Jesus is the best friend we can ever have. His love is ever faithful and fully committed, but it’s also true. It will not lead us astray - nor avoid the hard truth. The Christian life is about relationship - abiding in this underserved intimacy.

There is both a personal side to abiding in Christ and also a communal side. Each requires us to be intentional in specific practices. Listen as Pastor Terry walks through these practical steps that will help us live a life characterized by a steady joy that remains no matter the circumstances around us.

The key to a faith life that is vibrant, flourishing, growing - is abiding. And when Jesus says to abide in Him, it is both a command and an invitation. So how can we contend for this full life that Jesus is offering us?

The key to having an abounding life in Christ is found in an abiding life. Our strength comes from Him; we are not strong enough on our own. When we truly allow ourselves to receive this gift - that’s when we can access spiritual power.

Jesus’ sacrifice is meant to fill us with irrepressible joy, hope, and to settle us in His peace. If we link ourselves to Him and accept what He has to offer us, the life ahead is far superior to the life we have here - this is the promise of Easter.

The promise of Jesus is the hope of the life to come, in which there will be no more pain, sadness or tears. But while we are still here in this life, Jesus pauses to be with us in our pain, to comfort us and gently lead us on our path to healing.

If we come to know Jesus as the Good Shepherd we soon discover that He will always go before us, laying His life down for us. He knows each one of us and calls us each by name. This is a truth we can build our identity around.

Being a follower of Jesus requires us to recognize His voice. Do you hear His still, small voice telling you how loved, seen, known, and individually precious you are?

The love of Jesus is one that does not condemn. But neither does it condone. Rather, it is a love that invites us into the right way of living, with mercy and grace - a perfect balance of truth and love.

All that we need, all that we were meant to be - our truest identity and our deepest yearnings - can be found in Jesus. We must decide if we will accept His invitation to find our story in His.