Change is difficult. As a young adults pastor, I like to think of myself as a resilient, forward-thinking person who encourages change—matter of fact, I search for it. But it wasn’t until my wedding and the whirlwind that followed that I realized change is tough, it’s not easy, and I don't always like it. But whether I wanted to admit it or not, life is all about embracing change. Relationships change, careers change, living situations change, our bodies change, people change. Change is inevitable. And I am not exaggerating when I say that all of those changes listed happened to me in the span of three months. Not only did I get married this summer (relationship change), but I also started a new job (career change), left my entire church family and friends (more relationship change), moved in with my husband—leaving my best friend behind, my mom… 'Hi mom' (living situation change). Much to our surprise, my husband and I were blessed to conceive shortly after our wedding, adding another layer of excitement and completely-unexpected change as we now prepare for our little one (body change). All of this is forcing us to become real-life adults in our early twenties and start becoming the best parents we can be (people change). As someone who walks alongside young adults navigating this season of life, I know firsthand the joys and frustrations of all the change that happens in your 20s. It’s dramatic, and it’s real. In the midst of all this change, I have to think, ‘What is God teaching me?’ or ‘What can I learn from all of this change at once?’ What God is teaching me in this season of change is that He doesn’t change. God does not change. He is constant, faithful, always good, dependable, and reliable. Malachi 3 says the LORD does not change; Lamentations 3 says the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; Deuteronomy 31 says He will never leave me or forsake me. What I am learning is that in the midst of my change, I can depend on God to encourage me, fill me, sustain me, and guide me. That has been my prayer and reminder these past three months. Even though I left my Christian community, I see God at work, making a home for me here with the warm and welcoming people of Northgate. Although all of my medical issues that make childbirth difficult continue to create complications, God has given and will give wisdom to my doctors and me peace. Even though my pregnancy has been really rough and may not be typical, God is good—He is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals, and He will protect me and my baby. Despite missing my mom and grieving moving out, God was so good and only moved me two minutes away. Even if my husband and I are young and untrained in the parent department, God will grant us patience, wisdom, and knowledge. He will help us become parents who keep Him at the center. I have come to learn there is great joy in our change, and our constant is always our Lord and Savior. God has allowed these changes, and I now see them as opportunities not just to grow, but to draw closer to Him, find rest, and be strengthened by His unwavering presence. I have to think now that if God has allowed change to happen, which He has, I need to practice joy and see these changes as opportunities not just to grow, but to run to Him faster and remain in His Word. The world and our lives, my life, is forever changing, but our God, my God, isn’t. He is where I will continue to find confidence in the future. And when winds of change blow in your direction, I hope you will too.

It’s been a “funny” couple of months. And when I say funny I don't necessarily mean "haha" funny. More like weird-funny. The year started pretty well, then got a little interesting when I picked up pink eye in both eyes. Not a big deal. Lots of people get it. It's usually just a major inconvenience. Well, major inconvenience was a nice way to describe this pink eye bout. It would not clear up or improve and I had to go on two rounds of antibiotics over the course of a couple weeks! I spent a lot of time at home. I wasn't contagious, but I wasn't up for being out and about with the beady, little red eyes I was sporting. So I enjoyed the pared down social life and spent time crocheting, enjoying some solitude, and time with the Lord. It was really nice. I was content to sit quietly and enjoy His peace. However, I spent so much time crocheting and being peaceful that my back stiffened up and I threw it out somehow. I still managed to get to meetings and to church but no sooner was I able to get back to normal life, then I was forced to slow down again. And the only position I was truly comfortable to be in was flat on my back. It was not only painful but a total bummer because, as you can imagine, it's very hard to crochet laying down... just sayin' . Understanding that this wasn't a major health crisis, though certainly not fun, I began thinking and wondering “ what is God showing me right now and what is He saying to me?" . So I began asking Him. And do you know what He said? Nothing . Like, really nothing. I heard “crickets” as the saying goes. I realize this doesn't really make for interesting reading up to this point but stay with me... After about a week I was feeling much better and back to normal life, when I notice a little bump in my hairline. Within about six hours, I notice another one. I thought “how strange” and my hubby offered, " maybe something bit you" . Then a troubling thought entered my mind, “could it be shingles”? The answer is "yes," it could be. And it was shingles. I got in right away to see a doctor and started on medication immediately. I will spare you all the not-so-interesting details about how things went with the shingles virus, except to share that the biggest concern and challenge was that the nerve band affected had my right eye in its path. The pain and blisters continued to pop up around my right eye but gratefully I never got a blister on my eye, which could have been dangerous. So once again, I was back at home with lots of balls of yarn and zero plans to go anywhere. I began to resume my question, "Lord, what do you want to say to me or show me right now?" I didn't hear anything audible or even receive words or thoughts but I continued to feel peace, warmth and the sense that I needed to be still and quiet. So that's exactly what I did. Collectively, it had been about 6 or 7 seven weeks of quiet time with God. My shingles had cleared, my back was much better, and my eyes were white again. Understanding I was likely on the other side of this “streak", I found myself at a good place to pause and look back on it all. There was no giant download or big ‘AHA moment”, (as Oprah used to say in the 90’s) , but I wanted to reflect back on that time and give it my best hindsight analysis. Here is what I realized... That season was a much needed side-by-side time with God. There was no major activity that took place or long conversation that unveiled a mysterious truth about who I am to Him or who I am for others. So to many of you it might sound really boring and uneventful. You may even be thinking “why am I still reading this and why does this matter?” But bear with me a little longer. I think it's possible that for men, this kind of side by side time together feels more natural. Ladies, I think we may tend to want to sit quietly with “others," even the Lord, so long as it's somewhat productive and something has been accomplished, learned, or gained at the end of it. Guys are more likely to accept it for what it is and not pressure themselves to produce, but rather just be there, in the moment. But being a woman, it's tough for me to just sit without expectations--I want to produce. Not this time though! I sat quietly and obediently, often with long periods of nothingness. Or so it seemed. And why does this matter? Because sitting side-by-side with the Lord is precisely what He calls us to! The verse Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know I am God'' comes to mind. God loves it when we still ourselves and fully consider who He is. Or another of my favorite verses, James 4:8 “ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”. During that quiet time of intentionally drawing near to God, I often looked out my windows and looked at God's creation. I always admire his handy work and marvel at all the ways that all the creatures and creation are so different, and yet the same. We are all absolutely dependent on God and one another. Another activity I engaged in during this time was watching the cars drive up and down my street, wondering where they were going and what they were doing. Who