There is something about the end of a year that naturally causes us to look back and look ahead.  We think about what went well, what didn't, what we wish we had done differently, and what we hope will change in the year ahead. Before long, we start making plans. We set goals, create resolutions, and promise ourselves that this year will be different. 

But what if the most important question isn't, “What do I want to change?” What if the better question is, “Jesus, what do You want to change in me?”

Following Jesus has never been about adding Him to our lives while everything else stays the same. Jesus came to transform us.  Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Transformation means change. And while most of us like the idea of becoming more like Jesus, we don't always like the process He uses to get us there. Change can be uncomfortable. It may mean letting go of something we've grown accustomed to. It can mean admitting that an attitude, habit, priority, or relationship needs to be different.

Sometimes God challenges the way we think. Sometimes He calls us to forgive someone, take a step of obedience, establish a new priority, or leave behind something that is keeping us from moving forward.

Our tendency is to ask God to change our circumstances. God is often more interested in using our circumstances to change us.

Throughout Scripture, encounters with Jesus changed people. The disciples left their nets and followed Him. Zacchaeus changed the way he handled his possessions. Peter learned that failure didn't have to define his future. Paul went from opposing Jesus to giving his life to proclaiming Him.

Jesus met people where they were, but He loved them too much to leave them there.
The same is true for us.  As you prepare for a new year, don't just make room in your calendar for new goals. Make room in your heart for God to do something new in you.

Ask Him a few honest questions:

• What needs to change in me? 
• What am I holding on to that I need to release? 
• Where have I become comfortable when You're calling me to grow? 
• What step of obedience have I been avoiding?

Then give God permission to lead.  You don't have to know everything God wants to do in the coming year. You simply need to be willing to follow Him one step at a time.
The Christmas story began with people willing to make room for what God was doing. Mary said yes. Joseph obeyed. The shepherds went. The wise men followed.

As one year ends and another begins, may we have that same posture.  Don't just ask God for a different year. Make room for Him to make a difference in you.

There is something about Christmas that captures our sense of wonder. 

You can see it in the face of a child looking at Christmas lights or waiting to open a gift. Everything feels exciting. Everything feels new. But as we get older, it can become harder to hold on to that sense of wonder. We know how the decorations get put up. We know what is inside some of the packages. We have heard the Christmas songs and read the Christmas story more times than we can count.

And sometimes familiarity causes us to miss just how incredible the Christmas story really is.  Luke 2:10–11 says, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”  Read those words again.  A Savior has been born.

The God who created everything came near to us. The One who holds the universe together entered our world as a baby. Jesus stepped into our brokenness, not because we had earned His love, but because He loved us. God didn't remain distant. He came looking for us.  That should never become ordinary.  But it can.

We can sing about Jesus without thinking about Jesus. We can hear the Christmas story without being moved by it. We can go through the traditions, attend the services, give the gifts, and celebrate the season while losing our wonder at the One we are celebrating.

Maybe this Christmas, you don't need something new. Maybe you need to see what you've known for years with fresh eyes.  Slow down long enough to consider what it means that God came near. Think about what your life would be without the hope of Jesus. Remember the grace you've received, the prayers God has answered, the ways He has carried you, and the difference His presence has made in your life.  And then worship Him.

That's what happened in the Christmas story. The shepherds heard the news, went to see Jesus, and returned “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). Their encounter with Jesus produced wonder, and their wonder produced worship.  Ours should too.

In the final days before Christmas, resist the temptation to rush past Jesus on your way to celebrating His birth. Make room to sit with the story. Read Luke 2 with your family. Turn off the noise for a few minutes. Thank God for sending His Son. Let yourself be amazed again.
Christmas isn't ultimately about creating magical moments. It's about remembering the miraculous moment when God came near.

This Christmas, don't just remember the story. Recover the wonder.

One of the challenges of the Christmas season is that we can become so focused on making Christmas special that we miss God in the ordinary.

We decorate the house, plan the meals, buy the gifts, attend the parties, and try to create meaningful moments with the people we love. There is nothing wrong with any of those things. But sometimes we begin to believe that God is most present in the big moments, the emotional moments, or the moments that feel especially spiritual.

