I’ve heard it said that there are three kinds of people in the world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who find themselves asking, “Whoa, what happened?”

If you’ve ever been in the last group, you know it’s not fun. That’s because God has created us to be people of purpose, and when we aren’t living out that purpose, it leaves us feeling frustrated instead of fulfilled.

Psalm 139:16 says, “Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

God knew us before we knew ourselves, and he orchestrated our very existence for a reason.  He has a plan for our lives but gives us the choice to either accept or ignore it. He created us as people with decision-making abilities rather than puppets controlled by their circumstances.

Think back to the story of Pinocchio and his famous phrase. He said he wanted to be a real boy. Have you ever felt like that? Like you’re not living a real life—a life of purpose that causes your heart to come alive and become excited about living out each and every day?  When you’re pursuing God’s purposes and operating out of the passions he’s placed inside of you, you’ll feel more alive than ever.

As a pastor, I often hear people say, “But pastor, there’s too much sin and pain in my past to move forward.” Well, what about the story of Paul? As a persecutor and murderer of Christians, he didn’t exactly have the best reputation either. But he became one of the most influential men in the Old Testament! If he can make a change, so can you! 

Who cares if your family is known for addiction, abuse or divorce? You change it! God didn’t create us as puppets with no will of our own; He didn’t create us to be moved and manipulated by things outside of our control. Instead, he gave us the freedom to choose. He gave us a mind that can think and reason and a heart that can feel both pain and pleasure.

So what life will you choose? The limited life of a puppet or the liberating life God has created you for? I can tell you from experience, God’s way is so much better!

That certainly wasn’t the last time bad reasoning led me to a bad fall in life, but since then I’ve learned a little bit about logic. I’ve found that every wrong thought, bad choice or immoral action can be combated by the good logic found in God’s word.

Psalm 107:20 says, “He sent out his word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction.”

God doesn’t pull any punches. He lays it out clearly: Good logic leads to a good life; bad logic to a bad life. Anywhere you find a person treasuring God’s Word, you’ll find a person protected by the truth and experiencing the purpose-filled life God designed us to live.

Deuteronomy 28 tells us exactly what’s ahead for those who choose to live according to God’s principles as well as those who choose to ignore it. It says those who follow God will have tremendous blessing, extreme favor and constant direction in their life.

However, Verse 15 shows the problems that arise from attitudes of disregard and disobedience. It says, “… if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you…”

The curses listed are ones you don’t want associated with your life-- poverty, sickness and loneliness. Aren’t you glad you glad they aren’t your only choice? God has something great prepared for those who commit to the process that keeps us on the path of good logic.

So what is this process? Well, it starts with reading God’s Word, but it doesn’t stop there. It transfers from a thought to an action—from a vision to a discipline. We find the perfect example of this process in the life of Jesus, and it’s this: Live the faith, teach the facts and live with force.

Jesus not only knew the principles found in the Bible, but he acted upon them by living them out and sharing their truth with others. Then, he lived with intent; He accepted God’s vision for his life as his own which created the passion and encouraged the discipline necessary to see those purposes fulfilled.

So, if you long to live a life full of God’s blessing and free from sin’s curse, look to God’s Word! His truth alone has everything you need to transform your life. We don’t have to be intimidated by the pain around us because we have the power of the One that’s in us!

        In Proverbs 16:6 Solomon imparts a piece of wisdom he learned from following his father, David. He says, “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged, and by the fear of the Lord men are going to depart from evil.”

In this verse, Solomon is reminding us that there is hope even for those who have chosen the wrong leader at times. If we’ll allow God to purge our hearts, he will rid them of all the things that can potentially destroy our lives.

The term purge means to set free from impure or unwanted substances. In our case, it means to remove those things that withhold God’s best from us. Solomon says it takes both God’s mercy and truth to rid us of  our iniquities that keep us from walking into God’s path of life and blessing.

Recently Mike Singletary, the coach of the San Francisco 49ers, was talking about the time he spent over the years,  speaking in prisons. He said in every session, he asks the prisoners one thing. He says, “If your father believed in you, challenged you to live your best, encouraged you, and taught you God’s truth, I want you to lift your hand.” Unfortunately, he’s still waiting for the first hand to go up.  

Mike went on to say that in order to change lives, the twenty-first century church needs to pattern itself after the first-century church, which had two things.  It had the love of God necessary to draw people to Christ, and it also had the respect for God’s truth that obviously is lacking in many homes, churches and communities today.

