We often pick things up, thinking we can carry them forever—no sweat!—only to find out that the burden is unbearable. We were never meant to carry some things, like anxiety or worry or hurt...but if we don't carry them, who will?

Sometimes God calls us when we least expect it; when we are most comfortable and often into something that is uncomfortable. The opportunity for us to respond. To respond to the call and to step out of what we know into what we don't...how will you respond?

Sometimes God calls us when we least expect it; when we are most comfortable and often into something that is uncomfortable. The opportunity for us to respond. To respond to the call and to step out of what we know into what we don't...how will you respond?

God constantly challenges our expectations of who he is and how he’ll act. Many of us feel cheated because our “good” prayers weren’t answered or were answered but not in the way we wanted (read: expected). Yet we need to understand that God is different than the world, different than our knee-jerk expectations; he is higher than our thoughts or our ways. He is God! This means we need to sit still and listen to that one small voice because He doesn’t need to shout to be heard…that’s the world’s way and it’s just noise and bluster. Seek the small, still voice.

Ever had a conversation with someone famous…but only realized it afterward? Maybe not, but you probably know of someone who did. We chuckle about it and exclaim, “How could you not know?” but context is everything in our interactions. If you didn’t expect Jesus to rise from the dead…then you certainly wouldn’t be looking for him amongst your traveling companions…yet he’s there just the same.

What do we do when we have unmet expectations of how God works? Do we go to Him with blame or humility? It can be hard to trust God when He works on a timeframe that isn’t ours but that doesn’t mean He isn’t working.

What do we do when life throws us into a storm? Well, most of the time we think we're going to drown or that the only option we have is to panic. We certainly can't seem to fix it on our own (who can control a storm?). Even more so, we don't appreciate people who don't take it as seriously as we are...

Ever found yourself working super hard at something, meticulous in detail, only to realize you went the wrong direction? We do find ourselves putting our focus...off a bit at times and need to be reminded what's actually important.

Seven weeks after Jesus rose from the dead, the early church finds itself hunkered down waiting for...what? They didn't quite know, but when it happened everyone did! Welcome to Pentecost.