In 5 Minutes

If you are ready to go ALL IN on following Jesus, but aren't quite sure what to do--this episode is for you! Whether you are new to Jesus, or have been on this journey for a while now, it can sometimes be hard to know what are the most important things. From how to get connected with a church, to finding God's will for your life, to communion and who should take it, learning how to read and memorize the Bible AND which parts are the most important, to learning how to pray and even understanding more about the story of Jesus--there are so many important things! Where do you even begin? But what if we told you that there are three key things that will help tie it all together? How to Find Community: https://youtu.be/d-zTxWXoezo Finding God's Will for Your Life: https://youtu.be/VN1Kbz8gF4M Communion: https://youtu.be/7lTbFv0MyX4 How to Read the Bible: https://youtu.be/uPf4SD3fWCc Learning to Pray: https://youtu.be/LQ25K6edGto The Story of Jesus: https://youtu.be/7txMXrJKPoc You are a child of God! John 1:12 - But those who embraced him and took hold of his name were given authority to become the children of God! You are a friend of Jesus! John 15:15 - I have never called you ‘servants,because a master doesn't confide in his servants, and servants don't always understand what the master is doing. But I call you my most intimate friends, for I reveal to you everything that I've heard from my Father. You are accepted by Christ! Romans 15:7 - You will bring God glory when you accept and welcome one another as partners, just as the Anointed One has fully accepted you and received you as his partner. You are free! Galatians 5:1 - Let me be clear, the Anointed One has set us free—not partially, but completely and wonderfully free! We must always cherish this truth and stubbornly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past. You have boldness and confident Access to God! Ephesians 3:12 - We have boldness through him, and free access as kings before the Father because of our complete confidence in Christ's faithfulness. You are the best friend of God, and always have more than enough! Psalms 23:1 - The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough. You are the best friend of God, and always have more than enough! You are abundantly blessed and have everything you need! 2 Cor 9:8 - Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything — every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.

What if I told you that becoming a follower of Jesus is much like a couple joining together in marriage? The moment we decide to make Jesus our Lord, we enter a covenant relationship with him. The word covenant means “to cut,” and it describes a sacred, permanent, all-in relationship! In this scenario, Jesus is the one who was cut, his blood was poured out, and he sacrificed his life that we might have an intimate, permanent relationship with him! Much like a couple exchanges rings in a marriage ceremony as a sign of their covenant, Jesus instituted the act of water baptism as a sign of his covenant with us. It's the first thing Jesus commanded us to do as believers. Getting water baptized means we are choosing to be publicly identified with Jesus—declaring our love and loyalty to him! It is a public display of the internal choice that we have made. As we go down into the water, it is symbolic of the death to the sin that was in our life. It also represents our choice to die to living for ourselves. As we are raised up, it is symbolic of being a new person ready to live for God. It is a representation of being born again as a completely new creation. Water baptism is an expression of us receiving Jesus' death as the payment for all our sins and failures. Much like when you get up in the morning and take a shower to clean your body, water baptism is a picture of how Jesus' blood cleanses our hearts and consciences. The difference is while I may need to take a bath every day, what Jesus did is a permanent, everlasting act! If you're feeling the pull to be baptized again, as a new declaration of your choice to follow Jesus, Just do it! The worst-case scenario is that you get an extra bath that week! If you're ready to be water baptized, don't hesitate to reach out to your local church! Here at TFC if you would like to learn more about baptism, visit TFC.org/baptsim to sign up today! Matthew 28:18-20 - “Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

