READ: PSALMS 18:2; 73:26; 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10

Susannah Spurgeon was born Susannah Thompson in London, England, on January 15th, 1832. Her family often attended New Park Street Chapel, where she first trusted Jesus Christ as her Savior. There she met Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a new preacher who later became a pastor.

On January 8th, 1856, Charles and Susannah were married. After their honeymoon, her husband left to preach, often leaving her behind. He would send letters to her almost every day, often filled with things to make her laugh and saying how much he missed her. On September 20th, 1856, their twin boys were born. Thankfully Charles was able to be home all day and take care of his wife. Nothing could cloud the joy and happiness they had.

Through the next couple years, life was hard. Tragic events happened that left Charles experiencing depression. His wife was always by his side and helped him get through that time of life. Susannah was often bedbound and weak from sickness, and she leaned on God’s strength and trusted Him to take care of her.

Later on, she started “The Book Fund” to help preachers who needed books and couldn’t afford them. She herself sent out books every week. She always gave glory to God in providing the funds and the strength to keep going, stating, “Yes, I truly have reason to bless the Lord for abundant supplies; His treasury has been wide open to me, His riches have constantly outweighed my necessities. He has multiplied His mercies above all my desires.” She herself wrote several books while handling the Book Fund. She often compared the Book Fund with a lemon tree she had planted. Both the tree and the fund had grown together and borne fruit together. She continued the Book Fund until her death on October 22nd, 1903.

In total, Susannah sent out about 200,000 books to pastors in need. The Lord carried her through sickness and hardships, blessing her and many others through her work. Because of Christ’s faithfulness, Susannah Spurgeon’s legacy still affects many today. • Sarah Nazir

• If we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit lives in us, giving us strength and comfort. Throughout the hardships in her life, Susannah knew the Lord’s love and trusted His strength to carry her through. Have you ever felt like the Lord’s strength was carrying you through a difficult time? What was that like?

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

READ: ISAIAH 9:6; LUKE 2:1-20; JOHN 14:27

“Peace on earth” is a common phrase on Christmas cards. Usually it’s accompanied by a picture of a dove or a nativity scene with Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus in a manger. As I reached my older teen years, I felt like “peace on earth” was a ridiculous thing to say. After all, evil doesn’t stop because it’s the Christmas season. People still do evil things. Sickness and death take their toll. And for many people, getting ready for Christmas day generates anything but peace. Why would anybody say “peace on earth” during Christmastime?

The events leading up to Jesus’s birth weren’t calm either. The Romans ruled their vast empire with an iron fist, and the Jews were under severe oppression. But in the midst of all this, angels appeared to a group of shepherds one night, “praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests’” (Luke 2:13-14).

The angels announced the birth of the Savior, and they talked about peace because Jesus would bring the peace everyone longs for. In Isaiah 9:6, we see that one of Jesus’s names is the “Prince of Peace.” That doesn’t mean He’ll take away all difficult situations immediately; in fact, He told us that we would face tough times. But it does mean He’ll give us peace in all circumstances. And one day, when Jesus returns, He will restore the heavens and the earth. Then all things will finally be at peace.

When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to pay the price for our sins, He paved the way for peace. When we put our trust in Jesus, peace enters our lives and fills our hearts. Peace on earth is possible through Jesus, and we can have it any time. • Morgan A. Mitchell

• Can you think of a time you’ve experienced God’s peace? What was that like? If you’ve never experienced His peace, or if it’s been a while since you have, consider taking a moment to talk to Him about it.

• We live in a broken world where we often feel anything but peaceful. Yet, as we wait for Jesus to return, we can rest knowing that He has promised to always be with us. He doesn’t scold us when we feel stressed or afraid. Instead, He has so much compassion on us, and He reminds us of His presence, His love, and His peace through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). Who are trusted Christians in your life you can be honest with when you feel unpeaceful? And how can you offer compassion and peace to others? (If you want to dig deeper, read John 16:33; Romans 5:1; 15:13; Philippians 4:4-9; Revelation 21:1-5.)

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 (NIV)

READ: EPHESIANS 2:8-10; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31

My worth is not found in how many friends I have or how many likes I get

My worth is not found in my height, my weight, or how I look

My worth is not found in my successes, achievements, grades, or awards

My worth is not found in my GPA or how many hard classes I can pack into my schedule

My worth is not found in being the star athlete, star musician, star student

My worth is not found in doing more or being more

My worth is not found in what the world deems successful…

My worth is found in Jesus…in being chosen, loved, and made new. I am worthy because He made me worthy. Because of His death on the cross—because of the incredible grace, mercy, and forgiveness that He lavishes on me—He has made me worthy. Worthy of His love, worthy of forgiveness, worthy of an intimate relationship with Him, worthy of being His.

And I don’t need to earn it, try harder, do more, be more. He has done it all. He doesn’t need my efforts, my striving—He wants my heart. Every part.