Coach Singletary understood Solomon’s point that our hearts can’t be purged and our lives completely transformed by only accepting one aspect of God’s nature. We need both his mercy and truth at work in our lives.

So, the next time you find yourself in a place you’re ashamed to be in, don’t beat yourself up. We don’t find ourselves in wrong places because we’re terrible people. We find ourselves there because we chose the wrong patterns to follow. The good news is—God in His great mercy  wants to forgive us.  And not only that—he wants us lead us into to a life greater than we could imagine by His truth. .

 He won’t ask “Why do you do that?”or “How did you end up here?” He’ll simply ask you to follow him and allow his love and truth to set you on the right path again. I promise, God can change any home, heal any heart and transform any situation. So together, let’s choose to walk honor’s way!

And God recognizes its importance too. He knows that one day we’ll all enter into eternal dwellings, and when we do he wants to be proud of what we made of what he gave us. We only have one chance to do something on the earth for him-- it’s up to us to make it count.

        So how do we make it count? It always begins with that first step. Though it’s often the hardest, once taken, it’ll cause the final destination to become clearer. God reveals this step to us in Proverbs 3:9-10 by saying, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

In order for God to lead us into blessing, we have to show that he’s first in our lives. By offering the first part of our income, we’re opening the doors for him to invade our lives and bless us inconceivably.

In 1 Kings 17, we see an example of the rewards of living with right priorities. In Verse 8 God tells Elijah to ask a certain woman to feed him. Normally, this wouldn’t require much of a sacrifice, but listen to this woman’s conditions: She was a widow, had a son and was living in the midst of a drought. Her land was unable to produce crops, and she was about to use her last handful of flour and bottle of oil to feed her son one more time before they both died.

Still, Elijah did as he was instructed and asked her to feed him. He said, “Don’t be afraid! ... For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!’” The widow trusted God and he blessed her just as he said he would. Both she and her son lived and had plenty to eat and drink until the period of drought and famine was over!

God wants us to know that he’ll do the same for us if we’ll make him the number one priority in our lives.  It can be easy to doubt when we don’t see the end result, but that’s what faith is. It’s showing God that he’s first and trusting that he’ll keep his promises.

So, I encourage you today to determine that you’ll put God first in your finances. By honoring him with the first part of your possessions, you are taking the first step into a life of abundance!

We have been talking about living “Life Organic”, getting back to what’s pure and satisfying in our life.  We can hear someone talk to us all day about eating right or getting back on track but until we have that “hunger” inside it will not become a reality.  It’s all about understanding that it’s God’s passion to bless you.  He wants to see your hunger filled. 

I encourage you today to cultivate a desire for the things of God.  Pick up your Bible again and start reading the Word of God, get back in a good church and fellowship with others who are striving to get closer to God.  All of these things cultivate the hunger necessary to be filled with the pure satisfying life of God. 

Perhaps you have found a way to cultivate that hunger in your own life.  If so, I would like to hear it.  Take time and leave your comments below and lets help each other live Life Organic.  

It’s the same way in our lives. We all feel lost at times, as if we’re stuck on a long, dead-end road, wondering why we’re experiencing frustration rather than the fulfillment God promises us. In Galatians 6:7 Paul reveals the answer to Christians experiencing similar circumstances. He instructs them, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

In this text, Paul is referring to relationships.  He is telling the Christians that if they lived with a judgmental attitude toward others, they should expect the same treatment when they messed up. But if they would learn to love and empower people, they’d find that even the hearts of their enemies could be changed.

This is the exact principle God was trying to communicate to the Israelites by establishing the Feast of Pentecost in Leviticus 23. He commanded that this third feast take place seven weeks after the seventh Sabbath. Then at that time, each family would present an offering of new grain to the Lord. Through the institution of this feast, God was showing the Israelites their potential to reap an incredible harvest. But first, they had to sow.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Picayune, Mississippi, and heard one of the most amazing stories about a woman who clearly understood the power of this truth. She had struggled with drugs in her past and was watching her daughter make similar mistakes. The mother had come to Christ and had been living completely drug-free for some time, but became frustrated when her daughter wouldn’t do the same.

This frustration led her to discover the answer to her problem—the principle of sowing and reaping. Instead of condemning her daughter, this mother chose to make an effort to change the situation. She started a drug rehab center that quickly became the largest in the county and is now a required program by every judge in the area.  Her daughter attended the program, got freed from drugs, made a decision to follow Christ, and is now working alongside her mom as the vice president of the center.

