Zooming Out & Seeing the Big Picture: Spoiler alert… most of the verses that we love to keep on cross-stitched pillows don’t tell the full story. Today’s story brings light to one of the most popular verses of all time, and emphasizes why it’s so important for us to ZOOM OUT when it comes to the story of our faith. Then being a follower of Jesus will be so much more than our feelings in the moment…it’ll become a way of life that truly transforms us in our Waiting Room.

Ever been passed over for that promotion and forced to serve a totally incompetent leader? Been mad at God for allowing your friends to get married or pregnant before He entrusted you to? Today’s story finds an adolescent character given a big promise– and then a whole lot of nothing for two decades. When we examine more closely, we can see that there was purpose in the whole journey though.

Almost Forgot This is The Point: DMVs, Airport Terminals, Doctor’s offices, and checkout lines. We spend a huge portion of our lives waiting. But what if we were in control of the waiting, rather than letting it be in control of us? It might change the course of our lives and even keep us from outcomes that come to haunt us later.

I’m a Mercy-nary: Odds are that whenever you hear the name Jonah, you think of a fish. He’s that guy. The one who didn’t do what God told him to do and got swallowed whole by a real-life Monstro (read the whale from Pinocchio). But that’s just the beginning of the story. It’s way more interesting than that. And maybe even more difficult to believe is real.

I’m an Ambassador: One of the fastest ways to make a room uncomfortable is to bring up religion. Why? Because the odds of it getting heated always seem high. So we avoid the argument all together. But what if it’s not an argument to begin with? That changes the dynamic. So how about we change the dynamic and make it something else…

I’m a Overcomer: When it feels like the odds are stacked against us, it’s tempting to stop. To turn around. To give up. But that moment, facing the roadblock might be the very moment we were made for; the moment everything has been leading to. And best part is this: overcoming that hurdle doesn’t depend on you.

I’m a Leader: Many people simply cannot see themselves as a leader. We’re either born with it or not, right? But what if it isn’t as difficult as we’ve come to believe? Sometimes the identity of a leader is one we’re invited to more than is written in our DNA. We just need to relearn what it means to be one.

Finding Your Purpose: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. We believe this doesn't just apply to athletic regimens or diet plans, but it also applies to building a meaningful life. While we don’t have control over everything in life, one of the most surefire ways to maximize our faith and make sense of God’s call for us is to spend time contemplating where we find purpose and how we can use it for His glory.

Pour Over: Nobody likes talking about money; especially giving it away. We work hard for whatever number we see in our bank accounts and that makes it deeply personal. But generosity is less about that number or those dollars than you think. It’s not not part of it, but understanding what giving is all about makes it feel less so.

The Best Me is We: If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that we need other human beings in our lives. We need real connection. Something happens in us and for us when we’re in the same room with others and not alone. It shouldn’t surprise us though, because God’s been telling us that’s how He made us since the beginning.