For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. - Romans 8:18-23

Hello friends,

As I see the devastating prayer requests that appear in the prayer email, and as I talk with those of you who are suffering from illness, worry, anxiety, loss, depression, injustice etc. my heart breaks, and I long to fix everything for you. There is a sense of despair we all feel for those we love who are suffering. There is a nagging in our souls telling us something just isn’t right about this. There is confusion about why our omnipotent Father doesn’t take this suffering away. There is an emptiness, telling us there has to be more than this life.

This passage of Scripture tells us that this world and everyone in it feels these things. We groan for something better. We long to live as we were created to live – forever, in perfect peace with each other and our Creator.

There is coming a day, when all things will be made new (Revelation 21:1). There is coming a day when all suffering, sadness, pain, sickness, worry and even death itself will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4). Paul tells us that all our suffering in this life will essentially be forgotten when we reach our home with Christ.

Losing those we love is never easy, but when they know Christ, we are able to rejoice that our Father has answered our prayers and welcomed them into the home they have longed for all their lives – the home where they have received perfect and permanent healing. They will suffer no more. And the emptiness left in hearts from their absence will be satisfied one day, when we too reach our eternal home where we are meant to be.

I pray you find peace in knowing that better days are coming.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Hello friends,

I was thinking about all the rain we have recently had, and it reminded me of a wonderful truth I wanted to share with you. I often see the rain and think, “Another nasty day,” or “No sunshine today.” However, I remember that even when the clouds obscure the sunshine, it is still shining nonetheless. Clouds and rain do not prevent the sunshine; they merely obstruct my view of it. I'm also reminded that sunshine and rain are both necessary for life, and too much of either is detrimental.

The same is true in life. We are, at times, bombarded with hardships, setbacks, or worries that cloud our view of God and his working in our lives. We desire sunny days and wonder where God is when the heavy rains pour down on us. However, it behooves us to take a moment to remember – sunshine gives life but rain does as well. And while every day in our walk of faith may not be sunny, let's try not to let the rainy days get us down – when life is hard, messy, monotonous, dark, depressing, hopeless, and confusing – because God is always giving life, in the sunshine and the rain.

I pray this truth brings you hope, peace, and encouragement today.

With much love,
Bryan

Have you ever considered that God created you and saved you to do a unique work for his Kingdom – a work that only you can do? But trying to be like everyone else or attempting to live up to their expectations in no way enables us to accomplish his purpose for us. Here’s a thought to make you scratch your head: God chooses to need you. Not only that; he wants you.

God’s desire is for all people everywhere to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). He wants the world to know about his love, mercy, and grace. He wants his Kingdom to permeate the world, reaching every nook and cranny, touching every soul, and turning every heart to him. Intriguingly, he has made his purpose and desire dependent on us. He chose to need us. He uses us as the means to take his Kingdom to the world. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20,


God made you his ambassador. He has given you the power to reconcile the greatest travesty of all time, the broken relationship between the created and the Creator. He trusts you to represent him, to reflect his character, to speak on his behalf, to serve on his behalf, and to love on his behalf. Does that fascinate you at all? I barely trust my children enough to do something as menial as cleaning the house before we have guests over. Why? Because it’s a reflection on us – their parents. Yet, the most important task in all the world – reconciling others to God – has been entrusted to someone as broken as me.

Yet, God knew the task he gave me was made just for me, and yours is just for you. There are people you will encounter, connect with, relate to, and minister to more effectively than anyone else. But here’s the catch – the you that God intends to accomplish that purpose, is not the you that’s trying to live up to everyone else’s expectations. It will take a deliverance from the bondage of that thinking and an understanding of who your Creator designed you to be, then believing that his opinion of you is the only one that matters.

My prayer is that you will find freedom from the bondage of living up to others’ expectations and live to be the person God uniquely made you to be.

With much love,
Bryan

Can you relate to this scenario?

We wake up late on Sunday morning in a bad mood, take it out on our spouse and children. Everyone is grouchy and snappy. We rush out the door with no breakfast, one of the kids didn’t brush their hair, only one brushed their teeth, and one realizes on the way there that they wore their Crocs (Sound too specific to be hypothetical?). We feel like a tangled mess of crazy, and we shudder at the thought of how everyone will perceive our disorder and obvious lack of competence. Everyone is seething on the way there, so no one speaks.

As we pull into the parking lot and see the perfectly-put-together families, we immediately feel the pressure to act happy because we’re supposed to be the most joyful people on earth. So, we approach the main entrance to the building where we are greeted by the friendly, smiling faces of the greeters who hold out their hands and say, “Good morning!” And we feel the pressure to return the smile and say, “Good morning!” with the happiest voice we can conjure.

The remainder of the time is a blur. We answer the inevitable, “How are you?” a dozen times with the same, ever-predictable, “Great! How are you?” We reassure everyone that work is going well and busy, busy, busy (as if busyness is the greatest achievement in life). We tell them how well our family is doing, how blessed we are, how good God has been to us and how great life is. All the while dying inside because we feel like our lives are falling apart.

In the past, I have felt nervous that one of my kids will tell how crazy things were getting ready that morning. I have cringed at some of the things my kids have told their teachers. I have lectured my children about “using their filters.” Why? Because my family dynamic isn’t always the perfectly-put-together representation I display on Sundays. So, I felt the pressure to impress others, while also planting the seed in my children’s minds that they must do the same. We must keep up appearances and pretend to be something we’re not so that we can be accepted.

Honestly, I was so tired of living this way. I dreaded the idea having to put on my mask week after week, pretending to be happy when I was miserable. My heart sank with the unoriginal lineup of praise and worship songs and sometimes I just wouldn’t sing, because I didn’t walk in on Sunday mornings always feeling happy. Those songs didn’t touch my heart, and they definitely did not pull me from the depths of my despair; they only exacerbated it. I wanted to sing some honest songs with raw emotions written in them – songs that allowed me to get real with God, but those don’t make it in the Sunday morning lineup at most churches.

