Before I Was Born

"Why should we listen to what Paul has to say?? He wasn't even part of the twelve that were sent out by Jesus of Nazareth!"

The shouts from the leaders of the church in Galatia would have sounded something like this.

So in his letter, Paul is going to begin telling a story. He will chronicle his years after his conversion, detailing his very limited interaction with the apostles, even getting into all the places he'd been, and the durations of time.

And all of this will prove that Paul did not receive the gospel secondhand, from Jesus's apostles. Rather, Paul himself IS an apostle, with both authority and direct revelation from Jesus Himself.

And along the way on this story, Paul is going to do something that is very classic Paul. He is going to interrupt his story to tell us about the gospel. He just can't help doing it! 

It's not a long interruption. We might call it a "gospel nugget." We see it in verses 15 and 16. 

     "...he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me..."

We are probably familiar with the account of Paul's conversion. We read it in Acts chapter 9, and then again in chapters 22 and 26 from Paul's telling himself.

The early church had perhaps no greater enemy than Paul. He was "persecuting the church of God violently and trying to destroy it." (Gal. 1:13)

And at the moment of conversion, Paul was on his way to the city of Damascus, where he hoped to find more followers of Jesus that he could persecute, throw in jail, and maybe even oversee the stonings of the leaders.

But then Jesus stepped in. He stopped Paul on his journey, blinded him with His glory, and commissioned him to go preach the good news of what He had done. 

In Acts, we read Paul's conversion from his own point of view. But in the letter to the Galatians - in this gospel nugget of chapter 1 - we in a sense read of Paul's conversion from God's point of view.

He is the Main Character.

He is the One who sets apart.

He is the One who calls.

He is the One who reveals.

1. God set apart Paul before he was born.

Think of it. From man's limited perspective, we see an enemy and violent persecutor of God's church. But all the while, God is in control. God has known Paul for decades, since he was in his mom's tummy. Actually, He's known him since eternity past.

And He has set Paul apart and chosen him. Not only to know Him, but also preach His gospel and build His church. 

2. God called Paul by His grace.

For Paul, it HAD to be the undeserved kindness of God! Yes, Paul was "advancing in Judaism" and "extremely zealous" for the father's traditions. But we know that earns nothing before a holy God.

On the flip side - again, Paul was a violent persecutor. He had fallen woefully short of God's holy standard to love his neighbor as himself.

Just like us all, Paul could only come to God based on grace.

3. God was pleased to reveal Jesus to Paul.

We should always pay close attention when the Bible clues us in to the very heart of God. What pleases him, what brings Him joy. 

And Paul says that God was "pleased" - He was happy, maybe even excited? - to reveal Jesus to Paul. 

From a human perspective, we could envision it like God "woke up" that morning thinking, "Today is the day! Today is the day I get to reveal Jesus to Paul, and turn his world upside down!"

What does this mean for us?

Believer in Jesus, these same truths that Paul says of his own conversion are true for you and your own conversion. 

     God set you apart before you were born.

     God called you by his grace.

     God was pleased to reveal Jesus to you. 

From beginning to end, God has been and will be the Main Character. He has done everything so that you could come to know Him.

May God fill our hearts with thankfulness and worship to Him!

-Joe Groppel

Dear Church

Galatians 1:6-10

During last Sunday’s sermon, we were asked to write a personal letter to someone using the words “grace” and “peace”.  On the rare occasion that I write a letter by hand, I will begin with “Dear” followed by the name of the intended recipient.  It’s easy for many to look past that “Dear” but to me it means a lot in expressing how deep my affection is for the one I’m writing to.

In our text this week, Paul expresses a very serious concern he has for the churches in Galatia – that they would not desert God and the grace by which He has called them in Christ by turning to a false gospel being preached to them about self-righteous works.  He goes so far as to say that anyone who preaches a distorted version of the gospel to the church should be damned to hell. 

Paul loves the Galatian churches and wants them to experience peace through the good news of God’s plan to fulfill the messianic covenant with mankind through Jesus as the one true Hero. Paul does not hope for any to be damned by believing or preaching a false gospel, rather he writes with a deep love for the Galatian people because they are dear to him and he knows even more so that they are dear to God.  Any distorted version of the gospel that adds a salvific condition on top of Jesus as the one true Hero clouds the Son and leads the church astray. 

Jesus has lived the perfect life that God requires, took the curse of our sin on Himself by dying on the cross once for all, rose from death to life, ascended to the position of honor and authority at the right hand of God, and sent His Spirit to seal our eternal union and empower us to live as followers of Christ.  This is the greatest thing that has ever happened in all of human history for our good and to the praise of our Heroic God! 

Droves of people are still prone to be led astray by visions and teachings that err from the gospel preached by Paul and the other Apostles.  May it not be so with His church today.  Instead, let us be amazed by the Heroic work of Jesus Christ that reclassifies us from DAMNED to DEAR in Christ.  May we be a people that share this amazing hope of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  Let us do so faithfully as we are led by His Spirit to those He makes dear to us because of how dear they are to their Heavenly Father.

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon

Reading the Envelope

Is there anything more exciting than receiving a letter in the mail? After rifling through a stack of bills and credit card offers, imagine you found a handwritten letter. What would you do first? Most of us wouldn’t tear open the envelope and begin reading mid- sentence, mid-letter. We’d first read the envelope to see whom the letter was addressed to and who sent it. When we begin studying a book of the Bible, we also need to “read the envelope”. We need to find out who wrote it, who they wrote it to, and why they felt compelled to do so. For the next few months we will be studying the epistle, or letter to the Galatians. Let’s check out the envelope together.