It’s obvious this mother truly understood what the day of Pentecost is all about. She recognized that there are times we all feel lost and frustrated. But, if we’ll choose to sow generously into the lives of others in the midst of our situations, we can look forward to an incredible harvest.

So I encourage you to trust God in his ability to bring fruitfulness into your life. Don’t be deceived by your circumstances or pretend God’s promises aren’t true. Remember, what you sow, you will reap!

But if you have ever visited our nation’s capitol, you have seen various scriptures on the walls and monuments that reveal the founding fathers’ original intent for the moral climate of our nation. They wanted the focus on what was sacred—not secular.

As a society we seem to have strayed from some of those foundations  by allowing sin to penetrate our families and institutions without much reprimand. But there is good news-- God has freedom waiting for us, if we’ll only choose to accept it and work at living by his principles.

The two antonyms sacred and secular perfectly symbolize that innate battle within us between good and evil, and we all know that at times, it can be difficult to make the right choice.

The Israelites often found themselves in similar situations throughout the Old Testament. Their moral climate declined every time they broke God’s laws and lacked a repentant heart. And sadly, often sin became so commonplace they lost sight of the freedom and fulfillment obedience to God empowers.

That’s why, in Leviticus 23, God told Moses to establish a feast that would give the Israelites the opportunity to return to the sacred and celebrate freedom from the sin by which they felt so trapped.

This feast was called the Feast of Unleavened Bread and began the 15th day of Passover. The bread eaten during this time-- called matzo bread-- was  to be made without yeast and comprised simply of flour and water. Now, this fare may not sound too appetizing, but it served an important purpose that Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 5:6-7.

He said, “… Don’t you know that a little yeast works through a whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

You see, God was using the yeast to symbolize sin in the Israelites’ lives. He wanted to show them that ridding  themselves of it would cause them to experience sweet freedom that their hearts longed for—a freedom God calls us all to experience.

Think about this—Passover was established during which season?  Spring. And when we think of the season, we can’t help but notice the beauty growing all around us, the change from the dead of winter to the vividness of spring.

That’s exactly how God views your life. He doesn’t hold your past against you. Whatever happened last year, last month or even yesterday can be removed – like the yeast! You can move into the beautiful, new life he has prepared for you – a life of freedom.

Our afternoons were spent visiting, watching football, playing cards or engaged in an exciting game of backyard wiffle ball with cousins and uncles that came to visit.

Whatever we did on Sundays, we were together as a family. We had plenty of freedom the rest of the week to pursue our own agendas but Sunday was non-negotiable. Mom was pretty relentless about establishing in our hearts a devotion to God and family.

Often in scripture we see where God set apart certain days of the year to establish important truths in the hearts of His people.  He called these days, “sacred days.”

Sacred according to Webster’s dictionary means to dedicate and set apart for the service and worship of deity.  One of those sacred days was called the Passover feast, instituted by Moses 3,500 years ago.

During the Passover feast, every father in Israel’s community would provide a lamb for his family. It had to be a year old, male lamb without any defect or flaw. They would keep the lamb in their home for a few days and then slaughter it for the family. The lamb’s blood would then be placed on the doorframes of their home as a sign of protection against death.   

As Israel observed these  sacred days year in and year out, God was  reminding them of what was to come.  He knew down the road, He would provide a lamb, a lamb who would be His very own son. This lamb would also be without flaw, perfect, “One who knew no sin.”

  He understood that one day, Jesus would be brought before the religious leaders to be examined, condemned and crucified as a sacrificial lamb. John the Baptist declared He was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)

 Friends, every year as we approach the Easter season, we can celebrate that God has provided for us a Passover lamb that paid the price for our sins.  Christ’s death and resurrection falls in springtime as reminder to us that something fresh, new and beautiful can begin to grow in our lives.

Condemnation and sin are like the death of winter that stifles the beauty that God wants to bring about in our lives. Remember, regardless of where we are today or what we’ve done, God won’t ever hold our past against us. He desires to forgive us and free us to pursue a new season of blessing and fruitfulness in our future.

Let’s take time on this sacred holiday to reflect on God’s goodness to us in sending Jesus. Then let’s resolve to live daily in the light of His forgiveness and power that He so freely provides.

          Confusion that challenges us to think better is commonplace – and sometimes it is serious.  For many instead of mixed-up schedules or forgotten lunches, they are dealing with failed relationships or decreasing bank accounts.