The thought of superficial conversations made my heart sick. I wanted real conversations about struggles I was having with temptation, marriage, parenting, despair, depression, and anxiety. So, I sank deeper and deeper into despair because the one place I felt should be safe to be real was just another taskmaster forcing me to comply to the surrounding expectations, and my least favorite day of the week soon became Sunday.

I know that people often get flack for “skipping church” to be at ball games, bowling, golfing, fishing, drinking etc. However, we crave community because it was built into our DNA by our Creator, and we will gravitate toward it, wherever it might be.

I thank the Lord for OCC and Steve's leadership. Thank you for being a church that embraces broken people and allows them to be real. It is so refreshing to be in a congregation that loves people so well. I burst with pride when I talk to visitors who tell me how genuinely welcoming and friendly you are. Thank you for being a safe place for broken people. And I can say with all sincerity that since the first day we walked through the doors of OCC, Sunday has once again become my favorite day.

My prayer is that we will continue to strive for this worthy goal of being a haven of rest. And if you still feel the need to hide your brokenness, please know that you are fully loved even when you are fully known. Hiding behind self-righteousness or shame is not the abundant life Jesus wanted to give us. There is no joy, freedom, or healing when we pretend to be something we’re not. Brokenness does not destroy relationships; it’s the common ground on which lasting relationships are often forged (see Psalm 51:13, Luke 22:31-32, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Hebrews 4:14-16).

With much love,
Bryan

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:10

As we consider the context of the verse we are exploring, we see Jesus explaining we are the sheep, and he is the Good Shepherd. However, he begins his discourse in verse 1 cautioning us of thieves. He then reiterates this threat in verse 10 before his promise of abundant life. In fact, he warns of strangers, thieves, and robbers 4 times before his declaration of abundant life. Therefore, it seems pertinent that we take some time to consider this admonition from Jesus.

Jesus begins by exposing the motivation of our enemy – utter destruction – the Greek word translated “destroy” literally means to render useless. The enemy desires to steal from you and kill you for the sole purpose of making you utterly useless. He is motivated by an insatiable hatred for you and your Master and wants nothing more than to make you feel worthless. In fact, Jesus says that is the enemy’s only motivation, and everything he brings leads to loss, death, and destruction.

We can all think many tactics used by Satan, but I want to look at one in particular – shame. As believers, we want to do the right thing, live the right way, please our Father and make him proud. Therefore, the awareness of our weaknesses and failings stays in a heightened state. Unfortunately, it is this poverty of spirit (a noble attitude by the way, see Matthew 5:3) that the enemy loves to use to push us to the brink of uselessness. He blurs the line between conviction and shame. So, how do we know the difference between the voice of the enemy and the voice of our Shepherd? Shame is a tactic used by the enemy to keep us off the path of life and render us useless. Conviction, on the other hand, is the loving voice of the Shepherd meant to guide us back to the path of life.

Enemy: “If you really…”
Shepherd: “[Name], you are my child, and I love you.”

Enemy: “I can’t believe you…You’re a hypocrite.”
Shepherd: “Yes, you are imperfect, but I have made you righteous.”

Enemy: “Why would God ever use someone like you.”
Shepherd: “I know you are broken, but I mend what is broken and use your brokenness for my purposes.”

So, ask yourself, “If I listen to and heed this voice, will it lead me to life, or will it lead me to uselessness? Does this voice spur me to action or paralyze me?” My prayer is that God will give you wisdom to discern his voice, the voice of life, over the voice of the enemy.

With much love,
Bryan

John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Over the next few weeks, I hope to take a deep dive into this single verse and ultimately help us come to a better understanding of what it means to experience abundant life in Christ. I then hope to use this as the springboard to explain what it means to find our identity in Christ. We know that Christ came to give us abundant life, and we know that our identity should be found in him, but what does that mean or look like, and how is it achieved? I admit, my fear in taking on this endeavor is that I will not be able to do it justice, but I truly believe that we will never be what we can be until we know who we were made to be. This knowledge then frees us to be authentic people who feel no need to hide behind a façade, and this freedom is the gateway to abundant life.

One of many things I have learned about my Savior is that he isn’t looking for perfection. He doesn’t want your perfectly scripted prayers, your polished shoes, and pressed suits. He wants your heart. He wants the raw, unedited you. He wants the despicable pieces that you fear make you undesirable.

Christians are drowning in artificial piety. We put on our masks, head to our gathering places, pretend life is great and leave even emptier than when we arrived, because our hope for authenticity was left wanting yet again. We lived up to, what we believed, were everyone’s expectations – life is perfect, I am happy, holy, blessed, and better than I deserve.
But let’s get real – this is not the abundant life you hoped for, neither is it the abundant life Christ promised to give. You are literally suffocating behind your masks. You hate putting on the act week after week, but you feel trapped by self-imposed expectations or those placed on you by “conventional Christianity.” You embraced Christ because he willingly took you in all your brokenness; you were free to be real. But now you feel trapped with a different kind of bondage, not the bondage of sin but the bondage of pretense. You feel like your chains weren’t released; they were just relabeled.

So, I want to help you take those first steps into the frightening but freeing realm of authenticity. My prayer is that this journey into authenticity will change your perspective and bring you into the abundant life Christ promised.

With much love,
Bryan

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. - 1 John 4:10

“How could God love me like he does?” That single question lodged itself in my mind last week and has only grown in intensity. It has led me to ask: How does he not see me the way I see myself? How does he witness all my faults, failures, weaknesses, shortcomings, doubts, brokenness, and unhinged moments and still love me? Why does he pursue me when I am so unlovable? Why does he want me when he has nothing to gain from me? Why does he love someone whose reciprocated love is often empty-handed or filthy rags at best?

Have you pondered these questions? Rather than pouring out my thoughts, I encourage you to contemplate these questions in silence and sit in awe of the incomprehensible love of God. I am convinced that I find my greatest rest in knowing I am loved by him. It is there I find contentment, security, acceptance, and identity – the very things I often hope to find in all my business. When I realize God's love meets all these longings, I am able to let go of control and rest in him.

