Lost

December 27, 2025

It was Christmas morning and the kids were eager to open the presents that were carefully displayed under the Christmas tree. We had our nephew and niece over with us and as soon as they got up early in the morning, they kept asking, “When can we open them?” With some negotiations we managed to have the kids wait until we had morning worship and breakfast was over, as we were expecting my brother and his wife to join us in the morning. The kids couldn’t wait (I couldn’t wait, too).

Finally it was time, and everyone rushed in front of the tree. One by one, we got to open the gifts and there was much laughter and joy in the house. What a beautiful scene it was. My nephew, Paul, was ecstatic. One of the gifts was a lego set he always wanted. He was ready to start building it. It wasn’t going to be a short project, and we knew it would take him a few hours to finish. Paul was right on to it. He occupied my desk and nothing could distract him, he was focused. When it was lunchtime, he decided to bring the legos down to the dining table. Since he was so happy, we let him continue building while eating. This is when the problem occurred, a tiny but essential piece was missing. We all started to look for it, and we couldn’t find it. It wasn’t there. No one knows how it disappeared. Maybe Paul dropped it somewhere, or the piece was never in there. We couldn’t find it. Eventually, his mother had to message the manufacturer to get the missing piece.

Jesus told of the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15. Thankfully, in this parable, the shepherd finds the lost sheep. The parable is short, but we can imagine the effort the shepherd took to find that one lost sheep. It could have taken him hours in the dark. It could have been a risky, dangerous search and rescue effort. But he didn’t give up. He searched until the sheep was found. And the Bible writes, “‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:6, 7. This is our last Sabbath of the year. We should think and pray for those around us that still do not know Jesus. We should reach out to them and share the love of Jesus. Let’s make sure to do that in 2026.

Clean

December 20, 2025

After a couple weeks of snow and cold wind, it was time. The weather warmed up and it was time to give our car a nice wash. I looked for a nearby carwash, and when I lined up, there were already five cars in front of me. I guess everyone was thinking the same thing. I had to wait over 20 minutes for my turn to come, but I didn’t mind. It was worth the wait. When the car came out of the car wash, it looked so nice and clean. Even the girls were happy to see the clean car when I picked them up from school.

For the next couple of days, the weather warmed up and it rained afterwards (of course, it rains whenever I get a carwash, right?). I didn’t mind the rain. It felt good to see the rain wash up the salt on the roads and clear up the trail where I usually run. It was good to see the world get cleaned up. (Sejin was sad that a lot of snow disappeared.)

One of the best feelings is to take a hot shower after a long day of work. You feel clean and refreshed. Everything feels relaxed and sets a tone for just winding down. There’s something about cleaning that just makes one smile. I wonder if that’s what Naaman 

felt like after washing himself seven times in the Jordan River as he was instructed by God. It was more than a sense of cleaning, it was a moment of healing, restoration, and being saved.

1 John 1:9 promises us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” It clearly tells us how we can be cleansed because Jesus made that possible for us. The end of the year is a good time to prepare for the new year and start fresh. We should start with being cleansed by Jesus. May we all come to His presence and lay down all of our sins and burdens at His feet and be cleansed.

Light

December 13, 2025

I enjoy running in the winter, with the chilly air on my face and the white snow painted all over the trail. It's simply beautiful. However, there are downsides as well, with one of them being short daylight time. In the summer, I can get up very early, like 5 a.m., and it’s already bright enough for me to go out and feel safe, but that is not the case in the winter. I am limited to when I can be out and do my thing due to the lack of daylight time. In fact, in about a week, we will have the shortest amount of day time, and daylight time will start to increase again as Christmas approaches. 

I have been studying the seven churches in the book of Revelation this week, and in the message to the church in Thyratira, Jesus promises the church that when they overcome the challenges, “and I will give him the morning star.” Revelation 2:28. The Morning Star is unique because it appears in the coldest, darkest part of the night, just before dawn. It is the herald that the sun is about to rise. In Revelation 22:16, Jesus identifies Himself as the Morning Star. “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” Jesus also says in John 8:12 that He’s the Light of the world.

In the darkness of this world that we live in, I am glad that Jesus is our Light and our Morning Star, who promises us that we can live in His light. Just as Moses’ face was shining from his encounter with God, I pray that we will also be the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) and shine His love and glory in the new year of 2026.