          I read an article recently which spoke of what our financial advisors are facing in these challenging times.  It stated that there has been a great increase in the number of people they are dealing with who have glazed-over  looks in their eyes.  Their clients are struggling to come to grips with the answers that will ease and eliminate the pain.

          Fortunately, God has given us some great pillar-truths to build a successful life upon when times are stressful and even painful.  In  Matthew  24, Jesus shares some of  these truths.  Then He spoke to his followers about their responsibility to help people overcome in a world where violence, prejudice and human suffering are commonplace.

          What are these truths?  First we need to know that – God knows everything we need to know in order to live enjoyable, fruitful lives.  The apostle Peter boldly proclaimed that everything we need for life and godliness can be found through the knowledge God freely gives (II Peter 1:3).  The Word of God is prophetic, powerful and practical.  God supernaturally foretold events impossible for people to predict through His prophets – to produce in us an appropriate awe for His ability.  Then He filled the Bible with an abundance of life-giving nuggets that empower prosperity for anyone willing to obey.

          Next, we need to know that – God always cares about what we are going through.  Sadly, for many of us that isn’t as evident as it should be.  And it’s because lots of us weren’t raised in caring Christian families or taught to connect ourselves to a caring church.  But that’s clearly God’s will in scripture.  It’s why, in Matthew 24, Jesus told the church He was counting on us to help people break free from their webs of confusion and pain.

          Finally, we need to know that – God wants us to count on Him.  In Matthew 24, Jesus said God wants us to look up amidst our needs knowing He will bring real redemption.   Today, however, people who live in that reality are a rare breed.  According to a recent Barna poll, 50 percent of Americans believe the Bible is accurate in all it teaches  but only 4 percent conduct their life according to biblical principles.  In other words, God’s wishing more people would allow Him to prove His love to them when they are clueless!

The Feast of Passover is one of the oldest continually observed feasts in existence today.  The feast was mandated in the Old Testament to show us that God has a passionate desire to forgive us and free us from sin’s power.

You may say, Pastor Jim what does this mean for me today?  God paid the price for our forgiveness.  He wants to empower you and me with a fresh start free from sin.  The Feast of Passover should inspire us that God wants us focused on what makes lives fruitful.

Take some time and read through Leviticus 23:1-8 before our weekend worship experience.Come ready to discover what True Heritage can mean to our hearts and homes!

I Peter 3:15 says, Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope you have.  Although this is extremely important our most compelling witness is our lifestyle.  Actions will always speak louder than words.

 Let me encourage you to live your life to inspire those around you.  Think of people in your world you can pray for and share the love of God with in practical yet powerful ways.  Be one of the people in their life that they can count on because of your faith in God.

This reminded me of the boldness Jesus had when He reached out to hurting people.   The passion to inspire others overcame any intimidation He may have felt.  The same can apply to us; our friends, family and co-workers need someone to remove the barriers that weaken them when they try to live for God.  Let those around you know you believe in them.  Be someone they can count on.

As we look at that special someone in our life, let’s reflect on the boldness we had to take in winning his or her heart.  Let’s get back to truly caring about other’s needs and showing them the love of Christ first hand.      

All around us are people who could receive from God.  In fact, the next time you go outside just look around and think how every one of those people truly want to experience love but there is something that makes them refuse what their heart wants to go after.   What could be causing this?  One reason is a wrong attitude in our own heart can send a wrong vibe to others. 

 Are we drawing people to Jesus or unconsciously pushing them away?  That is what I strive to challenge myself with everyday.  Lets be the inspiration to others that draw them to Jesus. 

What are some practical ways we can keep our obedience walk in check each day?  Leave your comments and lets strive to INSPIRE others. 

As I spoke to you in service, Jesus influenced others because He spoke the truth.  Let me ask you this, are you speaking the truth in anyone’s life?  Many times we can get caught up in our day-to-day problems we forget about reaching out to others.   However, did you know people need you?  Yes, as crazy as it sounds others need what you have inside you.  People need to see you reflecting the forgiveness of God inside you.   Make a decision to care for others because of who God created them to be not for the mistakes they made.  I truly believe you will be amazed at what a difference it will make in their life.

So let me ask you again.  Who’s counting on you?  I want to know your thoughts and perhaps even ways you are finding to be an inspiration to others.   I have found when we share ideas with others it creates inspiration in others. 

This is such an exciting year!  It is so inspiring for me to see your heart rooted even more in what God promised to reward.

Most people are enthusiastic about change when a new year begins, although some feel exasperated by the very thought of it.  But I believe God has really helped us see this year the engine that drives significant change in life.