“Paul, an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me:

To the churches of Galatia. Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”(Galatians 1:1-5)

The New Testament epistles begin in a similar format, common to letters written at the time. Unlike modern letters that are addressed to the recipient, in Greco-Roman times a letter began with the name of the sender, and was followed by a description of the recipient, and then a prayer or blessing.

So, who wrote the letter?

If you said Paul, great job! As you continue to read the envelope some additional questions may come to mind. Who was Paul? What authority did he have to write this letter? Why did he clarify that Jesus Christ made him an apostle? Was his authority being called into question, and if so, by whom? Learning the answers to these questions can give us greater context into what we are about to read.

To whom did Paul write the letter?

You’ve got it! He wrote it to the churches of Galatia. Now this is a bit different than Paul’s other letters who are typically addressed to a singular church or to “brothers and sisters”. This should cause us to wonder “What were multiple churches in the region of Galatia struggling with that led Paul to write them a letter?” And that will help us to finish reading the envelope as we ask, “Why did Paul write the letter to the churches in Galatia?”

The churches in Galatia were being infiltrated by teachers presenting a false gospel: Jesus + circumcision (or works of the law) = salvation. Paul wants the believers to understand there is no addition in this equation. Nothing is needed to complete their salvation, indeed nothing apart from Jesus alone offers them salvation.

As we read through this remarkable letter, Paul will explain what it meant for the Galatians to be free from the burden of the law, how to use that freedom for good, and how to walk by the Spirit. We will also explore what those very same things mean for us today in our context. Join us!

Natalie

Trick Question

After conferring with their team, the teens raced to write their answers on the white board. “What are two things you can do to earn God’s grace?” Repent? Believe? It was a trick question. Eddie fooled them! There isn’t one thing we can do to earn God’s grace.

Grace, by nature, is unmerited. In worship we sing “I didn’t earn it. I don’t deserve it. Still you give yourself away.” In the Bible we read “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” This is a fundamental truth of orthodox Christian faith. How then, do we reconcile this with the teaching of Jesus recorded in Matthew 25:31-46?

When he returns in glory, surrounded by heaven’s host and seated on his throne, Jesus says he will come to judge humanity. With the nations gathered before him, he will separate his sheep from the goats.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Those who inherit eternal life, the righteous ones, have something in common. They acted. Changed by grace, they extended mercy to the needy, the stranger, the imprisoned. Having received grace they could not earn they willingly gave it to others who could neither earn nor repay it.

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (James 2:14-19)

We are saved by grace, yes, but grace does not ever leave us unchanged. We repent, we believe, and we act because we have received God’s grace. It’s all grace! I pray you have been transformed by his grace and when you stand before Jesus he will see the evidence of it in your life.

Let’s be a church that shows our faith by our deeds. May we go, extending grace, living open handed, with hearts full of love for both our neighbor and the nations, until that great and awesome day.

Find us to be your faithful sheep, Lord.

Natalie

Talents a Reflection

"What would you do with $13,316,953? What would you do with it if it was handed to you by Jesus Himself?"

Matthew 25:14-30 is written by Matthew, a tax collector, who gets to witness Jesus speak about the Kingdom of Heaven and describe it in a topic Matthew knew well - finance. Who better to write about this parable than one who understands money and investments? We get a glimpse of what restoration is like, the final Metanarrative of Scripture in this parable.  

Jesus is sitting on the slopes of the Mount of Olives after visiting the Temple grounds and telling the disciples that “one day the buildings will be knocked down with not one stone left on top of another.” Mat. 24:2. Jesus had just told the disciples the Temple will fall to the ground, that the end of the world is coming, and that He, too, is leaving them for a while. Speaking of what is yet to come in Mat. 25, Jesus gives the disciples an illustration of hope about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.

How amazing is our King, that He doesn’t leave the disciples in the dark? (He doesn’t leave us in the dark either!) Jesus tells the disciples that the Temple will fall and in Mat. 24, Jesus warns in detail what they can look out for and what to do while He is away, but Jesus doesn’t stop there in the desolation and storm. He, who is living hope, gives hope by describing the Kingdom of Heaven!

Jesus tells the story of a man traveling out of the country, leaving with his servant's talents for them to invest while he is gone, according to their abilities. A talent is a measurement of weight equal to 75 pounds. Depending on the Bible translation, the description may be of gold or a monetary sum. The first servant was entrusted with 5 talents of gold. I’m no tax collector, and while I do math daily, it is not my favorite subject. Looking at the numbers, 5 talents of gold at 75 pounds each would equal about 375 pounds. Today 375 pounds of gold is worth $13,316,953.  He gives 2 talents of gold to the next servant so about 150 pounds of gold, worth today around $5,326,781. To the last servant, he entrusts 1 talent of gold, 75 pounds at a value of $2,663,391 in today's currency exchange.  After handing out the loans, the man leaves for his trip.

The first servant receiving his responsibility gets to work immediately buying, selling, and raising his amount to $26,633,906.  The second does the same and to his ability raises his original amount to $10,653,563. The last servant dug a hole and buried his $2,663,391, not raising his amount as the first two servants had done.

The man comes home from his trip and, pleased with the first two servants and the profit they raised, gives them even more than they raised. The man also puts them in charge of many things. The servant who buried his loan, not wanting to give up his profit, had his gold given to the servant who raised the most and was thrown into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It seems the first two servants were excited to get to work, they trusted the man and wanted to do good for him while he was away. The third servant didn’t seem to have the same relationship. He didn’t view the man the way the other two did. The third servant viewed him as a hard man and was afraid he would be robbed of his earnings.  The third servant did not share in the joy of the work as the first two did. Why do you think that is?

