You are already blessed with every spiritual blessing. This is the Christmas Bonus Jesus provided for us all year round. It's not that God will give you what you need, but He already has given you these things. He has already blessed you with every spiritual blessing and it brought Him great pleasure to do so. So, this week, when you look in the mirror, remember how God sees you. Because that is who you really are.

Stop complaining and start delegating. Start letting go. Start leaning into the things that matter and release those that don’t. And in that, you will receive the riches of life. I love this quote by Ben Stein. He said: “I cannot tell you anything that, in a few minutes, will tell you how to be rich. But I can tell you how to feel rich, which is far better. Be grateful. Be grateful about everything, and you’ll feel a lot richer than the billionaires I know who are always moaning about everything that happens. It’s the only totally reliable get-rich-quick scheme."

Who is that person who encouraged, supported, challenged, or lifted you up? If you were to sit down and write a closing to a letter and you wanted to pay tribute and honor to those who you are so grateful for, people who have brought great meaning to your life, who would they be? Think about it. Who would you thank God for? Is there someone out there who would write your name down?

The Word of God is not a burden or a task. When the seed falls on your life, does it take root and grow in you? When you spend time in God's Word -Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control, start to show up in your life. That's the goal. It's not about a quota of chapters or finishing the pages in a certain number of days. It's about letting the seed take root in you, even if it's just for a moment each day.

Ponder the achievement of God. He doesn’t condone our sin, nor does he compromise his standard. He doesn’t ignore our rebellion, nor does he relax his demands. Rather than dismiss our sin, he assumes our sin and, incredibly, sentences himself. God’s holiness is honored. Our sin is punished… and we are redeemed. God does what we cannot do so we can be what we dare not dream: perfect before God. -Max Lucado

Baptism is the culmination of unwavering trust in Jesus. It is going all in with Jesus. After all he's done for you, it is your commitment and unwavering trust in him. This is not just a ceremony or some optional event. This is how Jesus asked us to express our belief in him.

Does forgiveness mean that you step right back into a hurtful relationship? No. Does forgiveness mean that you just forget what you learned from an experience? No. But you forgive because it was modeled for you and you forgive because forgiveness will set you free.

May we live uncommon lives filled with joy that exceeds our current circumstances. May we live uncommon lives filled with peace amid great uncertainty? May we live uncommon lives that cling to hope in the midst of fear? May we live uncommon lives for God's sake to draw a watching world to the hope we've found.

Men and women just like Peter who failed, had flaws and sins, and were shaky on their own, that God started and built his church. So many people just like Peter started to make sure people heard about Jesus, and all these years later, it's because of Peter and people just like Peter who were used by Jesus that the news of Jesus' grace has reached your ears right here at First Christian Church.

Faith in Jesus doesn’t erase hardships. We still cry, we mourn at loss, and we are still saddened by our fallen world. But you can remind yourself that it will be okay. You will still be hurt. You will still be wounded. But we know that one day, our wounds will be healed because, as Isaiah 53 says, “by his wounds, we are healed.” Peter explains that an unshakable faith praises God, has a firm hope, and rejoices no matter what.