Today, we're introducing our final Good Word theme for 2019. This December, we're sharing scriptures related to "Wonder."

What is wonder? It's "a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable," as defined by Lexico.

The Christmas season is all about wonder, isn't it? Sparkling lights. Magnificent trees. Gorgeous food. Spellbinding stories. Charming carols. Warm traditions. They're all enchanting.

We're concluding this month's theme, "Boldness," with today's verse from Hebrews. It tells us to come boldly to the throne of grace. Two things are striking about this seemingly simple exhortation:

First, we're to approach God boldly, or with confidence. Do you remember the Old Testament temple? The Holiest of Holies was where God was supposed to meet with man. It was the innermost of several chambers, and the high priests were the only humans who could tread there, and even then, only by obeying God's instructions.

For Good Word Friday, we're exploring scriptures about boldness. Merriam-Webster defines "bold" as

• fearless before danger (intrepid)

This dictionary also includes the archaic meaning, which is "assured and confident," which, you can argue, applies nicely to today's scripture, too. In this light, boldness is good. It's something free from fear and doubt — how refreshing!

Today, we're continuing our Good Word theme of "Boldness." In this passage, Paul is explaining to the Ephesians that God has revealed to him and the other apostles a great mystery. (Ooh! What is it?!)

The mystery is that the Gentiles have access to the gospel of Jesus Christ and are being invited into the fold of God.

If you remember, this was a pretty seismic shift in the way Israel thought about God and man. It was huge. It was divisive. It was not an easy message for Paul to deliver no matter which way you slice it.

Today, we're talking Moroni 8, hoping to learn more about our Good Word theme of "Boldness."

This chapter contains a letter from Mormon to his son Moroni shortly after Moroni's ordination into the ministry. It's full of sage advice for everyone, especially those called to leadership.

We're looking at verse 16, which is almost an aside within a larger discussion about the abomination of baptizing children. Moroni condemns the baptism of little children with boldness — without fear or doubt, in complete confidence.

Today, we're starting a new theme for Good Word Friday. This month's theme is "Boldness."

First, let's define boldness. It means fearless and confident (not necessarily arrogant and impetuous). God wants a measure of boldness from us as His followers, and it's our goal to better understand this.

We're kicking things off with Acts 4:31. In this chapter, the apostles have just gone head to head with the high priest and other Jewish elders. (Eek!)

These religious leaders were upset with the apostles because the apostles were behaving with boldness for Christ. They were fearlessly and confidently proclaiming Jesus as Savior and healing people in Jesus' name. Verse 13 says that the boldness of these uneducated, common men astonished the councilmen.

Today is the last Friday in October, and we're presenting the last scripture related to our theme Fruitful. This scripture comes from Christ's parable of the sower.

A sower scattered seed (the Word of God) onto various types of ground (people):

• The wayside
• Stony places
• Thorns
• Good ground

We're continuing our Good Word theme of Fruitful. Today's verse is from the famous chapter in Alma that compares the word of God to a seed. When we nourish the seed, it takes root and grows. Then, it bears fruit. (Easy, right?)

What does it mean to nourish the word of God? This verse gives us a clue. It says "if ye will nourish the word by your faith…" What does it mean to nourish the word of God with faith?

Have you ever read something — let's say, a news article — and you decided ahead of time that what you were about to read was hogwash? Your faith in the information affects how you understand it.

My family knows next to nothing about gardening and landscaping. Plants need sun, water, food, and pruning to survive. That's the extent of our expertise. So, you can imagine our surprise this past summer when, after three years of living in our home, one of the smallest trees in our backyard sprouted a single, pretty pear. Prior to that, we had no idea it was a pear tree.

"By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20)

Sometimes I wonder if I'm the type of tree that's recognizable to others who may not know much about God or Jesus Christ.

Today, we're introducing a new Good Word Friday theme: Fruitful. The next month's scriptures will focus on bearing spiritual fruit.

Those of you with green thumbs know what plants need to flourish and produce fruit. John 15:5 reveals the most important thing we need to produce: spiritual fruit. We need to abide in Christ.

"Abide" means "to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time." (Many major translations use the word "abide." Several use "remain.")

Have you ever said, "I need that!" but you didn't need it at all? In our modern, crazy world, we're bombarded with messages telling us that we need things. When we get the things, life will be better. We're convinced that more is more, and we have a profound fear of missing out. There's also a forceful drive to compete with others for the best life and the best stuff. We reach and grasp and stretch for this "better life."

Today's Good Word reminds us that only one thing is needful. Jesus said it, so it must be true.

If you Google, "how to have peace," here are some of the top results:

• How to Find Inner Peace: 15 Things You Can Start Doing Today
• 40 Ways to Create Peace of Mind
• How to Find Peace of Mind in 4 Simple Steps
• 13 Steps to Inner Peace (Even in a Busy Stressful World)

It's no secret that we are a people who are searching for peace. The world is indeed busy and stressful and filled with things that rob us of the very peace we seek. People struggle with anxious and depressing thoughts that trouble them without end. We want to find peace, and we want it to be a simple fix. (Notice that most of the headlines above include actionable steps?)

Today's verse continues the theme of "Simplify." What we've given you in the accompanying image is just one slice of a larger thought. Here is Hebrews 12:1-2 in whole:

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

We've got a question for all you runners out there; (maybe you're more of a 5k person or a marathoner). Here's the question: What do you carry with you when you run? Hopefully the answer is nothing. Or, if you do carry something, it's probably small and nearly weightless. You don't want anything to drag you down, especially if you're covering some serious distance.

Today's Good Word starts a brand-new theme, which we've named "Simplify." This isn't about simplifying your possessions (decluttering) or your schedule (saying no more). Instead, it's about simplifying your mindset — how you think.

Do you ever feel like life is more complicated than it's supposed to be? There are so many conflicting views, opinions, and data points floating around in our minds, and it's all very noisy and chaotic. Sometimes just the act of thinking alone in a quiet room can feel weighty and leave you heavy.

Today's verse tells us that the load of discipleship is light. Or, it should be.

If you can't play an instrument, read music, or even carry a tune, then this Good Word series on music may not have been your cup of tea. But, don't lose heart. Today's verse describes a "new song" from God that anyone can "sing," even the musically challenged.

What is that new song? It's praise to God. It's the song of redeeming love. It's amazing grace.

"He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."

It will never be a song that tops the charts, but it will resonate with those who are seekers of truth. It's a song that can never be wholly ignored. It's a song that inspires awe. It's a song that draws people to God.