What would you do with $13,316,953? What would you do with it if it was handed to you by Jesus Himself? Would you know what Jesus would want you to do with it? Do you have a relationship with Jesus that would cause you to hide what you are given out of fear and greed, thinking it will be taken from you, or would you feel encouraged to use what Jesus gives you? What has Jesus entrusted you with now, while you await His return? As I read over this chapter, I found myself humming the song “This Little Light of Mine”. I wondered, what am I hiding under a bushel that God has gifted me with to grow? What am I being lazy with? What am I letting Satan blow out or extinguish, that God is encouraging me to shine?  My prayer for us is for God’s will to be the same on Earth as it is in Heaven, and that we will continue to be good and faithful servants with all that God has entrusted us with from now until the time of Jesus' return. 

~Nikki Fiedler

“… and the door was shut…”

Matthew 25:1-13

The closing words of Matthew 25:10, uttered by Jesus Christ, carry a haunting and profound message — "and the door was shut." These words are part of a parable within the Olivet Discourse, a significant teaching by Jesus about His second coming. The parable, known as the Ten Virgins, serves as a warning to all to be spiritually prepared for His imminent return. This context is crucial to understanding the parable's relevance and its call for Preparation and Readiness.

Many interpretations of this parable in Mathew 25:1-13 include whether it is related solely to Israel and the Jewish people. The context points to the custom on the day of the bridegroom, who is going to the father's home to claim his promised spouse. Friends of the bride awaited for the wedding party to join the procession to the bride’s house, and the party's uncertain arrival could tarry for some time. Since the arrival time was unknown, the bridesmaids (the ten virgins) prepared tall lamps fueled with olive oil with limited burning capacity but also prepared a small reservoir of extra oil, just in case, for the procession to the bride's house.

In this story, the bridegroom was delayed, so all the bridesmaids carried on with their schedules, including sleep. But when their sleep was interrupted by the arrival of the bridegroom, half the bridesmaids had run out of oil. They were unprepared. By the time they had gone to get additional oil and returned, they missed the wedding feast, and the door was locked with no entrance — denial.

Do you see the parts played in this parable?

At first glance, the bridesmaids in the parable may seem identical, engaging in the same activities such as sleep. However, the presence or absence of oil in their lamps reveals a deeper truth. Many scholars interpret the oil as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and His work of salvation and regeneration. This interpretation suggests that true salvation is not a mere profession or outward appearance, but a genuine transformation of one's life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

It's a warning where five were wise and prepared for the sudden appearance of Jesus Christ's second coming. The other five were otherwise with the tragic results of a mere formality regarding their faith and an empty spiritual life “for when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them.” [v3] The five who were otherwise failed to be ready like those now when the King comes, His return is unknown, and therefore, cannot enter His Kingdom. Disavowed and not known by the bridegroom, with a clear message in the parable is that one's salvation cannot be transferred to another person “give us your oil…go buy it yourself.” [verses 8-9]

The bridegroom is Jesus Christ, and His delay symbolizes the period between his two Advents. In verses 10-12, this telling of the bridegroom's arrival and the wedding feast fits the prophetic picture of Jesus returning for His bride, the church, and those who are saved and faithful will go with him to the His wedding feast —the new heaven and earthly reign.

The overriding truth of this parable is that the present time in your life is the only time for preparation for Jesus's return. He could come at any moment. Keep watch. Be alert. Be prepared.

IS YOUR LAMP BURNING BRIGHT AND FILLED WITH OIL?

-Dan Nickel

To Have and To Hold

Matthew 22:1-14

Wedding season is upon us and each is an occasion to genuinely celebrate.  How do you typically respond when you are invited to a wedding reception?  As I’m writing this, I’m looking forward to the weekend and rejoicing with some dear members of our church that are getting married.  I’ve also got my own daughter’s wedding on my mind as it is coming up in the Fall.  I want the experience to go along beautifully for my beloved daughter.  I hope she feels complete joy, support, and honor while she enters into this sacred covenant with her husband.  Pray for near and dear newlyweds to love like Jesus loves.

In this week’s text, Jesus tells a parable comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a king throwing a wedding feast for his son.  The parable is definitely not a how-to guide for anyone planning a wedding reception today.  Jesus is teaching something deeper about the kingdom of heaven and the invitation we have through Him.  Some people in this parable react very strangely to the invitation for that wedding feast.  Some ignore the invitation.  Others went so far as to act violently and commit murder on those who were bringing the invitation.  Jesus tells this parable to an audience with religious leaders that are seeking to arrest and quiet Him.

What if I told you that the wedding feast symbolizes the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  What if I told you that the wedding garment symbolizes confession and belief in Jesus as the Messiah.  Then could you see how the reaction of the first invitees in Jesus’ parable might relate to the hostile individuals surrounding Jesus then or even now?  Based on what we know about human nature and our struggle with self- worship, could it be that some respond with contempt and violence because they just don’t want to honor the Son?  Is it because the attention is going to someone else other than themselves?  Is it that they don’t want to agree to another’s beck and call? 

Again, Jesus is teaching something deeper about the Kingdom of Heaven and responding to the invitation to partake with Him in it.  How will you respond today?  Pray for a receptive heart.

The wedding season is still upon us as Jesus Christ, the bridegroom, is gathering the church, His bride.  You and I are invited to join the celebration of God’s Son that is the Kingdom of Heaven by receiving the Gospel and confessing Jesus as our Redeemer and Lord.  May we not be like a runaway bride or an unrepentant bystander.  Instead let us be unified with Christ and holding dearly to the sacred covenant He has made with us to bring us graciously into His Kingdom!

