“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,                      and they will call him Immanuel                (which means ‘God with us’ )” Matthew 1:23, NIV).

     My daughter is a creative soul. This morning she texted me a photograph of a Christmas tree she crafted at work. The design is fashioned out of a cover band, thumbtacks, and an IV needle. The tree now sets conspicuously atop the nursing station around which she works.

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.  4  Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy” (Philippians 1:3-4, NLT).

     Barbara Johnson is one of my favorite Christian authors. Barb tells of the time she had overslept and was late for work. Then, several things happened at the office to contribute to her agitation. By the time she reached the bus stop for the trip home, her stomach was tied into knots.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! (Psalm 103:1, ESV)

     I love surprises, most of the time. Some surprises are more welcome than others. The sight of a deer walking through the backyard is a pleasant surprise. Though a deer walking through the backyard eating my flowers is not.

“ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily                         and follow me” (Luke 9:23, ESV).

     “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20, ESV).

     To boldly go where no one has gone before. This is the mission of the Enterprise, the fictitious starship of the Star Trek television and film series. One of Star Trek’s most memorable actors was Nichelle Nickols, a.k.a., Lt. Nyota Uhura.