During the Advent season, we spent five weeks reflecting on the idea of beholding Jesus. Seeing Jesus in all his glory, splendor, and wonder. But as we expected, the Christmas season is done and now we must get back to our everyday lives. Working, parenting, and trying to be a good neighbor and friend. The questions that were circulating before the Christmas season or maybe in the midst of it, are still there: 
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“How do I follow Jesus in suffering?  How do I see my neighbor the same way that God sees me?  How do I become a person of integrity?  What do I do with anxiety? How can I be faithful to where God has me today? What’s my purpose?”
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How we answer these everyday questions, or choose not to answer them, has huge implications for the type of people we ultimately become. If we are honest, the way we answer these types of questions may be by numbing or distracting ourselves or by simply modifying our behavior without delay. (Looking at you new year’s resolutions!) But distracting ourselves from these types of questions or behavior modification always ends up in the same places: frustration, anxiety, failure fatigue, and disappointment. As we turn the page into the year 2025, our prayer for this is simple: “Everyday, Jesus."

Over the next few months, we will study through the book of James as we dig into the “everyday-ness” of following Jesus and how learning to have his wisdom in all areas of our lives is essential to maturing as an apprentice of Jesus. Jesus did not come just for you to have life one day in the distant future but to step into his life now. That doesn’t mean abandoning your responsibilities, callings, passions, or purpose. It means that we invite Jesus into every aspect of our lives, knowing that his wisdom is for our everyday lives as we seek to be formed into apprentices of Jesus.