For months I have been ending my evening prayers with our children with these words, “I pray that they would know you love them more than they could ever imagine and that they would rest in that love tonight.” My prayer for all of us is that we might find rest in the love of God knowing we do not have to weary ourselves to earn it.

With much love,
Bryan

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8

Recently, I was struck by an observation made by Chuck Swindoll in his book, “Parenting: From Surviving to Thriving.” It stunned me, not only because it was so revealing of my actions and attitudes as a parent, but also because it revealed one of my struggles as a follower of Christ. He wrote, “Be painfully honest here. Too many of us parents are far too mess-conscious to see the emerging artist. All we see are ruined carpets, stained clothes, cluttered desks, sticky fingers – one more unpleasant task added to an already busy day. We’re so quick to see the depravity that we’re blind to the marvel that God made and put in our care.”

When I became a believer, I was very rough around the edges. There was literally nothing emanating from me that said, “He’s got potential.” I was a nuisance – hateful, unkind, rude, and unbridled in speech and passion. How then can I now look at someone else and not see what God sees – a lost child seeking love and purpose?

We read in Luke 9:49-50, “John answered, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.’” Have you ever written someone off because they weren’t just like you? Have you decided someone couldn’t possibly be useful to the Kingdom of God because their personality rubs you the wrong way or they aren’t as educated, refined, or dignified as you? Do you have a hard time seeing beyond someone else’s weaknesses because they are different from yours or because their preferences don’t line up with yours? Unfortunately, this is an easy trap for us to fall into, but why? Maybe it’s pride, envy, self-righteousness, or judgmentalism. Maybe it’s all the above.

It’s no wonder the Bible constantly emphasizes “love your neighbor as yourself.” When we love others as ourselves, we are willing to see beyond their faults and our preferences. We offer grace, acceptance, understanding, and patience when needed. We do not write someone off because of their weaknesses and failures, we pray for them and walk patiently with them through their brokenness. When we love others as ourselves, we try to see them as Christ sees them (See John 8:1-11).

Jesus never calls perfect people to serve him. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:15, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” The Bible gives insight into the brokenness of the 12 apostles chosen by Jesus himself. We read of the tension that existed between the disciples due to their desire for power and prestige (Luke 9:46-48, 22:24-27). We find James and John wanted to call down fire and consume some Samaritans who rejected Jesus (Luke 9:51-56). We discover Peter, James, and John fell asleep during Jesus most difficult hour (Matthew 26:36-46). We witness all the disciples forsake Jesus after his arrest (Matthew 26:56). We overhear Peter’s denial of Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75). We observe Thomas’ difficulty accepting the unseen (John 20:24-29). We are even informed that some of his disciples struggled with doubt, literally moments before he left them with the most important task on Earth – making disciples and doing the work of the Kingdom (Matthew 28:16-17). Yet, through no power of their own, this group of woefully imperfect men would turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6).

Praise be to God that he is not hindered by anyone’s imperfections. How incredibly beautiful the Kingdom of God could be if we could fully understand that truth, live in unity, and love one another’s uniqueness. My prayer for all of us is that we will learn to see others through the eyes of Jesus.

With Much love,
Bryan

I’ll never forget the thoughts racing through my mind after Hannah, our first-born child, was buckled in her car seat, ready to be taken home – Are they really going to let us just walk out of here with this baby? What if I do something wrong or forget how to do something? There won’t be anyone at home who will be able to answer my questions or show me the right way to do things. I’m just not sure I’m prepared to do this…well, too late for that. Needless to say, I was a nervous wreck and felt very unqualified to be a dad.

Now imagine you are told that you are not only going to be a parent, which you weren’t prepared for, since you weren’t even married yet, but also that the child you would be having is the Messiah. You would probably understand the importance of making sure you do everything right and keeping this child alive. You would probably also imagine the life that you want to provide for this child, Emmanuel – God with us. You would want to make sure life was perfect, and he grew up in a home and community fit for a king. You imagine his birth and his childhood being nothing less than perfect.

Then reality hits and you ask, “Why me?” Perhaps Mary and Joseph faced that as well. They were young and had no experience with parenting. They were not rich, and just before Mary gave birth to Jesus, they were forced to go to Bethlehem for the census and give birth to the Christ-child in a stable. After this, they were forced to flee to Egypt for some time and eventually settle in the ghetto of Nazareth – the community mocked by all Jews with the phrase, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46) I’m certain this was not the life they imagined for Jesus.

I’ve wondered how often Joseph berated himself, contemplating what he could have done differently to make a “better life” for his family. What regrets did Mary have? Were they hard on themselves because this child, who deserved everything good in life, was “stuck” with a family who could only provide his most basic necessities in an impoverished and shunned community? Did they wrestle with these thoughts as we often do with the circumstances God has entrusted to us? Did they ask, “Lord, how am I supposed to do right by this child with the circumstances you have put me in?”

Just like Mary and Joseph, God has entrusted us with a mission and circumstances. You might ask yourself, “How can I make a difference in the Kingdom in these circumstances?” You might reason with God, “If only my circumstances were slightly different in this way, I would be able to do so much more for the Kingdom of God.” He did not make a mistake when he entrusted them to you. God knew the home that would be just right for Jesus. He knew the difference that would be made for the Kingdom of God by entrusting those circumstances to Mary and Joseph. He also knows the circumstances to entrust to you to make the greatest difference in the lives of others and for his Kingdom.

My prayer for you is that, rather than trying to escape these undesirable circumstances, you will find peace and ask God what he is teaching you and how he can use them to help you accomplish the mission he has given you – to take the Kingdom of God where you live, work, and play.