Rather than trying to prove my worth or strive toward more, I can give Him what weighs me down and let Him carry me. I can give Him my efforts as an offering of love and worship to Him—not as a payment. I can find my true worth in Him. • Cara Campbell

• We all have times when it feels like our worth is dependent on what others think of us, what we look like, what we have or don’t have, what we do or don’t do, etc. What kinds of things do you find yourself placing your identity and worth in?

• Why is it so important that our true worth isn’t found in what we do but in what Jesus has done for us?

Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:27 (CSB)

READ: ZEPHANIAH 3:17; JOHN 11:31-36; ROMANS 12:9-21

A young man sits in his home, weeping. His mourning song goes unanswered by all but the One who hears everything.

A knock on the door startles him. An older man, a fellow member of the Body of Christ, comes in the house and, without prompting, throws his arms around the young man and weeps. The young man freezes. Then, slowly, awkwardly, he places his arms around the old man. A few of his tears, freed by the tears of the old man, leak out of his eyes despite his best efforts.

Then another believer comes through the door, a young woman this time, and joins the huddle. A middle-aged man with his child come in and follow suit. Soon a dozen believers surround the young man, letting their grief flow freely.

The young man’s pain, freed by the pain of those around him, finally dislodges the lump in his throat, and tears stream down his face. He opens his eyes and, for a moment, sees the face of his Savior, wet with tears.

A young man sits in his home, laughing and singing. His joyful song goes unanswered by all but the One who hears everything.

A knock on the door startles him. An older man, a fellow member of the Body of Christ, comes in the house and, without prompting, throws his arms around the young man and laughs. The young man freezes. Then, slowly, awkwardly, he places his arms around the old man. A few chuckles, freed by the laughter of the old man, leak out of his mouth despite his best efforts.

Then another believer comes through the door, a young woman this time, and joins the huddle. A middle-aged man with his child come in and follow suit. Soon a dozen believers surround the young man, letting their joy flow freely.

The young man’s joy, freed by the joy of those around him, finally dislodges the lump in his throat, and his voice sings out loud. He opens his eyes and, for a moment, sees the face of his Savior, singing along. • Taylor Eising

• Everyone who knows Jesus is part of His family, the church. In the church, we are called to share our joys and sorrows with each other. How does this reflect what Jesus does for us?

Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 (CSB)

READ: ISAIAH 41:10-13; 49:13-16; MATTHEW 10:29-31

My cell phone was set to full volume—there was no way I would miss this call. A small tech company had expressed interest in hiring a freelance writer to create promotional material for a new app, and they were considering me.

What an impressive addition to my writing portfolio! Actually, it would be the only addition so far. I was just starting out. I could pay the electric bill and get a long overdue haircut. My mind was churning out ideas and making plans and…then the call came. They had changed their minds and gone with someone else. No reason, no explanation, just a big no.

The disappointment washed over me like a mini tsunami. I didn’t know what to do, so I called out to the Lord. He reminded me of Isaiah 49:16, “Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”

My walls were closing in on me. Fear gripped me. I didn’t know how I was going to pay the rent or bills. I didn’t even know whether another opportunity was around the corner…or miles down the road.

What I did know was in God’s Word. I held on to His promises. The Lord knows exactly what’s going on with me. Every detail. Every moment. He has helped me through tough times and disappointments before, and He will again, because He loves me. He is in control, and He will work out the details. Nothing can stop His good purposes, His kingdom will never be shaken, and His people will never be outside of His loving presence and care (Romans 8:28-39).

Whenever it feels like the walls are starting to close in on us, we can go to Jesus. And we can go to the Word—God’s love letter to us—and find hope. • Rosemarie Pagano

• In Isaiah 49, God comforts His people who are in exile. He promises to be with them in their hurt and to one day restore them from their sin and brokenness. We now know that all God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). As Christians, how can His promises to be with us and to restore us from sin and death affect the way we view the tough circumstances we face?

• When you feel overwhelmed by a mini tsunami of disappointment, fear, or sadness, who are trusted Christians in your life who can support you and remind you of God’s promises?

Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:16 (CSB)

READ: LUKE 19:10; JOHN 3:15-21, 36; ROMANS 8:14-17; 1 JOHN 3:1

Oliver, the cat I adopted years ago, is asleep on the couch beside me right now. He’s gained a little weight over the years, and now he’s quite fat and happy. He’s had a wonderful life since he decided to trust us and take the gift of grace my family extended to him that week we left food out on the porch. And now he’s reaping the benefits!

But about a month after Oliver joined our family, another cat was spotted wandering around our house. He was a beige cat with orange spots, and he was very skinny. We’d see him jumping in and out of our garbage can, searching for food. I named him Popeye, and he looked like he was in pretty bad shape.

In my cat-adopting enthusiasm (I may have a small problem), I left a bowl of food out for our new guest! Popeye was afraid—I could see it in his eyes. He never let anyone from my family get within ten feet of him before darting into the woods.

