How regularly do we use the word "blessed"? We have "Blessed" printed on lots of things from t-shirts to coffee mugs to throw pillows. "#Blessed" has been used literally millions of times on Twitter and Instagram. When unexpectedly good things happen to us or when we stop and realize how fortunate we have been recently, we tend to refer to ourselves as "blessed." In the book of Matthew in the Bible, Jesus gives a whole list of situations in life where a person should consider themselves blessed, but honestly, His use of the word "blessed" might not match up with ours. What is Jesus' definition of "blessed"? And how can I be sure I really am living a blessed life?

There are all sorts of tangles and traps and messes we find ourselves in from time to time. Many times those struggles came into our lives because of someone else's actions or choices. But there is one issue that many of us consistently get tangled up in, and we have no one to blame but ourselves - and that's our words. The words that come out of my mouth can be positive and encouraging, or they can get me in a lot of trouble. So what is so "entangling" about my words, and how do I keep from letting my mouth tangle me up?

"Addiction" sounds like such a strong word, and it seems to carry a lot of weight. Most people don't consider themselves to actually have any kind of addiction (honestly, many addicts don't think they have an addiction either!). Repeat behaviors? Sometimes. Bad habits? Sure. Addictions? No way - I don't have any addictions. The reality is many of us struggle on a regular basis with harmful, addictive choices. So how do I recognize when a hurtful habit has become a problem in my life? And how do I start to untangle the mess that my addiction has created?

It's time to recognize and celebrate our 2022 graduates! As we honor, love, and affirm our seven graduating Seniors, we'll get to see how this generation of teenagers are facing the Gospel. A common hang up for many, Gen Z in particular struggles to grab hold of truth for what it is. Is truth relative? Is Jesus really the only way? Is there any hope for my life and the future? This Sunday we'll look at some common "trends" for the generation of screens, and identify the truths and lies behind a generation filled with incredible potential for sharing the gospel.

Moms are awesome! They do so much to take care of us, love us, bless us, forgive us, feed us...the list could go on. And yet these amazing women often find themselves "tangled up" in struggles and challenges that they weren't prepared for and might not even be sure how to deal with. What do moms do when they find themselves wrapped up in feelings of exhaustion or resentment or failure? How can our moms get untangled from the struggles that might be keeping them from becoming the best moms they can be for their families?

Our possessions hold a unique power over us. We convince ourselves that we own all of our possessions. But the time and the energy and the money we spend in order to get what we want or hold onto what we already have would indicate that we don't really own our stuff - our stuff actually owns us. What are the warning signs? How do I learn to recognize how entangled I've become in my possessions? And how do I start getting "untangled" from the control of my stuff?

When something gets tangled, whether it's electric cords or jewelry or shoelaces, it usually happens slowly, almost imperceptibly. We don't notice the knots that are weaving together; we don't pay attention to the cluster being created. And then suddenly we discover a tangled mess that we never realized was forming. It can happen in our personal lives as well - slowly, almost imperceptibly. We make a few selfish choices, we unwittingly start a harmful habit, and we suddenly find ourselves wrapped up in a tangled mess of guilt and frustration we never saw coming. So how do I keep from getting tangled up in unhealthy habits, and how do I begin to untangle myself from the consequences of some of my unwise choices?

Dark. Decaying. Grim. Hopeless. These are some of the words that come to mind when we think of a grave. Even ornate gravemarkers and perfectly placed flowers can't completely drive out the thoughts of despair and sorrow we feel when we stand before a tomb. And yet God did something amazing with His Son's tomb. He took something that was dismal and lifeless and ugly, and He created something beautiful and powerful and hope-filled when He breathed life into His Son's body and brought Him back from the grave! We invite you to join us this Easter as we celebrate Jesus' victory over death and as we discover how God still takes ugly, broken (even lifeless) things and makes them beautiful.

Maybe I've gotten myself in a lot of debt...again. Maybe I broke up with someone because they cheated on me...again. Maybe I shouldn't have said what I did, and I'm having to go back and apologize...again. We all have different struggles we work through and different problems we deal with. But many of us get frustrated because we find ourselves dealing with what we perceive to be the same problems again and again. But why is it that I have to keep dealing with the same issues? Is there any way for me to break the cycle?

Relationships in general have their ebbs and flows. Whether it's a friendship, a dating relationship, a marriage, or a family connection, there are times when I feel really close to that person and times when there's a palpable distance between us. The same seems to happen to most of us in our relationship with God. Sometimes we feel very closely connected to Him, and other times that relationship feels stagnant and cold and distant. So what do I do when those times come? How do I improve that connection? What steps can I take that will help me feel closer to God, especially in those times when He seems so far away?