John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" In today's reading we see Jesus offering His disciples, and to us, a gift like no other. The gift of eternal peace. He tells us that this gift He offers, we cannot get from anywhere else. It cannot be found in this world. Rather true peace is found only in Him and His promise of eternal life. It is in this promise that we are not troubled or afraid. There is nothing on this earth, no hurt, no loss, no hardship, that can separate us from the love of Our Heavenly Father and the everlasting peace that has been given to us by Jesus.

Matthew 10:8 "Freely you have received; freely give" In today's reading Jesus gathers the disciples and tells them to carry out His mission not by giving gold and silver pieces, but rather by giving themselves. He calls them to go into the communities that need them most to provide hope, encouragement, and inspiration. He calls them to heal the sick, comfort the lonely, and feed the hungry. It is often difficult to recognize our God given talents, our calling. But much like the disciples, this is what we are called to give. To give of ourselves in service to others. So today, open up your heart. Seek clarity in your calling. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. As the disciples were called, so are we, to give freely the gift of ourselves.

Psalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain" Today's reading is a reminder that if we don't make Our Heavenly Father the center of our lives, if we don't build our lives on Him as our foundation, it really is for not, wasted, in vain. This is a constant battle in this hectic world, to stay focused and keep Him at the center of our lives. Although we are distracted and may stray, through His goodness and grace, we are always encouraged to come back. To come back to the foundation that can never be shaken. We are encouraged to come back and build our lives on the foundation of prayer, service, kindness, and love. So today may we glorify God and be builders of His kingdom, built on His foundation. May we be the watchmen to look after it, nurture it, and watch it grow.

Philippians 2:13 "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" OurHeavenly Father nurtures and cares for us bringing us from where we are, to where He wants us to be. Much like the transformation of an unsightly caterpillar to a majestic butterfly, He turns us into the beautiful creations He intends us to be. And through that process, as long as we accept Him, He gives us the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. He gives us the encouragement to work for His glory.

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend" A loving family is a treasure from God; so is a trustworthy friend. If you are a member of a tight-knit, supportive family, offer a word of thanks to your Creator. And if you have a close circle of trustworthy friends, consider yourself richly blessed. Today let us praise God for our family and friends. He has placed these people along our paths. Let us love them and care for them. Let us give thanks to all those who enrich our lives. These people are, in a very real sense, gifts from God and we should treat them as such.

1 Corinthians 16:13 "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong" When I read this verse I envision Paul standing in front of a crowd of men and women giving them encouragement and inspiration to live visibly in thier faith. Being a disciple of Jesus, Paul knowe that God wanted, and needed, more men and women who were willing to stand up and be counted for by Him. Genuine faith is never meant to be locked up in the heart of a believer, it is meant to be shared. There are opportunities every day to live visibly and share our faith but we must have the courage to recognize them and engage. Sure sometimes it may feel uneasy or uncertain but God is always with us and He strengthens us as long as we have faith in Him. Jesus taught His disciples that they could move mountains as long as they had faith. You can too if you stand up for it.

Romans 14:19 "So let us try to do what makes peace and helps one another" Life is a team sport, and all of us need the occasional pat on the back from our teammates. Especially when we are down. In Ephesians Paul tells us to "no let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful to building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen". Paul reminds us that when we choose our words wisely, we can have a powerful impact on those around us. Since we don't always know who needs our encouragement, the best strategy is to offer encouragement to all those who cross our path. Never has the need been greater!

Ephesians 5:21 "Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another" Jesus gave us instruction on matters of etiquette and courtesy. In Matthew 7:12 He says "In everything you do treat people the same way you want to be treated" Now He did not say from time to time, or sometimes, treat other people with respect. No, He said treat people with respect in every aspect of our daily lives. This, of course, is sometimes difficult to do but as Christians, we are commanded to do our best. So today be a little kinder than necessary to family members, friends, and even total strangers. And, as you consider all of the things Christ has done in your life, honor Him with your words and with your good deeds.

Galatians 6:2 "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ" We live in a world that on occasion can be a frightening place. Sometimes we sustain life-altering losses that are so profound and so tragic that it seems we could never recover. But, with God's help and with the help of encouraging family members and friends, we can recover. In times of need God's word is clear: as believers, we offer comfort to those in need by not only sharing our courage but also our faith. No journey is complete without going through some dark valleys. We can properly comfort others only with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Joshua 1:19 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" one of the most dangerous phrases in our English language is that of "you're not". "you're not smart enough", "you're not thin enough", "you're not big enough", "you're not rich enough", "you're not poor enough", "you're not", "you're not", "you're not". Do you see how that goes? These words are the ones we often tell ourselves. They are rooted in fear and often hold us back from being who, and what, we are created to be. Well, guess what? Those words, they're made up. That's right we made those words. Those words don't exist in Our Creator's vocabulary. We are His masterpiece, created in His perfect image. He speaks of us, and to us, in only "you are". "You are beautiful", "you are enough", "you are capable", "you are worthy" "you are loved". Do you see the difference? So the next time you hear "you're not" shake your head and cast out that untruth. Instead, listen to the words of your Creator, have no fear, be strong and courageous, because "you are".