1 Corinthians 15:10 says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” God has placed something special on the inside of each of us. It is His desire that we make decisions that help us grow in these gifts. We should embrace who we are, no matter what, and diligently work at developing what He has deposited in us. Life is full of choices and decisions that will eventually make you who you are. Operate in excellence and allow God to shape you so you can connect others to Him. Make the decision to walk out what God has put inside of you.

Have you ever felt like you dont have what it takes to be something or somebody great? Culture wants you to believe that it's your outward appearance that determines who you are. However God says it's all about the inward condition of your heart. You have been appointed by God to operate under the anointing He has for your life. And while the world may not view you as valuable, God does and He wants to use the place you are to help you grow in Him. Colossians: 2:10 says, “and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” God is the qualifier, and He has already approved you. You have nothing to prove to the world and only Him to please.

Luke 22:61-62 says, “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.” There will be times in our lives when we don't understand the things that are going on and feel as if we don't deserve the grace of God. But it’s not about how you start the race, it's about how you finish. Christianity is all about progress and no one is exempt from failure. However failure doesn't mean giving up. It means continuing on your journey and exercising your faith despite the fall. And while Jesus never fails He finished his journey strong when He died for our sins. God is a God that forgives, but the only way to finish strong with God is to start with God.

At times we may lose sight of who we are in Christ but it's our choice to make which master we serve. Sometimes we have to look back at our past in order to see that it was God who truly brought us out. We have done nothing to deserve salvation, yet He has saved us anyway. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” So ask yourself, “if it had not been for God, where would I be?”.

In this Q&A service Pastor Russ Emanuel and his wife Chrissy Emanuel answer your questions and explain how to build the framework and foundation for a successful relationship. Cultures idea of a successful relationship is easy and comfortable without any complaints or problems. But a real relationship is not about being easy it's about being committed and standing strong no matter what. Matthew 7:24-25 says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” No one is exempt from a storm, but enduring the storm depends on your foundation. If you put God at the center of it all and apply and practice his word in your life, you'll establish solid groundwork that keeps you better together. So what are you building your relationship on, culture or Christ?

Culture would have you believe that the best mind frame for relationships today is “what's in it for me?” However, a successful relationship is one that follows the blueprint of Christ. Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Replace condemnation with compassion. Build your spouse up to convince them of God's kindness and love and practice humility, gentleness, and patience. Without these qualities we are subject to point the finger instead of lifting a finger to help one another. Don't let what you're doing get in the way of who you're becoming. Embrace what God is wanting to do in your relationship and remember, your input determines your output.

Culture will tell you that in order to be happy you must have someone to be happy with. However, being single is not a weakness and you don't have to be someone's significant other to be significant. Your life is significant to God and He has great plans for you. Searching for the extraordinary but settling for ordinary will lead you to problems. Be patient. Be hungry enough to walk in humility and do the hard work to end up in the place of glory God has for you.

Galatians 6:8 says, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” What are you planting in your relationship? Today's culture likes the concept of marriage but not the commitment. But having a great relationship is not about what you say but about what you sow. If you're committed to what God has called you to it will become a lifestyle. Make the decision to be dedicated to His plan.

In this special service we celebrate the transformation taking place in the lives of others through water baptism. No matter who you are, what you look like or what you’ve done, God wants you to come to Him as you are. The enemy is always working overtime to make you give up and throw in the towel. However we serve a God that is much bigger than any enemy we face. If we let go of our problems and put our faith in Him, we will be victorious and finish stronger than we ever could alone. Have faith to finish the fight. And no matter what don't quit, keep pounding.

John 11:5-6 says, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.” Everyone goes through a dark time in their lives. And often times what we expect from God is not what we experience. But just because your situation appears lifeless doesn't mean it has died. God is always working in the background to prove himself greater. Don't lose sight of His promise because you're focused on the pain. Have hope through the process so you will experience a miracle. He’ll speak life into your situation and prove to you why He is the King of the Comeback.