Faithfulness in all seasons is much easier said than done. In times of plenty, or “problem free” living, most people will not struggle to be faithful. However, in the midst of battles, adversities, and challenges, faithfulness becomes much more difficult! From the onset of their delivery from captivity in Egypt, the Israelites had a very difficult time remaining faithful to God. Even in the midst of God performing some incredible miracles and providing over and abundantly all they could ever need, their minds, eyes, and hearts were prone to wander. Today, in the year 2020, God is giving us an opportunity to choose to be faithful! To be about His work, we have to be willing to trust Him to provide, to trust Him for the opportunities, and to be faithful to walk in obedience to His plans. Commit today to trust Him and to use all of your gifts, talents, and resources to “Finish Strong” the work He has put in front of you!

Our God is a God of miracles. When the odds seem overwhelming, this is when God does His best work. Whatever challenge you are facing today, always remember God is greater. So, what bold prayer are you praying in your life? Pray, asking God, to do what only He can do. As a church, we are joining together in praying “For the Kingdom.” We are praying and committing to see God accomplish His Will through us over these next 12 months. Let’s pray and commit to the work God has for each of us. Our best days individually and as a church are still to come! Let’s watch the “Sun Stand Still” and let’s Finish Strong!

Every action, or inaction, has more significant implications than we usually realize. If there is an area of our lives where God is asking us to be faithful to one specific thing and we turn the other way, we may think, “no harm, no foul!” However, as we can clearly see in Joshua 7 and 8, these decisions not only drive a wedge into our relationship with God, but have an impact on our family, church, and community. It is very easy to minimize every area that God is asking us to trust Him in, and with every little thing we do not attend to, we are making it more difficult on ourselves to trust Him in the future. We are in a season of life and ministry where we need to be trusting Him more than ever! Our decisions and obedience today, set us up to trust Him even more tomorrow!

God does miracles in the lives of His people. God brought His people in the Bible out of slavery in Egypt, yet God was not finished with them. God had a beautiful land and life for them. And, God is not finished with us, as His people today. God brought us out of slavery to sin by His grace through Jesus Christ His Son. And, God is still at work in us. As long as there is breath in our lungs, God wants to use us for His glory. Two years ago, as a church, we embarked on a Campaign called, “For the Kingdom.” We have one year left, so let’s “Finish Strong.” Today, we start 21-Days of Prayer and Fasting until our Commitment, or Re-Commitment, Sunday on November 15. Our best days as a church are still ahead. Your best days, I believe, are still ahead. Let’s give our best for the glory of our great God! Let’s Finish Strong!

The need to know all of the plans, all of the contingency plans, and all of the unknown variables will often get in the way of experiencing what God has for you. God is calling you to the next level in your faith journey. God is calling you to trust Him in ways you never have before. If you are waiting for everything to make perfect sense, you will likely miss some of what God is yearning to do in and through you!

Strength and courage are two things that are difficult to have on our own. However, when we have the God of creation on our side – with us wherever we go – we can have strength. We can have courage. We don't have to fear or be discouraged. We can go out in faith and trust that He will be with us, no matter where He may lead or call us.

We often tend to think of love as an emotion that we can “fall into” and “fall out” of. However, what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 13 isn’t just an emotion, but rather a solid commitment to be selfless in actions, deeds, and words. Love can also easily be understood as a feeling, but in reality it is a promise! A promise to put the needs of another first and to follow the example of Jesus Christ in our marriages, dating relationships, and friendships. In what ways is God asking you to grow in Jesus-centered love this week?

In a season of uncertainty, challenge, or crisis, the really good things in your life will be accentuated and strengthened. On the flip side, the areas where you need improvement, or that you have not attended to as much as you should have, will likely be accentuated, but not in a positive way. This Covid-19 season has undoubtedly provided both for you. In terms of relationships, this season may have shed some light on issues that need to be addressed, and this very week you need to address them. Perhaps your marriage is struggling or your faith is waning. Bring those things to God today! Ask Him to give you the wisdom and insight you need and lean into the relationships in your life. Every relationship you have is an opportunity to serve others and be like Jesus. Are you taking advantage of those opportunities or squandering them?

Relationships take work! Like most good things in life, a healthy relationship does not just happen. Relationships are not just strengthened via osmosis. You have to work at them. You have to take initiative and be willing to show other people who you really are–which is risky! In every relationship you have, or will have, the more and more you can make it about the other person and less about you, the stronger the relationship will be. Finally, life comes in our relationships when we surrender them all to God and when the building blocks of the relationship are godly things opposed to worldly things. Is there a relationship right now that needs nourished with the things of God? What steps are you going to take this week?

Most people spend their life looking for “the one.” Dating and marriage is a big deal to all of us. It causes a lot of joy and stress. Yet, marriage is a gift from God. It is the way God created relationships to work. A key to a great marriage is marrying the right person. Therefore, be godly in the way you date and pursue your future spouse. Then when you are married, keep your priorities right. “The One” should always be God. When you keep God first in your life and you pursue Him, then your marriage and dating relationships work. When you put someone else over God as “the one,” then you have trouble and challenges. Prioritize God as “the One” in your life today. God wants you to succeed. Trust Him today!