This week we’ll be talking about cooperation we can count on God to bless.  It’s the final message in our series where we’re learning from John the Baptist what fuels change.

Let’s come together with hearts warm and ready for God.  He’s ready to love us and to help us!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Jim

P.S. Here are some scriptures that will help prepare us for the weekend worship experience.

• Matthew 3:1-12
• Acts 20:32
• James 1:5
• II Chronicles 16:9
• II Corinthians 6:1-18

The word comfort is derived from the Latin words com meaning “with” and fort meaning “strength.”  That’s exactly who God is-- someone always with us and always ready to give us what is necessary to do his will. He doesn’t expect us to succeed on our own.  He knows it is his job to be with us and to provide us with supernatural help to follow God’s will.

The apostle Paul experienced this and knew how to instruct others so they could experience it too.  Listen to his words in Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

That makes God’s will very clear, doesn’t it?  We are to be living with hearts overflowing with the Holy Spirit’s hope and help.  God wants us to devote every space in our heart to Him, leaving no room for negativity.  That s becomes easier to do once you practice Paul’s teaching and see where embracing hope instead of negativity takes you.

How do we walk that pathway?  Paul made it clear.  Our part is to trust.  And when we do that, we can expect to experience the Holy Spirit’s joy.  Joy is defined as “an emotion evoked by well being or success.” And it’s easy to feel joyful knowing the Holy Spirit always has new blessings to lead us into.

The next thing trusting in God brings us is peace.  Peace is defined as “the absence of war or strife.” I lived many years not at peace with God, and I’ve lived at peace with him now for a long time.  I’ve learned there’s no better way to live than at peace with God because nobody is more for me than Him!

There is a story that demonstrates this truth.  In Acts 16, Paul and his team wanted to successfully plant churches, but they continually fought frustrating battles.

In prayer, the Holy Spirit made it clear that this was because they were taking the wrong path.  They tried to succeed in what is now western Asia, but the Holy Spirit had made it clear that those people wouldn’t be receptive. He told them to go to Macedonia, where they would find people ready to partner in a way enabling success.   And that’s what happened.

That story has helped me significantly in my life. Early on, I was often convinced there was no way.  Other times I was too convinced I knew the way.  But now I know the Holy Spirit always knows the way.  And this year, I pray you will let Him move you out of what burdens you and into God’s blessing!

It may shock you to know that God understands the problem and has a course of action that can make a huge difference.  It's found in Jeremiah 29:11-13 where God first says, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

How fantastic is that?  The God who created the universe has plans to create a hope-filled, prosperous future for each of us.  But in Verse 13, he cautions us that we have an essential part to play.  He says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

How much is God working in your heart today? Is His work strong enough that confidence for a better future comes easy?  If not, I want to assure you that a hope-filled life can be yours.  Change that begins with hype and ends in frustration can turn into change where God's hopes are continually fulfilled in your life. The only requirement is that you sense God's leadership in your heart regardless of your circumstances! 

       About 8 years ago, I was examining several applications for our athletic director position at Faith Academy.  We had a strong basketball team, and I was determined to find someone who could build a championship-level program.  My son, Michael, was a 9th grader on that team, so I knew his and my wife's passionate prayers were with me. 

       One letter I came across stood out to me.  Though the applicant was well-qualified, that wasn't the whole story.  A divine dynamic occurred in my heart as I received his resume.  I heard God say, "Where sin has abounded, my grace is going to much more abound."

       Later in the interview process, God's will became very clear.  I learned all about the man. He was a former pastor and high school basketball coach with more than 400 wins.  However, some terrible things occurred beyond his control, and his life had come crashing down a few years earlier.  He had sulked for a while but later determined his best course of action was to let God work in his current circumstances.

       He was our athletic director and varsity boys’ basketball coach for 3 years.  The final year he led our boys to a state Final Four appearance and created memories that will last a lifetime. 

       But that was only the beginning of his new victorious and hope-filled life.  As I write, he is successfully pastoring again in Iowa City, Iowa.  You see, when God is invited into our situations, he always brings change and fulfilled hopes!

The good news is-- God is the Creator of relationships, and he offers all the wisdom we need to develop healthy, meaningful connections with people.  

Part of this wisdom is found in Isaiah 43:18-19. It says, "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 desert and streams in the wasteland.”

God encourages us not to be intimidated by the negative in the midst of relational difficulty, but to focus on the new things He can create in the midst of it. He has blessed relationships in store for us, but we must exercise faith to receive them.

