Who do you want to become? Who do you want people to know you as? We need to stop identifying as those needing to change and start realizing we are changing. It’s the simple lesson of how identity shapes actions.

The storms of life can be fierce and never-ending. We all go through them. Some are bigger than others, but chances are, you're in a storm. During these times, it can be easy to wonder, "God, do you even care." The truth is, He does care and He's closer than you think!

It's called a comfort zone because it's comfortable. Things and situations often become comfortable because they are sources of safety, protection, and God's provision. When it's time to move on to the next step, we have to trust that God is working on the other side of the door.

Myrrh was used as an antiseptic and to embalm the dead. Most likely, it was used in Jesus’ own burial. This is another foreshadowing of the sacrifice Jesus would make for us on the cross when He died for our sins. He rose from the dead to extend to us His gift of grace.

Frankincense oil was a very expensive gift useful for treating sickness and wounds. It was used by the priests during sacrifices in the temple. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us and it was foreshadowed in this gift that He was given at His birth.

Because of its scarcity and value, gold has been known as a gift fit for a king. It was one of the gifts that the wise men gave to Jesus at his birth - a kingly gift for the King of Kings. Do you treat Him like the king of your life? Often, we start off good and then we let the problems of life distract us and we end up putting Him aside.

What holds you back? What are you waiting for? We all have things that seem to hold us back and stop us from being all we want to be, but that doesn’t mean they have to stop us. How do we move past what seems to hold us back?

Sometimes, it can seem as if God’s late. It can even feel like He doesn’t keep His word when life gets complicated or tough. What if, though, those tough times are actually our best times in disguise? Bring a poncho because you may get a little wet!

Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to follow God. He is a direct reflection of all that makes God, God. His example of baptism is one that is often overlooked. Jesus being baptized, though was more than just an example, it said something about who He was. For those of us that choose to get baptized, it says a lot about us as well.

Our expectations often set us up for failure. We expect certain things of ourselves, others, and our life. We have to be willing to let go of expectations in order to take hold of what God really has for us. It’s easier said than done, but it is possible.