The Christmas story reminds us that God often does His greatest work in ordinary places and through ordinary people.  When Jesus was born, there was no palace, no royal celebration, and no impressive setting. Luke tells us that Mary “gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger” (Luke 2:7).

A manger.  It is hard to imagine a more ordinary setting for the arrival of the Savior of the world. Yet that is exactly where God chose to come near.

We can spend so much of our lives waiting for something extraordinary that we miss what God is doing right in front of us. We think we will have more time for God when life slows down. We will serve Him when the opportunity is bigger. We will become more intentional with our family when the schedule settles. We will pay closer attention to God when we finally get through this busy season.

But what if God wants to meet you right where you are?

God is present in the drive to work. He is present while you make dinner, sit in the pickup line, answer another email, or have another ordinary conversation with your family. He is at work in interruptions, responsibilities, routines, and relationships that can easily feel insignificant.

The question isn't whether God is present.
The question is whether we are paying attention.

Making room for Jesus doesn't always require adding something else to an already crowded schedule. Sometimes it simply means becoming more aware of Him in the life we are already living.

Before you rush into your day, take a moment to pray, “Jesus, help me notice You today.” When someone interrupts your plans, consider whether that interruption might be an opportunity to love them. When you sit around the dinner table, slow down long enough to thank God for the people around it. When you find yourself doing something you've done a thousand times before, remember that even ordinary moments can become holy when you surrender them to God.

Christmas reminds us that God stepped into our ordinary world and made His home among us.  Don't wait for the perfect moment to make room for Jesus.  Look for Him in the ordinary. He may already be closer than you realize.

One of the most familiar moments in the Christmas story is also one of the most challenging. An angel appears to Mary and tells her that God is about to do something incredible through her life. She will give birth to Jesus, the Son of God.

Mary certainly had questions. She could not have understood everything that was ahead. Saying yes to God would affect her plans, her relationships, her reputation, and the future she probably imagined for herself. Yet after hearing what God was asking of her, Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).
In other words, Mary gave God her yes.

We often want God to give us all the details before we decide whether we will trust Him. We want to know how things will work out, what it will cost, how long it will take, and whether we will be comfortable along the way. But faith rarely comes with all the answers.
Faith says, “God, I trust You enough to obey You even when I cannot see everything ahead.”

That kind of yes can be difficult because our lives are already full. We have plans, schedules, responsibilities, expectations, and ideas about how life is supposed to go. Then God interrupts those plans with an invitation to follow Him.

Making room for God often begins by loosening our grip on our own plans.

Maybe your yes is forgiving someone you would rather avoid. Maybe God is asking you to serve, give, encourage someone, have a difficult conversation, or take a step you have been postponing. Your yes might mean changing a priority, surrendering something you have been holding tightly, or trusting God in an area where you desperately want to remain in control.

Whatever it is, remember that saying yes to God is not primarily about having confidence in yourself. It is about having confidence in Him.  Mary could say yes because the God asking for her obedience was trustworthy. The same is true for us. We do not know everything God knows. We cannot see everything God sees. But we can know His character. He is good. He is faithful. He is present. And He can be trusted with the parts of our lives we cannot predict or control.

As Christmas approaches, consider a simple question: 
Where might God be asking for my yes?

Do not rush past that question. Pray about it. Pay attention to what God has already shown you through His Word. Consider the step of obedience you know you need to take.
You do not have to understand the entire journey to take the next faithful step.
This Christmas, make room for God by opening your hands, surrendering your plans, and trusting Him with what comes next.

Sometimes the biggest things God does in our lives begin with one simple response:
Yes, Lord. All things are possible with you.

Is prayer your first response or your last resort?  If you’re normal, it may depend on the day. Some days, you face a challenge, try to solve it unsuccessfully, and then pray.  It’s not that you intentionally forgot to pray.  Prayer just wasn’t part of the natural rhythm of your day. You eventually sought and trusted God through prayer.  But not as quickly as you could or even should.

Psalm 103 gives us a framework for a new rhythm and pattern for prayer.  

