The desert will bloom with flowers. The wolf will lie down with the lamb. There will be no closed gates. There will be no sun or moon, for the Lord will be our Light. The previous things will all pass away. Strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s coming is near.

The world values what you do and what you can achieve. Religion does the very same. God values who you are and who you are becoming. He desires His children to be set apart, consecrated, and growing in Christ-centered holiness.

God sees our pain, and His awareness leads Him to alleviate it. His brow is not furrowed toward us. His arms are open in compassion.

God’s faithfulness does not spring up from sentimentality or pity, but rather His covenantal love for His people. The muscle of His faithfulness is love and mercy. As He has shown His faithfulness, we turn and reflect it to the world.

We expect brokenness at every turn in life. We learn to trust reason, intuition, and experience to define what is true. But God, our anchor in reality, is Truth, and we depend on Him to make sense of and make right all that we see in this world.

Human justice is partial, prone to inconsistency, and ebbs with the cultural tides. God’s justice is perfect, impartial, and righteous. His justice restores wholeness and holds evil at bay.

While we were at our worst, with nothing to offer to tip the scales of grace, Christ died for us. At every stage, we are not met by a God with a furrowed brow, but the compassion of our Lord Jesus. His grace alone has saved us.

Mercy is giving someone what they do not deserve. It isn’t weakness; it is God’s strength bending low. Mercy meets us in our rebellion, covers our guilt, and restores our lives. To receive His mercy is to be transformed into people who extend it.

For most of us, “love” is a junk drawer word. It can mean everything and nothing. But true love is rooted in God’s nature. It is radiant light invading the shadows. It's Him rescuing us from the dominion of darkness and dressing us in righteousness. True love takes action.

All things have been created through Jesus and for Jesus. His blood was spilt as reconciliation for not only the human soul, but the whole of the universe. So how do we participate in His renewal of all things? We work hard, practice hospitality, and pray blessings over our city.