River of Life Church Sauk Centre (Audio)

It can be difficult to praise and thank God when life gets hard, when you face the unthinkable, or when you feel alone. However, choosing to praise God in our pain does not mean we forget what is happening around us. It means we are choosing to remember who God is and that he is worthy of our praise in the middle of it all!

Song: "Worthy of my Song" - Phil Wickham

The Christmas season can be a wonderful time of year with family, gifts, and traditions, but for some it is a difficult time of year. The Christmas story reminds us that God cares for broken people and wants everyone to be included in what he is doing. This season, we pray that you would know God cares for you, and that is why he sent Jesus!

Could you imagine foreigners showing up in your hospital room after having a baby to bring you gifts and worship your baby? As strange as that is, the wisemen showed up to worship baby Jesus, and give him gifts—they most likely did not even speak the same language! This shows us that ALL people are included in God’s story. No matter who you are, Jesus—the gift of Christmas, is for you!

Do you ever wish Christmas could feel the same as it did when you were a kid? The lights, decorations, treats, gifts, and the anticipation of the big day filled us with joy and excitement during this season! However, the wonder of the season is not found in our traditions but in how we respond to God’s greatest gift!

The Christmas story starts with an angel telling Mary she would have a Son and to name Him Jesus. Mary’s response was not, ‘why me?’ and ‘why now?’ Instead she responded with humility saying, “I am the Lord’s servant.” Are we ready to hear from God and are we ready to respond in the same way?

Have you ever wondered what your neighbor does to afford a home that is so much bigger and better than yours? In our culture, it is so easy to be discontent with what we have as we see what everyone else has. Living a life of gratitude means living a life of contentment and being satisfied with all the good things God has given us!

As we work to build a life of gratitude, it should grow beyond our gratefulness for the things we have. We can also be grateful for God’s presence and purpose in our lives even when we are walking through life’s greatest challenges!

Gratitude is more than just saying “thank you” or being polite, but a life style and daily practice of gratefulness. As we make gratitude a practice, it changes how we view the world!

Often times the way to get out of the cave of depression and anxiety is to rediscover your purpose. God's desire for you, and for every discouraged and depressed person, is to get you back into a life of influence and meaning. God made you on purpose, and has a purpose for your life!

Often the answer to our feelings of depression and anxiety is a change of perspective. However, when the “storm” of depression is all around us, it’s hard to see anything but the storm. God encourages us to look up to Him in these moments; expressing our deepest hurts and emotions to Him, and He will meet us!