Josh Joines, our student pastor at Faith Family Church, tells a story of how he learned to keep an open heart. Josh was a teenager living at home, and his parents were having a talk with him about some things that needed to improve in his life.  Though he knew they were right, he responded to their reproof with the snide remarks and rolling of the eyes that are sometimes typical of teenagers. 

After the lecture, Josh ran into his room, slammed the door loudly and locked it, so that everyone in the house would know that he was upset. Well, it wasn’t long before the door knob started to jiggle, and the next thing he knew, his dad had unscrewed the door knob and was standing right in front of him! 

Without a word to Josh, he took his hammer out and popped off the door hinges. Then he put the door underneath his arm, and as he carried it out of the room, he simply said, “Josh, we’re a family, and we live with an open door around here.”

Whether his dad realized it or not, that simple statement played a major role in helping Josh to understand the importance of effectively handling relationship challenges in his life. It helped him understand that we all need people in our lives, and if we’re going to end family and friendship failure, we have to keep the door open to the new things God is beginning in us.

So, at the beginning of this new year, I urge you to let go of those things that are holding you back from receiving God’s best in your life. Open the door to the new, exciting things he has prepared for you. He has great things in store for you!

I am so excited about this weekend!  We are going to learn from God’s Word, how to relate to God the Father in a way His hopes and dreams for our lives are realized.  I know we all feel heartache for people who live with little hope.  Or who mistakenly think hype will lead them to the same place God’s hope will.  The Bible is so clear on the subject – and I really felt it’s clarity produce such joy, peace and trust in my heart as I studied this week.

I’m looking forward to what God is going to do in your heart this weekend.  Here are some good scriptures to study before you come.

• Matthew 3:1-6
• Romans 15:13
• Romans 16:20
• II Peter 3:21

Looking forward to being with people experiencing more and more of God’s life!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Jim

A question that surfaces from this reality is this: is family life more fractured or fulfilled than it was years ago? Sadly, most of us would agree with the statement that our family relationships are, in fact, more broken now than ever before. But in his Word, God tells us how to fix these fractures.

Paul explains to us in Roman 12 that whether or not we have successful consequences in life really depends on the choices we make. Verse 2 advises, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

See, the world will always be there to show us a way, but we must ask ourselves whether or not it is God’s way. He promises to lead us into better circumstances, but we must first choose to seek him.

One of the greatest illustrations of this type of transformation can be seen in King David’s life.  David wasn’t raised by an affirming father, and he certainly didn’t have siblings that supported him as he sought success in life. He was treated by his in-laws as more of a threat than an asset, and his own wife didn’t even treat him right. David was constantly opposed and put down, but he didn’t let any of that determine who he would be or how he was going to live.  Somehow God helped him to see how the new culture of blessing he desired would follow his courageous, obedient choices.

Even as a young boy King David realized that his circumstances could be changed by his choices. Eventually all of Israel followed him, because he demonstrated how difficult conditions are changed by those who choose wisely. That’s really what it all comes down to. Our lives are byproducts of the decisions we make.

Like David, we will all be tempted in life to become bitter and to yield to defeat. In those times, it helps to remember there are three choices that can be made.  Some curse their problems, others nurse their problems but God promises to reverse our problems and to reward us if we do his will.  And doing this actually becomes fairly easy once we experience how our obedience leads to his blessing.

So, the next time you feel as though a strained relationship could never be successful, remember that God promises that it can be. You do not have to become another statistic of a failed marriage, friendship or family relationship. By simply concentrating on choices that create a new reality, you can watch your fractured relationships evolve into incredibly fulfilling ones!

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul shows us how to effectively face these challenges. He says in Verse 13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” You see, learning the importance of faith and hope will undoubtedly change your life, but do you know what else will change your life? Learning to build an environment of love. And Paul describes just how to create this atmosphere in Verse 7. He says that this type of love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”

In other words, it puts up with people we don’t feel like putting up with, believes the best in them, treats them the way God treats us and never gives up on them. That’s the way love works. It is the kind of love that causes a father, mother, child, boss and co-worker to have the kind of success God desires for them. But it is up to us whether or not we will open up our hearts to be used by God to love.

I recently heard a story about one little boy who was attending a Sunday school class, and when the teacher asked him to recite the Lord’s Prayer, he replied with, “… God, please forgive my trash-passes as I forgive those who pass trash against me.”

