God is not only our creator - he is our lord, our master and king who is free to spend our lives as he pleases. But often we reverse this in our lives - we become a monument to self-sufficiency and our services become a means of self-entertainment.

How Jesus had communion with the many and the few is a symbol for how he handles every life that he uses for his glory.

In our culture we're always surrounded with temptation to trust in our own abilities. Our challenge: to live in a way that we are radically dependant on and desperate for the power only God can provide.

We as Christ followers in Western churches have embraced values and ideas that are not only unbiblical but actually contradict the gospel. But we have a choice: we can chose to continue with business as usual or we can take an honest look at the Jesus of the Bible - and live differently.

Self-centeredness seemingly tells us that we're doing good things for us and others when we are not - we can even have so many visions that we miss Jesus. But he is the only way out of this subtle disease.

We are more than conquerors: a conqueror gets things done on his own strength, but we can use the weapons of someone who has already conquered for us - the blood of Jesus, the name of Jesus and the word of God.

How do we live a life of audacious faith? By not distancing us from the world and by standing firm: we think that the current is strong, but all we have to do is stand up on God's promises and principles.

Hardened, shallow or distracted - let's be honest: how does your hard look like? And why would having an open heart be so much better for you?

Jesus says that God's kingdom is near, we even pray "Your kingdom come" - but what does this mean for our lives? How can we seek, step into, be changed by and live in God's kingdom?

Are we prepared for what God wants to give us? Will we be able to retain it? We need to dig ditches and locate the well that supplies and retains life-giving water.