are they? What are their lives like? What joys and challenges are they facing? Before you label me a nosy-neighbor, know that I thought those things without judgment. It was with interest and intrigue at all the different lives around me and the dynamics within them. "Do they know God loves them?" was a question that came to mind often. I had no interest in thinking about who I was or the meaning of my life. I just sat side by side with the Lord and enjoyed who He is and thought about His kingdom here on earth. It made me remember that my street is part of the kingdom. My backyard is part of the kingdom. My grocery store. The Caribou I frequent. And, of course nobody had to tell me what I already knew, that even Home Goods (my absolute favorite) is in fact the Promised Land, and definitely part of the kingdom! But it isn't the stuff we get from those places that matters, is it? Just like God did with me, so He wants to do with you, and with all those people in all those places. He wants you, me and them to “be still and know He is God .” He wants us to stop and “draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us”. He loves to have side-by-side time with us, where we just dwell with Him, abide in Him and simply be with Him -- no agenda, no "what’s going to be my big takeaway". It's better than that! It's bigger than that! Its presence with the Lord, and you cannot be the same after knowing and experiencing it. Now to clarify, since this experience, I in no way feel that I can climb tall buildings in a single bound. And I certainly don't feel more powerful than a locomotive, like Superman. I feel absolutely the same as I did, albeit a bit more rested. What is different goes far beyond feelings. The shift that took place was in “the knowing." Knowing is 1000 times better than feeling. I no longer need to “feel” God's presence to “know” He is present. What I have come to know, in a way that I will never be able to un-know, is that God is at my side and He loves it there! That's not a small thing, it's huge. Most of us, including myself, often don't feel worthy of God's love, let alone to sit in His presence. Anytime that I want, I can do just as James suggested in James 4:8 I can “ draw near to Him and He will draw near to me”. I have noticed that I can come to that place of stillness so quickly now and know that I am in the presence of God. No sunset required. No cathedral with stained glass as the backdrop. No powerful worship song invoking my natural instinct to stop and praise Him. Those things are great and I have felt God's presence in those kinds of situations, but this is different. It's so much better than that -- it is wherever I am, He is too. He does go before me, as it says in Deuteronomy 31:8, but he also loves to sit side-by-side in the “no places” and the “no where's" of life. So, I’m encouraging you: the next time you’ve been taken out of the game, so to speak, do your best to not fret about it. Instead, try asking God "what should we do today?" Chances are He would love some side-by-side time with you. Stay there! Resist the temptation to move on too quickly. Ask Him what He wants to show you, then wait. It might take weeks, potentially. Maybe even months. And while I certainly don't wish a string of little ailments to accompany you, the reality is, that's life. Chances are you're in the midst of all sorts of things, and maybe far worse than what I have just experienced. It may even leave you to wonder where He is and when He will free you from this place you're in. That may make what I’m about to say may sound cliche, but its true. And here it is… God is with you. And the biblical call over your life is to “be still and know that He is God.” “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” . It's really not harder than that. Oh yeah, and that deep question we all struggle with, “ who am I?” That's not hard either, "I am a child of God! " With that simple truth, known beyond all feelings and doubt, that question can be laid to rest leaving you and me with so many other more useful questions to ask. Questions like “how can I be of help?” or “how can I be useful in this situation?” Those are the questions that make sense to ask when you just know that God goes before you, and behind you, and is always at your side. As I wrap this up, in my imagination I’m picturing God sitting next me. He’s looking over at me while patting my knee with his hand. He has a smile on His face and he says “you got it kid. ” He rises slowly and kisses the top of my head. There is nothing sweeter, there is nothing more full or more peaceful than being with Him, and never in my life have I been less worried about how it all makes me feel. I know the presence of God, and it's so good. I'm praying that you, and so many more, will experience the same when your season of stillness begins.

I’ve never thought about leadership so much in my life. Though it’s always been a subject near and dear to my heart, it wasn't until recently that it’s been heavy on my brain – every single day. There are a handful of reasons why. In part, it’s because of my work as a pastor, leading here at Northgate. I want to lead well so I’m deliberate in my journey to become a better leader. I also support other leaders and pastors with the Alliance of Renewal Churches so they can lead well. Times are tough, and church leaders need a safe place for community, coaching, and spiritual nourishing. And then, of course, I’ve been steeped in the subject due to our current teaching series, “Follow the Leader,” working through Paul’s letter on leadership to Timothy. It’s an important letter, jam packed full of instruction for those who dare to lead. So, I’ve been thinking about leadership. A lot. And the impression I’m left with is simply how much the world needs good leaders. In a time filled with so many challenges, cultural division, and economic uncertainty, we need leaders who can bring hope, unity, and positive transformation. As we embrace Paul's teachings, many of us are striving to be those leaders. Northgate, it seems, is bursting with quality leaders. I see it every week in all of you: Kidnection leaders who pass on faith to kids. Group leaders caring for families in need. Missional living leaders who are looking out for the neighborhood. Hospitality leaders who love serving strangers. Interns who we’ve equipped and are now being sent to lead in other churches. The list goes on. Leaders who shine a light in the darkness and make a lasting impact for the greater good. Leaders who are living out their calling and graduating into new missions. I couldn’t be more proud! That’s why Northgate’s Board of Directors and I are so pleased to announce the commissioning of 3 of our leaders as pastors. It is with great joy and gratitude that we celebrate and soon-welcome Dan Braaten, Rachelle Carlson, and Shannon Hepner to Northgate’s Pastoral Team. When we commission pastors at Northgate, we are simply recognizing what certain leaders have demonstrated over time—a heart for pastoring. We are affirming the use of their God-given gifts by credentialing them, so that they may continue their ministry at an even greater capacity. Northgate has commissioned 5 pastors before in its 13-year history. At present, we have four pastors on our staff (Jeff Gustafson, Terry Kearns, Wayne Skaff and me) . We’re cranking out leaders like nobody’s business! Let me share a little bit about what we see in each of them…

