Do you remember the last time you were afraid? I mean really afraid. Maybe it was the time someone tricked you into riding a thrill ride and by the time you realized it was too late to get off. Maybe it was something not so silly, but very serious and extremely frightening. Do you remember what that felt like? It’s the kind of feeling that could stop you in your tracks. It could paralyze you from making decisions. It could even be the very thing that makes you afraid to step out the front door or take a step one foot in front of the other. The truth is, we all feel fear at one time or another. The question isn’t how do we stop feeling it. The question is how do we deal with it.

After Jesus had died, the disciples found themselves in the exact same position. Everything they knew was not gone. The life they left to be with Jesus was essentially dead with him. What do they do now? Fearing for their own safety after a very hostile situation. So what did they do? They hid away. Afraid and alone. But it wouldn’t remain that way. The gospel writer John writes that on the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord (John 20:19-20 NIV). In their fear, Jesus came to them. He showed them that He still lives and that everything had changed. So much so that as we move into Luke's account in Acts, we see a very different Peter and John. The crowd who witnessed these two disciples speak couldn’t believe it was the same men. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13 NIV). So what changed to take them from fearful to courageous? Only one thing. They had been with Jesus. His very Spirit working inside of the disciples gave them the courage to move and overcome the fear that once held them.

The same is true for every believer today. The celebration of the resurrection isn’t the end of a church calendar. It’s the beginning of something greater for each of us. We may be going through something right now that’s hard. At times we might be afraid. But Jesus has promised to be with us. And our worship of Him changes how we see our circumstances. The greater the storm, the louder our song will be. Battles may roar, but we sing from victory. Darkness will tremble, prison walls are gonna shake 'cause fear has no power when we worship [His] name… The enemy knows what your name is and scatters when we're giving [Him] our praises. The only overcomer of the grave is Jesus (Phil Wickham, Fear Has No Power). Fear doesn’t get the final word today. Jesus has risen! And we can walk in that assurance through whatever the storms of life bring us. Jesus has won the day!

 Did you have a favorite team growing up? Maybe you had their poster on your wall. Maybe there was a favorite player and you had them sign your memorabilia. But you followed this team hoping they made it to the championship. You rooted for the win, but felt the sting of the loss. Maybe you were the one playing on the team. Do you remember the feeling you had as the team entered the biggest game of the year? Will you win? Will you lose? The nerves are running high. Do you remember the feeling of victory? The elation of the task at hand. It feels good, doesn’t it? What if it could always be that way for us? To never have to feel the sting of losing. For every believer in Jesus Christ, that is the reality that we can live into.

The truth of the power of the resurrection is that the victory has been decisive for all time. There's power in the mighty name of Jesus. Every war He wages He will win. I'm not backing down from any giant 'cause I know how this story ends. Yes, I know how this story ends. I'm gonna see a victory for the battle belongs to You, Lord (Elevation Worship, See A Victory). We know the story ends for all eternity. Jesus Christ has won the victory over sin, shame and the death that we deserve. The Apostle Paul takes it one step further to say that overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37b-39 NLT).

We’ve been given the greatest gift of all through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nothing in heaven or on earth nor can anything in all creation can separate us from the love of God. Where once we felt the sting of the loss. Separated from God. Jesus won the victory for us and the elation we have felt for our favorite team’s win can also be the elation we have each and everyday over the victory for our souls. Jesus has won every battle. Finished the campaign that secured our victory over sin and death. Because of that work, we are no longer separated from God, but able to come close to the Father, through Jesus. Easter is more than just a celebration that we have once a year. It’s a renewed declaration that victory has happened. Decisively and with such a finality that we still can feel the effects of it today. Live into that victory today! Feel the triumph that the enemy no longer has a hold on your life. Jesus Christ reigns victorious!

We all handle death differently. Some of us laugh. Some cry. Others take many years to recover from losing a loved one. But one thing that is universal is that a dead person shouldn’t walk around. At least outside of Hollywood. However, if we were to read and understand the Scriptures well, everyone is, or was, a dead person walking. Because of what we call original sin, mankind has been plagued with eternal death. Inescapable really. Paul writes to the Romans that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a NIV). It’s a bleak picture for the future when you end the conversation there. The good news is that this isn’t the end of the story. We serve a God who works miracles. And the truth is, He’s done it before.

Way back in the time of the prophets, God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel to share His message. But it wasn’t a message to the people of Israel this time. God sent Ezekiel to a field of bones. These bones were so old that they had dried. We’d consider them fossils today. Yet God sends Ezekiel to the field of dry bones to deliver a message. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord’” (Ezekiel 37:4-6 NIV). God declared that He would bring these old, dry bones to life. And guess what? That’s exactly what God did. Out of death and decay, God raised those bones to life again with the promise to bring everything under one king as Ezekiel went on to declare. It would be hundreds of years before God would fulfill that prophecy in the person of Jesus Christ. And it’s through the work of Jesus on the cross that our old, dry, and dead bones can be made alive again.

The Holy Spirit continues to fill believers with new life. You may feel like a dead person walking. The weight of sin and shame at the forefront of your mind. You may feel at the end of your rope. The future may be uncertain and you may not know how to act through it. You may feel like everything is falling around you. These are all places where death reigns. But the truth and hope that we have in the gospel message of Jesus Christ is that out of the death and decay, new life can begin. Dry bones are still coming alive. Our bones and spirits are being called forward into motion. Given renewed strength for the day through the power of the resurrection. 

Check your pulse today. Are you still a dead person walking or do you hear the call that brings dry bones to life again?

