration and rejoicing, but for so many—myself included—it is a time of sorrow. We find it difficult to rejoice that Christ has come when we see the hurt in our lives. We watch the news and see stories that sadden us, anger us, and make us wonder about the future, but in the advent, we have hope. Christ has come! The Lord remembered us and sent redemption. In Isaiah 9:2-7, we’re told that the Savior will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (v6) and that we will rejoice at harvest time (v3). “The harvest time”, as my pastor explained, is a regular reminder that God has recalled his people—he has remembered them and made provision for their needs. Still, there are times when we examine our lives and wonder: “Where is my harvest, Lord? Have you forgotten me?” I have wondered this very thing over the last year. When I heard Isaiah 9 preached recently, I was a bit angry because I felt hurt and forgotten by the Lord. Yet, the Gospel promises that, in Christ, I am never forgotten. Christ was forsaken, so I would never be. He was abandoned, so that I would be brought near. The promise is both for the future and for today. Even when I see no harvest, my Lord is with me through the indwelling presence of God the Holy Spirit. So, I may grieve that there is no discernible harvest, but I rejoice that my Savior is with me. I may mourn over hopes and desires unfulfilled, but I look forward with anticipation to the day that I will be repaid for years of loss (Joel 2:25). I may mourn over the hurt and pain I have experienced, but I look forward to all that God will do because he has not left me hopeless. Certainly, since Christ has come and is coming again, I have a “confident and favorable expectation of a future reality” (D. George). This Savior promised long ago is with me today and he understands my hurts, pains, and struggles. The author of Hebrews reminds us that: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. (Heb. 4:14-16). As Advent concludes, look upward and set your mind’s attention and heart’s affection on things above—where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1). Mourn what you need to mourn. Weep over what you need to weep. But celebrate that Christ has come and look forward to the day when God, in his perfect time and way, will provide the harvest you so desperately long for. He has not forgotten you—the incarnation is proof of that. On the Journey, KT
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Small Strides, Great Rewards8/22/2023 Cliff Young came to prominence in 1983 after he won the 544-mile Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon. Untrained in long-distance running, but skilled at herding 2,000 sheep on foot over 2,000 acres, he entered the Ultramarathon in sweatpants and rubber boots. Much like the “Tortoise and the Hare,” he quickly fell behind the trained runners but kept running through the night while the others slept; Young only slept two hours a night. His lack of sleep was an unorthodox approach and so was his stride. Unlike other runners, his stride consisted of shuffling his feet. He won the race and the $10,000.00 prize which he was unaware of until he crossed the finish line (he split the money among the other runners.) Cliff Young’s story reminds us that small strides often lead to great rewards.
Likewise, ministry leadership is a marathon and not a sprint. While some situations and circumstances require drastic and immediate changes to stay afloat, many situations require the sure and steady hand a lovingly firm leader guided by the leadership of God the Holy Spirit. We cannot underestimate the value and impact of “small victories” in the turnaround process of a ministry. While this reality is not new to me, I have seen its impact in new and fresh ways in the last seven months. I want to share these things with you as you lead in your own context. Morale isn’t everything, but it is sure is vital. If you see the dysfunction, then know this: so do your people. They’ve also probably been in the dysfunction longer than you have. The longer they is stuck in dysfunction, the more helpless they begin to feel and their morale begins to falter. Nothing is more dangerous to a fighting force than low morale. How’s the morale in your ministry? Are people excited? Do their actions support their words? They may say one thing and do another. If they claim excitement but live and act defeated, there’s a problem. What can you do as the leader to help boost morale and help give your people a second wind? Just recently we purchased Tork paper towel dispensers and air fresheners for our restrooms. I realized the low morale of my people and knew something had to be done. We don’t have tons of money but this would be a simple and inexpensive morale boost. So, I purchased them and put them in the restrooms. To my surprise, they were noticed almost immediately, and my people were encouraged. One even remarked something to me along these lines: “Man, we’re moving up in the world! We’re not as bad off as it sometimes feels.” Right you, are brother. Right you are. When we can provide a morale boost for our people, we would do well to do so. A fighting force whose morale is high will fight on to victory. Holistic stewardship encourages everyone. When Church Leaders speak of stewardship, we often speak in the realm of finances. While this is certainly an aspect of stewardship, it is not all there is. “The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD” declares the Psalmist (Ps. 24.1). Therefore, our stewardship pertains to more than just our checking account. It influences our care of the buildings, our bodies, and other things God has entrusted to us. Think about it…When you pass a church that has let its exterior become dilapidated, what do you think: “Those people are alive and thriving and reaching the lost!”, or do you think: “That’s a shame. Such a beautiful building with so much Kingdom potential slowly wasting away if they aren’t already closed.”? Chances are, you think the latter and not the former. Granted, the physical appearance of the building does not determine the spiritual health of the congregation that meets there, but it certainly can reflect the spiritual health of the people. In my experience, a church who’s exterior is wasting away, generally belongs to a congregation that is doing likewise. Some congregations are the exception to this rule, but that has been few in my experience. Consider how you steward the things entrusted to you by Holy God. How does your church steward its resources? Small things consistently done over time make a big difference in both the care and culture of the congregation. Just recently, to help our heating and cooling costs, we installed 1-inch, room darkening vinyl blinds in the office suite. For myself and my Admin team, it was a game-changing, encouraging victory. The office suite stays cooler longer on the hot Mississippi days. The next project, as funds allow, is the replacement of the air conditioning unit—which is struggling due to its age. The improvements to our office suite are just one of many examples thus far at Four Mile. We’ve given some education space a facelift with new paint and sheetrock work, we’ve begun to utilize the Multi-Purpose building for weekly ministry, and more. We steward our finances and facilities to the glory of God because they belong to him. Therefore, we use them in his Kingdom work, and he encourages us in the process. Desperation breeds unity and growth. I read through the Psalms a year ago and was surprised to see the Psalmists declare in many ways: “I am oppressed and needy” (Ps. 40.17a). That strikes at the core of our sinful flesh that proclaims as confidently as it is wrong: “You can do it by yourself.” I’ve called my congregation to pray daily for the three most pressing needs of our church. They have a business card-sized reminder to carry with them and pray as they can for our church. I’ve stressed the reality that we are a people wholly dependent upon the Lord. We cannot pay off our $700,000 debt by ourselves. We cannot reach our immediate community for the Gospel in our own power (cf. Acts). We cannot grow spiritually or in unity with God’s people unless the power of God the Holy Spirit is indwelling us (cf. Gal. 2.20). So, we pray. And as we pray for these things both individually and corporately, unity and growth will come. I’ve noticed how my own prayers for the needs of our church have morphed and changed as I pray daily for those things. When I pray for wisdom in stewarding the finances of our church, God the Holy Spirit has directed me to pray for wisdom for my people as they steward their household resources. As I pray for an outward, community focus for our church, he has directed me to pray for my personal evangelism. And as I have prayed for unity and spiritual growth, God has revealed people I have yet to forgive fully. When God’s people walk with a limp both individually and corporately, unity and growth will come, albeit, though the small but consistent daily prayers for the church. So, take your time in running the marathon. Make headway with a few shuffles at a time. Find the small things—the low hanging fruit—that done over a consistent time, will yield big results for His Glory and our good. Watch your people become energized from of all things, a paper towel dispenser. Eventually, by God’s grace, that energy will translate into great Kingdom work. On the Journey, KT Kreig ToddChristian. 
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