Christmas 2025
Dear Friends,
At Christmas, I find myself slowing down—if only a little—to give thanks and to reflect. I’m grateful for the miracle of Jesus’ first coming: God with us, Emmanuel, stepping into our world with humility, love, and purpose. And I’m also mindful that we live in the in-between—between His first coming and the promised miracle of His return.
As we wait, Scripture keeps bringing me back to two simple words: abide and obey.
Jesus’ words in John 15:4 have stayed with me this year:
“Abide in Me, and I in you.”
I’ll be honest—obedience has always stirred a quiet resistance in me. Somewhere deep inside, there has been a whisper of pride that wanted to do things my way. A subtle selfishness that dressed itself up as independence. For years, obedience felt like confinement rather than freedom.
But something shifted this year.
Maybe for the first time, I truly believe that Jesus has the best way—and that His way is not just right in theory, but perfectly designed for me. I’m beginning to see that God’s boundaries are not a penalty, but a gift. What I once interpreted as restriction, I now recognize as loving containment. And where I once sensed a lack of trust, I now see something different: Jesus trusts me—and I trust Him.
That truth has made sense of another verse that now feels deeply personal:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5–6
Much of this transformation has come through my work with CBMC. This year, we anchored ourselves monthly around a major theme and slowed down enough to allow one verse per week to really work on my soul. That simple rhythm—less noise, more focus—has been profoundly formative. God is changing me from the inside out.
I’ve also been deeply encouraged watching CBMC Trusted Advisor teams walk together in faith-centered decision-making—men surrounded by brotherhood, speaking the truth in love, extending grace, and choosing obedience together. What I’ve witnessed is more trust, more hope, and more wonder at what God is doing—and at how He invites us to participate through our everyday work in His story.
Another meaningful part of my life this year has been Promised Land Living, a 13-session discipleship journey where I’ve had the privilege of walking closely with eight men toward the freedom God desires for all of us. Watching men loosen their grip on fear, self-reliance, and old patterns—and step into trust and obedience—has been nothing short of holy ground.
Christmas is also a time to reflect on family.
I am deeply grateful—and honestly, very lucky—that I like my wife of 45 years, Kasey. Over Christmas, a young man commented on how great it was that we “still” hold hands. I smiled, though I was slightly miffed at being kindly reminded that I am, in fact, “old.” Reality, it seems, is my friend.
The reality is this: we are a good pair. We genuinely enjoy one another and the life God has given us together. That joy has only grown with the addition of our newest granddaughter, now five months old—a cherished new member of our crew, alongside her two equally lovely older cousins. Great family, dear friends, good health, meaningful work—when I stop long enough to notice, it is quite the gratitude list.
As I look ahead, I find myself enjoying the journey more than ever—more Jesus, more lightness, and more freedom—both to receive and to give.
As Christmas arrives and a new year approaches, my prayer is simple:
That we would abide deeply in Christ.
That we would obey not out of duty, but out of trust.
And that we would live with gratitude for what God has already done—and anticipation for what He is still doing.
Thank you for walking this road together. I am grateful for you.
With hope and wonder,
Marc Ottestad
P.S. As the year comes to a close, I want to thank you for the ways you’ve prayed for, encouraged, and supported the work of CBMC. If you feel led to make a year-end gift, your generosity helps us reach more men with the gospel, build Christ-centered brotherhood, and equip marketplace leaders to live out their faith at work and at home. Every gift—large or small—makes an eternal difference. Thank you for considering being part of what God is doing. To give CLICK HERE