Obviously this little boy was a bit mixed up, but his version of the prayer really makes sense for most of us.  We all have times in life whenever we’re either “passing the trash” to someone else or they are “passing the trash” to us. And during those times, we need to make a decision to identify with Jesus and to love like He loves.

The holiday season is often a time many people are reminded of their past. They are faced with the reality of certain relationships—loving or damaging—this time of year. That’s when love takes work. It may be hard to believe in someone and accept them regardless of what they’ve done, but isn’t that exactly what they need? Just imagine with me—what could that type of constant love really do in someone’s life? If there was ever a time people have needed loved unconditionally, protected, believed in and given hope to, it is now.

So I urge you today not to just go through the motions this Christmas. Remember that it’s not the nice gifts, fun parties or good food that will create the environment you are looking for. It is learning to build a life of love. And though it takes work, this love never fails!

It doesn’t take long, however, to find that love needs to be more than just a euphoric feeling. It’s not just about gazing into someone’s eyes; it’s about gazing in the direction God’s calling them to and promising to help them reach that place of fulfillment. Though the physical may fade, God’s purposes for your relationship will continue to grow as you both seek to love each other with God’s lasting love rather than your own, physical love.

Paul reveals the key to how this love works in 1 Corinthians 13:8 when he says, “Love never fails.” He is showing us that the difference between the love of Christ and the love of man is that Christ’s love is unfailing.  Through every season of life God loves us just the same, and that’s the kind of love He wants us to show each other.  Of course, this love takes work because we all face different challenges and live with different callings in our lives. In the end, though, there is only one thing that will either make us feel like a success or a failure, and that is whether we released the unfailing love of Christ into the lives of those around us.

I recently read an excerpt from 1972 presidential candidate George McGovern’s book titled Terry: My Daughter's Life-And-Death Struggle with Alcoholism. In this book, he recalls the day his daughter froze to death in a snow drift as well as the events leading up to her death.  After her passing, McGovern began to pour through his daughter's diaries and ask her friends about what really mattered to her.  What he found caused him to intently rethink his life. 

McGovern discovered that though his daughter greatly admired his intelligence and heart for people, she greatly missed his presence in her own life. The 18 hour days he worked in order to advance his political career sent inconsistent messages to her, causing her to be uncertain of her significance in his eyes. You see, McGovern did not quite understand this principle of love-- that it is not what you can do for someone but how you love them that counts.

So I encourage you to work on adopting this type of love that Paul explains to us in 1 Corinthians 13. Make an effort to love with a consistent, dependable love. We’ll all need help at some point, but that is where the power is. By allowing God to work through each of us, we will begin to discover his plan for us, and together we can fully experience this life of love!

Paul showed us the importance of living a life of love at the end of 1 Corinthians 12 when he said, “And now I will show you the most excellent way.” He wants us to recognize that there is a most excellent way, and it is the way of love.   

Recently, I was reading about the last night that Jesus was on the earth, and I recognized something I never had before. I noticed that even as he prepared for his suffering, Jesus still sought to make his love obvious in 3 ways. First, he displayed servant hood by washing the feet of his disciples. Then he demonstrated sacrifice as he took the first communion with his disciples.  Finally, he showed his devotion to those he loved by retreating to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray for them.

In fact, John recorded that he was praying so hard that he sweat drops of blood. He longed for those whose feet he washed and those who were yet to come --the people he was giving his life for-- to live unified because of love.  You see, even at the most hectic and perhaps the most discouraging time of his life on earth, Jesus’ own desires were the farthest thing from his mind. What was on his mind? Love.

In the same way, when someone is approaching the end of their life, what is usually on their mind? Their loved ones. They want to spend every waking moment with them in an effort to display their appreciation and affection for them in their lives. But why should we wait until then to express our gratitude for our loved ones? God has blessed us all with remarkable ability and countless opportunities to love today.

That’s really what Jesus wants all of us to recognize this holiday season. In the end, is it really going to matter whether we bought the “perfect” gift or hosted the “perfect” party? No, it’s not. What will matter is how we loved. The gifts will wear out and the decorations will go back to the attic, but the ones with whom you spend this holiday season will remain.

So, I challenge you today to approach Christmas differently this year. Instead of focusing on how much you can get done, focus on how much love you can share with those around you. Practice releasing the same love that Jesus lived with by making an effort to show your appreciation for those God has placed in your life. Only then will you fully experience the true meaning of Christmas—love.

Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death."

