God expects all people to be thankful. But our fast and furious times do not lend themselves easily to this virtue. But there is hope. Gratitude grows the greater the grace of God grabs a hold of our hearts.

When we surrender to the Spirit Wind blowing through our hearts, deep changes begin to surface in the way we serve the Lord Jesus.

Paul's third missionary journey was a farewell trip to say goodbye to the churches he helped start. What he did in this farewell journey showed the heart of this servant that serves as an example for all believers today.

All godly men in the Book of Acts were driven with a burning passion for evangelism. Obstacles were fuel in their pursuit of spreading the Gospel. Their power and authority were distinct. What sets them apart from others?

Wounds powerfully shape our characters. They make or break us. We are and act the way we do due to some past wound or injury. Our sovereign God appoints and allows wounds to touch us for deep and glorious reasons.

Every human being is wired to worship someone or something. There's no such thing as worshiping nothing. Something will captivate our hearts becoming the most riveting allegiance of our lives. Where does the gospel fit?

When we learn to hoist the sails of our hearts for the wind of the Spirit to blow into, the impossible means nothing, the possibilities are limitless. His mission for us gets done. The church gets stronger. The church marches on.

Acts 15 concludes Part 1 (Accelerate) of the book and introduces Part 2 (Headwinds). It marks a crisis in the history of our faith in Jesus. At such moments the church leans on strong pillars that carry her through rough seas.

FRIEND DAY

Stormy season sets upon our lives. Most of such occurrences happen in unexpected moments. We’re quickly tossed around by the force of the storm. We wonder if there is any hope of escape. Whether the storm lasts long or short, we won’t know for certain. But one thing we do know--storms will take place. It may have taken its course right now.

The extension of the church to Cyprus and Asia Minor shows the beginning of the Apostle Paul's ministry to the Gentiles. What the missionaries to the Gentiles did and experienced are similar to what the missionaries to the Jews also did and experienced. God was indeed behind both missionary undertakings.