Do we own our stuff? Or do we let our stuff own us? In a world obsessed with accumulating material things, are you truly any happier with the more things that you have?

The New Testament uses the word "blessed" 112 times. NOT ONCE is it connected to material wealth. We often attempt to fill the void in our hearts with material things, hoping they'll bring lasting joy. But, as time passes and we continually try to gain more and more to fill that void, we are drawn away from what truly matters... Seeking his kingdom and his righteousness.

"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33

When you seek his kingdom instead of your own, you'll see how Jesus has left us an inheritance greater than all the riches in the world; he gave us his very life, salvation, and an eternity with him. Our life on earth and the material possessions we've gained are but a blink in the face of the eternity we get to spend with him and The Father.
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Take a moment to answer this question... Who's opinion matters most in your life? Is it your boss? Your spouse? Your parents? ...or is it God's?

It's easy to let the opinions that others have of you affect how you live your life, but by living like this, you are holding yourself back from becoming who we were created to be in Christ. It completely derails us from living out God's true purpose and vision for our lives. 

The truth is that you are NOT what others say about you. It is not their opinion that matters most, it's God's. What He says about you is actually the most important thing about you! 

What would change in your life if you lived like God's opinion matters most, if you truly believed that you were loved?

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 🚫 The Possession Lie: I Am What I Have 🚫

Material things may present themselves as a quick fix for dissatisfaction, but they can't fulfill you. What CAN fulfill you is your identity in Christ and God's love. Break free from the trap of chasing possessions and shortcuts, and find true fulfillment in worshiping God. Your possessions do not define you, but your identity in Jesus and God does.
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We are often tempted to believe the lie that “we are what we do”. We tell ourselves; “I am a business owner, I am a mother/father, I am an addict, I am divorced, I am an orphan, I am a survivor of abuse”. Often times, the enemy will hit us hardest where we feel the weakest. But, you are FAR more than the best or worst thing you’ve ever done or has been done to you.

In Luke 3:21-22, before Jesus has done anything, before he performed any miracles, before he taught any sermons, he was baptized and God said from the heavens, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” THIS is your identity. THIS is what you should ground your perception of yourself on. God’s love for you is not based on your performance for Him.

Your pain does not define you. Your successes do not define you. Your failures do not define you. The lie tells us that we are not welcomed in until we prove ourselves, but Jesus comes to set us free from this lie, to call us his brothers and sisters, to call us children of God.
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In John 2, we witness Jesus kicking off his entire ministry by turning water into wine at a wedding. This miracle showcases his abundant love and his desire to bring joy to all those around him. His ministry started with fun!

Even if you find yourself in a situation where it seems like God is not answering your prayers according to your timing, rest assured that Jesus wants to bring you joy! He may not respond to your prayers in the way you expect, but in Jesus, you will receive joy, lack nothing, find your true identity, and find the strength to persevere. The profound joy he give you often becomes the lifeline that sustains us when everything else seems to be falling apart. 

As you navigate through your week, make it a point to have fun and purposefully share the joy that Jesus gives you!

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As we finish up the last message in our Jonah series, take a moment to ask yourself a hard question... Am I Jonah?

Jonah only prayed to God when he was upset or needed something. - Do you?

Jonah was self-righteous and believed he was better than the people he was called to help. - Do you?

Jonah lost sight of God's mission and only focused on his own comfort. - Do you?

Maybe today, God has put you in a position where your comfort and desires are challenged in order to reveal to you in what and where your priorities lie. No matter how hard we try, we can never escape God's justice and, no matter how hard we try, we can never out-sin God's grace.

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God loves everyone, even his enemies. We are called as the body of Christ to represent Him, so we need to learn to love like Him. Maybe we are most like God when we love our enemies. 

We are taught in Jonah 3:1-10 that God's love is forgiving, patient, and compassionate. There are no exceptions. 

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When Jonah was in the belly of the fish, he was in the in-between, a frustrating spot called restlessness. Restlessness is the unsettled, irritated seasons where we are stuck in the present tense. These times are hard to be in, but often, they are where we are transformed! It is in the belly where we become the people God made us to be. 

If you are in the belly right now, don’t run, but instead ask God to meet you where you are and bring new life. 

“… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

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There is NO ONE beyond the bounds of God's grace. 

In the book of Jonah, we see that Jonah believed the people of Nineveh did not deserve God's grace. He let the hope for sinners to be punished surpass the joy over the sinners redeemed. This is NOT the heart of God. 

Sometimes the path away from God is often the path into a storm. Jonah is the story in which we all find ourselves: we are stuck in a storm of our own making, unable to stop the waves or swim to safety. We need help. We need rescue. 

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Do you ever fall into the trap of gazing at Heaven so long that you forget that you’ve been called to bring Heaven to Earth? Or looking to wherever you “saw Jesus” last but not seeing where he is leading you next? 

In Matthew 28, Jesus calls us to go and make disciples of all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father and the Holy Spirit. 

Take a moment to reflect on how the wind of the Holy Spirit filled, empowered, and enabled the disciples to fulfill the Lord’s commission. As we move into this coming week, let us think on how we too can imitate the actions of these first followers. Let us listen, wait, and deliberately choose to be still before God. 

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