Every once in a while, he would venture up to the porch for a few bites of food. But I only saw him a few times before, one day, he took off and never came back.

The same grace that was extended to Oliver, the fluffy, chubby gray cat sleeping beside me, was extended to the fearful cat who spent a few cold weeks living in our garbage can. If Popeye had only accepted our free gift like Oliver had, his life would look a lot different.

This was another huge lesson about grace that I learned from cats. If we reject the free gift God is offering to us—the gift of adoption into His family and eternal life with Him—we only hurt ourselves. But when we embrace the gift, when we open our hands to the grace God wants to shower on us, our lives will never be the same. • Emily Tenter

• What questions do you have about God’s gift of grace and adoption? Who could you talk to about these questions? (For more about what it means to receive this gift, check out our "Know Jesus" page.)

• What are some of the reasons someone might reject Jesus’s gift of eternal life? How can we pray for people who don’t know Jesus yet?

• Even when we reject God, He keeps pursuing us. He has compassion on us when we’re hurting, and He never gives up on us. One of the ways He reaches out to us is through the kindness and gentleness of His people. How could you show someone around you the love and grace of Jesus?

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 (NLT)

READ: ROMANS 3:20-24; EPHESIANS 2:8-10

Being adopted by my family wasn’t the only way my cat Oliver demonstrated a lesson of grace to me. You see, it’s common for cats to leave little presents for their humans. And when I say “little presents,” I mean dead mice that we’d find just outside the front door. Cats leave dead animals to show loyalty to the humans who take care of them—how cute is that?!

As you can probably imagine, my family had no use for dead mice. But I can’t tell you how excited I was when Oliver began to demonstrate to my family that he loved us back!

That’s how God’s grace works in our lives. He pours His grace out on us. He’s the One who gives us every single blessing we have (James 1:17). And what do we have to give Him in return? Dead mice! Isaiah 64:6 says that all our good deeds “are nothing but filthy rags.” That means the best we could ever give to God is still trash. Like dead mice.

But you know what? I still smiled when I saw those mice because they meant that my cat—the cat I adopted and named and loved—loved me back!

God offers to save us from sin and death and bring us into His family with no strings attached. I didn’t adopt Oliver because of anything he could give me in return. And even if he never gave me a dead mouse, I still would have adopted him. Our God treats us the same way. We don’t have to do anything to earn His grace—and we couldn’t even if we tried—but once we know Jesus, we begin to respond to the heaps of grace He has dumped on us.

Going to church, obeying parents, telling a friend about Jesus, working hard without complaining—those are all dead mice. They will never earn us eternal life. Our relationships with God are already secure because of what Jesus did when He died on the cross and rose from the grave. But Jesus still wants what we have to offer. Because even though He doesn’t need our offerings, He still delights in them, and He uses them for good in His kingdom. • Emily Tenter

• What are some of the “dead mice” you offer God? Can you think of a time you compared your “dead mice” to those of other people? Why is that wrong? (1 Corinthians 12:12-31)

• If the best gifts we can give God are still worth so little, why does it matter if we give them at all? (Hint: read 1 Corinthians 12:7; Philippians 2:13; 1 Peter 4:10)

When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)

READ: LUKE 15:1-7; COLOSSIANS 1:13-14; 1 PETER 2:22-25

I’ve learned a lot about God’s grace from my cat. I know that sounds weird, but hear me out! When I was in high school, I looked out the living room window and saw a fluffy gray cat striding through the trees in our backyard. After talking with all the neighbors, we concluded that he had no home. So, I made it my mission to give him one!

I began leaving small bowls of food out on the porch for him. I was delighted to see him creep up the steps one day to eat. He came back every day for food, slowly becoming more comfortable with my family. It wasn’t long before he allowed us to pet him.

A few days after that, my mom was cooking dinner in the kitchen, and when she turned around he was sitting on the floor staring up at her. He just snuck right inside the house! I named him Oliver, and in no time at all my entire family considered him to be a permanent resident. We gave Oliver a home, an identity, protection, love, and even medication for a nasty ear infection. We embraced our new furry buddy with open arms. What exactly did this homeless cat do to deserve any of it? Absolutely nothing. Does that sound like grace to you? Because it sure did to me!

I was reminded of how God adopts us and gives us a new identity. Without Him, we’re all broken. But Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” The entire Bible is one enormous story of grace. God showed grace to the nation of Israel, even when they messed up time and time again. This pointed forward to how God would show us all grace in Jesus. He came to die on a cross and rise from the grave to offer us the free gift of salvation! Through Jesus, we can become children of God—fully forgiven, forever saved from sin and death.

There is nothing we have done or ever could do to earn such an enormous gift, but Jesus gave Himself for us anyway. And He did it so we could have a family, an identity, love, and eternal security…just like Oliver. Only better! • Emily Tenter

• In what ways can you relate to Oliver the cat?

• What are some ways God has shown grace to you in your own life?

• Without that grace, how do you think your life would be different?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)