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon

Built on the Cornerstone

Matthew 21:33-46

It’s Tuesday. But not just any Tuesday. It’s the Tuesday of the most important week in human history.

Two days ago, the King came to Zion - “humble, and mounted on a donkey” (21:5).

And now, the King’s cross and His empty tomb - events that have long been out on the horizon, off in the distance - are now closer than ever before.

And one final time, the King wishes to spend this Tuesday addressing the religious leaders. The priests, the Pharisees, and the elders gathered around Him. Not to *listen* to Him, the One who is both King and Prophet (21:46). But instead, to challenge His authority (21:23).

And as He had done so many times, He would address them in parables. But these would not be cutesy, Aesop-Fable-like parables, teaching us how to live a good, moral life. No, with these parables, the Prophet-King wants to make it very plain, very clear to all: not only who He is, but also, what He knows these leaders are about to do to Him.

Among the several parables He would tell, He tells one of a vineyard Master, His Son, and the tenants. The Master would repeatedly send his servants to harvest the fruit; and repeatedly, one by one, the tenants would beat, stone, and kill the Master’s servants.

But with the Master’s Son, it would be different, right? So the Master sends His Son, saying, “They will respect my Son.” But just as with all the other servants, the tenants throw the Son out of the vineyard, and kill Him.

For the priests, Pharisees, and elders, the message is loud and clear:
“They perceived that He was speaking about them” (21:45).
They were the builders, rejecting the Stone (21:42).

Just as their fathers repeatedly did with God’s prophets, one more time, they would reject and kill - not just any prophet - but God’s one true Prophet. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” (23:37).

It’s Tuesday. In three days, these leaders would hang this Prophet on the tree and kill Him.

But the Master is sovereign over it all. This would be “the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (21:42). On Sunday, the stone would be rolled away, and the Stone, rejected by the builders, would become the Cornerstone of our salvation.

The question before us today is this:
What will WE do with this Prophet?

Will we be like the religious leaders - rejecting this Prophet, and what He has to say to us? Will we, like them, challenge His authority? The authority that even He has over our own lives?

Or will we receive this Prophet? Will we build our lives on this Cornerstone?

And the promise for us who will build our lives on this Cornerstone is an unshakable life in Him.

“Therefore the Lord God said:
‘Look, I have laid a stone in Zion,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
the one who believes will be unshakable.’”
(Isaiah 28:16, CSB)

-Joe Groppel

"Hey, No Fair!"

Workers in the Vineyard - Matthew 20:1-16

Growing up the oldest of three, I am pretty sure my parents will agree with me when I tell you that “Hey, no fair” was one of my most popular exclamations of protest. I often felt like everything was not fair. From something as little as not sitting in the front seat, not getting as many M&M’s, or not getting to watch what I wanted to watch on TV to something as big as my siblings marrying and starting their own families before me. Life can feel unfair when I am earthly-focused and lose sight of God’s Heavenly Kingdom.

Reading Matthew 20:1-16 it seems like a lot of unfair moments. Why should someone who worked longer hours get paid the same as someone who worked less? Is Jesus talking about earthly work and earthly wages, or is He talking about God's sufficient grace and mercy? Does someone who asks Jesus into their life at a younger age get less of God’s grace than someone who finds Him at a later stage in life? Can God’s forgiveness be earned and if so, what does someone have to do to earn it? What about someone who’s dedicated their long life to serving others or a thief hanging on a cross? Luke 23. Do they both get the same pardon from God?

Jesus answers in verse thirteen, by saying “I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave the one who was hired first. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? So, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”  

Here we are reading the spoken word of Jesus Christ written by Matthew, a worker who was hired first to labor in the fields, sowing seeds of faith for the first Church. Here I am 2,000 years later, nowhere near laboring as long and diligent as Matthew. Yet we both receive the same from Jesus, eternal life, forgiveness, mercies, and grace sufficient for all. Is that fair? Luke 13:30

Carmen wrote last week; that we can forgive because we know forgiveness from Christ and have been forgiven. We can also happily celebrate each other when we come to Christ and see with heavenly-focused eyes how God’s kingdom grows! We can delight in the Lord for our neighbors, coworkers, family, friends, and foreigners across continents when they receive God’s gifts at any stage in life because there is plenty for everyone! God’s kingdom is everlasting, Daniel 7:27. From generation to generation, Psalm 145:13. Abundantly supplied, 2 Peter 1:11.

Coming face to face with our brokenness and Christ’s ability to save us opens our eyes to how amazing that grace truly is, and, in that love, we desire for others to have that too!

For He saved us, not based on deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5. My prayer for us is that we all are washed and renewed by the Holy Spirit, coming to the Father with open arms through Christ Jesus so that we can rejoice in the abundance of God’s love and mercy! Hallelujah!  

-Nikki-

Jesus Paid the Debt

Do you truly believe that through Christ you are fully forgiven? Have you ever sat in silence and thought about what this really means?

In today’s parable, we hear of a servant who owes his master an unpayable amount. His master orders that him, his family, and all he owns be sold to make up for what he cannot pay. The servant begs for more time, promising that he will eventually be able to pay what he owes. The master compassionately forgives the servant of his debt, knowing that he will never be able to pay back the full amount.

After being forgiven of this great debt, the same servant goes out and finds a fellow servant who is indebted to him (note that this is a much smaller amount compared to what the servant had owed his master). He forcefully insists that the servant pay what he owes. Just as the servant had begged his master to be patient with him, this servant begs for more time, promising that he will eventually pay what he owes. Instead of forgiving his debt as his master did to him, the servant chooses to punish him by throwing him in prison until his debt is paid.