Have you ever felt the winter blues? That period of time when the sky always seems grey. The weather is really trying to become warmer, but winter is just holding on and you’re not sure whether to wear a coat or put spring clothes on. It can make you feel tired or even a little sad. It can make it harder to wake up in the morning. Especially if there’s a time change involved. It gets tiring. And if we’re being honest with ourselves, that’s how our faith journey can feel at times. We feel like God has been silent. There are just too many things piling up that seem to be against us. The pain of the past comes back to haunt us. The struggles of today are too much. We get tired. We get weary. We wonder even why we should keep going. It can be difficult. 

But all is not lost. At the end of winter, a new season emerges. Flowers bloom. New life comes. And at the end of our hope, something special happens. We realize that that’s when God can take over in our lives and give us new life. The prophet Isaiah spoke the words of God to the tired and so to be exiled people of Israel saying, Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV).

It’s the work of the Holy Spirit moving inside of us that a new season, a new faith, and a new life can emerge inside of what has seemed so tired and broken. It’s by Your spirit I will rise from the ashes of defeat. The resurrected King is resurrecting me. In Your name I come alive to declare Your victory. The resurrected King is resurrecting me (Elevation Worship, Resurrecting). The resurrection of Jesus Christ is more than just a story we tell year in and year out. It’s a declaration of hope for all who feel the winter blues. For all those who feel tired and weary. The hope we have in the resurrected king can renew our strength today. And He can renew your life in this season. Will you let Him?

There’s an investment strategy that has become popular with first time or novice investors called the “do-nothing” approach. Essentially one invests in a diversified portfolio and leaves it alone for a long time collecting the return on investment with little risk and little fees. In some spaces, it earns more than someone who is very active in the market. Many of us who don’t understand the game of the stock market have invested our pensions this way as a way to preserve our retirement. For all intents and purposes, this can and is considered to be a smart investment strategy. Do nothing and your investment will grow. However, it’s also considered to be a passive way to invest in the future. And the truth is this strategy has become a way of life for many. We go about our day to day. Do the same thing week in and week out. Investing little in the world market around us. Passive in our approach to the gospel. We do what we need to with little energy left over for anything else. The reality is that this isn’t something new, but inherited by the church of the modern day. We’ve lost the sense of urgency that Jesus will return. Lost the sense that how we spread the gospel here and now matters. In short, we’ve become comfortable with the way things are. The expectation now is that the church and its leaders are here to feed us rather than motivate or challenge us. Church has become a place of feeding rather than a place of equipping. 

The author of Hebrews said it best that by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:12-14 NIV). The problems that the church is facing today has been an issue from the beginning. It’s why this warning was written. To remind us all of the task at hand. To remind us of the urgency of the situation. Jesus promised to come back. We are promised that one day we will have to account for our lives. For the investment we made in the gospel message. The prophet Jeremiah once spoke for the Lord saying I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve (Jeremiah 17:11 NIV).

One day our investment will be judged by how faithfully we put it to work. Did we have a passive approach to all we’ve been entrusted with? Or did we faithfully attend our resources, skills, and time for the movement and advancement of the Kingdom of God? No one can answer that but you. When you’re called to give an account of your life, will your investment be seen as passive? Where we did nothing and hoped it grew. Or will it be seen as an active movement to grow the kingdom? How you invest is up to you. How will you invest this week?

Do you remember the old science experiment where you were given a scale and several objects trying to find the ones that balanced on the scale correctly. It was a matter of trial and error. If the object on one side was heavier, the scales would tip toward that object. If it was too light, the scale wouldn’t move towards a balanced position. Until it was just right and the two trays evened out. Seems like a good metaphor for life. Without balance we can tip to one side or the other. Without something or someone to hold us accountable, the balance of power rests in our own thoughts and designs. Too much influence from outside forces and the balance of power shifts. It’s a matter of finding the right balance and the right influences. To find the right things to keep us accountable in this life. But that’s the difficult part, right? We don’t like to be held accountable. We don’t like to be told we’re wrong. Or maybe we don’t like losing the control we have over our lives. 

The truth is for us today is that accountability helps us develop a sense of responsibility. It also promotes integrity and protects us from making poor decisions. What’s more, learning to examine ourselves keeps us honest and humble (In Touch MInistries, Our Personal Accountability). Being held accountable can be a powerful tool within our lives. It can keep us on the right track and maybe even keep us from making mistakes. It also helps to remind us that one day we will be held accountable for the life we lived. Paul wrote to the Roman church that we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14:10b-12 NIV).

The balance of power within our lives is hard. There are so many things trying to pull us away and out of balance. What we can center ourselves and rest on is that we aren’t the ones that hold the power in the first place. True balance comes from understanding that we serve a Mighty God who holds all things in His hands. He holds the power. And what we’re trying to keep in balance is with His power not the other way around. One day we will have to account for our lives. How we live matters. Are your scales balanced?

Have you ever looked at a weather map in the midst of a major storm? Maybe you lived through a hurricane or a blizzard. All around you is rain or snow. It’s a tremendous sight to behold, but have you ever looked at the radar map of the event itself? Placed where you are in the midst of it. We seem so small compared to what’s going on. A speck of dust on the road. Barely a blip on the radar. As we go through our lives it can feel like that. That our contribution is just insignificant. We don’t have much to add or make better. I mean, what’s the point, right?

