Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Behold Your God!

- -I CAN- -o Too many Christians focus too little on this. We're prone to focus on what we can not do. We tend to focus on our own weaknesses -as if that were some sort of surprise--o Of course we have weaknesses - you are a human-o Of course we are utterly weak-completely impotent in fact-as compared to the Lord God Almighty-o But your own weakness is not an excuse for inaction. Your own personal weakness has nothing to do with whether or not you can do anything. Because it's never been about your own strength.-- You can because He can- I can because He can. We can because He can.-- -Through Christ who gives me strength--o Oh, that's the beautiful thing. You don't have to generate the strength on your own. It's not about your strength at all. It's not about your willpower. It's not about your ability. The strength doesn't come from you - no what we are talking about it supernatural strength from the Son of God Himself.

• "I CAN" o Too many Christians focus too little on this. We're prone to focus on what we can not do. We tend to focus on our own weaknesses (as if that were some sort of surprise) o Of course we have weaknesses – you are a human o Of course we are utterly weak—completely impotent in fact—as compared to the Lord God Almighty o But your own weakness is not an excuse for inaction. Your own personal weakness has nothing to do with whether or not you can do anything. Because it's never been about your own strength.  You can because He can; I can because He can. We can because He can. • "Through Christ who gives me strength" o Oh, that's the beautiful thing. You don't have to generate the strength on your own. It's not about your strength at all. It's not about your willpower. It's not about your ability. The strength doesn't come from you – no what we are talking about it supernatural strength from the Son of God Himself.

a. God knows His own perfect plans.-b. God knows the blessings He has planned for you, whether you do or not.-c. Your awareness of His blessings has no impact on the reality of what God is going to do. Just because you can't see it yet doesn't mean his planned blessings won't come to pass. -d. It doesn't really matter if you know the plans he has for you. . . the important thing is that He knows the plans He has for you

Are you a disciple of Christ---Notice how closely that word resembles the word -Discipline.- -Are you serious about following Christ---- Being a disciple means it's not about what you want or what you can get by with or maybe what God will tolerate, but ultimately what will please God.-- Oh how different our lives would be if we lived purely by this principle- -Will this please my master--- -- We live in a generation where people are more concerned with how they feel than with doing what is right.-o Part of being a disciple of Christ is having a basic foundation of character and morals, regardless of how you feel. In fact, that's just part of being an adult. -o True disciples can be relied on to do certain things regardless of how they feel in the moment-o Our generation has been far too focused on inspiration -an emotional high- and not nearly focused enough on duty and responsibility-- We go to church only when we feel like it-- We pray when we feel like it-- We get serious about the Lord's work -sort of- when we feel like it-- What if pastors preached only when they felt like it---- What if God only answered our prayers when he felt like it-- What if God relied on -motivation- like we do----o At the very beginning of Jesus's earthly ministry, when Jesus called his disciples, he said -Follow me-- which was at once an invitation and a command. -- So much more than just -don't you want to be saved.- -Don't you want to go to heaven---

Are you a disciple of Christ? Notice how closely that word resembles the word "Discipline." Are you serious about following Christ? • Being a disciple means it's not about what you want or what you can get by with or maybe what God will tolerate, but ultimately what will please God.  Oh how different our lives would be if we lived purely by this principle: "Will this please my master?" • We live in a generation where people are more concerned with how they feel than with doing what is right. o Part of being a disciple of Christ is having a basic foundation of character and morals, regardless of how you feel. In fact, that's just part of being an adult. o True disciples can be relied on to do certain things regardless of how they feel in the moment o Our generation has been far too focused on inspiration (an emotional high) and not nearly focused enough on duty and responsibility  We go to church only when we feel like it  We pray when we feel like it  We get serious about the Lord's work (sort of) when we feel like it  What if pastors preached only when they felt like it?  What if God only answered our prayers when he felt like it? What if God relied on "motivation" like we do? o At the very beginning of Jesus's earthly ministry, when Jesus called his disciples, he said "Follow me!" which was at once an invitation and a command.  So much more than just "don't you want to be saved." "Don't you want to go to heaven?"