If anyone has a right to withhold forgiveness, it would be God. Throughout time, humans have constantly chosen sin over God. He offers us everything we could ever need. He knows what will hurt us and what will keep us safe, yet we turn away from Him time and time again. Every time we do this, God is patient with us, waits for us to run back to Him, and forgives us. He doesn’t do this because we deserve it, but because that’s who He is.

God sent His son to pay the debt that we couldn’t pay – forever forgiving us of our past, present, and future sins.

If God can so easily forgive us, knowing that we are going to turn away from him again, why is it that when someone hurts us, our natural response is to be filled with resentment? Just as what the servant owed the other servant was nothing compared to what the servant owed his master, the debt owed to us by others is nothing compared to the debt that we owe God.

Knowing that we are fully forgiven through Christ should change everything about the way we treat ourselves and others. We must remember the weight of what Christ did for us on the cross. We were forgiven of a huge debt and therefore have no right to hold onto the small debts that others owe us.

In times when we find it exceptionally hard to forgive ourselves or others, could it be because we don’t believe that God has fully forgiven us?

God, I pray that you help us never lose sight of what Jesus did for us. Help us to know and believe that, through Him, we are fully forgiven. Reveal to us the people in our lives who we need to forgive and give us the courage to forgive them as you have forgiven us, not just with our mouths, but in our hearts.

Carmen K

The Pouring Out Of A Spiritual Life

I am not interested in the past. I am interested in the future, for that is where I expect to spend the rest of my life. — Charles Kettering

Joseph's decision to take his young family to Nazareth instead of returning to the land of Israel, as directed by the angel, is a backstory in this parable by Jesus. Fleeing to Egypt to avoid the killing hand of Herod after Jesus's birth, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, directing him to take the family back to the land of Israel. But in Matthew 2:22, it said Joseph was afraid to go there after hearing Herod had died and his son, Archelaus, reigned over Judea. Instead, Joseph took his young family to Nazareth.

Why mention this account for this week's parable in Luke 19:11-27?

Archeleus was chosen by his father, Herod, as successor of his kingdom, but was rejected by the people, left for Rome to have his appointment confirmed, returned, rewarded his servants, and destroyed his enemies.

In this parable of the nobleman and the Ten Minas (also pounds), scholars think Jesus used Archelaus' recent history to awaken the imagination of those listening to what Jesus was teaching. Jesus was also warning the Jewish leaders they were about to do the same thing spiritually. Jesus, himself, is the 'certain nobleman' [v. 12], who will be rejected by the people, leave for a heavenly kingdom, and then eventually return. The ten servants given Ten Minas represented His disciples who were told to "Do business till I come." [v.13]

In this parable, Jesus uses the world of business and economics as a model for the lesson of investing in a spiritual life, increasing it, spreading the Gospel, and reaping greater rewards. The unproductive are rebuked, while the productive are rewarded—risk vs. reward. The risk and privilege of sharing the Gospel and representing Jesus Christ in a hostile world leads to greater reward and spiritual growth, as the first two servants experienced, leading to the advancement of Christ's Kingdom. The rewards for the first two servants' diligence were in proportion to the increase gained from their risk-taking. Or on the other hand, one can instead choose to cling to God's blessings and gifts, play it safe, which leads to a stagnation of one's faith and spiritual growth like the last servant who held onto what he had, was rebuked, and judged accordingly. Where one is not living in anticipation of the future promises that await and paying the discipline and sacrifice, but only interested in staying in yesterday's fading light stuck in the known.

Notice in the parable that those who do nothing with what they possess, will have what they had taken away and given to those who will steward the resources and gifts of God. It's a life lesson that the more we pour out in life and in self-expenditure, the more that life pours back into us. Even a full glass of water can be refilled by pouring out what it contains so more water can be poured back in. Verses 23-24 suggest we should seriously pour out our all in everything we have and do, and steward the gifts God blessed us with by serving Jesus Christ without measure or lack of accountability, or in short order, we will lose it, and our spiritual life will depreciate.

The header in J. B. Philips's translation of the New Treatment for this parable in Luke is an excellent reminder for us and the church:

Life requires courage, and is hard on those who dare not use their gifts.

-Dan Nickel

The Jesus Prayer

When you really know Jesus Christ, you can’t help but want to be in His presence. The problem for me is that I sometimes get confused on how this is achieved. When I think it’s about me and my self-righteous works, I am in a bad spot that keeps me from seeing Jesus for who He is and what He’s really done for me. But when I think about how undeserving I really am to be in His presence and look to Him for help, I am exactly where Jesus wants me to be so that I’m ready to experience His mercies in a fresh way for each moment of the day and point others to the same.

A few years into my experience of pastoral ministry, as I was looking for healthy disciplines that would support me spending time with Jesus, I came across an ancient practice some refer to as - the Jesus prayer. It is practiced by breathing in as you pray “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God…” and then as you breathe out “have mercy on me a sinner.” This prayer is repeated over and over as I breathe in the truth about who Jesus is and breathe out the reality of my need for His continued mercy to change things. The prayer only works well as a whisper in the sense that I can’t verbalize it loudly while breathing in. But the one part I can exclaim very loudly as I’m breathing out is my desperate cry “have mercy on me a sinner.” 