DAY 1 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 We love one another when we know one another, when we live in community with one another. We can have nice thoughts about each other all day long but loving one another requires action and investment in each other’s lives. Which means it may not feel like we are investing in our own lives the way the world says we can, should, or deserve. And we may argue, “Who is the one-another I should love?” just the way an expert in the law argued, “Who is my neighbor?” And in that question, they were looking for a loophole to not invest in a certain group of people. We do that, don’t we? We look for loopholes. We think we’re looking out for ourselves, but really, we’re missing out on the ways God wants to bless us. Instead of loving one another, we love to look for “reasons” why something doesn’t apply to us, and we end up making excuses to not do what God has commanded. And that’s what this is; it’s a commandment to follow Jesus in all His ways. Loving one another looks like Jesus when: We thank God and pray for one another. (1 Thessalonians 1:2) We greet and offer hospitality to one another. (2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Peter 4:9) We accept and have fellowship with one another. (1 Corinthians 16:20, 1 John 1:7) We are devoted to and live in harmony with one another. (Romans 12:10, 12:16) We meet with and share with one another. (Acts 2:42-47) We encourage and spur on one another. (Hebrews 3:13, 10:24) We instruct and speak truthfully to one another. (Romans 15:14, Ephesians 4:25) We are humble, gentle, and patient, bearing with one another. (Ephesians 4:2) We are kind and compassionate, forgiving one another. (Ephesians 4:32) We submit to and serve one another. (Ephesians 5:21, John 13:14) We love and keep on loving one another. (1 Peter 1:22, Hebrews 13:1) We look most like Jesus when we love God with our whole self and love our neighbors as ourselves. And all our “one-another’s” begin with the church. We are the body of Christ. We are one with Him and we are one with one another. And when we do this, practicing it day after day, leaning into the Spirit and God’s heart for each person, it will not only be who we are inside the church, it will become who we truly are with everyone we meet. DAY 2 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22 God is faithful. How often do we need reminding of this truth? Throughout Scripture, and specifically in the New Testament, we read words like take hold, grasp, obtain, find, receive, and the like. There is an action we must take to participate with God in the faith that He gives. We can do none of this without God’s first giving to us. We can take nothing from God. We can’t take His authority, His peace, His wisdom, or knowledge. Nothing. He gives, we receive. When we ask, He gives more: wisdom, peace, faith, grace, mercy, and so on. He loved, so we love. When we grasp His love, He gives us more opportunities to love, not because they weren’t already there, but because we recognize in a new way how to love. He allows, so we can learn, grow, and understand. When we seek with a sincere heart, He reveals more of Himself. When we grasp with both our minds and hearts the loving ways of our Father in heaven, we will walk in His ways, and operate in accordance with His will. We obtain what we need because we know He is the One who has what we need. We set our roots deep in the foundation of our faith, planting ourselves in the soil of hope that does not disappoint. We read it, speak it, talk about it with one another so that we may be encouraged to remember, to not give up. We come together so that we can go and do the good things God has created us to do. As we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, holding tight to Him, remembering His faithfulness, we will be found ready on that Day, whenever it may come, to see Him face to face. DAY 3 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Three short verses that absolutely stop us in our tracks. How can we do this? Always, continually, and in all circumstances? “How” is a common question with God. “How will you do this?” “How is this possible?” “If they can’t, how can we?” “How many times?” All things are possible with God. We can do whatever God has commanded us to do. He will never lead us somewhere He hasn’t already gone. He will never ask us to do what He hasn’t already done. When we rejoice always, we celebrate God and we celebrate life, because it’s in life that we have and experience relationship with God. God is life. Death is a separation from God. So whenever possible, we celebrate, encourage, and rejoice in the blessing of life lived with Him. In Christ, we live and move and have our being. In Christ, not even death can separate us from His love. So, we rejoice always. When we pray continually, we recognize that God is always with us. He is not distant. He is not unaware. We invite Him into all things, not hiding any part of our selves. He sees and knows, and in our hearts, we want to see and know His perspective so that as we ask, we can respond with wisdom and understanding. We don’t want to hinder any work of the Spirit in our own life or the lives of others. We don’t want to put stumbling blocks in anyone’s path. Our desire is to follow Him wholeheartedly. So, we pray continually talking with and listening to God about all things. When we give thanks in all circumstances, we demonstrate that He is good. We build ourselves up and encourage others that what one meant for evil, God meant for good. We remind ourselves that God works out all things for the good of those who love Him. We know that all good gifts come from our Father in heaven. Nothing good exists outside the goodness of God. So, we thank Him for what He is doing in and through every circumstance. Rejoice, pray, and give thanks always, continually, and in all circumstances. This is God’s will for you. DAY 4 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 God has shown us what is good. We know our own desires for things to be “right” and to want to “make things right.” But too often we get justice confused with judgment and we don’t see a place for mercy in the mix. God knows that when we’re hurting, we want people to pay. We want them to get what they deserve. We want consequences to be severe, so it deters others from doing the same. This is where we go in our hearts when we follow the sinful ways of worldly thinking. But God in administering justice doesn’t respond this way. I’ve heard it said that justice without forgiveness is just revenge. Forgiveness removes the need to get payback. God loves mercy! James writes, “Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (Exclamation mine.) He doesn’t hold justice and mercy in tension the way we do. God weaves justice and mercy together perfectly to change hearts, thinking, and actions so we can move forward in a new way. And since God loves mercy, His justice is always working to restore, redeem and reconcile. And when everything in us wants to fight against this, when we want God to judge, we are called to submit to His authority and Lordship. God knows these struggles within us, so He helps us in our walk with Him. He tells us what to do. Paul in Romans 12 says “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Instead of seeking revenge and judgment, we trust God as we carry out His commands. Paul goes on to say, “ ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” In humility, we trust God and the ways He calls to respond to the evil in the world. As we walk with Him, we seek to truly act justly and in love, embrace His mercy. DAY 5 “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 “I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Psalm 130:5 In Romans 8, Paul says that we do not hope for what we already have. Having what we need, want, or desire means there is no waiting involved. Waiting means there is something not yet attained. We know that in Christ, we have all we need, and yet we also know we still lack something in this world. There is still confusion and chaos, worry and anxiety, famine and disease. There is division and strife in families and neighborhoods, between nations, ethnicities, genders, and religions. If Christ makes all things new, if he restores, redeems, and reconciles, then we know there is still more to come. There is still more to hope for. There is still more to wait for. And it’s easy to lose patience. “When God!” And when we do, when we start to grumble and complain that things aren’t improving quick enough for our taste, we go to His word to be reminded that God’s timing is perfect. When it’s time, He acts. He does not hold back what is good. We can say with full confidence: We’ve come to know you, Father, Son, and Spirit stilling ourselves and settling our hearts in your presence. We’ve asked for and allowed, even rejoiced in your conviction and work to help us turn from our sinful ways so that we can be holy as you are holy, fully devoted to you. We’ve given serious thought to your ways, to have faith in what we cannot see and hope in what is to come. We are alert and sober in how we think about what it means to live with you, or without you, for all eternity. We want to be strong and courageous in this world for the sake of your kingdom. We live unashamed of the gospel so that more may come to know you. We will live ready to see you face to face. We will not be caught off guard, worried about what you may find when you return. Help us be prepared for that day. And until then, whenever “then” may be, we cry out to you in our hurt, sorrow, and anguish. We turn to you and find joy, peace, and wholeness. We praise you in all things as we patiently wait for you with our whole being. You are faithful. Come, Lord Jesus, Come.