First, prayer remembers before it requests.  David begins, “Praise the Lord, my soul...and forget not all his benefits.”  David is talking to himself. He's intentionally directing his attention toward God. Before asking God to do something next, David stops to remember what God has already done.

Biblically, remembering is more than recalling information. God's people sometimes “forgot” God even though they hadn't literally forgotten He existed. They forgot Him when they began living as though His past faithfulness had no bearing on their present circumstances.

Second, prayer remembers who God is, and what God has done.  So David remembers.
 

• God forgives. David knew what it was to sin and experience God's mercy.
• God heals. He is the source of healing and restoration.
• God redeems. David could look backward and recognize times when God rescued, protected, restored, and carried him.
• God crowns us with love and compassion. His steadfast love isn't simply affection. It is loyal love that keeps showing up.
• And God satisfies with good things. He doesn't promise to give us everything we desire. He satisfies us with what He knows is good.

When you remember who God is and what He has done, your heart is shaped to trust and obey God today.   You see His faithfulness in the past, and you can count on Him in the future.  Even if He answers your prayer differently than you desire, you can know that His answer is best and for your good.   You can have complete confidence in Him!

Third, prayer reminds us to rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances.  Paul teaches us this in 1 Thessalonians 5: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.”

This is God’s will for us!  That’s why prayer isn't something we insert into life only when everything else fails.  Prayer invites us to orient our lives toward God in all things and to trust Him in all ways as we pray.   When we seek and live God’s will, prayer is our first response, not our last resort.

This ongoing, day-and-night rhythm of prayer begins to shape how we see our circumstances. Paul says it leads us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” He doesn't say every circumstance is good. We don't have to pretend pain doesn't hurt, minimize disappointment, or call tragedy good. Instead, prayer keeps turning our attention back to the God who is present in every circumstance. Even when we can't give thanks for what is happening, we can find reasons to give thanks as we walk through it. Why? Because our circumstances may change, but God's character doesn't. He is still good. He is still faithful. He is still present. He is still worthy of our trust.

So today, remember what God has done. Recognize who God has been. Then respond by placing what you're facing today into His hands.  Our prayer becomes:  “God, You've been faithful before. I believe You will be faithful again. I don't know what You will do, but I know who You are.”  That's the prayer of someone who has discovered that God is more than enough.

What happens inside you when you see a need?  Maybe someone is struggling financially. A family needs help. A ministry has an opportunity. Someone needs your time, your attention, your resources, or something you own. You recognize the need, and almost immediately you have to decide.

Do I open my hand, or do I close it?

An open hand sees what it has and asks, “How could God use what He has given me to help?” A closed hand sees the same need and immediately begins calculating what generosity might cost. What if I need this later? What if there isn't enough? What if I give this away and wish I had kept it?

Most of us want to think of ourselves as generous people. But generosity isn't really revealed by what we say we would do if we had more. Generosity is revealed by what we do with what is already in our hands.

That's what makes the image of an open or closed hand so powerful. A closed hand can hold onto what it has, but it also can't receive or release anything. An open hand is willing to trust that what God has placed there doesn't have to stop there.
So maybe the question isn't simply, “Am I generous?”  A better question might be:  When God puts a need in front of me and an opportunity to be generous in my hands, what is my first instinct: open or closed?

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul challenges Christians to open their hands to meet the needs of other believers. These weren't necessarily people with enormous financial margins. They had needs of their own. Yet Paul wanted them to understand that generosity doesn't begin when you finally have more than enough. Generosity begins when you trust that God is more than enough.

Paul uses the picture of a farmer: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”  

Every farmer understands something that initially seems counterintuitive. To produce a harvest, you have to release the seed. Seed sitting safely in the barn doesn't produce anything. The seed has to leave your hand.

Paul then says our giving should come from the heart, “not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Christian generosity isn't about being pressured, manipulated, or guilted into giving. God wants generosity to grow from hearts that trust Him.

Why can we live this way?  Paul answers: “God is able.”  Before Paul talks about our ability to give, he talks about God's ability to provide. Christian generosity doesn't begin with, “Look how much I have.” It begins with, “Look who God is.”