In our text this week, we see some of this prayer taught in Jesus’ parable as He describes the tax collector praying, “God, have mercy on me a sinner.” In that prayer, the tax collector is justified because he sees the truth that it is only by God’s mercy that he will ever be brought into life-saving communion with God. Jesus’ parable offers a powerful reminder for those like me that have a problem with sometimes trusting in ourselves and our own work. Jesus’ reminder is that it is only by God’s mercy that anyone will ever be able to come peacefully into His presence.

May we be a people that do not trust in ourselves but in the One who is Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God. May we urgently pursue the truth of the Gospel as much as we pursue the air we need for our lungs. And may we experience the peace and mercy achieved through Jesus by which sinners like us are now called saints in His Kingdom to the praise of His glory!

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon

The God Who Gives

Earlier this week at Community Group we discussed the question “Are all gods the same?” So many other philosophical questions stem from this one. Do all roads lead to one God? Does it matter who or what we worship as long as we are honoring some sort of higher power? Are we “saved” by the strength of our devotion to a set of beliefs or are we saved by the object of our faith- Christ?

What do you think? Are all gods the same? What sets Yahweh- the trinitarian God of the Bible- apart from all other gods?

Over the past month, when I read my Bible I began to note how the Lord is different from other gods.

-He’s the God who promises his presence.

-He’s the God who pays attention to the suffering of his people.

-He’s the covenant maker, and he never forgets or goes back on his promises.

-He’s the God who shows mercy even in his righteous judgement.

-He’s a God who doesn’t exploit our weaknesses but shelters us.

-He’s the God who gives grace even to the grumblers.

-He’s the God who gives his people rest.

-He’s the God who carries us to himself.

-He’s a compassionate God who protects widows and orphans and cares for the poor.

-He warns us about what will hurt us.

-He calls us to celebrate.

-He’s not a God who is far off, but dwells among his people.

-He’s a personal God who knows and calls each of us by name.

-He’s the God who gives.

He’s the God who gives. Isn’t that the glory of what we celebrate this week? Every other god in history takes and takes and takes. With a wrath that demands to be appeased by good works, or offerings, how can we ever do enough to satisfy these gods?

We can’t.

We can never make it to God, so God came to us. He became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus showed us exactly what kind of God we have- a Father who loves us beyond measure. A Father who makes a way for us to be united to him, through the blood of Jesus. There is no god in history or our culture like Yahweh! None who rushes to save or extends mercy. None whose kindness, absolute kindness, leads us to repentance. What kind of God does that?!There’s only one!

This Easter, may our hearts break open wide in praise. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us. Though we have not seen him, we love him. Oh, how we love him! Though not seeing him now, we believe in him, and rejoice together with inexpressible and glorious joy, because we are receiving the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls. Amen.

Joyfully,

Natalie

More Than Flipping Tables

So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon.

-Mark 11:11

This coming Holy Week for the Christian faith is the week the Lent service points us to in our journey to Easter Sunday. This week starts with Palm Sunday, followed by the quiet and reflecting moments and prayers of Maundy Thursday, the somber day of remembrance of Christ's death on a cross on Good Friday, and the joyful celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Mark 11:1-19 records the start of this week when Jesus approaches Jerusalem riding a donkey (or colt) through a jubilant procession with cries of "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” By the end of verse 19, Jesus has cursed a fig tree and laid waste to the merchants and their tables of merchandise in the Temple. The religious leaders were furious and sought a way to destroy him, and multitudes were astonished by Jesus's teachings. However, let us look at a verse often overlooked — verse 11.

Jesus entered the Temple, it was late in the day, and he looked around. He did nothing and left.

We forget that Jesus had already destroyed the merchants means of commerce established in the Temple a few years before this latest visit. John records Jesus’s visit to the Temple in his Gospel in the second chapter after the Cana wedding Miracle. After this recent visit, Jesus leaves the Temple, the following day he sees a fig tree —out of season for producing figs — searches for figs to eat, finds none, and curses the tree.

What's going on here?

May I suggest that when you weave together the events starting with the treatment of those hailing Christ as King in an outward, visible, and historical way who will also a few days later turn on Him and demand his death, the Temple where once again Jesus saw within its walls it was still perverted with commerce instead as God's house of prayer and worship, and a fig tree that was all show but no substance, Christ makes the point it is not one’s outer ward appearance but what is going on inside a person and his or heart and soul that matters.

The Temple looked grand and beautiful from the outside, but sin and corruption were prevalent inside. It's not a coincidence Mark notes it was late in the day. Late in the day, the sun was setting, creating elongated shadows and hints of darkness, shading the stones, columns, and people. It can be a foretelling too of the elongated shadows, and darkness of hidden sin shading one's soul and heart. At the same time, it looks like we have it all together outwardly, exchanging the pleasantries of our good self with our Temple of appearance, while the inward Temple - our heart — can be a different story. Malcolm Guite suggests that constant tension exists in exchanging the world's outward desires with our hearts' inward desires. It’s during this tension when we need to ask Christ, and the help of the Holy Spirit, to be the authority over our lives and rescue us from our sinful impulses —asking Jesus to flip our heart’s tables filled with the merchandise of sin.

In cleansing the Temple, Jesus, as Messiah, claimed greater authority over the Temple than the religious leaders and High Priest. A few days later, Jesus Christ did the final cleansing of the Temple in the Great Exchange of dying on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins and took on our sins and lay upon us His righteousness so we became justified as righteous in God's eyes.

There is more going on here in the present events of Mark 11 than Jesus flipping tables. It's a foretelling of our salvation and the cleansing of our inner self — our sinful nature and heart.

Persistence Pays Off

"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." (Luke 18:1).