With much love,
Bryan

My dad has often told me over the years, “People are going to think what they’re going to think.” I have found those words to be so true. We often waste so much time trying to “prove” ourselves to others, put out fires, hush gossip, clear up misunderstandings, clarify misrepresentations, or polish up our soiled reputations. Sometimes, this is necessary, but too often our pride is what compels us to spend countless hours laboring at such a futile task, because no matter how convincing you might be, at the end of the day, people are going to think what they’re going to think. Solomon gives this wise advice in Proverbs 26:4-5, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.”

We know from Scripture that Mary was a virgin who conceived Jesus from the Holy Spirit. We believe that because we believe the Scripture (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-35). However, we have to be honest, if we were alive during that time, and we discovered this teenage girl was pregnant, we would have a hard time buying the story that she was a virgin, and God is the one who got her pregnant. Let’s get real; that does sound a little far-fetched. So, the question that comes to my mind is, “Did Mary and Joseph spend a lot of time trying to convince people of the truth or did they simply entrust that to God?”

While we may never know the answer to that question, we certainly know that Mary and Joseph had to live with this stigma. We read this accusation from the religious leaders toward Jesus in John 8:41, “We were not born of sexual immorality.” The implication is, “as you were.” Add to that the stigma of being perceived a liar and/or a crazy person because you won’t admit the child was illegitimate. That’s a lot to deal with, especially for such a young couple who are just beginning their life together.

Mary and Joseph never asked for this. They were probably not praying that they could be the parents of the Messiah. God did not go over the cost of being those parents and help them weigh out the pros and cons and verify they were up for the challenge. He chose them. He trusted them with this immense challenge that would begin before they were even married and would last their entire lives. What an honor, not simply to be chosen to be the parents of the Christ-child, but for the omniscient Father to know that they were capable of such a challenge, that he saw beyond their financial, influential, and experiential limitations to their potential.

Have you ever faced this – people jumping to conclusions about you, gossiping about you, falsely accusing you, or misinterpreting your words, deeds, or motives? I understand the overwhelming temptation to attempt to justify and polish up your soiled reputation, and I’m pretty certain Mary and Joseph felt this too. Perhaps the worst part is knowing this happened from no fault of your own – just like Mary and Joseph. In times like these I find great comfort in knowing that I am accountable to my omniscient Father who knows me and the truth about me, and as long as he is proud of me, that’s all that really matters.

I believe the most difficult challenges we face are the ones we never asked for, the ones we weren’t privy to and had no chance to weigh out the pros and cons. It’s these challenges that push us to wrestle with God and ask him, “Why?” I can deal with consequences from my own bad decisions. I can deal with a challenge that I decided to take on. But I often struggle to embrace the challenges that blindside me and interrupt my perfectly laid-out plans. However, I find great comfort in knowing that my omniscient Father trusts me with those challenges. I find great joy in knowing that my Father believes in me, even when others don’t.

I pray that if you are facing this unsolicited challenge, you will find comfort in knowing that your Father believes in you so much that he has chosen you and trusted you to bear this burden. I also pray that we all ask, “To what end?” If God has trusted me with this challenge, what is he attempting to accomplish in my life and in the Kingdom? I leave you with the words of Paul in Galatians 1:10, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

With much love,
Bryan

Have you ever contemplated the honor it must have been for Mary and Joseph to be trusted as the parents of Jesus? I'd venture to say most of us have. During Christmas I often consider that with which God entrusted Mary and Joseph, not the least of which was a lifetime of challenges. I can’t say with absolute certainty what the most difficult challenge was for Mary and Joseph while parenting the Messiah, but I believe there were a few:

• The feeling of unworthiness.
• The worry of doing something wrong.
• The fear of being young, inexperienced parents.
• The anxiety of making sure nothing happened to him (the need to be overprotective).
• The knowledge that their son was perfect, they were not, yet they were supposed to parent him well.
• The ever-present realization that they had to be very careful who they told and always wondering if it’s okay to tell.
• The nagging sense of “Am I doing enough? Am I doing a good job? I wish I could provide more and give him a better life. Why do we have to raise him in Nazareth of all places?”
• Living with the stigma of a presumed illegitimate child.
• And probably many more.

Talk about a lot to worry over! Yet, God knew that Mary and Joseph could be trusted with these challenges. That is perhaps the greatest testimony of this young teenage couple – God trusted them with challenges that would cause most of us to buckle. For the next few weeks, I want to discuss some of these challenges in detail. But I leave you with this appeal: consider the challenges you are facing in this season of your life, thank God that he has trusted you with those challenges, and ask him what it is he wants to produce in you through them.

James encourages his readers in James 1:2-4, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

I pray you find the peace of God in your struggles and the purpose of God through your struggles.

With much love,
Bryan

Hello church family. Thanksgiving is upon us – my favorite holiday. It’s a fun time but definitely a very busy time. In fact, you are most likely beginning to prep your Thanksgiving meal, prepping a side to take to a Thanksgiving meal, or you’re frantically fighting the crowds at the grocery store to pick up those last-minute items (which also means you’re not reading this blog post, however, I will continue for those who are).

For some, there will be burnt pies, dry turkeys, ruined sides, and a few garages that catch on fire because someone didn’t do their research before deep frying the turkey (let’s hope that doesn’t happen). For some, there will be family tension, complete chaos, melt-downs, and messy houses. There will be laughter, singing, prayers, smiles, joy, love, hugs, and kisses. Others will sit alone in their kitchen or living room eating a simple meal as they always do, drowning out their loneliness with the television.

I don’t know what your Thanksgiving will look like. Each home will have a very unique dynamic. I sympathize with all of you who will be facing family tension, disappointments, or loneliness. I am so excited for those of you who are able to celebrate among the joyful chaos of family and friends.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Paul tells us to, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Notice, he does not say for all circumstances but rather in all circumstances. This is a very notable difference. We’re not told to be thankful for the dreadful things, but we can have a posture that turns our hearts to God in thanksgiving in the midst of that dreadfulness. If you burn the pie, thank God for all the other food you have. If the turkey is dry, thank God you have water to wash it down. If you have family tension, thank the Lord that you have the family of God with whom you can share his peace. If you burn your house down while trying to deep fry your turkey, thank God you have insurance and that OCC has a benevolence fund. If you’re alone, know that my heart goes out to you and I understand finding a reason to be thankful can be very difficult, but I pray you can thank God that he is ever-present in your loneliness (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5).