DAY 1 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 The troubles of this life are real. The desires of our hearts are real. The good things we want in and out of life are real. And God knows it all. He sees it all. And He truly has an answer to it all. Jesus. He’s not just the answer to the question in Sunday school or the Bible study. He is the answer to all of life. Because we live in a fallen world troubles are part of life. Trials, accidents, illness, they all come again and again. Jesus said we would even have troubles that come because we follow Him. But none of these have the final say and neither do we. We seek first the kingdom of God so when troubles come, we already know from where our help and provision come; we already know who to turn to and trust. We know who can and will bring us through the troubles of life. We think what we do and what we have proves something to the world about who we are, our value and worth. But these are determined before we ever breathe our first breath. We are made in the very image of God, wholly and dearly loved; our existence desired by the Creator of the universe. We seek first the kingdom of God so that as we come to know the truth about the Creator, we can know the truth about His creation. When we are confident in God, we can be confident in our identity, in who He has created us to be. The world will tell you how to get what you want, but so often, too often it’s a winding road through self-promotion, compromise and even deception. When we lay ourselves down doing what God says is right, we will be able to sacrifice what we think we want for what is truly best. We seek first the kingdom of God so we can proactively seek not only His best for ourselves, but His best for those in our lives, our neighborhoods, our places of work and school, our communities, and yes, even to our enemies. God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble. He will lift us up in due time. If our hearts truly seek God and His kingdom first, His righteousness will shine through his people. We will truly have everything that satisfies our souls. We will truly have all we need. DAY 2 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 The New King James version puts it this way: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” I’ve heard it said that in Christ, we have “refrigerator rights” in the kingdom of God. Meaning, God’s house is our house. If He is our Father, His home is our home. The food in His refrigerator is there to provide for His children. Everything good and everything right we want to be true about our earthly father is completely true about our heavenly Father. He protects and defends, He encourages and elevates, He treats with respect and dignity, He honors and cherishes. He never leaves nor abandons, He never rejects nor despises, He never lies to nor manipulates, He never uses nor discards. He is completely present, never absent. In Christ we can have confidence that the doors of God’s throne room are thrown wide open for us, His children to enter boldly with every request, with every desire, with every question, because it’s when we honestly lay it all out before God that we may receive mercy and find grace. It’s how we obtain what will truly help us in our time of need. It’s in trusting God, in our confidence that Jesus has truly satisfied the wrath of God that we can know in place of judgement, we will find and obtain mercy and grace in our time of need. James says we don’t have because we don’t ask, or we ask with wrong motives. John tells us that when we have confidence in God, when we desire what He desires, we have peace in our hearts in His presence. Jesus tells us that when we ask, we should expect good things from our Father in heaven. We have nothing to fear from God, so without hesitancy we come. He invites us to come to Him boldly and with confidence. DAY 3 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 We don’t have to think every thought that comes into our minds. And we don’t have to give space to every argument that comes our way. People have been rebelling against the authority of God since the beginning of time, and it all begins with our minds. It was the way the serpent deceived Eve and the way He stills operates in the world today. People will argue God’s Word. They will question His ways. “ Did God really say …? ” “ How could a loving God …? ” “ God understands our weakness and forgives, so we can’t be expected to… ” “ If God really cared, He would … ” And the list goes on and on. And they all make sense at some level. They all seem reasonable. And God invites us to reason with Him. Man corrupts authority by using it to their own advantage. Jesus says that those in authority lord it over, hold it over those under their authority. In other words, they use their authority for their own good, not the good of the people. Obedience to Christ is not about just doing what we’re told, it’s about trusting the One who’s telling us what is good, right, and true. When we respect Christ and His authority, when we truly know He has authority, we listen to and do what He says. We believe Him about what is good for us. We believe God when He says, “ This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” God has absolute authority, and He wields it for our benefit. He sacrificed Himself to His own authority, and in doing so proved that we can trust His authority. Our minds do not have to be the devil’s playground. We can say “ NO! ” to every thought that sets itself up against the love of God, against His goodness and righteousness. We can take captive every thought and lay it before Jesus. No argument too big, no question too small. And then, in confident obedience believe what He says. DAY 4 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1 Jesus, our perfect High Priest did for us what we could not do for ourselves. A few chapters earlier, Paul says that we were powerless to save ourselves; we were enemies of God. And Jesus did what no other priest could do, what no animal sacrifice could ever do. Jesus fully satisfied the wrath of God so that in place of judgment, we can receive mercy. He did this while we were still enemies of God. And Paul says, in view of God’s mercy, with God’s mercy at the forefront of our minds, because Jesus did this, there is a way of worshipping God that pleases Him. That is true and appropriate. It is a worship that is set apart as holy because it honors God in what He has done for us. Instead of a sacrifice that leads to physical death; while we live, we sacrifice our sinful nature that leads to spiritual death, in exchange for eternal life, even right now. Paul says that through suffering, which includes surrendering and sacrificing, willingly going somewhere we had not planned, experiencing things often outside of our control, and choosing to respond God’s way rather than our own, perseverance is produced. It’s what helps us keep going following after Jesus. And this perseverance shapes our character. It’s what the Holy Spirit uses in part to transform us into the image of Christ. Perseverance allows the refining process to continue. The most purifying refinement happens in the hottest of fires, so we can actually rejoice in the hardest of trials because we know we are becoming even more like Jesus. It sounds challenging, but as our character changes, our hope increases. There are tangible changes that encourage us that God is at work, and we know that He is not done with us. James refers to this as the maturing process. One of the best ways we can worship God is to let Him have His way in our lives by offering ourselves up for His purpose in the world. We already know we are secure in Christ. We already know that all good things come from our Father in heaven. Let our true and proper worship be a life fully sacrificed to the One who is holy and altogether worthy of our worship and praise. DAY 5 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 We, at least I, often read verses like this and think of the normal daily troubles that come my way. Car problems, the furnace or air conditioning not working, physical ailments, or just a rough day at the office. And while all these things are troubling, what I often don’t think of is the trouble that will come from following Jesus. In Matthew 5, Jesus says, “ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” And in Matthew 10, He says, “Whoever does not bear his own cross” (being willing to be nailed upon it, for this is the only reason one carries their own cross), “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” What does it take to complete this building – the building of God’s temple, the body of Christ, the building of a life founded on Christ? In the beginning of John 16, Jesus warns about the world’s hatred for Him and as His disciples, the world’s hatred of us. He goes on to teach about the Holy Spirit and praying in His name. He has given us everything we need to endure, continue, and even rejoice in the midst of the troubles that come our way. We learn from and listen to; we engage with and pay attention to the Spirit within us. We will be prepared as we put into practice everything Jesus and first followers teach us through Scripture. Regardless of what happens to us, we can know the One who hears us, the One who will show us how to endure because He was able to endure it all for our sake. We were worth the cost. May we count whatever comes our way worth the cost for His. Take heart and have peace: Jesus lives! He has overcome the world.