When you think about God and sex, do you immediately think of a bunch of “thou shalt not…” type rules? This is a common belief about God. He designed sex as a gift to bring a man and a woman together in a loving intimate relationship. Through this design, sexual relationships only work God's way...within the boundaries of marriage. By dispelling three common misconceptions that are promoted by today's culture, you will see that God's intentions are for you to have a healthy and thriving sex life. The first misconception is the idea that sex can be casual. God created us to be faithful, and the pattern of sexual desire and fulfillment in marriage hardwires our brains for long-term commitment and lasting love. As a consequence of casual sex, a bond is created when you have sex with someone that doesn't mean anything resulting in preventing you from getting close to your potential mate. The second misconception is the idea to try before we buy. God created marriage to equally fulfill both the man's desire for sex and the women's desire for emotional security preventing the fear of losing the relationship. Both motivations are equally present, important, and strong. Therefore proving that living together before marriage increases the risk for harm to both men and women individually and relationally. The third misconception is the idea that sex can be used as an expression of empowerment. In a healthy marriage, no one is more powerful than the other because God created both husband and wife equal, thus equally contributing to the relationship. Sex outside of a marriage produces the exact opposite. God wanted his creation to enjoy each other within the confines of marriage, so if you are in an unhealthy sexual relationship, there is hope. God wants to heal and break unhealthy patterns. Today, you can choose to do it God's way.

Do you know much about communion? Do you think about a monthly ceremony at church to remember Jesus? Maybe, you think of those little wafer crackers and plastic juice cups. Or maybe, you have no clue what we are talking about! That's okay, you are about to learn so much more! What if I told you that communion is much more than grabbing a quick snack at church, and is actually a way to remember what Jesus did--giving us access to our divine inheritance? Prior to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, he took the bread, gave thanks, and said “This is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me.” And then he took the cup and said, “this is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Later that night, Jesus suffered in the garden as he took on every grief from each and every individual for all of human history. Every sickness, every wound you've ever felt—all of the rejection, every hurt feeling, every loss, abuse, cancer, racism, genocide…each and every grief, each and every failure. He took those into his body and became unrecognizable from the grief of OUR soul pain and sin. Jesus' heart was breaking for the pain of his beloved. As heartbreaking as this seems….Jesus' death is where things get REALLY good! Because at that moment, when He died…so did ALL of our pain and sickness and sin. Shame, and our separation from God were gone. And as he rose from that grave, we rose as well---into a new life, a new covenant, and a new inheritance! Our reality changed! When we take communion, which literally means to come into union with him, we are remembering our victory! Communion is a way to move into deeper friendship and intimacy with Jesus. And He wants to connect with us every day, because he's awesome! Prayer for Communion: Jesus we thank YOU, that you have enabled us to share in your inheritance by making us sons and daughters! As we eat this bread, we are remembering your goodness! We remember that this is the Bread of Life representing your body! Thank you for suffering and being the perfect sacrifice, so that we can be made whole, healthy, and healed--gaining full access to the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus, as we take this cup, we are remembering that we are a part of your kingdom family! We are your brothers and sisters! Thank you for pouring out your blood that washes and cleanses us from all sin, and gives us direct access to our Father in Heaven. Amen! Hebrews 9:14-17: Where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established…for a will takes effect ONLY at death. Luke 22:19-20 (NIV): And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you 1 Corinthians 11:26: as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Psalm 23:5: He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies.

Did you know that being baptized in the Holy Spirit is to a follower of Jesus like what being pickled is to a cucumber? Did you know that John the Baptist said, in Mark "I baptize you with water, but [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit! There's actually more than one kind of baptism! There's water baptism, where we are immersed in water as symbol of our new identity in Jesus, and then there's the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is being filled with Holy Spirit. A Greek poet explains that in order for a cucumber to become a pickle, it must first be “dipped” or BAPTO into boiling water—this aids in removing the bitterness, but it does not change the fact that the cucumber still tastes like a cucumber. However, once the cucumber has been BAPTIZO, or “saturated” in the vinegar and spices solution, the vegetable is permanently transformed…it can never go back to being or tasting like a cucumber. This is exactly what happens when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit! He literally saturates our very being—permanently transforming who we are. Holy Spirit literally takes up residence inside of us! It was always God's plan for us to live in this level of saturated presence and intimate friendship with his Spirit, this is what we were created for! Once you get pickled in the Holy Spirit, you're never the same! Think about it! When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, you have God's very nature living in you. And he is the expert at everything. If you want the fullness of Holy Spirit in your life, just ask!

