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My son went flying past me with a piece of paper he looked proud of. When I asked him what he had there, he said it was a drawing for Jesus that he planned to give to him when he saw him in heaven. Doesn't that just melt your heart? It's not about the picture (which was amazing by the way, it was a bunch of crowns) - it's about the heart behind it. 

Before the throne of God in John's Revelation, the 24 elders cast down their very crowns at the foot of the Almighty. But in reality, they presented the same gift to God as my son: they gave their everything. The question that remains for us is this: are we willing and ready to do the same? Because that's all God truly wants from us, the only gift that matters, our heart. 

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We bought our son who just turned 4 a trampoline for his birthday! It wasn't that hard to put together, but it didn't come with anchors. So, we ordered some online. I delayed putting them on because of how busy our week was, thinking I would just do it this upcoming weekend. Well, I wasn't anticipating a huge thunderstorm last night with big wind gusts. Thankfully, we still have a trampoline, but we got lucky. 

Well, what happens when storms come if we are not properly anchored in Christ? We will end up flying far away from where we once stood spiritually. So when is the best time to make sure your faith is grounded? That your children are grounded? Don't wait until things get hard - don't delay. Do it now. You never know when things are going to get more difficult. 

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My youngest daughter loves watching the birds, so my inlaws purchased us a clear birdhouse that mounts to our window for her to watch them eat and nest. As the kids waited for a bird to arrive, they asked what would happen if we ran out of seeds. I told them God would feed them like he does every day, and they responded, "Just like you feed us?" That's right kiddos. 

We need childlike faith. Yes this economy is tough right now, but we should be as free from anxiety as my children are when it comes to what they eat and wear each day. God tells us that if we seek his kingdom first, he will provide for us the things that we need. And to teach that lesson, Jesus also goes to the birds. 

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I came home for lunch expecting to hear my children greet me at the door, but had forgotten they were on a play date. So I sat there eaching lunch in silence, which is very rare. You would think I would enjoy it, but actually, I missed them. Sure our house is chaotic more often than not, but it's where we all belong: together. 

In the same way, children belong together with us in worship. Can they be loud? Yes. Distracting? Sure! But Jesus said "let the little children come to me." You don't want to wait until you're sitting in silence in an empty church with no children before you realize that lesson. 

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I was driving around Danville with a friend who had never been to my little town before when he said, "Danville: quite simply the nicest town." I asked why he said that, and he pointed to the water tower. Friends, I have driven past this tower a thousand times and never seen that. He noticed it after seeing it once with fresh eyes. 

That is often how scripture discovery goes. We might have read something a thousand times and still not noticed something, but then someone brings something to our attention that we just have never seen. When you think you've got something down, go back and look at it again. 

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Children's television programs are not what they used to be more often than not. Rather than promoting what is good and right, imorrality and godlessness are promoted and packaged as something that is "good" in the form of a cartoon. If we're not careful, we'll teach our children to accept the lies of Satan because they were packaged in the fun form of a fire truck or a dinosaur. 

Isn't that one of the greatest tactics of Satan? To disguise himself as an angel of light? He is the master of deceit. He's so good at it, we can even start to beleive that which is good is really evil, and that which is evil is really good. We must be aware, and we must not allow ourselves to be fooled. Let's listen to the voice of Truth. 

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Welcome back after an extended break to the new Season 4 of the Set Your Mind Above Podcast! Over the new year, I started working out again because I really needed to. Actually, I joined CrossFit - and I realized just how out of shape I am. But thankfully, I'm not expected to keep up with everyone who has been there for years. I'm just expected to do my best and modify things to my level. 

We must be sure that we do the same for new Christians. Often, they take the plunge and become a part of the body of Christ, but are immediately thrown into classes that are far above their head. We need to modify things to their level, and ensure that they can really grow at their own pace so as not to become discouraged. 

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After five years of living without, Danville finally has it's very own free standing Chick-Fil-A! We are so excited and have been already like, 5 times lol. During the grand opening, one of the workers was serving us and when we thanked her she said, "My pleasure! I keep forgetting to say that." It's part of their script to respond with that expression, but should it be more for us? Well...as Christians, we are called to be genuine in our love and service to others. To show mercy with cheerfulness. That means that for service to truly be service, it will always be our pleasure. 

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We're back after a delay for a few weeks - and that occured with the passing of my grandmother Jackie Sipe, who we called Gigi. Her funeral was beautiful, and I was thankful to get to be a part of it. After the funeral, one of the women from the church told me something special after someone had expressed their sympathy for my loss. She said, "You know...nothing is lost if you know where it is." Well...I do know where she is, and all those in Christ do not grieve as others who have no hope. Jesus has won the victory over death, and through his resurrection we have great hope! To die is gain, because it means we get to go home, to our true eternal home, forever with the Lord. 

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A few weeks ago my wife and I attended a fundraising event to support the adoption agency Sacred Selections. I had hoped to win a beutiful bracelet for my wife in the silent auction, but I kept getting outbid by someone all night. After a while, I realized something hilarious - my wife and I had been unknowingly bidding against each other! Needless to say, we didn't leave with the bracelet. Well...as funny as that might be, do we realize that a house divided against itself cannot stand when it comes to any kingdom? That includes when we bite and devour each other as the church. We are called to love one another, not compete with each other. We cannot forget that we're all on the same team with the same mission, and we are called to work together, not against each other. 

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