DAY 1 “God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This He did when a long time later He spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’” Hebrews 4:7 I’ve been thinking about the 5,000 or more who followed Jesus from town to town. They heard His teachings and hung on His every word. They sought His healing and miracles, signs and wonders. But after Jesus was arrested and crucified, they were nowhere near the upper room. Only 120 remained. For each follower of Jesus, there is a portion of our time when we’ve been part of the crowd – that point when we recognize we are drawn to Jesus. We may not really be sure what to make of Him. We may not understand what impact there is beyond the practical application in our daily lives. We may know we want more but are unsure what “more” really means. Whether we’ve come to Jesus later in life or have never really known a day without Him, there comes a time for each of us when we must decide if we will continue, if we will remain. Today, as many are deconstructing their faith and turning from God, it appears many in the crowd are dispersing. There is a darkening of the mind and a hardening of the heart as people turn from God and His truth. Today, as we consider Jesus, we have the opportunity to allow God to soften our hearts as we continue to turn to Him and seek His truth in every thought, feeling, and situation. We can settle this issue today and choose to actively build our faith. Today, we can decide to make much of Jesus as we recognize Him as Lord and Savior. Today, we can seek to understand the spiritual impact of His truth as we apply it in our daily lives. Today, we can ask Him for more of Himself as we trust Him no matter where it leads. Because as long as it is “Today” you can decide that God and His truth are worth whatever comes when you remain. DAY 2 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ It takes strength and courage to pick up the phone or knock on the door to ask for forgiveness, not to send an email or text, but to look someone in the eye or hear their voice while you admit what you’ve done wrong. It takes strength and courage to shake the hand of the one you are forgiving, to not hold a grudge but instead let go of an offense. It takes strength and courage to honor the one who mocks, ridicules, and belittles you, to pray for God to bless those who have it out for you so that they too may turn to God and know His truth. It takes strength and courage to speak words of truth to the one you love knowing they may reject you as they reject your words. It takes strength and courage to stand up for your convictions. It takes strength and courage to turn from temptation. It takes strength and courage to be resolved in your decision. It takes strength and courage to let God have the last word. God is taking the ground of our hearts, sometimes by leaps and bounds, while other times little by little. We can be afraid of what we will find there – the truth about a wound inflicted by someone we trusted or maybe the shame in that we agreed to participate. We can be discouraged by the seemingly long process, believing we’ve taken ground only to feel like we’re back where we started. Nothing different, nothing changed. Only the same weakness to protect and defend ourselves, to run and hide. But each day is a new day to trust God for His strength and courage to move forward in all He’s called us to do. For if He’s called us to stand firm, place a stake in the ground, draw a line, or take the land, He will be with us each step of the way. DAY 3 “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self- discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Spirit of God takes up residence within us. We become the dwelling place of God. The body of believers becomes the very temple of God. And the Spirit of God is active, not complacent, in the life of every believer. He convicts us of sin, not condemning but teaching us what is good and right in the way we live with Jesus. And in that, He gives us power to turn from any fear that keeps us from living for Jesus. We don’t have to have all the right words, have all the answers, or always know exactly what to do, but we do need to trust God. We lean into the leading of the Spirit as we step out in faith speaking the words He gives us. We respond to the prompts and nudges, loving those around us with both words and deeds. We honor God with obedience displaying self-control to say “no” to those things that He says are not good for us so we can, without regrets or excuses, freely say “yes” to whatever He puts in front of us. God’s Spirit gives us the strength and courage to face any fear, because He will never lead us into a situation that is outside of God’s will for us. And if God has brought us to it, He will see us through it. We know that troubles come to everyone; normal, everyday troubles that happen because we live in a broken, sinful world, but troubles also come because of our devotion to Jesus. We can be certain that not everyone who hears the gospel will accept the message of salvation through faith in Jesus. We live in a culture hostile to the truth. The world is opposed to Jesus Christ. Jesus himself said in this world we would have trouble because of Him, but we can be certain that through the sanctifying work of Jesus on the cross, His Spirit guarantees that whether we live or die, we are safe in the loving arms of our Savior. DAY 4 “Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” Nehemiah 8:10 Joy is directly linked to the strength we receive from the Lord. That seems odd to me. Strength and courage sound so serious. Joy sounds delightful, almost silly. In this verse, the people have returned to Israel after being in captivity in Babylon. The Book of the Law of Moses had been found. (It’s hard to imagine that it’s been lost, but how many of our Bibles sit on a shelf or table gathering dust.) As the people gather to hear God’s word, the priests read from the Book, making it clear and giving the meaning so that all the people would know what it means, much like what happens when our Pastors and teachers deliver messages at our church services. And during the reading, the people were weeping. I imagine they realized how far they had strayed, how good it was to hear and be reminded of God’s love for them. And Nehemiah declares that their strength doesn’t come from sorrow or a desire to change. Their joy doesn’t come from trying harder to obey God’s word. Their strength comes from the joy of the Lord. Our desire to know God, to serve God, to worship God gives Him joy. In turn, we are strengthened. Paul, while sitting in prison says that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. He is content in his joy of serving God right where he is. There is nothing he needs that he doesn’t have in Jesus. While in prison Paul is preaching to guards and fellow prisoners. He’s writing letters to strengthen and encourage other believers, telling them about how God is at work in and through all that is taking place. In 1 John, John says that his joy is made complete in the sharing of Jesus. His greatest joy is that others would join him in fellowship with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. There’s a circular reference if you will, in the continual loop of joy and strength. We know God, we experience joy, we receive strength, we share what we’ve heard and seen and learned and there is joy in seeing others come to know God and in that joy, we receive more strength as our experience and understanding of God’s joy is increased. We don’t run and hide from the gospel. We don’t run and hide from the hard truth found in God’s Word. And we don’t run and hide from the calling God has placed in our hearts whether it’s to go and leave the place we know or stay in the hard place we find ourselves. His joy gives us strength. It’s not only why we keep going, keep telling, and keep sharing Jesus, it’s how we do. DAY 5 “What then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 All of creation groans with the longings to see God’s redemptive work complete. And while it appears that the world is falling apart, just like the pains of childbirth get more intense as the whole purpose of the process comes to a climax, so too do the conditions of life squeeze us until the image of Christ is born in us. Paul says he is convinced, he has confidence that God’s redemptive plan will be carried out and when complete, we will be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ, both for our glory and for His. You see, God’s got skin in the game … our skin. He cares for us. He has compassion on us. He offers us grace and mercy instead of judgment and wrath. His love for us is unfailing. God is for us. When we are weak, the Spirit of God is strong in us, interceding for us according to God’s will. God lifts us and renews our strength. His word is food for our souls fortifying us from the inside out. Regardless of the challenges we face whether from outside or within, regardless of the situations we step into knowing it will be hard, it will be risky, we may lose something in this world, none of these momentary challenges compare to glory that has been and will be revealed when Jesus returns. Nothing in heaven nor on earth can separate us from the everlasting love of Christ.