It's no secret that Jesus loves people, and that he wants us to love people too! In fact, it's a command. Like, the greatest commandment. He says to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. But, what happens when loving your neighbor starts to interfere with your comfort, schedule, and plans? What if I told you that loving your neighbor is about much more than loving when it's easy, loving those like us, and loving those who can love us well in return? If you've ever found yourself feeling a little bogged down by other people and wondering just how much “loving your neighbor” actually requires, you're not alone!The bible is pretty straight forward - Love God with all your heart, passion, energy, and thoughts…AND, love your neighbor as yourself. But who exactly is your neighbor? Sometimes we get busy tending to our responsibilities and getting to the next thing – even if it's a good thing, that we can forget to slow down, stop, and see the people right in front of us. Love isn't just being nice—it's being proactive! Choosing to look for ways to give. Giving the benefit of the doubt, rather than judging motives. It's loving the unlovely, and getting messy—putting our “heart and soul into every activity…as though you are doing it for the Lord himself” and knowing that as we “give generously…it will be given back generously--shaken down to make room for more!”. So take a minute today and look around you. Who has God put in your proximity that you can show love to? Who has it been challenging to love? Ask Him what it looks like for you to show them love. By choosing to see others, and asking the Holy Spirit what he has planned, we can learn to love our neighbors just like Jesus loves us!

According to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, next to basic physiological needs like food and safety needs like security, the need to belong is one of our most foundational human needs! Wow! Finding a group to belong to is a big deal! Most of us, when asked, can rattle off quite a few places and groups where we belong. But what if I told you the very people we crave connection with have the ability to shape the future and fulfillment of your life? Humans are tribal by nature. The need for belonging and connection is hard wired into us. The groups or tribes that we belong to will inevitably influence our nature, belief systems, and behaviors. Belonging to a tribe can have some really great benefits like developing a strong sense of self and identity, feeling purpose, and generally finding support for all of the things that life throws your way! Belonging is a good thing! But, if the tribes in our life are not intentionally selected, things can get funky in a hurry. We are apart of accidental tribes, people we naturally tend to group up with because we have something in common. But then there are tribes we select for the wrong reasons – and these can begin taking us in directions we don't want to go. We need a positive tribal influence—A spiritual tribe! A recent study shows that in 2019, only 23% of Americans regularly attend church. Spiritual tribes are centered on our mutual relationship with God – our spiritual growth, development, support and maturity! They positively impact and shape the course of our life! From our personal spiritual journey, to marriage, finances, career development and parenting--WE need a strong, spiritual influence! YOU need this influence! Not a one of us can do it alone, and it's not because we are weak. It's because God created us that way – he created us to need one another!

If you've been on social media at any point you might have noticed that people have some STRONG opinions about politics. As a Christian how are we to respond to all of this emotion in our news feeds…or even on the actual news? Our tendency can be to push away from engaging in politics altogether. But what if I told you that it is possible for a Christian to participate in politics without losing their mind or soul in the process? Now this does not mean that Christians should not be active in politics. It does mean we don't quit being a Christian when acting out in the political arenas. Our job is to transform the world NOT be transformed by it. You know that old saying “I vote so I have the right to complain”? This just isn't true. Whether you vote or don't vote, complaining about an issue isn't productive…in fact I would say that this is more DEstructive. As Christians there is a healthy way for us to engage in politics. One of the challenges we face is finding the right source for our information. Usually it is news outlets that are purposely polarizing in order to boost their ratings. This dynamic creates an “us or them” attitude. It forces us into picking a side – think, “cancel culture.” This is especially common with our elected officials. Because we “elected” that person, we feel entitled to our disrespect when they fail to meet our expectations. The truth is, every Christian has the responsibility to honor our elected officials. We must respond in a way that is wise, respectful, and proper. The bottom line is that in every single thing we do, there is an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with others…this includes the way we engage in politics.

