Friends, whether we are parents, grandparents, or adopted aunts and uncles, we have a role to play. To continue to help the next generation believe, “It’s not about you,” we must teach them what it means to be a good neighbor, both right here in our city and throughout the world!

My Kingdom dream is that we will have Good Neighbor followers of Christ all over the world. My Kingdom dream is to visit Kenya or Europe or Japan and see one of you serving Jesus there, and we will pick up where we left off. Just as we served here, we will serve there. All for Jesus!

I think service is so powerful in shaping our hearts to look more like Christ because it’s how we start to truly understand His love. When we lay mulch, or pack meals, or hold crying babies, or pray over teenagers, or sit with seniors, or lend a hand to survivors - our love for our neighbors grows. And as that love grows we better understand the love God has for them, and the love He has for us.

This is what we do anytime we want to explore and nurture any earthly relationship - we communicate. Without communication, the relationship doesn’t flourish, right? The same goes with our relationship with Jesus. When we don’t talk to God, we don’t grow our relationship with Him.

Knowing the stuff that truly matters is the difference between a foolish man and a wise woman. Knowing what matters is often the difference, over the long haul, between a life that works and a life that's wrecked. So build your life on what doesn't move… Jesus!

Sometimes it is easier, and far more comfortable, to isolate from the communities in which we live – to keep the outside world out… side. But, regardless of where you are reading this, whether here in San Diego, somewhere across this great country of ours, or as far as the Netherlands and Johannesburg, South Africa, we are God’s agents to bring His light to the darkness. His hope to the hopeless and His peace to the restless.

In all of our striving, I wonder if we’ve lost sight of something critical: Seeing the people right in front of us. I don’t just mean looking at, but really seeing them, taking the time to learn to know and understand them. Let’s be a community of people that aren't so busy striving and doing work to make life better, that we lose sight of the one or two right in front of us!

We often think about the challenges of serving our neighbors first. I don't have much to give. Others are better at serving than me. If I were more "blank," then I'd serve more. I'll serve only if there is a huge need. But as we serve others, God opens up our eyes and heart to feel what He feels, to see what He sees.

We have the ultimate example of servant-hearted love in the life and death of Jesus Christ. He lost it all so He could make sure He gained a forever with you. That’s the kind of heart that chooses us. So then we can go out and show that love to others who desperately need to feel chosen.

Family, God is doing a new thing! And so, let’s ask God how we can be a part of it! First, make room for Him. Make room for the new thing He will do. Make room for how He wants to use you in your families, community, and in His church.