Paul says God provides abundantly so that, having what we need, we can “abound in every good work.” This isn't a promise of personal prosperity. God's provision has a purpose greater than increasing our lifestyle.

God provides for us so He can also provide through us.

Paul then describes God as the One who supplies both “seed to the sower and bread for food.” That's a powerful framework for generosity. Some of God's provision is bread. It meets our needs and is ours to enjoy with gratitude. But some of God's provision may be seed, an opportunity to bless someone else.  Instead of automatically asking, “What can I do with more?” we can begin asking, “God, what do You want to do through what You've given me?”

This week, open your hand. Give something you could have kept for yourself. It might be money, time, possessions, attention, or hospitality.  When we trust the Provider, we don't have to hold tightly to His provision.

Paul's contentment wasn't self-sufficiency. It was Christ-sufficiency.  Maybe that's something we need to practice. When you wish you had what someone else has, when the paycheck isn't as large as you'd like, or when life doesn't look like you thought it would, remind yourself:  What God has given me today is enough for me to faithfully follow Him today.
The goal isn't finally reaching the place where we look around and say, “Now I have enough.”  The goal is looking to Jesus and saying, “I have You. And You are more than enough.”

Worry has a way of pulling tomorrow into today. We think about what might happen, what might go wrong, what we might need, and whether we can handle it. Before long, we are carrying the weight of problems that haven't even happened yet.

Jesus understands that pressure. In Matthew 6:25–34, He talks about some of life's most basic needs: food, clothing, and the future. For Jesus' original audience, these weren't simply concerns about maintaining a comfortable lifestyle. Food shortages, debt, taxation, drought, and crop failure could threaten a family's survival. Yet Jesus tells these people not to worry.

He isn't telling them their needs don't matter. He's reminding them that they matter to their Father.  Need proof?  Jesus points to the birds. They don't sow, reap, or store food in barns, yet the Father feeds them. Then He asks, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” Jesus isn't teaching us to stop working or planning. Birds work for their food too. The contrast isn't between work and laziness. It's between worry and trust.

This matters because worry often gives us the illusion that we're doing something productive. If I think about the problem long enough, anticipate every possibility, and prepare for every outcome, maybe I can control tomorrow. But Jesus asks a challenging question: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Worry promises control while producing none.

Jesus then points to the flowers. If God clothes temporary grass with beauty greater than Solomon's splendor, how much more can we trust Him to care for His children? Jesus keeps bringing us back to our Father's care and character. He sees us. He knows what we need. He cares about us.

That's why the answer to worry isn't simply “stop worrying.” Jesus gives us something to do instead: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”  The question becomes: Am I going to spend my life seeking provision, or am I going to seek the Provider?

Seeking God's kingdom means wanting what God wants, valuing what God values, ordering our lives around His purposes, and trusting Him with the results.

You don't have to solve tomorrow today. You don't have to carry tomorrow's problems with today's strength. Identify what you're trying to control about tomorrow and intentionally place it in God's hands.  We can trust God with tomorrow because of who He is today.

Worry has a way of pulling tomorrow into today. We think about what might happen, what might go wrong, what we might need, and whether we can handle it. Before long, we are carrying the weight of problems that haven't even happened yet.

Jesus understands that pressure. In Matthew 6:25–34, He talks about some of life's most basic needs: food, clothing, and the future. For Jesus' original audience, these weren't simply concerns about maintaining a comfortable lifestyle. Food shortages, debt, taxation, drought, and crop failure could threaten a family's survival. Yet Jesus tells these people not to worry.

He isn't telling them their needs don't matter. He's reminding them that they matter to their Father.  Need proof?  Jesus points to the birds. They don't sow, reap, or store food in barns, yet the Father feeds them. Then He asks, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” Jesus isn't teaching us to stop working or planning. Birds work for their food too. The contrast isn't between work and laziness. It's between worry and trust.

This matters because worry often gives us the illusion that we're doing something productive. If I think about the problem long enough, anticipate every possibility, and prepare for every outcome, maybe I can control tomorrow. But Jesus asks a challenging question: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
Worry promises control while producing none.

