Pastor Ed brings up an interesting point in today’s message – when we bring our difficulties and our sorrows to God, other people tend to notice. Other people, who are watching us go through whatever it is we are going through, are also watching how we respond to what life has handed us. When we look to God for our strength and rely on Him to pull us through, He not only gets the glory, but it could lead others to do the same thing! We can have a testimony even when we are at our lowest lows!

Have you ever tried to do something on your own that was really meant for more people to do? It was difficult, and overwhelming, wasn’t it? Pastor Ed today reminds us that in our Christian walk, we don’t need to be trying to do it alone! That is the design of the church – we will ALWAYS have other believers to support us, and to walk WITH us! This doesn’t mean that occasionally we won’t have disagreements, but we must come together on the biggest issue – loving the people that God has created!

When we accept Jesus’s sacrifice in our lives, God calls us His sons and daughters, so therefore we are now adopted into His family – we are His children. Now, having said that, think about how much God loves His Son, Jesus – and now think about how God loves you JUST AS MUCH as He loves His Son…mind blowing, right? Pastor Ed’s message today is about loving each other in the same way that we have been loved by our Father in Heaven – and that’s a lot of love to share!

Take a moment and recall a time in your life where God stepped in and changed your world…got one? Do you remember what it was like before then? Pastor Ed asks us today to recall how much God has influenced our life simply by inserting His love into it. He then reminds us that God is asking US to insert His love into the people around us. Wouldn’t you want to share the life-altering power of God with others? And seeing them find the same joy and peace you have found – that would be priceless!

The tenth commandment – do not covet – is a difficult commandment to follow. (Ok, they all are…) Coveting can creep into our minds and hearts when we aren’t even aware of it! As Pastor Ed points out today, the problem arises when we let that moment of jealousy take root, and grow bigger and bolder than we wanted. It weaves its way into our relationships, even our relationship with God! Take back control of the coveting – the thoughts may still occur, but let God remind you of His truth instead!

What is the point of the Ten Commandments, really? We already know that there is no way we as fallible humans can live up to the standard that has been set! Pastor Ed today gives us a unique perspective on these instructions: God’s intention was to have us open our hearts to Him, to let Him have access to those parts of our lives that don’t quite reach the standard! Jesus took care of the need to fulfill the rules when He died on the cross, and with His help, we can also walk in the righteous life laid out for us in the Bible!

Lies tend to have a snowball effect. Pastor Ed reminds us today how difficult telling one lie really is – more than likely, you’ll have to keep lying to cover up the first lie, or have the best memory in the world to know who you lied to and what the details were! Today’s message wraps up the ninth commandment – do not lie – and is intended to remind us to examine our own lives, specifically in areas where we may have bent the truth a bit. God’s desire is for us to live by a standard of truth, and to rid ourselves of the lies!

Today’s message brings us to the ninth commandment – do not lie. Pastor Ed reminds us that lying is prohibited by the Word of God, but seems to be a part of everyday life in society today. Many times, people see little white lies or slightly misleading phrases as normal, and accepted. God is calling us to a higher standard, however, and we must recognize lying in our own lives, even the tiny ones we brush off as harmless! God’s goal is truth, and by living by that standard, we will begin to see the world a bit differently.

Pastor Ed makes an interesting – and poignant – statement there: God’s favor doesn’t come on us based on what WE are doing. God doesn’t wait for us to get our act together, to start living well, being good people, following His commandments to a “T”. God wants to bless us where we are right now, and today’s message reminds us of this! We will fall short and require forgiveness, but that’s what grace is all about! God still has a great plan for us, no matter how many times we blow it!

Theft comes in many forms: it could be property, time, emotion – really any form of taking something from another person, or holding back something belonging to another, is considered stealing. As Pastor Ed examines the eighth commandment – do not steal – in today’s message, he reminds us to consider how even Christians can violate this commandment when dealing with each other, and how the Bible calls us to watch ourselves, and to set for ourselves a higher standard by which to live!