They aren’t easy, these living and breathing people who walk into our lives and ask us to participate. Who ask us to face the ugly truth...that we are not always kind, or giving, or self-sacrificial. People often make us realize how far we are from Christlikeness. We cannot always be everything they want, and oftentimes, we are too scared to even try. Without relationships, there would be so much less pain. Without relationships, there would be hardly any growth. There are concepts I have grappled with for years when it comes to people. What ministry looks like without eventual burnout. What 1 Corinthians 13 love looks like while instating healthy boundaries.

The scripture tells us in Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Isn’t’ that what the gospel is about? The priceless gifts we have received through Jesus aren’t for us to hoard and keep to ourselves. Yes, we are to enjoy them, but then give those same gifts to others, showing and telling them about Jesus.

The last two years have been unbelievably hard. Almost everyone I know has gone through a rough time - even if it is the stress from the world around us. Although we can't do anything about what has happened, we do have a choice about how we let those things affect us. Maybe you need to release the last year – let it go (cue the music) and keep your eyes focused on what lies ahead.

I’m sure you have heard about how important giving thanks is, but have you learned about how powerful it is? When we tap into the place of genuine gratitude, the world all-of-the-sudden seems like a brighter and better place. Find out more in this weeks blog.

God’s grace and love never cease to amaze me. He never promised that life would be easy or comfortable. But He did promise that He would never leave us or forsake us. He is with us, guiding us THROUGH the tough times if we let Him.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

As a child, sitting and “resting” had a negative connotation. It was to sit and think about what you did wrong – and who wants to do that? Taking a nap as a child was torture as well! Could this be why taking a time-out from our busy schedules is difficult for some of us to do? However, just as God did after creating the world, a time of rest should be about enjoying the fruit of your labor. When God rested, it wasn’t because He was tired but rather to stop and enjoy what He had done.

We would all agree that building a successful family takes love. But what about faith? Faith sometimes falls by the wayside. However, it is faith that will keep us going when the hard times come.

Many married relationships don’t even get to the level of true intimacy that they could experience. They might even have a decent sex life, but that isn’t the same as intimacy. True intimacy happens when you allow yourself to be open and vulnerable, spirit, soul, and body.

Stop! Don’t get married! Well...at least don’t get married to the wrong person or for the wrong reasons. Have you ever wondered how some people are so lucky in love while you seem to come up short time and time again? Maybe it’s not luck. Find out how to Find Your Match Made in Heaven here.

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy getting new clothes - even new-to-me clothes. It feels good to add something to my closet. Now, how many of you like to purge your closet of old clothes? I know some individuals who still have clothes from when they were in High School. I mean, if I had kept mine from those days, they would probably be in style again!

“God, help me …” I turned to my heavenly Father for what seemed like the tenth time. If I channeled my despair into prayer like the Bible instructs us —Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition...present your requests to God. And the peace of God...will guard your hearts and your minds (Philippians 4:7) — surely sleep would come.

February is typically the month we focus on love because of Valentine’s Day. Most of the time, we talk about the mushy romantic parts of love. However, I want to focus on the not-so-fun but necessary part of love, forgiveness.

2 Timothy 1:7 says, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Something’s gone wrong. Your work colleagues have competing agendas and you can’t get the project out the door. Or you’re yelling at your kids and you don’t know how to stop. Once upon a time, God created all things good. But in this situation, God’s perfect created order seems very far away.

This week I want to talk about keeping the clutter and chaos of what is going on in the world around us from taking up residence in us. How can we live in this chaotic world yet not let the chaos take us over?

Most Christians have the desire to grow closer to God yet are unsure how to accomplish that. We picture God as a distant being who we don't want to bother, all the while longing to be close to Him and hear His voice. The thing is, He wants to be known by you and talk to you daily. He wants to reveal Himself to you and be your helper and friend.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." See, even God has plans made for you. He has written them in His “planner” for your life, and it is full of good things. His plans for you include hope and a future - not just any future, but a good one! The only deterrent that can prevent you from receiving that excellent plan for your life is you! If you choose to have your life your way, you forfeit God's plan. He won't override your will. He wants you to hope in Him and expect that His plans are best and will bring you peace beyond your understanding. (Philippians 4:7)