My prayer for you this Thanksgiving is that you will not focus on everything that is wrong but rather focus on the Father who provides so much good and give thanks to him for all his wonderous deeds.

With much love,
Bryan

Psalm 118:1 – Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

“If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow suffering? Either he is not good, or he is not all-powerful.” This is perhaps the most common argument from most sceptics of Christianity. But lest we cast the first stone too quickly, let’s honestly admit that we too have grappled with this very thought. While we might not phrase out skepticism so boldly (though I confess I have at times), it is certainly implied.

• “Why is God allowing this to happen to me?”
• “What did I ever do to deserve this?”
• “How could God allow this?”
• “If my child was going through something like this, I would rescue them immediately.”

The short and admittedly unsatisfactory answer to this response is that we live in a fallen and broken world. This does not mean we always suffer because of a specific sin we have committed (see John 9:1-3), but simply because sin and all its consequences exist in this world. When our world was plunged into sin by our decision to disobey our Creator, we chose death and all the pain, suffering, and evil that came with it. Even in a perfect world, we believed the lie of the enemy – God is not good; he is withholding good from us. So, we chose to rebel against our Father.

So, where does the goodness and power of God come into play? In redemption. Our Father is a redemptive God. In his great goodness, he is able and willing to redeem our suffering, pain, misfortunes, and even our rebellion. Only God can bring good from so much evil. Only God can turn my tragedy into the greatest blessing of my life. Only God can bring redemptive healing to my self-destructive brokenness. Only God can transform my rebellion and hatred for him into songs of praise that turn many souls to him. Redemption is not just saving our souls; it is a work God is always doing in his creation.

After Israel was taken into captivity because of their rebellion, God still showed his mercy and goodness with these redemptive words in Isaiah 62:3-4 “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her…for the LORD delights in you…”

While we are often tempted to use our circumstances as the measuring stick for the goodness of God, it is imperative we remember that God is good all the time. Our Father is good and he is always bringing redemption through the good and the bad, even though we may not see it at the moment. While I often battle with understanding the goodness of God, and my flesh, at times, fails to embrace it, my heart is ever turned to my Father, who continually reminds me that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Therefore, my prayer is that you will “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.”

With much love,
Bryan

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

I carried my lunch tray to a table in the cafeteria of the small Bible college I attended. I sat down with my friends, bowed my head and thanked God for the food then spent the remainder of my lunch break mercilessly criticizing the food with my classmates. At some point toward the end of that conversation I realized “thank you” was nothing more to me than a cliché. I found myself the recipient of James’ rebuke, “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:10). That means discontentment and thankfulness cannot co-exist.

Have you ever found yourself guilty of this same level of insincerity? You say, “thank you,” but your heart is anything but thankful. Unfortunately, it’s an easy trap to fall into, one in which I still frequently find myself. Thankfulness is not just lip-service; it is a posture of the heart, and before we can ever be truly thankful, we must be content. However, contentment doesn’t come naturally to us; we find it much easier to fixate on what we don’t have than to be thankful for what we do have.

We often quote the latter half of Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” but the connection made by the writer of Hebrews is intriguing. He unites this promise with contentment. While our English translation says, “free from love of money,” that entire phrase is only one word in the Greek, literally, “not covetous,” meaning practically anything could apply, not just money. The point being, don’t fixate on what you don’t have, because anything on this earth can be snatched away in a moment. So, be content with the one constant you do have – Jesus Christ. The phrasing of the latter half of that verse is very emphatic and the picture is beautiful. It could read something like this, “I will absolutely never loosen my grip on you, and I will certainly never leave you helpless.”

The contrast is clear, the things of earth – wealth, popularity, possessions, careers, beauty, youth, influence, coveted ideals, fitting in – are ever fleeting, but Jesus Christ is always present. Unlike the things we so desperately covet, there is only one in whom we can put our confidence.

Whatever it is that tries to highjack your contentment, I pray you remember that you have the greatest treasure of all – Jesus Christ – who has said he will absolutely never let go of you or leave you helpless. So, no matter your circumstances, you can be content in him and find the key that unlocks a genuinely thankful heart.

With much love,
Bryan

How often do you stop and thank God for the “little things”? Martin Luther said, “The greater God’s gifts and works, the less they are regarded.” That means, when the “little things” are little, they are frequently disregarded. However, when the “little things” suddenly become big, we find ourselves living in thankfulness.

We sang “Come Thou Fount” this past Sunday, and the first verse says, “Tune my heart to sing thy grace.” I have recently found God doing that very thing in my heart – tuning my heart to sing songs of thanksgiving – but he has not tuned my heart in the way I would have expected. I was certain he would answer all my prayers and give me everything that I desired. I mean, wouldn’t that result in my shouting his praises and lifting prayers of thanksgiving? Yes, but God knew my thankfulness needed to go much deeper than that. So, he tuned my heart through tension.

I would love to say that my faith has always been strong during these times of tuning, but that isn’t always the case. Normally, my wife’s faith is what carries us through these intense times of tension. She recently told me, “I’m going to be thankful for the morsels.”

Tuning an instrument requires tension. Without adding tension to the strings, the instrument will never be tuned to play beautiful music. Tuning our hearts to sing songs of praise and thanksgiving often requires tension as well. While we’d like to believe this can always be accomplished from receiving an abundance of “things,” perpetual answered prayers, and endless miracles, it might require being pulled from the feasting to give thanks for the morsels.

I will close with the words of Peter in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

I pray you find your various trials result in a heart that is tuned to sing praise, glory and honor to Jesus Christ.

