Our time is a gift given by God, to be used for His kingdom. As followers of Christ, we find the balance between "doing" and "being".

At Advent, we celebrate the faithfulness of God to fulfill His promises to the people of Israel, the insiders. God is fulfilling His covenant, and redemption has come. Luke 1:26-38; 69-75

Our hearts are right when they are satisfied in Christ. Neither money nor possession can bring contentment. We can have OPEN HANDS with our possessions when we are content in faith and when we trust that God will always take care of us.

Talents and abilities are gifts given by God, whether spiritual or secular. They are to be used for the sake of the Kingdom (God and others), rather than for self-gratification.

All relationships are a gift from God. We are not called to cure or control relationships. We are called to serve, uplift, forgive, and care for others. We are to have OPEN HANDS with those who God has placed in our lives

In Christ, we find our value as citizens of the Kingdom of God. We need not carry the burden of pride or artificiality, feeble attempts to give ourselves more value. Humility comes a healthy understanding of our place in the Kingdom. In understanding our own value, we can ascribe worth to others.

God is present always. We live in two realities, physical and spiritual realities. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we become aware of the empowering presence of God with us, speaking and leading us in the midst of everyday life.

In pursuing God, we must remove any and all obstacles that distract us from Him. The most deep-seated of these is the self. We must do away with selfishness, and put on selflessness, modeled by Christ.

Everything is God’s, all of it. When we grasp this, we are freed from the “slavery of stuff” and can begin to live lives of generosity.

The Christian life is more than a once-over decision. Rather, the decision to follow Jesus is the starting point for a passionate pursuit of God. In pursuing God, we grow to love and follow the One who has pursued us.