It’s easy to be stuck in that pattern of thought. To feel like we can’t make a difference in a world that is bigger than us. And yet, we were put here for a purpose. We were put here to live with intention. And the truth is, as small as we may feel, we aren’t alone. David understood this truth as he led Israel as their king. He knew that he had a purpose, but he knew who was the one who would care it out. In one particular psalm, David wrote the Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands (Psalm 138:8 ESV). David knew that God would fulfill His purpose for David. As He will for each and every one of us. We may be small in relation to the cosmos, but God is infinitely bigger than it all. And He promises to be with us. The Apostle Paul once wrote that we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28 NLT).

You were created with intention and crafted with a purpose. Every detail that God designed you with was created with you in mind. You are not small or insignificant when you receive and live out God’s purpose for your life. God has entrusted you with everything you need to fulfill the work He has for you. He promised to be with you. He shows Himself through other believers and reveals Himself by upholding the promises He gives in Scripture. He will be with you always; the God of the Universe, the One who holds it all, promised to be with you and it’s our job to live this life with intention. So, what’s the point, you may ask? To follow what we’ve been called to. To take every passion, talent, resource and position that we have and use it for the glory of the Living God. We are called to more than coasting through life or to put our heads down and trudge through. We are not made to simply survive; we’re called to live intentionally for the purpose God has put before us.

There’s an old adage that says possession is nine-tenths of the law. The heart behind the phrase is that the person in possession of an object has a distinctive advantage over another person in retaining that object. For the last three centuries this has been the argument for many people to keep or not return something that is currently in their possession. We’ve become obsessed with acquiring, retaining, and purchasing. So much so that we need extra storage units, sheds, and garages to hold all the extra possessions we’ve retained over the years. The same is true when we look at our finances. Trust funds, IRAs, 401(k), 529, and any other combinations of letters and numbers to secure a future where we have money to live for the remainder of our days. To take it one step further, we each have a special set of skills that we only use when necessary, for work, or the rare occasion to help out a friend.

On the surface, there isn’t anything wrong with all of these things. We should plan for the future. We should use our skills when necessary. There isn’t anything wrong with needing more storage to have a comfortable life. The reality is that it comes down to the mindset we have about it all. The modern world tells us to claim our possessions and to hold onto them. It’s mine anyway, right? But what if it never was in the first place. Sure our names are on it. We may even benefit from it during our lifetime. But was it ever ours to begin with? What if it all belonged to someone else before it ever reached your hands?

The psalmist puts it this way, for the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land (Psalm 95:3-5 NIV). The truth of the matter is that no matter what is in our name or held in our possession, it all belongs to someone else. God created all things and in His hands, He holds it all together. And for the time we have on this earth, we’ve been given an opportunity to care for, hold on to, and manage the things in our purview. If you had to ask yourself today, how have you been managing all that’s been put before you? Are you coming before the Living God with an open hand ready to receive what He has for you? If possession is nine-tenths of the law, then all that we are and all that we have is in the possession of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And out of His possession, we’ve been granted an opportunity to care for it with the time we have left. How are you managing that? With an open hand or a closed fist?

East vs. West. North vs. South. Axis vs. Allies. My team vs. your team. New vs. Old. Us vs. Them. It’s a tale as old as time. We pick sides. We create division. Humanity has been extremely good at creating lines in the sand. History has proven that time and again. Within the church, it’s become an epidemic. We create division lines around seating charts, preference, trends based on data. And every time we hit a fever pitch, some sort of rift occurs within the community of faith. Our dividing lines, whether they be from denominational ties or stylistic preference, have the potential of creating real division within the body of Christ that only pulls us further and further away from the mission we’ve been given. President Ronald Reagan once said that Harmony requires differences to be joined in pursuit of higher ideals. If we seek to bring the church together, it requires a harmony that goes beyond what we’ve accepted up until this point in history.

The apostle Paul once wrote, So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:26-29 NIV). The reality is that there is an “us”. There is a “them”. But it doesn’t exist as we’ve used it before. Us vs. them isn’t a weapon to keep those we don’t want in the circle away. According to Scripture, “us” is everyone who’s heard and accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and “them” are all those who haven’t yet. And the key word there is yet. It’s a reframing of our thinking to go beyond our own comfort and preference to have a heart burning to share the gospel message. To give and share the experience we’ve had since salvation with someone else.

Jesus told His disciples to go and share the gospel. To be witnesses to the whole world. Beginning at the places that were close to us. As believers, we are heirs to the kingdom of God as was promised to Abraham. We’ve been given something wonderful. And we’re called to stop drawing lines in the sand. To stop creating things that divide us and them. But to pursue the highest ideal before us. To reach the lost. To share all that we’ve seen, heard, and experienced in faith. To have a burning heart filled with the love of Jesus Christ that’s set to go and share His message with the world.

Have you ever spent time thinking about the strength of rope before? Chances are, probably not. Unless you were a mountain climber or in an industry that required some aerial rigging. The vast majority think one rope is as good as another. But the truth is that not all rope is equal. In fact, it’s been proven that a 3-stranded rope has 20% more load capacity than a 2-stranded rope. That percentage is increased even more over a single stranded piece of rope. The bottom line? The more strands help to disperse the weight that is being carried. The load is shared thereby making the rope stronger.

This really isn’t a new concept. King Solomon understood the depths of this as it applied to humanity and those who walk with God. Solomon wrote that two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up… Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12 NIV).