Jesus then points to the flowers. If God clothes temporary grass with beauty greater than Solomon's splendor, how much more can we trust Him to care for His children? Jesus keeps bringing us back to our Father's care and character. He sees us. He knows what we need. He cares about us.

That's why the answer to worry isn't simply “stop worrying.” Jesus gives us something to do instead: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”  The question becomes: Am I going to spend my life seeking provision, or am I going to seek the Provider?

Seeking God's kingdom means wanting what God wants, valuing what God values, ordering our lives around His purposes, and trusting Him with the results.

You don't have to solve tomorrow today. You don't have to carry tomorrow's problems with today's strength. Identify what you're trying to control about tomorrow and intentionally place it in God's hands.  We can trust God with tomorrow because of who He is today.

Sometimes life is not falling apart. You are just tired.  Not the kind of tired that one good night of sleep fixes. It is a deeper exhaustion. You have been carrying responsibilities, caring for people, dealing with problems, and pushing forward for so long that eventually you realize your heart is heavy.

That is where we find Elijah in 1 Kings 19.  Just before this chapter, Elijah experienced an incredible victory on Mount Carmel. God had demonstrated His power in an unmistakable way.  Then everything changed.

Elijah received a threat from Jezebel, became afraid, ran for his life, and eventually sat down under a tree completely exhausted and discouraged.  One of the things I appreciate about this story is how God responds.  God does not begin with a lecture.  He begins with care.  Elijah sleeps. An angel gives him food and water. Then he sleeps again.

There is something deeply pastoral about that picture.  God meets us in our exhaustion before He moves us toward what is next.  Sometimes exhaustion changes the way we see everything. Problems look bigger. Hope seems farther away. We begin making conclusions about our lives, our future, and even God based on how we feel in a depleted moment.

That does not mean our feelings are unimportant. It means we should be careful about allowing exhaustion to write the story.  God eventually asks Elijah, “What are you doing here?”  And Elijah tells Him.  God lets Elijah express his disappointment, fear, and loneliness.  We can do the same.

You do not have to clean up your emotions before bringing them to God. You can tell Him what hurts. You can tell Him what scares you. You can tell Him that you are tired.
And then God gives Elijah a next step.  Not twenty steps.  One faithful next step.  Maybe that is what you need today.  You do not have to figure out the next year. You may not even need to figure out next month.  Ask God, “What is my next faithful step?”

Maybe it is getting some rest. Maybe it is having an honest conversation. Maybe it is asking someone for help. Maybe it is returning to something God has already asked you to do.
A heavy heart does not mean you have lost your faith.  Sometimes it simply means you have reached your limits.  And when you reach your limits, you may discover something important:  God is already there.

There is a difference between being responsible and believing everything is your responsibility.  That difference can be hard to recognize.

Many of us carry more than we were ever meant to carry. We carry responsibilities at work, needs in our families, concerns about friends, financial pressures, ministry responsibilities, unfinished projects, and expectations we have placed on ourselves.  Eventually, the weight begins to show.

In Exodus 18, Moses was trying to lead the people of Israel by handling every problem himself. From morning until evening, people lined up waiting for Moses to help them.
His father-in-law, Jethro, watched what was happening and said something Moses needed to hear: “What you’re doing is not good.”

Moses was doing good work. He was helping people.  But even good work can become unhealthy when we believe we have to carry all of it. God calls us to faithfulness, not to carrying everything ourselves.  Sometimes the first step is simply admitting, “This is too much.”  That is not weakness. It is recognizing that God created us with limits.

Then we need to ask: What has God actually asked me to carry?  Galatians 6 gives us an important balance. We are told to carry one another’s burdens, but we are also told that each person should carry their own load.  There are burdens we should help people carry. There are responsibilities that belong specifically to us. And there are things we have picked up that were never ours to carry in the first place.  

Learning the difference is an important part of healthy leadership and healthy relationships.  Maybe someone else can help.  Maybe someone else needs the opportunity to grow by taking responsibility.  Maybe something does not have to get done today.  And maybe there are things you simply need to trust God with.  That last one can be the hardest.