I got my first job when I was 16 years old.  I cut grass with a push mower around tombstones at Valhalla Cemetery in Godfrey.  Even though this job was not my "dream job" I was so excited to begin working and making money.  I wanted to do a good job, but on my second day sparks went flying under my lawn mower.  I accidentally hit a metal flower vase.  Metal on metal.  The lawnmower died.  I had a sinking feeling - I am going to get fired.  I did not know my boss.  I did not know what kind of man he is.  So - I decided not to tell him.  I had to pull the "starter cord" about 25 times before I got the lawnmower running again, but once the engine started - I was "back in business" - until a few days later when my boss asked me why the blade under the lawnmower was bent.

I took a deep breath and confessed everything.  He had one question - why didn't I tell him immediately what happened?  I told him, "I didn't want to get fired."  He laughed and said, "You won't get fired.  We've all done stuff like this.  I just need to know so I can fix it."  After that experience I had a different relationship with my boss.  I knew he was approachable.  I knew he would understand if I made some honest mistakes.  I knew he wanted me to succeed.  I was no longer slow to talk to him and I no longer avoided him.

In The Parable of the Persistent Widow Jesus tells of a widow who is in need.  Her need is much more serious than my fear of being fired on my second day of work.  She has been taken advantage of and there is no one to advocate for her, so she advocates for herself.  Unfortunately, she has to deal with a judge who neither fears God or cares about people, but she does not give up.  She continues to ask and plead and call and beg.  She knew this judge was not a good person, but she didn't give up and her persistence paid off.  Her request was eventually granted.

Jesus then reminds us that our Judge is different than the unjust judge in this parable.  Our Judge not only fears God, HE IS GOD.  Our Judge not only cares about people, He sent His Son to save people.  Our Judge is not only accessible, but He invites us to approach His Throne where we will receive mercy and find grace in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).  Our Judge is not only our Judge, but also our loving Father who knows how to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11).  

Jesus ends this passage with a question that "hangs in the air."  "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8).  We all know not all is right with the world in the here and now.  There is injustice.  It is often hard to reconcile how a Just God would allow so much injustice, but Jesus exhorts us to keep on praying and not lose heart.  Help is on the way.  He is on the way.  Jesus intervenes and brings hope and strength and deliverance both in the "here and now" and perfectly in the "then and there."  

May we be a people who know we have the perfectly Just Judge.  May we be a people who trust His character and approach Him when we need help.  May we not grow weary or lose heart.  May we be those who when the Son of Man comes have faith in His faithfulness.

See you Sunday,

Steven

They Will Repent

In Luke 16:19-31, we are introduced to a nameless rich man who did not have any mercy or grace for a beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores. To fully understand his worthlessness, we are told that dogs licked his sores. Lazarus is nothing but food for dogs. Yet when Lazarus dies, he is not carried away by dogs, he is carried by angels to the side of Abraham. When the Rich man dies, he is buried in Hades, in torment and able to see Lazarus the beggar side by side with Father Abraham far out of the touch or reach from the Rich man’s grasp. He begs Abraham to send Lazarus with water on the tip of his finger so that his tongue might be cooled. Abraham tells the Rich man that no one can reach him for there is a great chasm preventing anyone from crossing to either side.  

So, then the Rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his family so that they would not end up where he is. To this Abraham says they have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them. One last time the Rich man calls out, “If someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.” Father Abraham then explains to the Rich man if they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.

Do you think the family members repented after all? Were the teachings of Moses and the Prophets enough? Is it enough for us or are we waiting for a person like Lazarus to rise from the dead before we accept what the Bible says?  We are loved and saved. Do we need to see angels for us to believe we are loved and saved? 

-Nikki Fiedler

The Loving Father

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” - Jeremiah 31:3

At the beginning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son neither son knew the Father’s love - even though the Father loved them.  At the end of the parable one son experiences the depth of the Father’s love and the other son stiff-arms the Father’s love.

What about you?

Do you believe your Father in Heaven loves you?

I mean - really loves you?

Read this letter slowly.  Meditate on these words.  Ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your heart to love the One who loves you.  Run to the Father.  He is waiting for you.

A love letter from God to you

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. (Psalm 139:1)

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. (Psalm 139:2)

I am familiar with all your ways. (Psalm 139:3)

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:29-31)

For you were made in my image. (Genesis 1:27)

In me you live and move and have your being. (Acts 17:28)

For you are my offspring. (Acts 17:28)

I knew you even before you were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:4-5)

I chose you when I planned creation. (Ephesians 1:11-12)

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. (Psalm 139:15-16)

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. (Acts 17:26)

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

I knit you together in your mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13)

And brought you forth on the day you were born. (Psalm 71:6)

I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me. (John 8:41-44)

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. (1 John 4:16)

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. (1 John 3:1)

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. (1 John 3:1)

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. (Matthew 7:11)

For I am the perfect father. (Matthew 5:48)

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. (James 1:17)

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. (Matthew 6:31-33)

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psalm 139:17-18)

And I rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

I will never stop doing good to you. (Jeremiah 32:40)

For you are my treasured possession. (Exodus 19:5)

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. (Jeremiah 32:41)

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. (Jeremiah 33:3)

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. (Deuteronomy 4:29)

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

For it is I who gave you those desires. (Philippians 2:13)

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

For I am your greatest encourager. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. (Psalm 34:18)

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. (Isaiah 40:11)

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. (Revelation 21:3-4)

And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. (Revelation 21:3-4)

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.  (John 17:23)

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. (John 17:26)

He is the exact representation of my being. (Hebrews 1:3)

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. (Romans 8:31)

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. (1 John 4:10)

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. (Romans 8:31-32)

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. (1 John 2:23)

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. (Romans 8:38-39)

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. (Luke 15:7)

I have always been Father, and will always be Father. (Ephesians 3:14-15)

My question is … Will you be my child? (John 1:12-13)

I am waiting for you. (Luke 15:11-32)

Love, Your Dad.
Almighty God

May we be those who receive the Father’s love through Jesus Christ our Lord.  May we be those who “rise and return to our Father.”  May we feel His robe around us, His ring on our finger, His sandals on our feet.  May we celebrate because we were lost and now we are found, we were dead and now we are alive again.

