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“And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the only son from the father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Today may not seem like a memorization skill, but it is! Today we are going to practice writing our memory verse in our own words. That means we take what the verse is, and we rewrite it in a way that helps explain the meaning of it.

The verse is “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the only son from the father, full of grace and truth.” Just a reminder, this is John writing to help people understand that Jesus really was who He said he was and he really did come and live as a man on Earth.

An example of writing it in your own words could be: Jesus came and lived with us, people really saw Him and knew that He was God’s son. He spoke the truth and was always forgiving.

Take some time and re-write the verse into your own words, this will help us to remember what the verse is trying to communicate which will help embed the words into our hearts and minds!

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

During this time in the Bible the Israelites who are God's chosen people are making their way through the desert. They were in a state of panic and it felt as though chaos was all around them. Moses, who God chose to lead the Israelites through the desert, asks God for His presence and grace. I think Moses understood something that we sometimes miss, the power of God’s presence. God lovingly gives this to the Israelites even after they have disobeyed many times. God promised to be with the Israelites wherever they go, and that through Him, they would have rest.

Sometimes we feel stressed from school, or work, or things at home. In these hard and stressful times we must remember that God is still with us and that His presence matters. Even in the hard times, God loves us and is with us. It's okay for us to stop and take a breather, in fact, God calls us to take a day off like He did after creation. 

Take a moment to remember how faithful God has been in your life. Thank Him for the things that you have and that because of His presence in our life, we can have rest in a world of chaos. God loves you and He is always with you. 

Where in your life are you not finding rest? What is one way you can take more time to rest this week? 

Think of a simple prayer everyday to remind yourself that God is with you. Example- God, thank you that you are with me and that you love me.

“Grant us vision to perceive Your presence in the ordinary moments of our days."

Exodus 33:14 (ESV) And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 

We often search for God in the extraordinary - in miracles, in mountain-top experiences, in dramatic answers to prayer. But what if He's calling us to recognize Him in the ordinary moments that fill our days? The promise God made to Moses echoes through the ages: "My presence will go with you." It's a promise of constant companionship, of His presence not just in the spectacular, but in the mundane. The God who parted the Red Sea is the same God who walks with us through rush hour traffic, who sits with us during our morning coffee, who listens to our inner thoughts as we fold laundry. Advent is a season that celebrates the ultimate example of God entering the ordinary. The Incarnation wasn't announced to the world with a cosmic spectacle visible to all. Instead, God chose to enter human history in the most ordinary way possible - as a baby, born to humble parents, in unremarkable surroundings. The Creator of the universe limited Himself to a human body, experiencing hunger, fatigue, and the full range of human emotions.

This profound truth invites us to look at our ordinary lives with new eyes. Where might God be present in the rhythms of your day? Perhaps in the warmth of sunlight on your face, reminding you of His sustaining love. Maybe in the smile of a stranger, reflecting the joy He takes in His creation. Or in the quiet moments before sleep, when your heart finds rest in His peace. Perceiving God's presence in the ordinary requires intentionality. It asks us to slow down, to pay attention, to cultivate awareness. It invites us to approach each moment with a sense of holy curiosity, wondering, "How might God be present here?" This doesn't mean every moment will feel spiritual or profound. There will still be days when the dishes pile up, deadlines loom, and traffic tests our patience. We'll face moments of frustration, boredom, and exhaustion. God's presence doesn't guarantee a constant state of spiritual euphoria or an escape from life's challenges. But it does mean that no moment is devoid of sacred potential. Even in our most mundane tasks, our most difficult interactions, our most trying circumstances, the opportunity for divine encounter exists. The ordinary becomes extraordinary not because it changes, but because we recognize the extraordinary God who inhabits it with us.

Consider the implications of this truth. The God who spoke the universe into existence is present as you prepare your morning coffee. The One who holds all things together by the word of His power is with you in your daily commute. The Lord who knows the number of hairs on your head is aware of your thoughts as you scroll through your phone or stand in line at the grocery store. As we journey through Advent, let's challenge ourselves to see the divine in the daily. Let's look for Emmanuel - God with us - in our workplaces, our homes, our conversations, our solitude. Let's train our eyes to perceive the presence that goes with us always, transforming our ordinary days into altars of encounter with the living God.

Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following questions:

Exodus 33:14 (ESV) And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 

• Think about your typical day. Where do you tend to overlook God's presence? How might you cultivate a greater awareness of His companionship in the ordinary moments?