We like finished lists, solved problems, answered questions, and clear outcomes. But sometimes faithfulness means ending the day with something still unfinished and trusting that God is still at work.

Take inventory of what you are carrying today.  What is yours to carry? What could someone else carry? What have you picked up that belongs to someone else? And what do you simply need to place into God’s hands?

You can care deeply about people without taking responsibility for everything in their lives. You can lead faithfully without doing everything yourself.  You can care deeply without carrying everything.

God’s grace gives us forgiveness, changes us from the inside out, and fills us with joy and peace.
BIBLE- The Forgiving God- Psalm 103

Disciples disagree with grace.
Bible-Romans 14:13-23- The Law of Love
Disciples build relationships that point each other to Jesus.

Younger IK Groups - PreK - 1st Grade

Older IK Groups - 2nd - 5th Grade

Some stress comes from schedules, responsibilities, and problems that need to be solved.  And some stress has a name.

People can get under our skin. Someone says something that frustrates us. A coworker makes our job harder. A family member pushes the same button they have pushed for years. Someone disappoints us, misunderstands us, or treats us unfairly.

We cannot always control what other people do. But with God’s help, we can learn to control how we respond.  James gives us some of the most practical relationship advice in the Bible:  “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”

That sounds simple until someone makes us angry.  Our natural tendency is often the exact opposite. We are slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry.  But following Jesus gives us another way.  Listen before reacting.  Listening does not mean agreeing with everything someone says. It means slowing down long enough to understand before deciding how we will respond.

Then James tells us to be slow to speak.  Most of us have said things in moments of frustration that we wished we could take back. Stress speeds us up. Wisdom slows us down.  Sometimes one of the most spiritual things you can do in a tense conversation is wait a few seconds before answering.

Ask yourself, “Does what I am about to say help this situation, or am I just trying to win?”
James also tells us to be slow to anger because human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.  Anger itself can alert us that something is wrong, but anger makes a terrible leader. When anger takes control, we often say and do things that create more damage than the original problem.  So surrender your anger to God before it takes control of you.

And then James gives us one final challenge: do not merely listen to God’s Word. Do what it says.  It is easy to know what Scripture says about kindness, forgiveness, patience, and our words. The challenge comes when we have to practice those things with someone who is difficult to love.

Maybe there is someone getting under your skin right now.  Before focusing on what they need to change, ask God what He wants to change in you.  You may not be able to control what they say.  You may not be able to control what they do.  But God can transform how you respond so that stress does not determine how you treat people.

Hope means trusting God and believing that Jesus’ love and forgiveness bring healing and good things.
BIBLE- The Bronze Snake - Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-17

Disciples can’t hide real faith.
Bible-Galatians 5: 13-26- Fruit of the Spirit
Disciples build relationships that point each other to Jesus.

Younger IK Groups - PreK - 1st Grade

Older IK Groups - 2nd - 5th Grade

Have you ever been physically tired but mentally wide awake? Your body is ready to rest, but your mind keeps replaying a conversation, worrying about tomorrow, or working through a problem you cannot solve tonight.

Most of us know what it feels like when our minds will not stop.

In Philippians 4:4–9, Paul gives us some practical direction for those moments. What makes his words so powerful is that he does not tell us to pretend everything is fine. Instead, he teaches us what to do with the worries that are already there.  

Bring your worries to God.  Paul tells us, “in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Prayer is not ignoring what worries us. Prayer is taking what worries us to the One who can actually do something about it.

Sometimes we carry things all day that God has been inviting us to give to Him.
Then Paul tells us that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Notice that he does not promise that every problem will immediately disappear. He promises that God’s peace can meet us while the problem is still there.

God’s peace does not require peaceful circumstances.  But Paul does not stop with prayer. He also tells us to pay attention to what we allow our minds to dwell on. Think about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable.

We cannot always control the first thought that enters our minds, but we can decide whether we give that thought a place to live.

That matters because worry often feeds on possibilities rather than realities. We start with something that might happen and, before long, our minds have created an entire future around it.  When that happens, ask yourself a simple question: Is this true?  Not, “Could this happen?” Not, “Am I afraid this will happen?” But, “What do I know to be true right now?”