We all carry some kind of weight with us. Stress of the job. The worries of life. Pain. Suffering. Even heartbreak as we go through our daily lives. Many of us try to go through it alone. We think that no one really wants to hear about my issues. I’ll just put my head down and keep trudging through while carrying the weight of it all on my shoulders. But when we do that, it’s a sure fire way to collapse under the pressure. Sure we may make it for a little while, but eventually fatigue will set in and eventually collapse. Why, though? Because we weren’t meant to carry the weight alone. 

As believers, we aren’t left on some island by ourselves meant to figure it all out alone. We’ve been given something wonderful in our lives. Other believers. Fellow followers of Jesus who are there to help lift us up inside of a community of faith. It’s those relationships that will grow us, challenge, and hold us accountable as we move forward in faith. One can be overpowered easily. Two is better than one. Three strands of rope is not easily broken. Share the weight you carry with another believer this week. Lean on them. Grow with them. Walk with God together in the weeks to come.

Often the most difficult part of serving is wondering how much will be asked of us. Most of the time when we think about service, we think that it will require us to go somewhere or take on responsibilities at a local church. That can seem and feel overwhelming when we consider the amount of time it may require of us when it feels like we don’t have enough as it is. So what do we do? How can we serve effectively without pushing ourselves to the extremes or completely outside where we are comfortable or capable.

The wonderful thing about serving as a follower of Jesus is that there are no ‘one size fits all’ ways to serve. The size of the service is less important than the heart of the service. There are times that the most simple action can make all the difference. The apostle Peter spoke to the churches under his care saying, each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV).

God has given all of us abilities that are specific to each of our lives and they are meant to be used for the kingdom of God. Not always on foreign soil or out on some missionfield. We’ve been placed where we are to do the most good we can right now. In the small actions we take every day. If you’re a doer, do. If you’re wise, give wisdom. If you have a heart for those in need, take hold of the opportunity. 

We’ve all been given the opportunity to serve each and every day. The signs are all around us. Opportunities present themselves daily. It’s in all the small things we do. All the people we interact and work with. But are our eyes open to seeing what God has put before us? Are we receptive to using our gifts and talents to serve the good of the kingdom?

In the end, our service to others and to this world is often the best way we can serve God. Make the most of the small opportunities. So that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:11b NIV).

Life is hard. Circumstances can be difficult to handle. Jobs are challenging. For the extrovert, loneliness can be crippling. And for the introvert, social settings are exhausting. All of these scenarios leave us feeling tired, drained, and often frustrated by the twists and turns of our lives. But is that to be expected? It’s hard to say really. We were never promised comfort and ease. We weren’t promised a life that was smooth sailing. As a believer, we were promised the opposite. That we would face all kinds of challenges in this life. The difference for the believer is who’s on our side. Jesus promised to be with us always. And, truth be told, if we look back at our lives, as scarred as they may have been, we can see the presence of God throughout it. And the deeper our relationship with our heavenly Father, the easier it will be to see all that He has done.

We see that throughout the life of David. David faced uncertain times. He faced those who wanted to hurt him. A king who chased him down so that David could be killed. David faced trials and ridicule. And yet, David spent his life in pursuit of a closer walk with God. If you were to read his psalms, or his prayers, we see the full range of emotions David had as he spoke with God. There was an openness to their relationship. Nothing was hidden from God, even in David’s darkest moments.

At one point, when King David was appointing Levites to watch over the Ark that was brought to Jerusalem, David said, Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, you his servants, the descendants of Israel, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob. He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations (1 Chronicles 16:11-15 NIV).

David had such a deep connection with God that he was called a man after God’s own heart. David commands the priests to seek the face of God always. To be in constant connection and conversation with God Almighty. It’s the very call on the lives of all believers today. No matter your situation. Whether it’s been a good year or one of the worst you can remember. God is still there with open arms waiting to be in connection and conversation with you.

The only question is, are you putting in the effort to be in connection with Him? Conversation is a two way street. He’s still speaking today. But is our communication line open to Him today? If not, what can you do this week to reestablish the connection? He remembers the covenant He made to be with you. Make the connection this week.

We hear so much noise on any given day. The sound of the car, the television playing in the background, our music stylings, even the sound of conversations around us. But how often do we really listen? There is a difference between hearing and listening. Ask any of our closest relationships. We may hear the words that are being said, but how many times do we really listen to the meaning of the words and understand what the person is trying to say. There are so many other things trying to grab our attention. Especially in the 24/7 media cycle, unyielding social media, and round the clock radio. The problem becomes amplified more so when the conversation turns to hearing from God. It feels like there is so much noise around us that we can’t distinguish the voice of our Creator. My schedule is unrelenting. My kids need my attention. I’m exhausted and just want to relax. When are we supposed to find the time to listen to God?

Yet we think that this is a new issue. The reality is that we’ve been facing this problem for a very long time. As humans, we tend to listen when we want to. As well known evangelist Charles Spurgeon once remarked, if the sound of money to be earned was calling for our attention, we’d listen. Many times we’d be all ears. Yet, as Spurgeon went on, hearing the voice of God sometimes seems impossible. It’s even harder if we don’t work at it. The prophet Isaiah also dealt with the same issue when addressing the people of Israel. He recorded the words of God saying, incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David (Isaiah 55:3 ESV).