See you Sunday,

Steven

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Lessons I can learn from the parable of the Rich Fool

• Do you know what a fool is? If you’d asked me to define what a fool is I probably would have said: “someone who acts silly or does something without thinking of the consequences.”  But if we look at the Bible we see an expanded definition.  The bible says a fool is “reckless and careless” (Proverbs 14:16), lacks knowledge (Proverbs 14:7), ignores instruction (Proverbs 15:5), walks in darkness (Ecclesiastes 2:14a) and does not know God (Psalm 14:1).  Our parable this week about the “Rich Fool” (Luke 12:13-21) tells the story of a rich man who God called a fool. The rich man became a fool when he failed to acknowledge that all good things come from God (James 1:7), when he lived as if he were the only one, having no concern for God or others.  His business may have been flourishing but spiritually he was bankrupt.  I don’t want to be a fool.

• Rich toward God.  The parable of the Rich Fool would be the antithesis of rich toward God.   The rich man never gave a thought to the things God values. Jesus tells us: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” And he continued, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-38)   If we are to be rich toward God we must not spend our time and talents on the accumulation of material possessions or wealth for selfish pleasures, but use those God-given riches to serve Him and our neighbors.  Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply every need of yours…”.  God blesses us so we can bless others.

• Life is knowing God NOT things.  If I would spend the same amount of time in the Word of God that I spend researching a future purchase, how much better would I know God? Instead of going to Pinterest twenty times a day to see what I should make, bake or buy I would be better served going to the Bible app and seeing what God has for me.

What have you learned from the parable of the Rich Fool?  

-Brenda Wooff

Jesus Calls Him Good

If you were to use the phrase “good Samaritan” to describe someone, what would you mean by it? Maybe you’re ascribing to them some great act of heroism or just a small act of kindness. Let’s think about what the Jewish hearers of Jesus’ day would’ve thought about when they heard that phrase. Most likely, they would’ve thought that is an impossible pairing of words because they would associate Samaritans with the worst kinds of people.

In our text this week, Jesus uses this parable of a good Samaritan to answer the questions of an expert in Jewish law. The parable speaks to the heart of the man asking the questions. Through this parable, Jesus reminds the man how sincere love for God is reflected through mercy and compassion for one’s neighbor. The parable emphasizes the kind of love that originates from the heart of God for His people and that He wants the world to know.

So often when I read this parable of the good Samaritan, I see myself in the characters of the parable. But as I read it this time, I’m convicted about being the one to whom this parable is directed. Jesus gives this parable in response to the legal expert’s question. That man is looking for the qualifying actions that will allow him to be with God now and forever. Jesus’ response in this way of calling the Samaritan “good” is striking both then and now to anyone who is literally trying to be in good standing with God.

God alone has the ability to qualify us to be good with Him now and forever. To show mercy in deep and meaningful ways, each of us must know how mercy is shown to us through the covenant God has made with His people through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Like the Jewish legal expert, you and I are only qualified by God’s say so that we are good with Him.

Somehow, by God’s miraculous work, the knowledge of God’s mercy towards us must reach our hearts in a way that moves us to want to live and love like him. May it be so for us as His chosen ambassadors for His Kingdom in the world today. God please help us by the power of your Spirit to know your love deeply and show your love meaningfully to all people – especially those most despised! Afterall, you have given bad people like me a new identity in your Kingdom as you are calling us “GOOD” to the praise of your glory!

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon

Rooted

I once had a garden set back by the woods. Over the years, it yielded a profuse variety of weeds but little edible produce. I dreaded preparing the soil each spring. Under the surface of the garden grew thick, yellow, vine like roots. I don’t know precisely what they were, or which forest tree they originated from but they became my nemesis. For the sake of my garden I knew they had to go. But those roots held on as though their lives depended on it. It was a battle between roots and zucchini. Dear reader, I’m sad to say, the roots won. Those squash didn’t stand a chance. I lost out on some home grown veggies but I really did respect the tenacity of those roots.

Jesus told a crowd of people a parable about a sower who went out to sow seed. His disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” Jesus explained it to them in terms of seed and soil. The seed is the word of God. The different types of soil are representative of how the word is received. Some seed is snatched away before taking root, some lands in rocky soil with roots that never go deep, and some are choked by thorns. In Luke 8:15, Jesus says “But the seed in the good ground-these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring produce fruit.”

Once we receive the word, how do we hold on to it? We need to develop roots; roots that go down deep. Colossians 2:6-7 says “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

The Spirit of Jesus works in us to cultivate the soil of our hearts. When the seed lands on good soil, it dies. And yet something new springs forth- something that can produce much fruit as we continue to grow in Christ. Friends, growing deep roots takes effort on our part. It doesn’t just happen.

As we prepare for Sunday, consider: Is the soil of your heart prepared to receive the word? Are your roots growing deep as your faith flourishes? What does Jesus want to prune in you? Do you know that he will work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure? He wants us to yield fruit, a hundred fold! Let’s continue growing in the grace and knowledge of our Savior all the days of our lives.

Natalie