Phrases and saying have a way of weaving themselves into life and becoming part of our collective understanding. One such phrase was coined in the 1930s from the card game bridge. Game-changer refers to something that significantly changes the expected outcome of the event. It is a shift and a turn of events that result in the unexpected. Though not in these exact words, game-changer is found in our text. It occurs in verse 30: But God. The word but is a conjunction. We know from our the rules of literature that conjunctions connect two clauses. In this case, but is more than just a conjunction, it is a game-changer. This one word changes everything and connects the sin of man to the salvation of Jesus. The crucifixion was man at his worst, but the resurrection was God at His best. There was a change because of the resurrection. We celebrated Easter last weekend. Easter marks the change between two different periods of time. It is the change between our past and our future. It is the change between our failure and our future. Our life is different today because of the resurrection. Where would we be if not for But God? God is the ultimate game-changer.

Phrases and saying have a way of weaving themselves into life and becoming part of our collective understanding. One such phrase was coined in the 1930s from the card game bridge. Game-changer refers to something that significantly changes the expected outcome of the event. It is a shift and a turn of events that result in the unexpected. Though not in these exact words, game-changer is found in our text. It occurs in verse 30: But God. The word but is a conjunction. We know from our the rules of literature that conjunctions connect two clauses. In this case, but is more than just a conjunction, it is a game-changer. This one word changes everything and connects the sin of man to the salvation of Jesus. The crucifixion was man at his worst, but the resurrection was God at His best. There was a change because of the resurrection. We celebrated Easter last weekend. Easter marks the change between two different periods of time. It is the change between our past and our future. It is the change between our failure and our future. Our life is different today because of the resurrection. Where would we be if not for But God? God is the ultimate game-changer.

The cathedral at Notre Dame began construction in 1163 and took 182 years to complete. It is a grand structure that has many spectacular features and amazing beauty. In April of 2019, a fire broke out in the building and the world watched as a beautiful, historic building was destroyed by fire. After the fire was extinguished, they set about saving what could be saved, and shoring up what needed so that no further damage would occur. Officials began to ask questions about how to rebuild. How could they restore it to the former glory? Is it even possible to restore and to retain the historical significance of the cathedral? Bro. Hughes begins his series on rebuilding a masterpiece, by talking about another masterpiece. God created many things in the beginning. Mountains, valleys, and oceans. But none of these things compared to His greatest creation: man. Unlike the other creations that were spoken into existence, man was formed and formed in God’s own image. God Himself breathed life into man. When sin would mar that creation, God had a plan to restore His masterpiece. We are all works in progress. The world, and sometimes even we ourselves, judge us too harshly. God has a purpose to for His creation and we are all in various stages of restoration. The devil wants to keep us feeling like a mess than cannot be saved, but every one of us has a God-ordained destiny.

The story of the restoration of Notre Dame is a study in how to conduct a restoration project. The first step is to have a passion for the work. Those who undertake the project have to have a love for the work and an intense desire to see it in its former glory. Secondly, the team working on the restoration have to have great skill. They must have a plan to set about the work in an orderly manner. Finally, to restore a masterpiece, we have to have the means to conduct the project.

The cathedral at Notre Dame began construction in 1163 and took 182 years to complete. It is a grand structure that has many spectacular features and amazing beauty. In April of 2019, a fire broke out in the building and the world watched as a beautiful, historic building was destroyed by fire. After the fire was extinguished, they set about saving what could be saved, and shoring up what needed so that no further damage would occur. Officials began to ask questions about how to rebuild. How could they restore it to the former glory? Is it even possible to restore and to retain the historical significance of the cathedral? Bro. Hughes begins his series on rebuilding a masterpiece, by talking about another masterpiece. God created many things in the beginning. Mountains, valleys, and oceans. But none of these things compared to His greatest creation: man. Unlike the other creations that were spoken into existence, man was formed and formed in God’s own image. God Himself breathed life into man. When sin would mar that creation, God had a plan to restore His masterpiece. We are all works in progress. The world, and sometimes even we ourselves, judge us too harshly. God has a purpose to for His creation and we are all in various stages of restoration. The devil wants to keep us feeling like a mess than cannot be saved, but every one of us has a God-ordained destiny.

The story of the restoration of Notre Dame is a study in how to conduct a restoration project. The first step is to have a passion for the work. Those who undertake the project have to have a love for the work and an intense desire to see it in its former glory. Secondly, the team working on the restoration have to have great skill. They must have a plan to set about the work in an orderly manner. Finally, to restore a masterpiece, we have to have the means to conduct the project.