With much love,
Bryan

“Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.” - Psalm 69:1-3

Not long ago, I prayed something like this, “Father, where are you? I have begged and begged you to deliver me. I am helpless and have no way to deliver myself; I am utterly at your mercy. If my child had been in this situation and asked for help, I would have come running immediately. Yet, I cry to you day after day, and you’re nowhere to be found.” Little did I know that my prayer echoed the prayer of David in Psalm 69. I helplessly sank deeper into the mire, trying to find footing, trying to find stability, desperately begging for help as panic seized me and all hope seemed lost.

We’ve probably all experienced these moments of desperation and confusion. From “I can’t take anymore,” to “Where are you, Lord? I have begged for your help, and you’re nowhere to be found,” we resonate with the vivid imagery drawn by David in this Psalm. We want so desperately to trust God and believe that his way is best, but we struggle to understand why he has allowed this. And even more perplexing is why he allows it to go this far. Why not rescue me immediately from the mire that threatens to swallow me? Why wait until I am almost consumed? Why let me frantically scramble to find footing? How could anything good come from this?

Honestly, I wish I always perceived things as David in Psalm 40:1-3, “I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.” But just like David, my perception is not always initially clear.

However, both of these Psalms are part of Scripture for a reason. They are both very real experiences and perceptions that we have all felt at some point. And while they might seem contrary, they are actually very similar. Our assumption from Psalm 40 is that David is praising God because everything turned out okay. However, the implication is that this song of praise was put in his mouth while he was in “the pit of destruction” and “miry bog.” When we read Psalm 69, we find David pouring his heart out to God, begging for help, but we don’t find a resolution. Yet picking up in verse 30 we read, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving…you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.” - Psalm 69:30-33

Do you see the picture? He is deep in the mire as it continues to rise. His head is lifted upward to provide those final breaths before he is swallowed up. And he uses those last precious moments to praise the Lord. It’s then he realizes the mire in which he was sinking was never his circumstances, but rather the destruction of the foundation on which his hope was built. And when his hope is reconstructed on the right foundation, he finds he is no longer sinking in the mire but rather firmly planted on the rock, and his heart is revived knowing God has not abandoned him.

Let’s be honest, things don’t always work out the way we hope or think they should. I wish every question had a decisive answer. I wish every difficulty had a clear resolution, but I must remember that my hope and foundation is Jesus Christ. He is the rock on which we find security. And as difficult as it may be at times, we can praise him even when our situation seems dire. I pray your heart is revived and your hope is restored by the One who hears your cries and understands your struggles.

With much love,
Bryan

We read this parable in Luke 15:11-24,

And [Jesus] said, "There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate. - Luke 15:11-24 ESV

As the younger son in this story, we too set out on a journey to “find ourselves” only to discover that somewhere along the way, we lost ourselves. We’ve tried so hard to “be our own person” and “branch out.” Each decision adding another layer to the mask we keep firmly held in place – the prospect of peeling away those layers even more terrifying than the thought of remaining on this destructive trajectory.

And one day, we come to the realization that we have no idea who we are, and the journey we thought would lead us to the answer only took us farther away. Now we are riddled with shame at who we’ve become and certain we have brought ourselves to an unlovable state.

Yet, when our carefully crafted facades are plucked away, and who we really are comes to light, we find our Father is still there, pursuing us, loving us more than we could ever comprehend. And even when we had lost ourselves, he never did. We rest in the embrace of the Father who ran to welcome us in all our messiness and disappointments – the Father who laid aside his dignity to restore ours. We discover that we are loved, not because of what we offer, but in spite of all we take. And we find a Father who lifts up our heads and tells us not to live in shame – who clothes us with the best robe, and puts a ring on our finger and shoes on our feet.

I pray you find peace and contentment in knowing who you really are – a child of the Most High God, the perfect Father.

With much love,
Bryan

In Ephesians 2:4-10 we read, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show (display/ show off) the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Have you ever been guilty of trying to impress people? You try to put your best foot forward, maybe brag a little too much on yourself, try to feel the room to fit in, buy something you can’t afford to show the others you’re just like them? Let’s be honest, we’ve all been guilty of this; human nature defaults to it.

We often try this with God too. We want to show him why we are “worthy” of his love, affection, blessings, and answered prayers. But the truth is, our good works aren’t what make us worthy. Jesus said in Matthew 5:3 the very first step to entering his Kingdom is being “poor in spirit.” The Greek word used for poor in this passage is the strongest word for poor. It literally refers to the poverty of a beggar – someone who is absolutely unable to provide for himself.

Do you get the idea? Entering the Kingdom of God requires us to acknowledge we have no righteousness to bring that makes us worthy. This isn’t meant to shame us; it’s meant to free us. It removes the burden of performance from us; we don’t have to prove our worth to Christ. We don’t have to earn his blessings, mercy, or entrance into his presence. That’s the whole point of grace – you needed what you could not produce so God freely gave it to you.
Your worth is not in your goodness, your reputation, or how well you behaved yourself today. Your worth is found in the mercy of Christ alone. That is why he is proud to display you as a masterpiece for generations to come.

Our upside-down thinking often leads us to believe that hiding our brokenness is what honors God. But that doesn’t make him look good, nor does it draw others to him. To hide our brokenness and imperfections is to hide the saving power and redemptive work of our Father. For the world to see the loving kindness of the Father, they must see that he will save the “chief of sinners.” That is why our imperfections do not dishonor God; they highlight his goodness. Acknowledging your brokenness and allowing others to see that brokenness doesn’t bring reproach to the name of Christ; it highlights his merciful kindness, and that’s what compels the broken, the weak, the needy, and the outcast to follow him. Why would God be proud to show you off? Because your redemption is his masterpiece.

I pray you find peace this week knowing that you do not have to earn your Father’s favor. He is already so proud of you.

With much love,
Bryan

A word of encouragement for this time

Good afternoon OCC family!