The phrase here to “incline your ear” is to lean in attentively to what’s being said. To truly put your attention on the speaker. In this case, to listen up to the voice of God so that we might live. It takes effort. It takes time. It takes presence. Not just to hear alongside all the other sounds that come into our lives each day, but to spend the time in the presence of God to grow the relationship we have with Him. The more we grow, the easier it will be for us to understand His voice. We know this to be true because we see it in our daily relationships. The more we get to know someone, the easier it will be to understand the things they say. And more importantly, the things that are unsaid. We begin to understand mannerisms, shrugs of the shoulders, even the single syllable responses. The same truth can be applied to hearing from God. The more time we spend with Him, the easier it will be to understand. Spurgeon went on to say that we should think about divine matters as God sets them before you (Charles Spurgeon, God’s Own Gospel Call, 1889). Don’t pass over moments with God too quickly. Think about them. Discuss them. Spend the time hearing the world of God and listen up.

Former secretary general to the United Nations, Kofi Annan, once said that knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. In our world and society, we’ve given a lot of weight to acquiring knowledge. Or to be smarter than the people around us. It’s an idea that has trickled down from generation to generation, even in our kid’s programming. Yogi Bear was even “smarter than the average bear.” Over the years, tremendous weight has been given to education and educational institutions. If you were to really work at it, you could be a professional student acquiring degree after degree. However, if we just stop at the acquisition of knowledge, could it be that we’ve missed something along the way? Isn’t life more than the accumulation of knowledge in our minds? The reality is, life is a learning journey. It’s the practical implantation of the knowledge we have into a learning experience. Where we grow from our mistakes, understand why we do what we do, and to grow as people. We should never give up learning. The same is true in our journey of faith.
Scripture puts a strong emphasis on knowledge. The apostle Peter has even said that His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3 NIV). According to Peter, all the divine power of God is available to us to live and be godly in this life through knowledge. It’s really incredible when you think about it. But the caveat here is that accessing this divine power that’s available to us comes from more than the acquisition of knowledge. Life and godliness are at stake. Not that knowing guarantees godliness! It doesn't. But it seems that ignorance guarantees ungodliness. Because, Peter says, the divine power that leads to godliness is given through the knowledge of God (John Piper, The Power of Knowledge).
The divine power that leads to godliness only comes from knowing God or having knowledge of Him. This is more and deeper than just knowing about God. Divine knowledge of God is a deep and personal relationship with our Creator and with our Savior. It comes down to taking all that accumulated knowledge we have in our minds and applying it to the practical application of our lives. It’s when we can unlock that pathway and truth in our lives that knowledge really does have power. Where do you fall on that spectrum right now? Just acquiring information? Sometimes applying the truth of Scripture to the life we lead? 
Where can you take a step toward a deeper understanding and knowledge of God this week?

There really is nothing like a good book or story. There’s something captivating about them. They draw us in. Especially as we reach the climax of each character. There’s a movement in the life of each main character. They become relatable to us. We feel with them. We grow with them. We can even find ourselves defending the characters when we’re really invested. A good story or book could transport us from our everyday lives to places we never dreamed of. But what if our lives were just as captivating a story? A story where we have our own arc. Where we grow, struggle, and are heading to the climax. Not many of us think of our lives in terms of a storyline. But what if it was. With the end of the year here, it’s as if one chapter of our lives is ending and the new chapter begins tomorrow. New adventures. Fresh hopes and dreams. 

But what if we go into this new chapter carrying the baggage of the previous one and all that happened? Like any storyline, we’d find ourselves stuck in this loop. A character in a constant cycle that repeats itself over and over. Too often we treat our lives like that. The same struggles haunt us. We carry the same grief and pain. At times, we just try to survive our current situation. However, this shouldn’t be the way. The promises of God that have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ still remain today. 

When the people of Israel faced exile, the prophet Isaiah brought them a vision and declaration of God. Yahweh declared to them to forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV). It was a hard truth for them to hear. I mean how can we not dwell on the past? But the reality is, God is making this declaration to Israel because He was writing a better ending for His people and if they spent too much time on the past, they would miss all that He had in store for them in the future. God’s promise through Isaiah still stands for each believer today. God is still making a way through the wilderness for each of us. This past year may have been tough. The story may have been a tough one to get through. But a new chapter is about to begin. God is still writing your story. Your arc is not yet complete. He is still doing new things. He made a way for us through Jesus. And we can trust Him with the rest of the story, if we decide to give him the pen.

I pray that you find hope and peace in this coming year. The author of our salvation is still at work. Don’t dwell on what has been. As we turn the calendar, He is doing a new thing with fresh possibilities. May the prayer of your heart this year be that wherever you lead me, I know you won’t leave me. Wherever you call me, You will make a way. Wherever we’re going, I will be holding. To the promise you have made. You will make a way (I Am They, Make a Way).

How has the birth of Jesus changed you? Are you any different this year than when you made your resolution at the beginning of the year? Is this Christmas any different than years before? When we really sit and think about it, these are questions that could really challenge us to reflect on who we’ve been and how far we’ve come in our faith.

But what’s interesting is that when it comes to Christmas time, we spend an awful lot of time on how we feel or how the season affects us because of the birth of Jesus. But I wonder how often we’ve paused long enough to think about the magnitude of what Jesus actually did by pouring out His love to us by coming in the form of a human baby. Have you ever asked yourself what it was like for him as a little child? That the first time that [Jesus] opened [His] eyes did [He] realize that [He] would be my Savior. And the first breath that left [His] lips, did [He] know that it would change this world forever (Relient K, I Celebrate the Day).

