And like that day, 16 years ago, with seemingly great joy, he told our staff, “Whatever we have is yours. Whatever space we have, you can use.”

You and I have mixed motives when we seek to demonstrate goodness, but the Spirit is at work to shape our hearts and our actions to resemble the perfect example of goodness.

The Spirit of God is relentlessly committed to the work of making selfish, self-centered, prideful people into people who reflect the beautiful and glorious image of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. So He is working kindness into our very being.

Let’s face it, Technology is here to stay. Phones. E-readers. Computers. Laptops. Smartwatches. What does the technology you use on a daily basis communicate about your relationship with Jesus?

We often think of the time we spend with God as being for our good and His glory, but rarely do we consider the immense benefits it brings to the community around us – to those we are discipling. My motive had been Him and myself, but God knew that he would use that reservoir in the raising up of my children. 

What does the gospel have to say about our failures and missteps in following Jesus? When we “fall off the wagon” of our best intentions?

Faith is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” In other words, there is an unseen reality in the heavenly realm about which we are convinced: that the glorious God exists and Christ is ruling and exalted, triumphant over His enemies through the cross.

Too often, we get overwhelmed by the details of life and think that God is absent or not involved. We don't need to feel this way any longer. If God is in the details of our lives, then let's look for Him in each ordinary day and moment and uncover the creativity and beauty He is summoning us to.

We don’t have to dwell on our own insufficiencies or weaknesses, because He is able to take our efforts and multiply them. All we have to do is be obedient, and trust that He will be faithful to bring about fruit.

Forgiveness means that the debt that the wrong doer owes us for our loss is canceled. We cancel it without recompense. We simply decide, “You owe me nothing, the slate is wiped clean.”

As Christians, we are not to get comfortable with sin merely because we have been given the righteousness of Christ. When we view our faith in such a way, it shows we have a very narrow view of what it means to be justified before God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Our reconciliation is more than just having the debt paid, but the relationship is also restored!

God also values perfection. In fact, he is perfect. But his response to imperfection is starkly (and beautifully) different from my own. While I frustratedly throw in the towel and start from scratch, God chooses restoration.