DAY 1 “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming.” 1 Peter 1:13 What we think about matters. How we think about what we think about matters just as much. The state of our minds is linked to our hope. I think we often associate hope with a feeling. We feel good, positive, and upbeat. We have a good outlook on life because things are going well, we enjoy the people in our lives, and the future looks bright. But we know life has its ups and downs. In the blink of an eye, everything can change. The future is suddenly uncertain, and we wonder, is there a light at the end of the tunnel? For thousands of years, God’s people proclaimed the coming Messiah. They were mocked, scorned, ridiculed, and even put to death because they spoke what was true. For thousands of years, God’s people had the opportunity to hope by believing their words were true. Then, when the timing was just right, Jesus came. God was faithful to do exactly what He said He would do. Jesus Christ is coming again. For thousands of years, God’s people have proclaimed the return of Jesus – Savior, Messiah, King of kings and Lord of lords. For thousands of years, God’s people have had the opportunity to hope by believing their words are true; God’s Word is true. At exactly the right time, Jesus will return. God is and will be faithful to do exactly what He said He will do. There will be challenges to our hope. We will compare this hope to wealth and physical things the world says are valuable. Our hope is not based on our circumstances or quality of life and while we cannot control how or when our hope will be fulfilled, we can control our response to the trials, tribulations, and troubles that come our way because of this hope. We will be tempted and even encouraged by the world to reject, deny, and turn away from this hope, so we need to be intentional about focusing on and remembering where our hope truly comes from and in whom we trust and believe. This is not about doing good or being good. It’s not about being wealthy or poor. It’s not about never being afraid or having all the right words. This is about believing and having hope in the One who is good, who faced all our fears, and has given us His perfect Word. Jesus is the light that gives hope. His hope is guaranteed and does not disappoint. DAY 2 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12‬ I remember the date, where I was, what I was doing, and who I was talking to when I realized – a full light bulb moment – the devil was real. He is not some fictional cartoon character who shows up with a “poof” in a red jumpsuit donning a tail, horns, and a pitchfork. He doesn’t sit on your shoulder arguing with the angel on the other. No, he exists and like a prowling lion looks for someone to devour. As Jesus said, Satan is the father of lies and he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He is our true enemy, and our struggle is against every spiritual ruler, authority, power, and force of evil that joins him in his mission to keep us bound and in the dark. As we acknowledge God, we can ask Him for minds that are alert and open to His truth. God gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He will give us spiritual eyes to see, spiritual ears to hear, and spiritual hearts to understand so we can recognize the devil’s schemes and the real battle before us. In Christ, this is not a battle we need to fear. Jesus came that we may have life and have it to the full. He gives us the weapons not of this world, but of His kingdom. As we put on Christ from head to toe and keep His truth at the forefront of our minds: His righteousness and gospel of peace, His message of reconciliation, restoration, and redemption, we will be able to recognize every lie the enemy throws at us and every pretense he sets up against us. There may be days, many days when it feels like the devil is taking ground in our lives, families, communities and across the world, but Satan is a defeated foe; he knows his time is short. We can have confidence knowing Jesus has already won the war. DAY 3 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 You’ve heard it said, ignorance is bliss, but God’s Word says in Christ we no longer live in ignorance. True knowledge begins when we trust God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Knowledge of Him and from Him leads to understanding, discernment, and wisdom. James distinguishes between two types of wisdom: earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. Earthly wisdom leads to envy and selfish ambition, disorder, and every evil practice. Heavenly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. It leads to peace and every good and right practice. When we look at the words used to describe the two types of wisdom, it seems obvious which traits or actions would, or should come from God and which would come from the world, or not come from God. But our understanding of these words needs to go deeper than the initial thought we have about them. When people don’t know the truth, their emotions and feelings along with every voice they hear has a say in what they think. A world that doesn’t know God lives in ignorance. Truth becomes relevant and subjective to a person’s experience and understanding rather than God’s truth shaping and informing their understanding of their experiences. The fool dismisses God and despises His wisdom and instruction. They don’t want anyone telling them what to do, including God. Following their own desires, they are wise in their own eyes. But that is not our way when we become the children of God. The one in Christ who is wise, alert and clear in thinking seeks God’s guidance in order to walk with Him and others in a manner that is prudent, right, just, and fair. They have a teachable spirit, a desire to know so they can do . We live in agreement with the knowledge of God and must be open to receiving His understanding, discernment, and wisdom as we do. We want to know what’s true because we are always putting our thoughts, what we know, into practice. What we think and know will lead to what we say and do. DAY 4 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 It’s not unusually that children are afraid of the dark. They can’t see clearly and are uncertain about what may change. They know what they saw before the light went out, but what happened after? What’s making that noise? Who’s really in the room? Is there anything in the closet or under the bed? It’s interesting that as we grow older, we become more afraid of the light than we are of the dark. We allow the dark to become our friend as we try to protect ourselves by keeping things hidden, tucked in that closest or shoved under the bed. Make believe is a child’s game and yet at times, we as adults work really hard pretending to be something we’re not. We try to convince ourselves and others that we have it all together, and of course, would never do THAT (whatever that is). But John declares in his joy that God is light. In Him there is no darkness at all. None. The light of Jesus not only exposes what’s really in the closet or under the bed, it exposes the truth of what’s in our own hearts: our fears, wounds, motivations, desires, and sin. Everything. And while that can be quite scary, living in the light of Christ’s love is the safest place we will ever be. Jesus has come to set us free from sin and our fears. He has come to heal our wounds and satisfy every good desire of our heart. He becomes our motivation for all we do. No more hiding. No more pretending. Honestly exposed so we are free to live fully seen and known, loved and accepted, walking confidently in the light of Jesus. DAY 5 “‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 There is a way we understand the world and all things in it to work. We are taught to use our five senses. You look to science and what you can discover through trials and tests. The tangible is real … or at least it used to be. You can’t even trust those today according to some. But there is another way to know what it real: the Spirit of God. He Himself teaches us and reveals God and the mystery of Jesus to us. Before Jesus was crucified, He told His disciples it would be better for Him to go away because when He did, God would send another, the Advocate, in place of Jesus. Jesus was fully God and fully human, and as human He could only be in one place at a time. He sent His followers out and they were able to perform miracles casting out demons and healing every disease and sickness, but they still didn’t understand. They had learned and memorized Torah and yet still did not understand. They believed Jesus to be the Messiah and yet they still did not understand. Not fully. But then came Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples in the upper room. They spoke clearly about all that had happened. They proclaimed the good news of Jesus and 3,000 people came to believe. My spirit knows my thoughts, but my spirit is with me only. Other than God, no one else can know what I know or think without hearing it from me. They can make assumptions, but not truly know. In the same way, the Spirit of God knows God’s thoughts. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Spirit of God dwells within us and can instruct us in all of God’s ways. And just like our five senses and science and all the rest, we can choose to ignore what we see and hear from God. Or we can pay attention to the promptings, to the lessons He’s teaching us, to the people and places and situations He’s showing us. We can know how God wants to be known.  God’s Word is not too hard to understand. Not when we have the mind of Christ living inside us.