The cathedral at Notre Dame began construction in 1163 and took 182 years to complete. It is a grand structure that has many spectacular features and amazing beauty. In April of 2019, a fire broke out in the building and the world watched as a beautiful, historic building was destroyed by fire. After the fire was extinguished, they set about saving what could be saved, and shoring up what needed so that no further damage would occur. Officials began to ask questions about how to rebuild. How could they restore it to the former glory? Is it even possible to restore and to retain the historical significance of the cathedral? Bro. Hughes begins his series on rebuilding a masterpiece, by talking about another masterpiece. God created many things in the beginning. Mountains, valleys, and oceans. But none of these things compared to His greatest creation: man. Unlike the other creations that were spoken into existence, man was formed and formed in God’s own image. God Himself breathed life into man. When sin would mar that creation, God had a plan to restore His masterpiece. We are all works in progress. The world, and sometimes even we ourselves, judge us too harshly. God has a purpose to for His creation and we are all in various stages of restoration. The devil wants to keep us feeling like a mess than cannot be saved, but every one of us has a God-ordained destiny.

The story of the restoration of Notre Dame is a study in how to conduct a restoration project. The first step is to have a passion for the work. Those who undertake the project have to have a love for the work and an intense desire to see it in its former glory. Secondly, the team working on the restoration have to have great skill. They must have a plan to set about the work in an orderly manner. Finally, to restore a masterpiece, we have to have the means to conduct the project.

We celebrate Easter today in a way that we never thought would be possible. Because of the global health crisis forces us to be separated from each other. In some ways, we are experiencing Easter in a way similar to the first Easter. There are no crowds today at houses of worship, and on that first Easter, there were no crowds at the tomb. Easter’s glory and story are not tied to crowds and are not defined by our circumstances. Disease and economic uncertainty do not diminish the message that He has risen; He is Alive!

We celebrate Easter today in a way that we never thought would be possible. Because of the global health crisis forces us to be separated from each other. In some ways, we are experiencing Easter in a way similar to the first Easter. There are no crowds today at houses of worship, and on that first Easter, there were no crowds at the tomb. Easter’s glory and story are not tied to crowds and are not defined by our circumstances. Disease and economic uncertainty do not diminish the message that He has risen; He is Alive!

We celebrate Easter today in a way that we never thought would be possible. Because of the global health crisis forces us to be separated from each other. In some ways, we are experiencing Easter in a way similar to the first Easter. There are no crowds today at houses of worship, and on that first Easter, there were no crowds at the tomb. Easter’s glory and story are not tied to crowds and are not defined by our circumstances. Disease and economic uncertainty do not diminish the message that He has risen; He is Alive!

The story of Joseph is one of the most powerful in the bible. Joseph’s story contains many power principles for life. Our text picks up with the end of Jacob’s life where he admonishes Joseph to forgive his brothers. It is here that Joseph tells his brothers “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” The twists and turns of life can be likened to a thread. The thread weaves in and out in an intricate pattern. The weaving of these treads forms a garment. Life will weave a garment for us. We do not get to pick or choose the circumstances that life brings our way. What we do get to choose is how we respond to the things life brings. We get to choose who is the tailor of the garment that live weaves. If we focus on the wrong, the unfairness, and all that is not right, the world will weave our garment. But God’s garment is one of purpose. If we allow it, God will take the very things that life brings that can make us bitter, and turn it into a garment of praise. He can turn it into something about which we can rejoice and see that all things work together for the good.

Our world is gripped by fear of this present circumstance. If we are not careful, the thread of this global pandemic can become a garment of fear, uncertainty, and panic. Now is not a time to be discouraged, it is a time to look to God to do what God does best: Bless His people. We must not let the present circumstances cause us to lose sight of the hand of God in all of this that is working to turn what others meant for evil and use it for good.

The story of Joseph is one of the most powerful in the bible. Joseph’s story contains many power principles for life. Our text picks up with the end of Jacob’s life where he admonishes Joseph to forgive his brothers. It is here that Joseph tells his brothers “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” The twists and turns of life can be likened to a thread. The thread weaves in and out in an intricate pattern. The weaving of these treads forms a garment. Life will weave a garment for us. We do not get to pick or choose the circumstances that life brings our way. What we do get to choose is how we respond to the things life brings. We get to choose who is the tailor of the garment that live weaves. If we focus on the wrong, the unfairness, and all that is not right, the world will weave our garment. But God’s garment is one of purpose. If we allow it, God will take the very things that life brings that can make us bitter, and turn it into a garment of praise. He can turn it into something about which we can rejoice and see that all things work together for the good.

Our world is gripped by fear of this present circumstance. If we are not careful, the thread of this global pandemic can become a garment of fear, uncertainty, and panic. Now is not a time to be discouraged, it is a time to look to God to do what God does best: Bless His people. We must not let the present circumstances cause us to lose sight of the hand of God in all of this that is working to turn what others meant for evil and use it for good.