What does it mean to say no to ourselves? In a world full of narratives like, "You do you," "Treat yourself," or "You deserve it, just do it," what does it mean to deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow Jesus?

One cannot fully understand a place like Disneyland until they themselves have been there. In the same way, how we describe and experience our faith is shaped by the lenses we look through. How we understand scripture, Jesus, the gospel, ourselves is constantly shaped by the lenses we wear.

Message from Keith Taylor on August 3, 2024

When things don't make sense, what do you do? When someone who lives a healthy lifestyle gets terminally ill, while someone who lives a destructive lifestyle keeps on going, what do you do? Or, when someone you thought was a friend all of a sudden ghosts you, while someone you don't like keeps on reaching out to you, what do you do?

Have you ever made something more complex than it needed to be? Or got so caught up in the details that you ended up missing the big picture? In our everyday lives, it's too easy to miss the point.

We need to remember these two things: remember that Jesus cares and remember what Jesus does.

When we are face to face with Jesus, nothing else matters, no one else matters. It's just us and Jesus.

When we are open to a move of God, when we get ourselves into position and hold on with expectation, we experience how Jesus can do so much with very little. Just like we might ask a friend, "Is there anything I can do to help?" we sometimes come to God with this same question.

When we place our lives under the word of God, we are opening ourselves to a move of God in and through our lives.

Jesus is more compassionate than you could ever experience. He is more gracious than you could ever hope for. He is more powerful than you could ever imagine. He is more faithful than you will know, and He is more loving than you will ever need.