DAY 1 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10 I’ve heard it said that humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. And while that might be true in part, I would say it’s also about having a right thinking of ourselves because we have a right thinking of God. When I first recognized that God knew me and cared about me, that He was blessing me in various ways, I thought, “Why me? What’s so special about me?” And then as I grew in my understanding and knowledge of God, I realized there was nothing special about me. The same blessings were available to every person, if only they would realize it was God and accept it. And while I may not be special, I am unique. We are each uniquely made by God with specific work – things to do and contribute to this world, our communities, and families – that He has designed and equipped us to do. We cannot compare ourselves to one another because how do you compare two unique things? You understand similarities and differences, but even in those, one is not better or worse than another. We are all the same and yet all different and that’s a good thing. It’s how God has designed us. We can relate enough to meet the needs, but not so much that we can judge the need. At the end of the day, the desire of every human heart is to be acknowledged, accepted, and appreciated for what we bring to the table. We want to know we matter, that what we do makes a difference. That our work is good; that we are good. We want to know we are not alone, that we are loved and there is someone who has our back. We are not beyond receiving what we really need. We will seek to satisfy these desires one way or another. Without God, the satisfaction is short lived. With it will come quarrels and fights. There will always be someone who we must pull down, climb over, and rise above. There will always be more that we must do to prove we have achieved anything of importance. But the only thing we end up proving is our need for Him. When we submit to God and humble ourselves to Him, we will receive what we really need. As we lay it all out before Him, He will show us the right perspective and use of the desires and gifts He’s given us. Every teaching and correction will be an encouragement that God has our back. He will lift us up on the last day, acknowledged and accepted. Loved. He will not leave one of His children behind. DAY 2 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24‬ As we come to know God, we realize He already knows us. He knows what we’ve done, left undone and refused to do. He knows what we’ve said, left unsaid and refused to say. He knows what we’ve thought, what we’ve allowed ourselves to think and what we think about Him and others right now. He knows the patterns of our life and our perspectives on the issues and events of the day. God has made each person on purpose with a purpose. He has created each person with reverence and respect and delights in who we are. His thoughts about us are too wonderful to fathom and too numerous to count. No accidents. No mistakes. In front of Him, we’re vulnerable and exposed. Nothing is hidden from His sight. And as we come to know Him and understand His love for us, we can allow ourselves to be searched. We welcome it. We ask, Lord, what in my life is opposed to you? What heart desires, thoughts, and motivations are not aligned with your ways? Search me, God, and show me so I may turn from my own wicked ways and follow you wholeheartedly. DAY 3 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 “What the world needs right now is love, sweet love.” We also need kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, joy, peace, patience … lots of patience, a whole lotta self-control mixed in with mercy, compassion, and God’s grace. We know this is true, so why don’t we do it? Because sin is ever before us. Tempting us. Luring us into its web. Because the desires of our hearts are strong. And while at the core those desires may be good, we don’t understand how sacrificing and surrendering those desires will bring about the true fulfilling of every good thing we could hope for or imagine. We know there are things we should’ve done differently. We recognize the things we’ve done that were not kind, where we were impatient, showed no self-control, and did not offer grace and compassion. As it feels like our hearts are being peeled back, cut open, or even broken into pieces, we remember that Jesus has come to bind up the broken hearted. This is His specialty. He is an expert at healing hearts and changing lives. So, we come to Him and ask. Purify my heart, O God. Renew my spirit so I may be sure-footed in my following. So that in all I do, my life will praise you. In all I say, my words will tell others of your great love. DAY 4 (Jesus prayed) “For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” John 17:19 When a debt is paid, it’s gone. You don’t hold onto the invoice or statement showing all you owe, but rather hold onto the copy stamped PAID IN FULL. In case anyone should ask. In case you need a reminder. Or maybe you have a burning party. You watch the document go up in smoke. It has no hold or say or requirement any longer. You are free from what you owed. To sanctify is to purify or set free from sin. Jesus was pure in thoughts toward God and others. He lived a sinless life. He was the perfect sacrifice for sins; the only sacrifice needed for all people for all time. Because Jesus sanctified Himself living a pure life devoted to God, free from sin, we too can live a pure life when we accept and believe God’s word, God’s truth about Jesus. As Paul says in Ephesians, we are already blessed with every spiritual blessing and seated with Jesus in heaven. In Him we are already sanctified. And yet, we are still being sanctified as we work out our salvation, as we grow in knowledge and understanding. This happens over time as we come face-to-face with new challenges to our understanding of sin and what it means to live differently. As we allow ourselves to be purified, we realize how old wounds have affected our willingness to release others from a debt they could never repay. We give up our seat of judgement and entrust them and ourselves to the mercy of God. Jesus paid the debt we could never pay on our own. It’s gone. It’s been satisfied. And there is freedom. He has done the work for us, bringing us into a right relationship with God. We have been called into God’s own family and can live a life worthy of that calling. DAY 5 “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Holy is one of those churchy words. When we hear it, thoughts and judgements might fill our minds based on past experiences. To me, it sounds like a concept or idea that can’t be truly grasped. It’s out there somewhere. Maybe, possibly, someday I will understand. But if God says it, we can understand it, at least in the way we need to understand, and it would be good for that to be our desire: to understand what God says can be and is true of us. And Peter gives us an understanding, at least in part, of what it means to be holy. First, he says to be obedient to God as Father. (1 Peter 1:14) We are members of God’s family. Holiness is His legacy and inheritance. God is holy. He is spiritually pure in the sense that there is no evil in Him. There is nothing in God that contaminates His goodness. And as we respond in agreement with God, not just with our understanding, but with both our words and actions, we honor Him as holy. Second, he says that we are to love one another from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22) There are times when we fake it until we make it. We do because we know we should or because it’s what’s right, but we don’t want to. Something in us fights against the love of God for the good of those He has called us to serve, care for and care about. Our love for others is meant to not just be an outflow of God’s love for others, but also an outflow of love from our own hearts in agreement with God’s love. Last, he says we need to have a willingness to rid ourselves of every evil desire opposed to God. (1 Peter 2:1) When we recognize what it is within our hearts that is fighting against the love of God for others, we need to get rid of it. Just as Jesus heals us, binding up our broken hearts, we are called to be proactive in ridding our hearts of the malignant desires that cause rot and decay. Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander sound like harsh words. They are BIG words, but little white lies aren’t so bad. I don’t want someone to get hurt; I just want them to get what they deserve. And who are they to get what I deserve? What good have they really done? What have they contributed? I mean really, they aren’t living for God. Not like I am… These are the ways, thinking, understanding, and responding that are common to man, but when one of these bitter roots shows itself, we are called to root it out, not give in to it. We desire hearts set apart for God that listen to Him and love others, and in so doing, become holy in our desire to truly love, live for, and honor Him.

