We love a good “rags to riches” story. The small-town kid goes off to the big city and becomes a big-time success; we are drawn to that storyline. Perhaps that is a reason the Bible remains the all-time bestseller; it is full of these kinds of stories. God loves to use the underdog in big ways!

If you look up the definition of “expectation”, it says, “a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.” Have you ever heard from a friend, “You have to try this restaurant,” or “You must watch this movie,” only to be disappointed by the meal or fall asleep during the movie? What happens when someone or something doesn’t meet your expectations? Have you ever felt like God failed to meet your expectations? What do you do then?

In our world, the concept of “thoughts and prayers” draws much criticism. It is routinely believed that time spent praying is time that detracts from practical action. It is interesting that in this very practical letter, James wraps up his letter with encouragement to pray!

Waiting can be uncomfortable, whether for a conversation to end, an appointment to begin, or a next step to arrive. James reminds believers that we live in a similar season of anticipation as we await Christ’s return. Instead of growing restless or discouraged, we are called to remain patient, steadfast, and hopeful, trusting that the Lord’s coming is near and living faithfully in the meantime.

Jesus once told a story that we sometimes refer to as the parable of the “rich fool.” It was a story about a farmer who had a more-than-usual bountiful harvest. He decided to build bigger barns for his harvest instead of giving some away. He died that night and never had a chance to “enjoy” his riches. It's amazing that overall this time, people’s attitude about money hasn’t really changed.

Do you remember the first time you put on a uniform for work or for a team? Or do you have a favorite item of clothing? Certain outfits just make you feel like you can face the day or conquer any challenge. As followers of Christ, the armor of God is what we need to take a stand against the enemy.

Did you ever play the game, Simon Says, as a kid? It is a simple game of following instructions. What was the key to winning Simon Says? The key to winning the game was knowing when or who to obey. As followers of Jesus, each of us needs to live a life of obedience to Jesus.

There are so many important relationships in our lives that require attention and time to grow and develop. Marriage is a unique and important earthly relationship that Paul highlights in Ephesians 5. This relationship between husband and wife is second only to our relationship with Jesus.

Walking is important. Many of us count our steps on a daily basis aiming for either 8,000, 10,000, or even 12,000 steps!  What happens when we are coming up short of our goal at the end of the day? We walk a few extra steps to simply ensure we reach our goal. While physical steps may ensure heart health, our spiritual walk has a much great impact. We should all strive to further our spiritual walk by walking in love, light, and wisdom.

I remember the first year I played tackle football. I was in seventh grade and our “locker room” was behind the curtain on the stage in the school gym. Forty twelve year old boys disrobed and hung up sweaty practice clothes on a series of coat racks on that stage. By the end of the season that make shift locker room had a certain aroma. If we never change our life ends up stinking!