In Philippians 3 & 4, Paul testifies of how Jesus has transformed his life. His life goals now consisted of knowing Jesus personally, experiencing the power of the resurrection of Jesus, and partnering with Jesus in the mission of saving souls for eternity - even if it means suffering and death in this temporary world. He stayed laser focused on Jesus through every hardship and victory he experienced because knowing Jesus fully and spreading the truth of Jesus to the world around him was the only thing on his mind or in his heart. He desperately desired nothing more than living out the resurrected power of Jesus every day of his life. Only Jesus brings peace that truly satisfies. You are loved by Jesus, accepted by Jesus, made secure in Jesus, and are significant in Jesus. Paul is a living example for us today of how to live life glorifying Jesus and keeping our eyes fixed on Him - no matter what.

In Philippians 1 & 2, Paul wrote to the church in Philippi with joy and gratitude. He encouraged them to continue pursuing Jesus, heart and soul, and keep living in humble love and unity together as one body glorifying God's great Name. He encourages us that no matter what happens in this life, we can and should give all glory to Jesus. No matter what happens on this temporary earth, we are held safely in His hands if we have surrendered to His Kingship. We need to stay laser focused on Jesus and humbly serve others exactly how Jesus showed us while He was on earth - selflessly. Jesus poured out everything for the sins of the world in completely surrendered humility. We are called to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth the same way, in completely surrendered humility living out the Word and Will of God with every exhale we have.

(Philippians 1:12-30)

When life gets hard, we need to trust God. We need to pray and invite God into the problems we face. We need to get on our knees before the Lord and trust God with every outcome. We need to ask God for His help, His comfort, His joy, and His peace. We need to praise His glorious Name for all the good things He has done for us. With the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we can rejoice in the storms of life knowing God has us held tightly through every wave that comes.

In Ephesians 5 & 6, Paul reminds us what it looks like to live a lifestyle of surrendered worship before the Lord. He reminds us we are to pursue Jesus, heart and soul, imitating the example He gave us when He came to earth for us. We are to walk in the Love and Light of Jesus as a fragrant offering of worship to the Lord. We are to selflessly think of others. Turn off the "selfy" mode and look to Jesus instead. As we choose to humbly abide in Jesus, His love will overflow from our lives, glorifying Him to the world around us. We need to meditate on God's Word day and night, remain in a heart of prayer and worship before the Lord continually, and walk forth in the victorious peace-filled shoes of Jesus. When we do, we will experience the true joy that can only be found in Jesus.

In Ephesians 3 & 4, Paul knelt before God the Father and prayed. He prayed for Christ followers to be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit. He wanted us to understand and comprehend just a glimpse of the depth of God's great love for us and be filled with His fullness. Paul cared about the spiritual health of others, he pressed in and pressed on, and he got on his knees and cried out honestly before God Almighty for the faith of others. Even while imprisoned for sharing the truth of the Gospel, he used his time to encourage others. He prayed for unity and love to radiate through us to the world around us. He prayed for salvation. He prayed the truth of God's Word would spread to the ends of the earth. We need to have the same heart of surrender, the same desperation for Jesus, and the same desire to encourage others for the witness of Jesus today as well. Revival starts with us getting on our knees honestly and desperately before the Throne of God. Revival starts with us.

In Ephesians 1 & 2, we are reminded that God sent Jesus into the world for us to offer Himself as a sacrifice for us to free us from sin and bondage. He came to offer us a free gift for us to receive. Every good thing we have in life is because of God the Father. He pours out goodness for us out of His great love for us. He wants good things for us and hates sin because it destroys every part of our lives. He wants us to receive His love and allow Him to lavish His powerful grace upon us. He won't force Himself. It's an offer. He wants to gush His mighty grace, wisdom, love, understand, comfort and peace over our lives but it's up to us to bow the knee and lift up our hands and receive His wonderful gifts.

In Galatians 5 & 6, we are reminded that Jesus came to set us free allowing us to live in His Spirit, not the fleshly desires of our sinful natures. We are free to live a lifestyle of pursuing Jesus desperately and bear His fruits of goodness to the world around us. This doesn't mean we are perfect, it means we live a repentant surrendered lifestyle of pursuing Jesus desperately with all our guts. When we blow it, we repent quickly, get back up, thank Jesus for the forgiveness He already poured out on the cross for every sin under the sun, and keep running with Jesus with all our guts. When we live life in surrender to Jesus, His Spirit is able to pour through our lives and radiate to the world around us in ways we would have never expected or imagined. He brings restoration, healing, and wholeness. His powerful grace changes hearts and lives for eternity and He wants us to experience Him and His presence now - and for all eternity too.

(Acts 27:13-44)

When life gets tough, the enemy tries to feed us lies in an attempt to get us to abandon God and lose hope. We have to stand on God's promises and know that God never fails. His love never ends. He has us safely held in His hands, no matter what is going on in life around us. Things may not always turn out as we expect, but God's plans always have our eternal best and the eternal best of those around us in mind. When the outlook looks unbearable, we need to remember the up-look.

In Galatians 3 & 4, Paul continued to emphasize that Christ followers are saved by faith alone and we live by faith. This faith comes by hearing the Word of God and believing God at His Word. There are no favorites in the Kingdom of God. When you repent from sin and commit your life to Jesus, you are His. You belong to His eternal family. We walk forth in the power of His Spirit, His grace, and in His victory. The Word of God leads us to Jesus. Through faith in Jesus, we are sons and daughters of the Most High God. We have freedom in Jesus and live in the power of His grace, His righteousness. We need to spend time with God and know our Father's voice. You are worthy of all the glorious riches from our your heavenly Father. His love for each of us is greater than we can humanly comprehend and He wants us to look to Him and receive it all.

In Galatians 1 & 2, Paul reiterated the true Gospel Message of Salvation. He reminds us to stand firm by abiding in Jesus and to keep our eyes, hearts, and minds laser focused on Him. Paul teaches us to live in, boast in, and thrive in the powerful saving grace of our Lord and Savior. Paul didn't try to please people, he pursued Jesus passionately and was desperate to accomplish his will on the earth through the live the Lord had given him. He gives us a huge living example to follow today of what it looks like to live life in full surrendered desperation for Jesus. All we need is Jesus. Jesus + Nothing = EVERYTHING.