DAY 1 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5 In Deuteronomy 6:4, Moses writes, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” One God – Father, Son, and Spirit. Three in One triune God. In Genesis it says God created all things. The sky and everything in it, from the atmosphere to the heavens. He created the earth and all that is in it, everything that lives and breathes and makes the earth its home. And He created it good. In Jeremiah 29, God says not only can we know Him, this Creator God, but that we will know Him when we seek Him with all our heart. If we want to know God, we can and will find Him when we seek Him. He will make Himself known to us. Paul writes in Romans 1 that all people actually know God, that He exists. His presence is evident through His creation. The beauty, the complexity, the science behind it all points to a creator. But we can choose not to acknowledge Him. To not glorify or honor Him with our lives. Not giving thanks to Him for life. Paul goes on to pray in Ephesians 1 and 3 that we would know God and that it would affect us – how we live in relation with God and with one another. Paul prays that we would know God more and better. Why? So that we can live lives that tell the truth of who He is. So that we can understand the hope to which we’ve been called, we can know the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and we can know His incomparably great power for us who believe. He has good and powerful gifts to share with us as we live in relationship with Him. And that in this knowing we would grasp the fullness of His love for us. It is as wide as the east is from the west, as long as eternity, as high as the heavenly realms where Jesus is seated with the Father, and as deep as the pit of sin from which He lifted us when He called us and made us His own. He loves us so very well. In this knowing, we can trust Him and His authority. As the Spirit speaks, we recognize His voice. We go where He sends us and do what He says. Again, why? So that the world would know Him through us. So that we would give the world a right understanding of who He is. As we come to know who God is and His love for us, we will better love Him as Deuteronomy 6:5 continues. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” In other words, holding nothing back, no part of ourselves in loving God. We will not love like God if we don’t know the love of God. We cannot communicate what we don’t understand. But as we come to know Him and His great love, we will love others well in His name so they also may know. DAY 2 “He (God) says, ‘Be still and know I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” Psalm 46:10 What in the world is going on in the world? Do you ever ask yourself or others this question? Do you ask God this question? Wars and rumors of war. Plagues and pandemics, droughts, and famine. A recession and a refugee crisis. People using people as pawns in their own distorted game of life. Most days I just want to yell, “Stop!” I want to snap my fingers and make everything right in the world. But no human being has the knowledge or power to do this. Not completely, and not on their own. Only God knows and can make all things right. I have a note in my Bible next to Psalm 46 that says, “When God acts, there is a conjoining movement of His people.” I don’t remember where it came from or when I wrote it, but sometimes the best thing we can do when we want the world to stop around us, is to stop and still ourselves in the presence of our God. To call out to God on behalf of the world, together and unified in our desire for Him to right the wrongs, to change hearts and minds, sometimes our own. When there is uncertainty and confusion all around us, we can attune our hearts to the Spirit of God within us. We can let His peace be our peace. And we can be certain there is One who is coming who will right every wrong. Who will heal every disease. Who will cause wars to cease and the weapons of war to be destroyed – the weapons we hold in our hands, at our fingertips, and within our own hearts. There is a day coming when God will be exalted among the nations and in the earth. Every eye will see, every heart will know, and every knee will bow. Until that day, we as a conjoining movement of God’s people can move on His behalf in the world. We do what we can, where we can, while we can so the world can know the hope we have in Jesus is real. He is coming again. He will be exalted in all the earth. DAY 3 “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 To know God, the One true God, and to know His Son, Jesus Christ is to have eternal life. As God’s people, we don’t just know about God: that He exists and has power and authority. Even the demons know that. No, we know God. Jesus has made the Father known. We don’t just know about Jesus: that he was a real man who lived a real life and died a real death. We don’t just understand that He was a good man, with good teachings and good morals. We don’t believe He was simply someone to emulate, imitate, or hold in high esteem. No, we know Jesus. We accept and believe that He is who God says He is, who He himself said He is. That God raised Him from death to life so that we may also live. And because this is true, we don’t just know about the Holy Spirit: that He’s some mysterious, invisible power or being. That He is somehow at work in the world, intervening, interfering, or affecting outcomes. No, we know the Holy Spirit. We receive Him and He makes His dwelling within us. He guarantees our eternal life in Christ. He continues to make the Father and Son known as He is at work in us, transforming us into the likeness of Christ. As we come to know the Father, Son, and Spirit, accepting, believing, and receiving what He says, our lives will also make the Father and Son known so that others may believe and receive eternal life through the power of the Spirit. He is at work in the world and the lives of His people: every person who believes. DAY 4 “‘I have revealed and saved and proclaimed – I and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,’ declare the Lord, ‘that I am God.’ ” Isaiah‬ 43:12 God calls us to be witnesses to the truth of who He is which means we can and should know the truth of who He is. There are so many things that we don’t know. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our own, they are more than we can fully comprehend. At the same time there is so much that we can know. Throughout Scripture, God reveals His character and nature, His will and ways. He doesn’t leave it to lesser beings; He doesn’t leave us to figure it out on our own. Throughout Scripture, God saves His people reminding them over and over again how He has worked on their behalf time and time again. He reassures us that He has not left us alone, He has not wandered away, He has not turned His back on us. Even when we have been unfaithful, He is still faithful. Throughout Scripture, God proclaims the truth of His Son Jesus so that all who desire to know this truth can come to saving faith in Him. Jesus, God Himself, came to make the Father known, to give us new revelation about God, His love for us and our life with Him. He came to do what we could not do on our own. He saved us from our sin setting us free to live for Him. He proclaims all that is good and right and true. In 1 John, the Apostle John writes that he testifies, as a witness of Christ, to the truth of the life of Christ. He proclaims who Jesus is and what He has done so that all who hear his testimony can also know and believe the truth about Jesus. Our lives can reveal the truth about God. Our lives can proclaim the freedom from sin found in Jesus. Our lives can be witnesses of the freedom to live for God. DAY 5 “After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings‬ 19:12 (You may want to take a moment to read 1 Kings 19:1-18.) In one moment, Elijah is calling down fire from heaven, showing the false gods of Baal to be just that; and the next, he’s running for his life. His mountain top victory came crashing down into a valley of fear, anxiety, and depression. Have you been there? Have you experience God’s great power one minute, and then run and hide out of fear the next? I know I have. And just as God cares for, restores, and leads Elijah into His presence, He does the same for us when we are too emotionally distraught to move forward on our own. God doesn’t show up condemning Elijah for what might appear to be a lack of faith or disbelief, but instead asks him a question. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” God gives Elijah the opportunity to speak, to be honest about how he sees and understands the world around him. How he sees and understands God’s involvement in all that has taken place. I can hear the words tumble out of Elijah full of worry and concern as he explains. He sees himself all alone and vulnerable, desperate for God’s intervention. And if we’re honest, there are times when we want God to be just as worried and concerned as we are. There’s no time for words, only action. We want Him to show up in mighty power miraculously changing our circumstances and the people in our lives. And He no doubt does this at times, but often, He allows His gentle power in us to speak louder than any outward power He may display. As Elijah recognizes God presence in a gentle, calming whisper, God once again asks His question. Elijah’s words don’t change, the way he sees things is real, but the tone with which they are delivered is maybe a bit more peaceful, a bit more willing to hear God’s response. God in His grace, comforts and encourages Elijah as He sends him back out to continue his work reassuring him that he is not alone. And He does the same for us. We can know and be certain that God knows everything that’s happening and everything we need. We may not be able to stop the world around us, but we can stop and let God steady our hearts and minds as we turn our whole self His direction. If we are going to run and hide, let us run to and hide in the presence of our God.