Then remind yourself of what you know about God. He is present. He is faithful. He loves you. He knows what you need. And He is already in the tomorrow you are worried about today.

Finally, Paul says to “do what you have learned.” Peace is not only something we pray for. There are practices that help shape our hearts and minds.  So today, name what is worrying you. Bring it honestly to God. Thank Him for the ways He has already been faithful. Then redirect your thoughts toward what is true.

You may not be able to stop every thought from entering your mind.  But you can choose which thoughts you allow to stay.

Jesus freely forgives us, makes us whole, and invites us to share His love with others.
BIBLE- Jesus Forgave Peter- Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-27; 21:12-19

Disciples are faithful even when rejected.
Bible -Daniel 6- Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Disciples build relationships that point each other to Jesus.

Younger IK Groups - PreK - 1st Grade

Older IK Groups - 2nd - 5th Grade

At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells a story about two builders. Both hear His words. Both build a house. Both experience a storm. From the outside, their lives may have looked equally secure. The difference was hidden beneath the surface. One built on rock, and the other built on sand.

Matthew 7:24-27 teaches that wisdom is not simply hearing the words of Jesus. Wisdom is putting them into practice. The wise builder acted on what he heard. The foolish builder heard the same truth but did nothing with it. The difference between the two builders was not knowledge, opportunity, or circumstances. It was obedience.

We can easily confuse exposure to truth with obedience to truth. We attend church, listen to messages, read books, highlight verses, and discuss spiritual ideas. Those practices can help us grow, but none guarantees that we are living what Jesus taught. Learning something new can feel like doing something new.

We hear a message about forgiveness and think it was powerful, but continue rehearsing the offense. We hear about prayer and agree that we need to pray more, but never create space to pray. We are challenged to serve, but remain on the sidelines. James 1:22 warns, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Truth does not change our lives until we put it into practice.

Jesus compares obedience to building on rock because foundations are formed slowly and with consistency. No one walks into a beautiful house and asks to see the footings beneath the concrete. People notice the colors, furniture, flooring, and finishes. But when a storm arrives, the part no one noticed becomes the part that matters most.

In the same way, spiritual strength is often built through ordinary choices no one else sees. We learn to pray before the crisis. We establish boundaries before temptation feels overwhelming. We learn Scripture before confusion arrives. We build Christian community before isolation becomes dangerous. We practice forgiveness before bitterness hardens our hearts. Today’s obedience builds a foundation and prepares us for tomorrow’s storm.

Jesus does not promise that wise builders will avoid storms. Rain, rising water, and wind strike both houses. Following Jesus does not exempt us from grief, illness, disappointment, conflict, financial pressure, uncertainty, or unexpected change. The difference is not that one person experiences pressure while another escapes it. The difference is what remains standing afterward.

Storms often reveal what our lives are built upon. When plans fall apart, we discover whether our peace was built on control. When money becomes tight, we discover whether our security was built on possessions. When criticism comes, we discover whether our identity was built on approval. Storms do not create everything within us. They expose the foundation already there.

The house on the rock stands because its foundation is strong. Our confidence is not in our ability to control every circumstance or remain strong enough on our own. Our confidence is in Jesus. A life built on Him may be shaken, but it will not be abandoned.

Sand often looks easier. Resentment feels easier than forgiveness. Compromise feels easier than establishing a boundary. Blending in feels easier than following Jesus. Delaying feels easier than obeying now. But delayed obedience leaves the foundation unfinished.

You are building a life right now. Every decision places something into the foundation, and every habit shapes what pressure will eventually reveal. Do not leave your response general. Identify one teaching of Jesus you already know but have not practiced. Complete this sentence: “Because Jesus said it, this week I will ______.”

A life changed by Jesus is built through daily obedience. Jesus has spoken. Build on the rock.

Forgiveness is our greatest need and Jesus freely offers it to everyone who responds to Him with faith.
BIBLE- Jesus Forgave and Healed a Man- Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26

Disciples are faithful friends.
Bible- 1 Samuel 20: 11-17, 2 Samuel 9: 1-13- David and Jonathan are friends
Disciples build relationships that point each other to Jesus.