Truly think about that this Christmas. When the magi followed a star to meet the child Jesus, they were changed forever. It was a singular encounter within Scripture filled with wonder. The gospel writer Matthew writes that on coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11 NIV). These magi dropped everything of their lives to find this child so that they could worship Him as someone special. They brought Him gifts fit for a king. This little child changed everything for us before He ever spoke a word. At His first breath, true love was available for us. Salvation had come. But are we any different from year to year or do we just go through the motions of the church calendar? As the day to celebrate comes in the morning, spend some time comparing your life this year to the things [you] felt in prior years. To what this midnight made so clear. That [Jesus came] to meet me here. To look back and think that this baby would one day save me. In the hope that what You did. That you were born so I might live (Relient K, I Celebrate the Day).

Jesus Christ came to us as a baby so that we might live in connection with the Father. We celebrate the day of His birth because it was the greatest gift given to mankind. The author of Hebrews writes it so well that because of His birth, He journeyed this world like us. He lived, ministered and died so that we might live. And we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9 NIV). His birth leads us to the life He lived. His life leads to the weight of sin that He took on His shoulders. Don’t let this Christmas Day pass by going through the motions. Allow the love that Christ has for you to fill your hearts this Christmas and let it change you for the year to come.

Merry Christmas to you all!

There’s no question that the road of life is long. Sometimes that road is straight. Sometimes it’s long and winding. Occasionally a little bumpy. And depending on the season, you could find yourself stuck in a snow drift struggling to find traction on the ice that had formed overnight. The truth, you never really know what you might encounter on the road of life. There seems to always be something new around the bend. Some of it can be fun and exciting. Some of it’s sluggish and frustrating. So how do we maintain our composure as we travel this road? Scripture tells us to find joy in all things. But how is that possible when all of these things along the road bring about a variety of emotions? From the slow drivers, to the ice and snow making travel much more difficult. However, when we really break it down, there needs to be an understanding that joy isn’t about a feeling. Happiness will come and go like the rain and snow. But joy is something altogether different. Joy isn’t bound by the circumstances we find ourselves in. Joy isn’t derailed by snow drifts and traffic. Joy can’t even be stopped because we ran out of hot cocoa on a cold winter night. That’s because joy, true joy, comes from within. It comes from the light of Christ dwelling in your heart and soul. 

When the Israelites were prophesied to return to Jerusalem from exile, the road ahead seemed dark and bleak. But the prophet Isaiah had a vision from the Lord that those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isaiah 35:10 NIV). The people of Israel would return to Zion. That’s to say, they would return to the place where the spirit of God dwelt. And when they returned to His presence, singing would follow. An everlasting joy would be present in them and it would overtake the circumstances of the road they were on. Because of Jesus Christ, whom we celebrate in this season, the spirit of God lives in those who believe. We can be filled with and enter into His presence each and every day just as the Israelites people did when they returned home. Everlasting joy can overtake you in the midst of whatever you may be going through this season. It’s not found along the road. Rather it’s found in the one who came to dwell among us. Found in the Son that was given to us so that we might have joy abounding that overflows into our very lives and spreads to those around us. As Paul wrote to the Roman church, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13 NIV).

May the joy of Jesus Christ fill your hearts this week!

It seems cliche to wish for world peace. Maybe something you would see on the stage of Miss America. But is world peace really so achievable in this day and age? Even at Christmas it seems hard to call a truce. In fact, the Christmas Truce of 1914 only lasted for 24 hours. When you look over the course of history, the statistics are against us. Since 1975, nearly 40% of all peace deals around the world have failed within the first 5 years. Because of greed, grabs for power, or even fear; peace seems to always fall short. Human history has proved that time and again. It seems that the more we try to achieve peace on our own, the less we can reach it. But is that how it’s supposed to be? Left to ourselves, can we achieve peace? Truth be told, history proves a resounding no. As believers, though, we’ve come to know that there is a better way. King David once said, the Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace (Psalm 29:11 NIV). The apostle Paul would write centuries later to the Thessalonian church a prayer that the Lord of peace himself [would] give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT).

So for us today, maybe peace can’t be manufactured. Perhaps when we really sit and think about it, peace comes from somewhere else entirely. It’s in this season that we celebrate a child who came down from heaven. The Son of God himself came to bring us His very own peace. And as He prepared himself for the end, Jesus said to His disciples, I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27 NLT). True, everlasting peace isn’t something we sign up for. It’s something given to us through salvation in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. He offers something that we could never hope to gain on our own. His gift of the Holy Spirit birthed in each believer will begin to work peace throughout each and everyone of us. So let it start with you. Let it start with me. Let every nation rise and sing this melody. Fill the air with joyful noise. Bring the bells and raise your voice. Let there be peace on earth (Voctave, This is My Wish/Let There Be Peace on Earth).

The Prince of Peace still reigns. His throne and kingdom will never end. In Him, we can find true and everlasting peace. It’s a peace that passes all understanding. So as we journey through the rest of this season, ring bells and raise a joyful noise. Let there be peace this season across the earth and let it begin inside each of us thanks to a Savior born to us!

Do you remember that one big gift you wanted for Christmas? The one that really stands out in your mind from your childhood. Did you ever get it? What feelings does it bring out? When you came to the tree on Christmas morning, was there joy in seeing your dream realized, or were you disappointed by the fact that it wasn’t there? Maybe you were let down that Christmas or felt like promises weren’t kept. If it were to happen enough times, your feelings of the Christmas season may begin to change. You may even begin to expect disappointment. However, when you get to the heart of Christmas, is that really what it’s all about. Intellectually, I believe we would answer no, but emotionally, it may feel like it.

