Who are the poor? How would one define “poor”? As Christ followers what does it mean to bring good news to the poor? What does it look like to welcome in the poor?

Enemies…we all have them don’t we? We don’t have to look to far around us to see our enemies. When someone wrongs us we are immediately upset…and rightly so what he or she has done has hurt us. If left unresolved this person may turn into an enemy. Some of us even have enemies within our own homes. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who hurt us. How do we invite in the enemy?

Jesus says to those who invite in the stranger that they have invited in the living God. But we live in a world where “stranger danger” is the motto. What does it look like to invite in those who are not like you, who have a different background than you, who live differently than you, who have different beliefs than you, who are well…different than you? What might God teach you when you welcome in the stranger?

We tend to make room for the things we value in life- whether thats time, energy, or money. Giving is just as much about motivation as it is resources. We don't give out of guilt or obligation. Giving not only reduces the power of greed in our life, it releases God's blessings to others.

Think about the lowest point in your life - when it all fell apart. Think of the anger inside, or the sadness. Think of how overwhelmed you felt. The absolute pit of our lives is where God does some of his most extraordinary work. The place with the greatest lament can be the place of some of the most restorative and transformative work. Jeremiah 20:7-9, 13-18, 38:4-6

There's a plan from God for your life! It doesn't matter your past, or what you'd think your future looks like, God can take your life and make it new! "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago". Ephesians 2:10 NLT

Finding peace with yourself physically, chemically, and psychologically is so important, but true peace is something that only comes from God. We can live in three different places when it comes to finding peace with God: the natural person, under the rules, and under God's love. It's only under God's love that we can find true peace, true grace, true joy. Choosing peace is what God desires for us

Anxiety is not something we have to simply endure, instead we have the ability to combat and attack it, not allowing anxiety to rule our lives anymore. Four ways to attack back on anxiety include: getting professional help, finding a friend, marinating in worship, and fighting back with Scripture. With these tools in mind you can be better equipped to fight back in your battle. The greatest battle is not what we can see but what is in our minds

Ever felt anxious? Afraid? Worried? We've probably all been there at one time or another. But there are tools we can use to fight these battles against fear, worry, and anxiety: naming our fears and destroying the lie that we're alone in our anxiety. Once we realize those two truths we can be assured that God was handling our anxieties, long before we were worried about them.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever." (Psalm 106:1) There is a lot of changes around us: new year, new season of life, new school, new friends, new house, new car, things that are not so good. But God is our rock, are refuge. He is still the same yesterday, today and forever. So EVEN WHEN LIFE CHANGES, GOD IS GOOD!!!