I have been studying 2 Thessalonians as we prepare to work through it together during our 9am Sunday Bible Study. I read and reread the first few verses as I thought of you. Here’s what Paul says to the church in Thessalonica.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

1 To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

Paul's words have been helpful to me as I acknowledge that we are living in rather tumultuous times and that it is rather easy to become either angry or anxious. Sometimes both at the same time. Go back and read his words again. Notice who the grace and peace is extending from as well as who it is grounded in. As we continue to navigate a season of distress may we not lose heart.

I am grateful for you! Whether you are a part of the OCC family, a friend, family, or an acquaintance please know that I pray for you to find peace in Christ. May we continue to abide in Jesus as we love God and love others well. May we remain steadfast in our faith.

Blessings
Steve

A previous article I wrote for a pastor friend in April of 2020. Let's not forget the blessings that we have in community today!

So I have an idea for you, but it begins with three questions. 

1. What has God been teaching you in this season?
2. Where have been learning gratitude, joy or simply experiencing the reign of Christ in new ways?
3. Have you been learning something from your morning devotionals or prayer times?

There are many 4:00am mornings when I am awoken to my mind racing about an individual who has been alone or a family that may not have all that they need during this time. Other early mornings I am stirred awake by the urge to give a friend a hug and find out how they are doing. In an effort to get back to sleep I put a reminder in my calendar to follow up on them and I begin to immediately pray for them.

The bottom line, I miss people. I miss learning, growing, serving, and laughing in person with the Body. Each week I stand up in front of an empty room and declare the Word of God to empty chairs and yet I do my best to visualize each person and family unit that normally would take their rightful place amongst the Gathering of the Saints. I even do my best to visualize a stranger coming in and taking their seat at one of our back tables and I ask myself, “what would our neighbor need to hear during this time as well?”

When I check up on our local friends I hear a constant theme, when do you think we might be able to gather together again as friends and the Body? My heart breaks as well as rejoices each time I hear those words. To a large degree, many are awakening from our spiritual slumber and deeply desiring to love or be loved by serving and fellowshipping in one another’s presence once again. I am watching our people check in on one another with greater frequency. I receive phone calls about needs in the community and that our Body desires to see how we can collectively show the tangible love of Christ to the downtrodden. Our little Body continues to collect and distribute basic life staples to our homeless friends. In all this, the theme is, to God be the glory!

So, what am I learning during this time? We need each other. Not in some corny Hallmark way, we truly NEED each other. God created us for community, accountability, camaraderie, balance, care, service, and on and on the list could go. For each one of us that may be suffering there is another that has the means of burden-bearing and the two are symbiotic. We were not created to be alone but to experience the full expression of love by serving and being served through the movement of God’s love amongst one another.

The tension of isolation that we feel today will be lifted sometime soon and we will be tempted to go back to the way things were. There is a high probability that our schedules will fill back up and our minds may become scattered or overwhelmed with our ever-growing noise of voices clamoring for our attention. As the noise comes to a crescendo we will have a choice to make. Do we create a few measures of silence so as to hear who it is that God wants us to intentionally love or do we add another forte in hopes that it will crowd out our heart’s longing for true meaning and connection all in the name of busyness?

There has been a certain Scriptural narrative on my mind. The narrative of the lame man who’s friends could no longer look upon their neighbor’s need without doing something about it. They had decided to no longer let the noise of life interfere with their neighbor’s deep need for healing. They paused in silence long enough to hear one another’s plan to get their friend the help that he needed. They believed that Jesus had the means to bring renewal to what had been lost; however, they had to play their role in this man’s healing.

Knowing that Jesus was close they dropped everything and jointly carried their friend to the presence of Jesus. Once arriving the men couldn’t find a way to get their friend before Jesus so they made a way through the roof.  Upon seeing the man lowered in front of him, Jesus says, “because of THEIR faith the man’s sins are forgiven.” This phrase gives me goosebumps every time I read it. The friends had no idea that Jesus would forgive their friend’s sins, their faith simply moved them to respond to the broken man’s physical and financial needs. Not only did they hear that his sins were forgiven but they also got to witness the physical healing of their friend as well. The man’s dignity would be restored, the faith of his friends would be expanded, and the heart of the observers would be tested. The community would change for the better because the broken man was part of it and not tucked away in isolation. This began with a move toward community and away from personal space and isolated living.

Love moves us to see those whose dignity has been stolen and to respond with mutual faith that Jesus deeply desires to restore their soul thus moving us to engage in the lives of the brokenhearted for God’s namesake. There will be times in our lives that we find ourselves in the position as the servant friend and other times as the friend in need. In either situation, intentional communal care brings the Kingdom of God closer to tangible healing.

Greetings church family!

I have been (re)pondering Psalm 126 recently and have created a resource for reflection and prayer in the midst of life droughts. Take some time and reflect on the Scriptures provided and consider that God invites you to share your frustrations, concerns, pain, with Him. He is faithful to walk with you!

What are the Songs of Ascents?
Some believe that the fifteen psalms are representative of the fifteen steps leading up to the temple in Jerusalem. Most scholars, though, believe that the ascent is referring to the Israelites pilgrimage during the three annual feasts (see Deuteronomy 16:16). Jerusalem, positioned on a hill, meant that any surrounding villagers would have to be “going up” in order to worship at the temple. Others also see this as an ascent back to Jerusalem from exile.

Their pilgrimage that they took 3 times a year was a way to engage all of their senses so as to remind themselves of where they had come from and and where they had arrived as God’s people. These pilgrimages created time to focus, remember, and then hope!

Today we are going to join the Israelites in their pilgrimage to the temple. First by looking back.

Psalm 126:1-3
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes (God’s favor) of Zion (Jerusalem),
    we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
    and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
    we are glad.

REMEMBER - For just a moment recount where you have observed the faithfulness of God in your life. In prayer thank God for His faithfulness.
 
Psalm 126:4
4 Restore our fortunes (God’s favor), O Lord,
    like streams in the Negeb (means dry land)!

Negeb = seasons of drought with dry and cracked river beds

RECOGNIZE - Identify an area or situation in your life that needs restoration.

