Hope with God... with Andrew and Wendy Palau

Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if Christmas never happened? The Bible, God’s book of truth, says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin [that means the results of our sin] is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Without Jesus’ birth, there would be no forgiveness, no free gift, no eternal life. But God was not willing to leave us in th...

Do you feel like an outsider? Maybe you’ve left church, or maybe you’ve never been to church, and you feel separate. Can I tell you that Jesus doesn’t see you in this way? Isaiah 53 tells us that we've all strayed away from Him. We’ve all gone our own way, but Jesus has gone after the wanderer. He’s left the 99 sheep behind to look for the one who strayed away. And we are all that one wandering sh...

Have you ever looked up at the stars on a clear night and it made you feel small, yet filled with wonder? Long ago, some very smart men, leaders in their world, noticed a bright star, and they followed it. And it led them on a journey to find Jesus. These wise astronomers they traveled far because they knew this child was worth the finding. And Jesus still is worth the finding. Christmas is more t...

Long before Jesus was born, the prophet Micah gave this beautiful promise. He said, “But you, O Bethlehem, you are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf…And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.” In that little town of Bethl...

Will you imagine something with me for a moment? You’re a shepherd, out in the middle of the night, and then suddenly, the whole sky lights up! It’s full of angels announcing the birth of a Savior. The One who will make all things right…God in human form…He’s arrived. In that moment, everything changes. For those shepherds, they weren’t especially rich or powerful people—they were just workers doi...

If you’re struggling with depression, I want you to hear this: you are not alone. Jesus sees you. He knows your pain, and He is not afraid of it, and He is not offended by it. Here’s a verse in the Bible that makes a difference, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." That means even when you feel completely alone, you are not. Even when hope...

Have you seen a tree that’s been chopped down to a stump? It looks like nothing good could grow there again. That’s the picture the prophet Isaiah used long ago when he promised these words: “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” God’s people felt hopeless. And then, on that first Christmas night in Bethlehem, Jesus was born. He was—and is—the prom...

You’ve surely heard the Christmas carol “Silent Night.” Its words paint such a peaceful scene: “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.” That song points us back to a real night in history. On a quiet night in Bethlehem, a young mother named Mary laid her newborn baby in a manger. And the angels even sang it out, “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem...

Hundreds of years ago, before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah promised this... He said, “...Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” Notice that last part? Immanuel means “God is with us.” For generations, people held onto those words, waiting for the day God would come. And then, on that very first Chri...

What comes to your mind when you think about peace at Christmas? Maybe it’s snow falling softly outside. Or the warmth of laughing around the family table. When Jesus was born, the angels declared in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” This peace isn’t about the absence of conflict. It’s the peace of knowing that God loves you, that...

What is the absolute best Christmas gift you’ve ever unwrapped? For me, it was my father’s old Bible. The pages are worn and every margin is filled with his notes—it is priceless to me. Gifts connect us. And at Christmas, God gave the greatest gift of all: His Son. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have...

Have you ever wished for just a day of peace? People everywhere long for peace. And centuries ago, the prophet Isaiah made this promise about Jesus: “For a child is born to us, a son is given. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” For generations, people clung to these words while living through war...

Christmas lights make the darkest night feel bright and joyful. Where I live in Portland, Oregon it sparkles through the month of December with color and warmth. These lights they’re temporary—we pack them away when the season ends. But there is another light that never fades. Jesus once said, “...I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you will not walk in darkness, because you will have t...

A prophet named Isaiah said this, these words, long before Jesus was born: “For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” At last—Christ was born. That ancient promise came true as a tiny baby, full of life. Jesus wasn’t a symbol that faded in history—He was real, living among real people, teaching them how to love, healing broken lives, and showing them the way to a repaired...

Every December, you hear the voices singing, “Joy to the World, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King!” And the melody, I wish I could sing better, it’s cheerful, believe me. The words are full of hope. But they are rooted in something real! It’s the Bible, God’s book of truth. And it tells us that when Jesus was born, the angels visited the local shepherds, saying, “Don’t be afraid!… We b...

Is there any reason not to give your life to Jesus today? I’ve asked that question to people many times, and one of the things that holds people back? It’s this idea that if they decide to follow God, they’re going to have to give up everything fun about life. Well, let me tell you, it could not be further from the truth; God sets us free. Once you come to know God’s love, His kindness, His compas...

When I married my husband, I moved from my small island of Jamaica to Portland, Oregon in the United States. I missed my home, but I loved my husband. In the first years of our marriage, there were so many times I felt alien. I was a foreigner in a different place, a different culture, different traditions and accents, ways of thinking and seeing the world. When we don't have a relationship with G...

Is there anything stopping you from coming to God right now? I’ve asked people that question so many times, and often, people think that they’re just too messed up. I’m too full of sin at the moment. And they believe God won’t want me. Jesus reached out again and again to the most rejected, unclean, and sinful people of all society. He went to them and He invited Himself to dinner at their houses....

When you reach the end of your life and look back at your story, what will have mattered the most? Most people will say the time they spent with loved ones. For me, it’s a message I get to share with everyone I meet, and I love it so much! When this message sinks into people’s hearts, it gives birth to hope. This message saves people. Can I share it with you right now? God, the one Who made everyt...

Are you in a season of sorrow? You know, it’s okay not to be cheerful all the time. In fact, Jesus experienced deep sorrow Himself. These are the words of the prophet Isaiah, which he spoke centuries before Jesus would come to walk the earth: He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief… Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down...

Long ago, Jesus made this surprising statement: What sorrow awaits you teachers of the religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. What a powerful image! And Jesus wasn’t talking to the rejected people of society…rather, these were the powerful religious leaders...

Have you noticed that social media is flooded with messages that are meant to encourage you? One-sentence phrases that seem wise and insightful? Encouraging content is nice, but what does it really do for you? Maybe it makes you smile, or it helps you feel better in the moment. But it can also make you feel stuck; it doesn’t contain the challenging truths that lead to real change. I want to share...

I could tell you ten ways to improve your self-esteem. Three signs that you’ve been hurt by a narcissist. I could tell you how to set boundaries. The truth is, there’s only so much we can do to improve ourselves. We need help from someone more powerful than ourselves. We need God! If that thought scares you, just stick with me for a minute. God is not a harsh judge or a scolding father like you ma...

Are you a caregiver? Maybe you have children who rely on you to keep them safe, loved, and healthy. Maybe you’re taking care of a parent or relative. Or maybe you just have friends who depend on you for support. If that’s you, I have an important question for you today… Who takes care of you? There is someone who thinks about you all the time. Who loves you on your good days, and your worst days....

The media tells us that outward appearances are everything. I’m sure you’ve noticed… advertisements for diet pills, anti-aging products, workouts that promise to make you look amazing in three weeks. I wish! Taking care of your body- it’s a great thing. But no matter what we do to fix our appearance, there is only one solution for our inner state. And that’s God. He sees right through us to the de...