Bring on the messes! Because we know what comes with it. An actual blessing of provision.

Show them how a Christian handles tough times, with Jesus at the center of it all.

That being said, let this man cook. God was speaking through Isaiah in a huge way. 750 years before some of the things He told Isaiah would happen were already in the works.

God has the desire for us to see one another and to love one another. He desperately wants for us to show love to be examples of what the church is supposed to look like. He wants us to slow down and not let all the noise get in the way. Paul was so proud of the Thessalonians, about 2,000 years ago, because they were doing this part well after not doing so well in the past.

Man I hope people see my face shining on Sunday. Not because I pridefully want them to know that I spent time with the Lord or that didn’t put any sonblock on when talking with Him, but because I want them to receive the benefit of what God can do in their lives. And our examples can do that.

So I hope you ready to encourage and stir one another up to love and good works. Care for your friends. Care for those that are not yet your friends and make it known that they are loved. Thank you for providing a space for that to be possible for all of our new, current and returning people that step foot on this wonderful campus.

We Get To Do This!!! Man I just love that mindset that Pastor Mark (our executive pastor) has passed on to us. MY heart is so full when I serve. I am telling you, even when I am tired. Even when I am emotionally tapped from a long week I get filled up serving in the house. The mindset shift of “We get to!” changes everything.

After a fever, I would assume you are not normally ready to just jump up and get to serving. But I am so glad that God is capable of healing people fully. He is capable of taking us at our sickest and making us healthy again.

As we serve think about the fact that He has done SO much for you. That He sees you and is where you need Him to be.

“I don’t care that the minimum GPA to play on the basketball team is a C. Is a C your best? We will not settle for anything less than a B but your effort is what matters.” My mom would not have forced me to get A’s and B’s had I not been capable. She knew I was capable of more.

I was looking around at Pursuit last night realizing, “not only did He do this for me, but for all of them, and for all of those on the freeway right now…”

God wants us to delight in Him, trust Him, He wants to give us the desires of our heart. We need to “fret not”, “refrain from anger” it just says to sit in a peaceful mindset, relying on the Lord. How easy is that for you? “Sure James, I will just flip that peaceful switch and be all good.”

Keep the desire to pursue Gods goodness and His plans. When we hear someone say, “God is doing a NEW thing….” We should hear, “God is doing the very thing He always intended for, through and with us, yet it seems new to us and everyone around us.” Much longer sentence but a much truer statement. Keep leaning into the word with excitement and vigor. Keep growing in the understanding of the context of the scripture too. It is so fun to dive deeper. I have SO much to learn still and I love that.

The joy of being a part of that light of the world. Actually we are the light. These are the words of Jesus. Special words that make it clear what He is tasking us with.