Everybody trusts something or someone for the future. Where that trust is placed makes a difference between whether we limp through life or live life to the full and it starts with remembering the identity that God has given to us through His Son Jesus. Listen in as Elijah learns that while the present may be difficult and the future may be uncertain, God remains faithful to his people and faithful to his promises.

When Moses has his encounters with God on the Mountain it changes him and it changes the people that he is called to lead. Yet as great as those encounters were it reminded the people how far they remained from the presence of God. To tear down the diving wall God would have to act and the curtain would have to be torn in two by the person and work of Jesus on Calvary. With that accomplished by Jesus his followers continue to shine and share Jesus today!

When God tests Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac, we see Abraham learn just how strong his faith in God confident that the Lord would Provide. In the end Abraham does not sacrifice his son because only one Son needed to be sacrificed, the son of God, Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In the midst of trials and struggles we find our faith strengthened by the faithfulness of God even when we do know how it will all work out we can be confident that God keeps his promises.

Throughout the pages of scripture, God encounters His people delivering messages of hope in seasons of doubt and despair. The location of many of those encounters are on the top of mountains where God gives his people a bigger view of what is really going. In the first week of the series we start with the first mountain scene in the Garden of Eden as we take a look at what happens when perfection is lost and brokenness enters the world. Join in us in the 5 minutes daily closer encounter during the season of Lent:

Daily Encounter (5 Minutes)

1. Pray: Holy Spirit, Your Word declares, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). May that word now dwell in my heart and mind as I encounter it today! Amen

2. Read: Romans 5:1-11 (try different versions of Bible on the Bible App each day)

3. Reflect: What word, phrase, idea, is the Spirit putting before you today. Journal your thoughts or draw a picture. Have a conversation with another person(s)

4. Pray based off your reading and reflection.

At the transfiguration of Jesus we are given a glimpse of the glory of Jesus as He reveals who He truly is! Amazingly as he reveals himself as God He prepares to head on a path on which he will offer his perfect life as the sacrifice for sin showing his plans are always far greater than ours!

Jesus continues in the Sermon on the Mount to challenge us to rethink those who are against us and what it looks like to get even and along the way we will see that while we may want things to be fair in life, at the end of the day we are glad that fairness is not what God in Christ Jesus wants for you. He wants something way better than fair!

When Jesus explains the 5th Commandment in the Sermon on the Mount, He invites us to not only look at our outward actions but also the words we say and the thoughts of our hearts. In doing so we realize just how far we fall short of the standard God has set and our great need of forgiveness. Only when we realize just how much we have been forgiven because of Jesus can that forgiveness flow through us to those we have hurt and those who have hurt us.

As we walk through this blessed life in Christ, God calls us many things. He calls us forgiven. He calls us righteous. He calls us eternal. He calls us His very own children. Jesus also calls us Salt…and Light. Salt & Light? This weekend in worship, we will explore what it means to be “the salt of the earth,” and the “light of the world.” What happens when salt loses it saltiness, and the light begins to die out? Jesus has encouraging words for any of us, who have ever felt like we have fallen short of His desire for our life. Living the Blessed Life means more than just living up to a standard, or trying really hard to attain the attainable. The Blessed Life means we have a God who walks with us as we flavor the world with His love first shown to us, and light the path to lead all people to the truth of His saving Grace for the whole world! Check out the series website at http://www.stpaultexas.com/news/the-blessed-life/

What is it mean to be blessed? How do you know you are blessed? Jesus gives some incredible insight as to what the true blessed life looks like as He begins the famous Sermon on the Mount reminding us that being blessed is less about what we have and more about who has us!

During this week that we celebrate Lutheran Schools we find comfort in the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ! Psalm 18:1-3 I love you, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.,