Younger IK Groups - PreK - 1st Grade

Older IK Groups - 2nd - 5th Grade

Ever see someone wreck their lives?  Horrible decisions.  Bad consequences.  What happened?  Most people do not wake up one morning and decide to destroy what matters most. Compromise usually begins quietly. A look becomes a thought. A thought becomes a desire. A desire becomes a habit. Eventually, what seemed small begins to pull the heart away from God and damage the relationships we value.

In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus moves the conversation about adultery beyond outward behavior and into the human heart. He teaches that unfaithfulness begins long before a visible act. It grows in the desires we entertain, the thoughts we nurture, and the attention we repeatedly give. God wants more than outward compliance. He wants hearts that are fully devoted to Him.

Jesus then uses shocking language about removing an eye or cutting off a hand. He is not commanding physical harm. He is using intentional exaggeration to show how seriously we should confront sin. The eye represents what we allow ourselves to see. The hand represents what we choose to do. His point is clear: do not casually manage what is leading you away from God. Take decisive action.

Our culture often tells us to see how close we can get to temptation without crossing the line. Jesus calls us to move in the opposite direction. Radical faithfulness asks, “What strengthens my devotion to Jesus, and what repeatedly weakens it?” If certain content, conversations, relationships, apps, locations, or routines consistently pull you toward sin, holiness does not negotiate with them. Holiness creates distance.

This kind of obedience may feel extreme because sin rarely announces its final destination. Temptation advertises immediate pleasure while hiding the eventual cost. It promises relief, excitement, control, or affirmation, but it slowly reshapes our desires. What we repeatedly watch, imagine, or pursue will influence us. We cannot continually feed temptation and expect faithfulness to happen automatically.

Decisive action may mean deleting an app, changing a routine, ending a secret conversation, installing accountability software, avoiding a certain place, or asking a trusted believer for help. It may mean confessing what has been hidden instead of allowing shame to protect it. The goal is not simply to remove something unhealthy. It is to replace it with habits that strengthen love for Jesus: prayer, Scripture, worship, service, honest community, and wise accountability.

Grace is essential here. Jesus does not expose sin so we will surrender to shame. He exposes sin so we can walk in freedom. Shame says, “Hide because this is who you are.” Grace says, “Come into the light because Jesus can forgive, restore, and change you.” We do not fight for faithfulness to earn God’s love. We fight because in Christ we are already loved and called to a better way.

Faithfulness also requires planning before temptation arrives. Boundaries are most effective when they are established in a clear moment, not created in a weak one. Decide now whom you will call, what you will avoid, and what access you will remove. Invite someone mature and trustworthy to ask honest questions. Secrecy gives temptation room to grow, but confession brings it into the light.

The first decisive step may feel costly, but the cost of continued compromise is greater. You may lose convenience, privacy, or access to something you enjoy. Yet every boundary declares that fellowship with Jesus and faithfulness to the people you love are worth protecting. Freedom often begins with one honest confession and one practical change.

Ask yourself what you are currently trying to manage that Jesus may be calling you to remove. Where have you been making excuses, testing limits, or assuming you are strong enough to handle repeated exposure? Do not wait until the damage becomes obvious.

Faithfulness begins in the heart, but it becomes visible through our choices. Small, decisive acts of obedience protect what matters most and train our hearts to trust Jesus. Do not manage what Jesus is calling you to remove. Choose radical faithfulness, and take the next obedient step today.

Because God sent Jesus, anyone who believes in Him gets to have new life both now and forever. Kids will learn that rescue from sin through Jesus is the greatest gift. God forgives us and helps us live for Him because He loves and values us.
BIBLE- New Life in Jesus- Ephesians 2:1-10

Disciples are influenced by Jesus.
Bible- Acts 3 & 4- Peter and John heal and teach others about Jesus.
Disciples know God and show Him to others.

Younger IK Groups - PreK - 1st Grade

Older IK Groups - 2nd - 5th Grade