There will always be a way that makes sense to us, but following it can cause us to forfeit the blessing God has in store for our lives. This blessing can only begin when what is wrong no longer seems right to us - when we finally decide to leave the instability of our past behind and never look back.

One of the greatest testimonies to this kind of lifestyle change is found in a woman in our congregation. This woman was brought into an unbiblical lifestyle when she was just a little girl. She came to the church broken, searching for the knowledge and wisdom of a God who could heal her.

After attending services for about a year, she made the decision to start on a journey of healing in her life. She knew she had a hard past, but realized it didn't have to be her future. She asked God to help her determine right from wrong in her life, and eventually discovered that righteousness brings God's rewards.

Today, she is married to an usher in our church, and they have three beautiful children. She has led more than 1,000 people into a relationship with Christ, many of them in the same challenge she was in. Why? Because she realized she was created for something more - greater stability and greater success. And she determined that even in times of temptation, she would never go back to the instability of her past.

Now, every time I see this woman in the church, I am reminded that God possesses the knowledge and wisdom needed to completely change lives. He longs to transform our hurt to healing, as we give Him authority by seeking both his knowledge and his wisdom. Though distinct, both are extremely vital. We cannot reach our full potential with only one. His knowledge will make us aware of the facts that can change our life, and his wisdom will show us how to apply those facts. Together, they will help to re-shape us and lead us into a better future.

So, I encourage you today, take hold of God's promises and His righteousness in your life. Ask yourself, "Do I want a life of sorrow or a life of success? A life filled with bitterness or blessing?" Remember, He wants to bless you. And He desires to lead you into success as you follow Him and make the choice to turn your wrong into right.

Unfortunately, as I got older I recognized that not everyone was given the advantage of having parents like mine. Some were never praised; others were never corrected. They lacked confidence because of their parents’ lack of confidence in them. This saddened me, but it also caused me to recognize the significant role the Heavenly Father plays in the lives of His children. In Jeremiah 29:11 he says, “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Maybe you have experienced the kind of family life I referred to. Maybe you were overlooked or lacked direction from your physical parents. Guess what? Your Heavenly Father sees you, and he has a plan for you! And not just any plan-- He has the exact blueprint needed to fulfill the desires he has placed on the inside of your heart.

You were created for a specific purpose, and he wants to reveal that purpose to you. But first, you must be open to accepting his blueprint. Once you submit your future to him, you will see it begin to take shape. It may take time to reach the desired destination, but remember that God’s plans never fail.  He can and will lead you into an awesome future!

Though this future is ultimately worth any amount of difficulty we could face, we all know that there will be obstacles along the way. But whether they are old habits or closed doors, it is essential that we keep them out of focus and fix our eyes on our Guide. Allowing distractions to hinder us eventually leads to an unfinished race and missed opportunities for an amazing future. Discouragement may be able to hold us from our destiny, but belief can turn any bitterness into blessing.

So, if you are feeling discouraged about where you’re headed, take comfort in this-- God has already designed your life’s blueprint. He has mapped out for you a life greater than you could ever imagine! As you follow God’s path and choose to focus on him, you will find that the life being built is one more beautiful than you could have ever built alone.

David makes the process clear in Psalm 37:5-6!  He writes, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” Notice there is a difference between commitment and trust. Commitment acknowledges God’s ability and aligns us with him as the source of our success. But the success he brings also requires trust that follows him as he works on our behalf. We must have faith in His ability to cause dreams to become a reality. Oftentimes, this faith requires a change in our thinking. The shifting of thoughts is necessary, but it does not happen automatically. It starts small, as we allow God’s thoughts to become our own. These thoughts then turn into actions, which create habits that transform our character and lead us into a destiny.

Notice that in this passage David uses the example of a sunrise. He says that good things will come to pass just as the dawn overtakes the darkness. If you’ve ever watched a sunrise, you know that it starts with just a little bit of light. As time goes on, that little bit of light increases until the darkness is completely expelled. God works in the same way. He starts by placing a thought concerning his will in your heart. It seems like only a small part of the answer at first, but as he shares more and more of his thoughts, you know that you are gaining the power you need to go from despair to fulfilled dreams. As you commit to God’s ways and trust in His wisdom, it will grow into something bigger and better than you ever dreamed it could be.

So make a decision today-- during the dark times, how will you handle the light? Will you lose hope in the process and search for an easy way out? Or will you continue to have faith that it will, in time, overtake the darkness? I encourage you to do the latter. Allow time for God to work in your life. Success from God usually doesn’t come in a day but to those who daily follow his process!