"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CSB)If I asked you to name the five things you're most thankful for, what would make your list? Maybe your spouse. Your children. Your health. Your job. The home you live in. The friendships God has given you. Those are good things to be thankful for. And if we'r...  Read More

"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CSB)There are some things in life you would never put on a gratitude list. The phone call you never wanted. The relationship that ended with words you still can't forget. The diagnosis that changed what tomorrow looks like. The empty chair at the table where some...  Read More

"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CSB)Have you ever reached the end of a really stressful day and realized you've spent almost the entire day thinking about your problems? You thought about them while driving to work. You replayed that difficult conversation during lunch. You worried about the bi...  Read More

"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CSB)Some mornings, the first thing you feel isn't gratitude. It's the weight of whatever you went to bed carrying. You open your eyes, and before your feet touch the floor, your mind goes right back to it. The conversation that went wrong. The person you're worri...  Read More

"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CSB)Most of us don't need somebody to teach us how to notice when something goes wrong. You wake up late. The coffee spills. There's a message on your phone you didn't want to read. Before you've even made it out the door, your mind is already running through eve...  Read More

Galatians 5:1 (CSB)"For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery."There's something that happens when we hear a truth from God's Word that really challenges us. We recognize it. We agree with it. Sometimes we even feel convicted by it. We might say, "That's exactly what I needed to hear." And for a moment, everything seems clear.But then life keeps...  Read More