This is an excerpt from the third chapter of By Water and the Word: God’s Gift of Baptism for You by Brian Thomas (1517 Publishing, 2026), pgs 52-60.
Even when the bitter places sink down deep into our bones, the Restorer never relinquishes his grip on you.
To Live Well is therefore not a general advice book, but a message suffused with the gospel.

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Belief at Christmas is neither neat nor safe. It is the path that leads to the manger and, from there, to the cross.
Are you looking for rest? Is your heart cluttered? Are you searching for comfort? Just look at the King-sized bed.
The grain of God’s goodness and grace is made known by many trees throughout the Bible.
Jesus rests in a manger in the days to come, but don’t be fooled.
The love of God is creative, always giving, always reviving.
This is the third article in a special three-part Advent series on how Jesus is our prophet, priest, and king.
No amount of ritual, sacrifice, devotion, or money could ever do what Jesus of Nazareth was sent to accomplish.
More certain than death or taxes and more certain than “anything else in all creation” is the fact that God loves you.
God’s creatures on four legs are some of the greatest storytellers of the Scriptures.
It is the story of a God who is not distant, not indifferent, not doing anything in half-measures, but who is here, now.
The Lion of Judah, Christ the King, Jesus of Nazareth, will not be away from us for one night.
To embrace our creatureliness is to affirm the truth that we were created to worship.