The Han family living room at 8:00 PM. That is our family devotion time.
We sit around the dining table and take turns reading one chapter from Proverbs. For example, if today is January 10, we read Proverbs 10. Since Proverbs has 31 chapters, we can read through the whole book every month. Now even Hannah can read verses aloud, which brings us great joy.
My children’s favorite part is what we call “sword drill.” We all raise our hands, holding our Bibles. One person calls out a verse - “John 3:16,” for example - and whoever finds it first and reads it aloud is the winner of the day.
I don’t know about you, but I feel I need sword drill more than ever. We hear troubling news almost every day. What is happening around the world, and even close to home here in Maine. This week, I was also deeply saddened by the news that Philip Yancey, a well-known Christian author, admitted to an eight-year affair and stepped away from public ministry. It makes me ask: Where do we find hope and strength to finish well?
For me, I practice two things.
First, adoration. Every morning, before the day begins and before meeting people, I take time to pray, especially using the Psalms. I adore God for who He is: how awesome, how majestic, how loving He is. I also sing hymns of praise, such as How Great Thou Art, Blessed Assurance, Because He Lives... When I begin the day with adoration, the problems of the day become smaller before our great God.
Second, Bible memorization. Worry is persistent. It tries to settle in my mind and stay there. My counterattack is to fill my heart and mind with God’s promises. Using the BibleMemory app, I recite verses again and again. God’s Word truly becomes like a double-edged sword, penetrating my soul, cleansing, guarding, and strengthening me.
Along with these personal practices, I believe an even greater source of hope and strength is the community of believers. When we gather, as a church, a small group, or even a committee, our hearts are comforted, our hands strengthened, and our hope renewed.
This new year, 2026, our Life-Together small groups will be walking through the entire New Testament together. My sermon will walk alongside that journey each week. This Sunday, we will explore the Gospel of Matthew with the theme: “Surprised by Grace.”
The weather forecast says we may have another snowstorm this Sunday. At this time, we still plan to worship in person at all three churches, but we will stay in close communication and follow our safety protocols. Final decisions will be confirmed two hours before each service - 7:00 AM for Hodgdon and Mars Hill, and 9:00 AM for Houlton. Please watch your email and our Facebook church page or Messenger group for updates.
If a service is canceled due to weather, you can still worship online here for the livestream at 11:00 AM or anytime later. You can also view the service bulletin here.
Please be safe. I look forward to worshiping together with you in person or online this Sunday. Love you all.
In Christ's Love,Pastor Victor
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