Psalm 126:5
5 Those who sow in tears
    shall reap with shouts of joy!

REQUEST- For just a moment consider your current pressing issue of concern. Lift it to God in prayer.

Know that God can see you in your current situation and is with you.

Psalm 56:8-11
8 You have kept count of my tossings;
    put my tears in your bottle.
    Are they not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back
    in the day when I call.
    This I know, that God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me?

REFLECT AND REST - Abide in the vine of Christ Jesus.

John 15:1-10
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
    whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
    that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
    for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
    for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

RESOUND - Posture your heart and mind to trust that God is at work and praise Him for going ahead of you.

Psalm 126:6
6 He who goes out weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
    bringing his sheaves with him.

I can sorrowfully sow in faith because He is faithful and I believe that joy can be restored in and through Christ Jesus. 

10 years ago I had some wise mentors of mine recommend a book to me entitled, When People Are Big And God Is Small, written by Ed Welch.

At this point in my life, they saw something in me that I had yet to see in myself. What they saw was a struggle going on within me where I, in the most simplest of words, feared others more than I did God. My emotional, mental, and spiritual struggle was captured merely by the title of that book. God was small. People were big.

Have you ever found yourself here? Feeling like other's opinions of you mattered a lot more than they should? Or maybe you've found yourself relentlessly managing what other people thought of you, trying to say the right things around the right people in order for them to maintain a certain perspective of you. If you've found yourself here - you are most certainly not alone.

Steve has been preaching through a series entitled, "Approved". If you have missed either the first week's message or just this past Sunday, I'd highly encourage you to go back and give it a listen. The theme verse for the series Proverbs 29:15 which says, "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe." He's done a really great job of leading us through this foundational understanding for life in the Kingdom. He asked a really interesting question at the beginning of the sermon this past week. It is a question we have all asked/are asking at some point:

"If you know too much about me, will you still love me?"

That hits home. Anyone else?

What is the thing in your life that causes you to ask this question? In other words, "if you knew this thing about me, would you still love me?"

The beauty of what we've been exploring in this series is wrapped up, you guessed it, in the title!

Approved.

Not approved by others. But by God Himself! Suppose we were to take the question, "if you knew this thing about me, would you still love me?", and ask that to God instead of other people.

His answer would be a resounding, "YES". In fact, he already knew about that thing and all of the other struggles. He knows everything there is to know about you, and still loves you more than you could fathom.

This title captures a reality of our salvation that is meant to bring us rest. We don't have to keep managing what other people think of us. We don't need to live for the approval of others. We aren't called to spend our mental and emotional energy seeking to please other people. But rather, God has once and for all declared us His own beloved children (1 John 3:1). In response, we are called to serve Him. To seek His glory. To make it our aim to please Him. All of this, done from a place of already being loved by Him more than we could imagine.

So, fellow brothers and sisters, as you go about your week would you live confidently in this reality? Live from the security of the love of God. Allow Him to cultivate rest in your restless hearts so that we can serve Him and love others freely.

It is a blessing to seek first the Kingdom with and alongside you all. See you Sunday!

To what end?

This is the question that has been rolling around in my mind and heart a lot recently. In light of our study in Acts 17 it has become obvious that we are constantly looking for purpose and meaning. The issue is that we look for it in all of the wrong places.

I wanted to take this opportunity to ask you, to what end? What is the goal of your life in the current season? Do you feel like your energies are being spent in a plethora of conflicting areas? Do you feel scattered or overwhelmed?

If so, I'd like to offer you a brief word of encouragement. Find opportunity each day to ground yourself in the presence of the One True God as He is near! Pray, read His Word, abide in Christ, discern the Father's voice, and then move. Don't grow so impatient that you miss the voice of God. Don't rush ahead of God...love is patient.

In Exodus we have a scene where Moses His invited into God's presence, which is a fearful thing. The LORD took His time with Moses. Moses had to be patient. God's people should have been patient.

Exodus 24:15-18
15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

What an amazing scene! Moses invited to the presence of the One True God. The concerning part was how rapidly God's people sought out another god during Moses' absence (Exodus 32). It only took them less than 40 days to create a god in their own image and worship it instead of patiently waiting to hear from the One True God. We are an impatient and fickle people! May we learn from this scene. Patiently wait on the LORD!

God is up to some amazing things right now. We get to witness His sovereign hand at work! May we patiently and humbly await His next directives for our lives and then go when He says to go.

Blessings and love,
Steve

I am so grateful to worship alongside some of the most transparent Jesus followers! We aren't a fancy church and our light show simply consists of the daily walk of those who desire to reflect the love and character of God to our family, friends, and neighbors. I am not knocking other churches by making this statement as I am extremely grateful for our sister churches in the area and beyond! We are just.....basic. Big windows, awkward transitions, babies crying, kids talking, and phones interrupting. AND I LOVE IT!!!!

I am confident of one thing, that God is worthy to be praised. Our focus is on growing in maturity as followers of Jesus. This has meant that our little Body is full of those who are escaping addictions, abusive relationships, pride, masking, etc. We are a beautiful thread worn tapestry of God's grace, mercy, love, and correction on display for others to gaze upon and hopefully also be led to a saving relationship with the Father through Christ Jesus.

To those who are brave enough to honestly and transparently pursue the One who pursues us, THANK YOU! Thank you for not allowing shame to keep you from running to the Father. Thank you for not allowing past hurts from seeking the face of the Father. You inspire me to love God and love others well. You remind me that Jesus chases after the one who wanders. You remind me that though our life narratives differ in many specific details our salvation narratives have one thing in common, our need for Jesus!  

Keep pressing in to the pain. Keep pressing in to the Truth. Keep pressing in to honest discussions and transparency. Keep pressing in to the love of the Father. Keep pressing in to the way of Jesus. But don't do it in your own strength or might but through the Holy Spirit and God's Word.

I am thankful for you!!!! I am thankful for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!!!!!!!!

Blessings
Steve