In some ways, the people of Ancient Israel felt that way. In a time of disappointment where they felt alone in the world. Where they felt abandoned by their God (it was really the other way around, but emotion overruled reason), the Israelite people saw little hope in their future. Scripture says they walked in darkness. Enemies were pressing in. And in that time, the prophet Isaiah had a vision of an amazing promise of God. Isaiah writes the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14 NIV). In the midst of dark time, God spoke a promise to Israel of a Savior that would come. And maybe they believed it would be soon. But the reality is, our timing and desires are not the same as God’s timing and plans. It took 700 years for this promise to come. But, come it did. To a little town in Bethlehem. To Mary and Joseph.

And after 700 years, the gospel writer Matthew recorded this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (Matthew 1:20-23 NIV).

God kept His promise to His people. A Savior was born. He is God with us. His name is Jesus! And this is the reason to celebrate. To sing and shout for joy because the promise of the Savior wasn’t just for the Israelite people. Through our adoption into the family of God, we’re the recipients of that promise. Salvation has come to us this year. Even if we’re having the darkest year. Even when our trust in others is at an all time low. Trust in the One who is always faithful. He will keep His promises.

The curious thing about humanity is that we tend to have closure issues. When projects, relationships, arguments, or even statements seem open-ended; we feel the need to close the circle. We don’t like cliffhangers. There is something inside of us that needs to see the finished product. Maybe it’s from a sense of accomplishment. Or a sense of needing things just so and a resolution has been made. Maybe it comes from a sense of control over our lives. Whatever the case, we like seeing the result. The unfortunate truth is that we don’t always get that option. And for many of us it drives us crazy.

However, when it comes to our faith journey and the call on our lives as disciples sent to go and share the message of Jesus Christ with the world, we don’t always get to see the end result. We don't always get to see the fruit of our labor. And that can be hard when we have closure issues. The good news for us, though, is that the end result is out of our control. All the weight, stress, and frustration we put in to see the finished product is lifted because the end of the story isn’t on our shoulders. The apostle Paul put it this way, I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:6-9 NIV)

If there’s something that we have to be thankful for this week is that we don’t have to stress out about the end result. We don’t need to worry about closure when it comes to the kingdom of God. The work of completing the task at hand is already taken care of. The work is in the best hands possible. And they aren’t ours. Our job is to put our best foot forward. To share our story of how Jesus has changed our lives. And then we leave the results up to the One who carried the weight of the world on His shoulders. God Himself is the chief overseer of this mighty project. He’s the one that brings growth. He’s the one that will bring it to completion. Trust the process and trust Him. Our call, as disciples, is to go out and share the gospel. To share the gospel story that lives inside of you. Go and share. Leave the results to God.

Anyone who’s cared for someone else; whether that’s a child, grandchild, aging parent; will understand that the hardest part of the day is after you’re exhausted and worn down from all you have to do in a given day that you still have to give the energy for that other person. And the truth is, it can leave you feeling drained and even more tired. However, there isn’t really a better feeling than knowing you helped someone else. You fulfilled a need in their lives. It’s a feeling that goes beyond appreciation. It’s a satisfaction of the soul that you were the reason someone’s day got better. That’s the meaning behind what the church calls outreach. To be a people who see, not with our eyes. Believers are called to see with their hearts. To be filled with compassion for the world around them. Even the smallest of acts can change someone’s life.

In a parable about separating the faithful from the unfaithful, Jesus said about the faithful for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:35-40 NIV).
 
Compassion and outreach don’t always have to be a grand gesture or even take a large amount of time. There are times when it’s as simple as a few words. It’s about being the light of Jesus in this world. Sometimes just a few encouraging words can brighten even the darkest situations. And it doesn’t have to be hard! See a mom struggling to keep her kids calm in the grocery store? Tell her she’s doing great. See a friend who’s down? Share what you love the most about them. Proverbs 16:24 (NIV) says, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Your kind words could help soothe those around you. Don’t be afraid to share them (Compassion International, Serving Others is Serving Jesus).

See the need around you this week. But don’t just see it with your eyes and move on. Have a heart that sees this week. Be filled with the compassion of Jesus Christ in your heart for the world around you. A kind word. A loving gesture. Be a bright spot in the world around you this week!

All you need is… What do you think of when you hear that? All you need is a little more time. All you need is that next big break. Maybe all you need is a little peace and quiet. Though, if I had to hazard a guess, you probably began to sing the chorus of the Beatles song All You Need is Love. If you didn’t, you probably are now. It’s been nearly sixty years since that song was released, but the message of it still rings true in our modern age. Sure a lot has changed in the world. Things seem to move a bit faster. We seem more busy these days. But what the Beatles sang is a message that has been carried across generations. In fact, it’s what the disciples of Jesus Christ are known for.

Before he went to the cross, Jesus gathered his twelve disciples together for a meal. At that meal, Jesus washed their feet and set before them a new way of life. When He finished, Jesus said to those gathered, a new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35 NIV).

But this call to love wasn’t some feeling shared between people. Jesus didn’t call the disciples to have a feeling of love for others. In context and language, Jesus uses love as a verb. It’s an action to be made. It should be visible to the world around us. The disciples of Jesus will be known by their actions they take. To the point that, right before He ascended into heaven, Jesus said that His disciples, through the power of the Holy Spirit inside of them, will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8b ESV).
 
Those who follow the way of Jesus. Those who believe that He is the Messiah who came to save us. Those who have confessed Him Lord over their life, have been endowed with the Holy Spirit inside of them. And it’s through that power that the love of Jesus shines through our lives. To spread joy and love to the world. To be His witnesses by our very actions. Perhaps the Beatles were right after all that Love is all you need (The Beatles, Love is All You Need).

