As we continue to prepare for the celebrations surrounding Christmas Day, it's appropriate to remember why Christ came in the first place. Today's Good Word tells us that we were not saved by our own righteous works but instead by God's mercy.

No matter how many good deeds we do, we also commit sin. Good works cannot wash away sin or pay the price for it. Under the Law of Moses, a blood sacrifice was required to forgive sin (not a penance of good deeds).

The next time you're thinking of staying home from Church on Sunday, remember today's Good Word. It reminds us that thanking God and praising Him with song is a great way to spend our time.

The next time you're thinking of taking credit for something that the Lord has done, remember today's Good Word. It reminds us that thanking God rather than singing our own praises is the best way to go.

Are you in need of a victory today? Many of us have ongoing challenges and troubles that dampen our spirits and burden our minds. You may feel like you're in a perpetual boxing match with life's problems, and after a while, you're too bruised and beaten to keep fighting.

If you're all battled out today, we pray that this Good Word directs you to the only one who can overcome what you're facing. Our Lord Jesus Christ holds the key to victory. In the context of this verse, we understand "victory" to mean victory over spiritual death and the hope of spiritual life eternal in God's Son.

We hope that yesterday you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with those closest to you. Chances are good that, at some point, you reflected on all the things you're thankful for in life. Chances are good that those reflections made you feel happy and content.

Do you need more of that happiness and contentment every day of the year and not just on Thanksgiving? If you do, then try to "live in thanksgiving daily" as today's Good Word encourages us to do.

Have you ever thanked someone from The Church for something? Many times, instead of saying, "You're welcome" or "My pleasure," the person says, "Thank God." That's because we sometimes can't in good conscience accept thanks when we know we are not the ones who did the real work or inspired the work in the first place — it was God. We then direct the person's gratitude to one who is worthy of it.

Today, let's thank God for the gift of music! Praising God with a song is one of the most joyful ways to express our thanks. Whether we sing with all the breath our lungs can hold or we hum quietly to ourselves, whether we approach it with laughter or solemnity, whether we possess great skill or none at all, music can often express what our mouths otherwise would not or could not utter.

Today's Good Word reminds us of what God requires of us when we come to Him — our whole soul. The scriptures are clear about half-hearted, hypocritical religion, and it's not pretty. God wants it all, not just a part. He wants to be the center sun, not an orbiting star.

Enduring to the end (a phrase also invoked in today's Good Word) is often the process whereby we gradually give more and more of ourselves over to God. It's an exercise in continually submitting to God's authority again and again. Thankfully, He is merciful and patient with us as we figure out just how much of us He really wants!

In our culture, we love the word "natural." Put that on any packaged good, and go with some type of green color scheme, and people like me will buy it. (Sister Michelle here.)

We want things "created by nature" not humans, and we Christians often equate that with "created by God." So, natural is good.

Originally, it was good. Remember all the things that God called "good" while He was creating the world? He even called humans "very good." So…what happened? Today's Good word says that the natural man is an enemy to God. How did "natural" all of a sudden become sinful?

Today's Good Word makes us ask the question, "What's your foundation made of?"

This verse tell us that the foundation of life should be the rock of Christ — His salvation and grace, His Word, His commandments, His example.

Today's Good Word reminds us of how Christ should be central to our lives.

When we get together with others, do we talk about the Lord? Does He come into play during casual discussions — or even when we're grappling with weightier matters? Or does His name never quite make it out of our mouth?

What are we rejoicing over most in life? Is it Jesus, or something else? Are we experiencing deep joy, or are we satisfied with passing happiness?

Today is our final Good Word Friday from the book of James. In chapter four, James gives us an important key to spiritual growth and maturity. In order to grow in God, we must submit ourselves to Him and resist the devil. 

Today's Good Word is from the third chapter of James, and it describes God's holy wisdom.

We sometimes think that in order to be wise we have to also become somewhat jaded and hardened to life's dark side. But this verse reminds us that God's wisdom is pure, peaceful, gentle, submissive, merciful, and fruitful. It's a budding branch, not a withered vine. 

Today, we're continuing with our scriptures from the book of James. This one basically tells us that if we keep almost the whole law, except one little part of it, then we're guilty of it all. 

That doesn't seem fair, does it?

In the coming weeks on Good Word Friday, we're going to feature four scriptures from each of the books of James. Today, we plucked this one from the first chapter, and it reminds us of the consequences that come with being double minded.

What does it mean to be double minded? Merriam-Webster says that it means "wavering in mind, undecided, vacillating." 

Today's Good Word is another great memory verse from the book of Proverbs! (Not a bad one for that unruly and rambunctious Sunday school class, huh? Kidding!)

This verse makes a great word picture. First, it introduces the subject of the simile: a person who has no rule over his own spirit. What does that mean?