A porch light after a long car ride. A lighthouse marking the entrance of the harbor. The lights of a city as the plane descends for a redeye landing. Few sights inspire such hope as a penetrating the darkness. Jesus is that beacon of hope, and as his followers, so are we. “you are the light of the world; a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. “

Go backstage at any theater and you will see hundreds of light bulbs surrounding mirrors where actors apply their stage makeup. They want to be able to see the way things really are. Light has a way of making imperfections more noticeable, of helping us see how things really are. As reflections of God’s light, Christians are called to live authentically.

Light is one of those curious entities that exist in a binary state. A light is either on or off. Even the dimmest light, is surprisingly illuminating when it is turned on in a dark place. In our increasingly dark world Christians have a choice: we can bemoan the darkness, or we can be the light.

We take light for granted. Even at night we can access light at the flick of a switch. Maybe that’s why it is so difficult for us to understand the dread of darkness or the relief at light’s appearance that first-century people experienced. Light helps us find our way in the dark, and that’s why Jesus came: to show us the way home to the Father.

Whether you’re a teen that is struggling to overcome sadness or the crushing anxiety that often accompanies a world in which it is nearly impossible to unplug, or whether you’re an adult who has struggled with depression and anxiety there is an often overlooked practice that can help. And here’s the cool part: not only will practicing this improve your mental health, it can also safeguard you from future mental health crisis. The practice" Thanks-living.

Well-meaning people – Christians included – often add to the troubles of those dealing with mental illness. Not because we want to. We want to help; we just don’t know how. Consequently, we often try to fix it. We minimize it. Or we compare our troubles to theirs. Worse yet, we ask someone “how are you?” when we really don’t have time for an honest answer. The best thing we can do for people that are struggling with mental illness is to be present and to offer tangible help – the same sort of help that one might offer for someone experiencing a physical illness.

One of the conundrums of the Christian experience is when God doesn’t act. We believe that he is omnipotent, powerful enough to alter and circumstance or situation. So why is it that God doesn’t always shine His light on the dark places of your depression? Why does God allow you to continue to struggle with anxiety when he could simply impart a peace that passes all understanding? Though we don’t often enough associate mental illness with physical illness, the answers are the same. God doesn’t always heal. Sometimes we can understand why; sometimes we cannot. So how do we make sense of his apparent silence?

We’ve all spent time “down in the dumps.” Maybe you’ve even thought, from time to time, “life is the pits.” But for some people the pit of depression is deeper, darker and harder to escape than many of us can imagine. When you’re in the pit it’s sometimes hard to understand how you got there. But not Christians, right? They don’t struggle with depression and anxiety! Or do they? Sometimes even Jesus’ followers slip into the pit unintentionally and accidentally. Sometimes they jump into the pit, the result of their own destructive choices. And sometimes they’re thrown into the pit through no fault of their own. The fact that the scriptures address the topic is proof that God’s people can and do struggle with anxiety and depression. If you’re one of them, it’s helpful to know that you’re not alone.

Americans are stressed about money. Six out of ten worry that they can’t pay for a serious medical illness or accident. Nearly two-thirds worry they won’t have enough money to retire. One in five stress about making the minimum payment on their credit cards. Christians ought to be different; we ought to be the most extravagantly generous people on the planet! After all, we’re the recipients of the most generous gift ever give: God’s Son! But let’s be honest: for many of us, being an extravagantly generous person is a pipe dream. Unproductive attitudes and destructive actions get in the way. Debt, overspending, and fear block the pathway to financial freedom. Today we will go back to the basics – back to the ABCs – and discover the path to financial freedom.

If the choices we make have consequences, then the decisions we make determine our destiny. If you want to build a great life – a life that’s blessed in every area, not just your finances – you have to have the right foundation. You have to DECIDE to do it God’s way . . . to FOLLOW God’s plan.