Have you ever witnessed the fragility of human life? How easily we get our feelings hurt. The slightest fall or touch could bruise or cut our bodies. How pressure and fear can affect our mental state and wellness. We are, in our very nature, fragile creatures. And yet, we’ve been given something tremendous to accomplish as believers. A task, as we understand it from Scripture, comes with pressure, persecution, struggle, and a host of other growing pains. Yet, we’re called to go out into the world and share the message of Jesus Christ. To be the light that the world sees.

But what’s interesting is that we aren’t the light itself, but a vessel for which the light can be seen. As Paul wrote his second letter to the Corinthian church, he set out to explain who they were to the world around them and the command to go. Paul wrote for what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Corinthians 4:5-10 NIV).

Within the fragility of our human self, we carry the light of God. Paul says that we are like jars of clay, easily broken and often shattered. Yet within each believer is a treasure waiting to be shared with the world. Even though we face struggles of offense or hurt feelings, though our bodies may be hurt, and no matter the state of our mental wellness; we can still carry inside of our frailness the greatest treasure and light for the world to see. It’s in our fragility that the all-surpassing power of God may be revealed. We carry the death and resurrection of Jesus inside of our hearts. It’s our job to share that with the people around us. Not just in words, but also in how we act and how we react. In how we respond when the pressure is on or when we’re having a bad day. The lives we lead preach not ourselves, but who Jesus is to us. 
How we live in community with other believers matters. How we reach the world for the gospel matters. As disciples, we’re called to go and share that hope with the world. Not to keep it hidden behind the walls we build around us. You may be hard pressed today. You may be perplexed. You may be persecuted. You may be struck down. But as Paul says, when you carry the light of Jesus you won’t be crushed, despaired, abandoned, or destroyed. The fragile jar of clay that is your life carries a wonderful treasure. Let that light shine this week.

Have you ever taken a long road trip - maybe up or down the coastline? At first, it’s exciting. The car is packed, the road is open, and adventure awaits. But after a few hours of seeing the same stretch of highway, that excitement can fade. You start wondering: How far have I gone? Where am I now? The GPS might tell you how many miles are left, but it can’t tell you where you are at the moment. So how do you know?
You look for signs. Signs tell us when to stop or yield. They tell us which town - or even which state - we’ve entered. They help us know where we are and what’s ahead. And once we read the signs, we can adjust our expectations accordingly. The same is true in our lives as believers. How do people know we belong to Jesus? How will they recognize that we’ve been changed by His grace? The truth is, there will be signs.
As Jesus prepared to leave this earth, He gave His disciples a clear sign to live by. Sitting with them around the table, He said, a new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples—if you love one another (John 13:34–35, NIV).
How will the world know we are followers of the Living God? The sign will be in how we love. In how we care for one another. In how we stand for truth according to Scripture. And in how we share the gospel with compassion and grace. But love like that doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a result of sitting on the sidelines of faith. It grows out of a daily relationship with Jesus - through prayer, studying Scripture, and obedience to following the way of Jesus. As we stay connected to Him, our faith deepens, and the signs of our discipleship begin to show in every part of our lives. It takes commitment. It takes persistence. It takes choosing to love as Jesus loved.
So, how will they know that we are His disciples? Jesus said it plainly - by our love.
There will be signs.

There’s a plant that comes from the island of Sumatra known as the Titan Arum. It’s a large, unbranched plant that produces a large, single leaf every 4 months or so. It’s a unique plant with a tuber that can weigh up to 200lbs. During the constant cycle of leafing, the Titan Arum can grow up 9’ tall before it starts to bloom. The process itself can take up to 10 years before the plant is ready to flower. However, the flower only lasts for a few days before it shrivels up again and the process starts over. If you’ve taken a trip to a botanical garden, you may have seen it. Or better yet, you probably smelled it. It’s because the Titan Arum is known by another name, the corpse flower. It’s gotten this name because of the powerful odor that comes off the plant that smells of death and decay. Though it turns away many people, animals and insects, it also draws to it pollinators that thrive on that particular smell. People from all over the world travel to take in the sight and smell of this one of a kind plant. 
The lifecycle and outward appearance of the corpse plant; and yes, even its smell, can reveal something truly remarkable about the God we serve. Not all growth is seen. Not all smells are appealing. Not all growth is the kind that God desires. Outward beauty or impressive knowledge can mean very little if our lives give off the stench of pride or self-focus. Growing those areas of our humanity will only increase the odor that will attract other pollinators who thrive on it. Who will lead us down difficult paths and maybe even a few bumpy roads. However, true spiritual growth isn’t about how we appear to the outside world. True growth is about what’s happening on the inside of us each day. As people saved by grace, we’ve been given the gift of the Holy Spirit who is at work inside of us. We may not see the transformation all the time, but it’s there working under the surface. The gospel writer, Mark, recorded Jesus speaking this parable saying this is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come (Mark 4:26-29 NIV).
Our growth, like the corpse flower, will take time and often happen beneath the surface where it’s unseen. Our job as disciples is to work with the Spirit that is already at work inside of us. To allow the work to move through us. It may take a year or a lifetime. You may be stuck in a leafing cycle waiting for the flower to be ready to bloom. Transformation will take time. But, don’t worry, when the grace of God takes root, the result will not smell of death. The aroma of our Spirit and life inside of you will be one of life that comes from Jesus Christ. When we follow God’s plan and submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will radiate the fragrance and image of Christ. Embrace the pace of growth this week because he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6 NIV).