Have you ever thought “if I had enough money, I could relax a little”? You might think money will solve problems like being accepted into social circles, wrestling to make ends meet, or struggling to manage your finances. But the simple fact is, contentment, financial freedom, and peace do not come from the amount of money, but rather from the way you manage it. Rest assured this isn't as complicated as it might seem!! Here are some basic principles for managing your finances. 1. Tithe - This is the most important thing. It brings your finances into alignment with God's Kingdom Realm, and when you obey, he pours out his blessings! 2. Define values - These are the non-negotiable areas in your life that support your choices and actions. This gives you the freedom to spend money on both your wants and needs, thus fulfilling God's purpose for your life! 3. Make a plan - Map out long-term and short-term goals. Include items like saving for retirement, life-insurance, all things related to kids, buying a house, taking a vacation, and buying a car. 4. Follow a budget - This allows you to appropriate your resources to accomplish your goals. It might look like the cash envelope system, saving five dollars here and there, or maybe even a bunch of carefully planned line items. Though, there are multiple ways to budget, the key is to find one that best suits your needs and be consistent! 5. Live within your means - Learn to embrace delayed gratification, and not worry about keeping up with others. This doesn't mean you can't have fun, but plan for it! 6. Be flexible - Regularly evaluate and re-work the plan for new seasons and new needs. Learn to embrace the change. 7. Regularly communicate - It's been proven that people who look at and discuss their finances and financial goals are much more likely to meet them. When you trust the Lord and operate in wisdom with your resources, he makes your path straight! God is fun! He wants you to enjoy what he's entrusted to you. Managing your finances allows for just that!

Have you ever wondered about Jesus before? I mean, what's the big deal with this guy anyway? People say He claimed to be God. And what about all of the other religions who claim to have a path to God and enlightenment? There are Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and polytheists. Then there are all the strict rules and demands that get associated with Jesus. But, What if Jesus IS who he says he is? Forgiving, full of love, strong, son of God, savior and friend? A relationship with someone like that just might change your life! But what if I told you, Jesus really is exactly who He claimed to be? Would you be willing to set aside your preconceived ideas and view Him with a fresh perspective…even for just a few minutes? Jesus was a REAL person! Within a few years after Jesus' life on earth, there were already dozens of written accounts by Roman, Jewish, and Christian Historians of his life. Jesus performed countless miracles during his time on the earth. Jesus claimed he came to give his life for us. All the other so called “paths to God” focus on what we have to do to be good enough to be accepted by God. But Jesus turned this thinking on its head because He knew we could never be good enough! See, God is the standard of what is good. If it were possible for us to be “good enough” on our own, then we wouldn't need Jesus or anyone else. He lived a perfect life and sacrificed his perfect life for us. True love ALWAYS gives! Jesus came to give. THAT sounds like true love. Now, that's good news! He is ALIVE! And He cares about every detail of your life. Jesus is the all powerful God of the universe, and He is amazingly passionate about you personally! He simply wants you to let him, to walk in a relationship with Him, and let Him show you the way to living a blessed life.

One of the best ways to learn about Jesus is by reading the Bible. The stories in the Bible span over 1500 years! Jesus shows up on the scene and things get REALLY exciting! But what if I told you, that ALL of the Bible—from cover to cover is really one BIG love story about a Father, His Son, and the people they so desperately love! Isaiah says that God declares the end from the beginning, He knew exactly what he was doing. He loved us, even then, before the beginning, knowing that sin would get in the way. AND…He chose us anyways! The thing is, for true love to exist, there also has to be the opportunity for hurt and rejection to exist. He knew this, but it didn't stop him! At every turn in the Bible, God was there reminding His people that a Messiah would come to deal with that sin, the sin that kept us separated from God! His sacrifice would permanently deal with the separation! For most people it's really easy to embrace God, because he is some distant figure. But God is more than that! He laid down the life of his ONLY son. He is a servant who would climb down from his throne to die for his friends and even all those that would reject him. That is a whole OTHER kind of love and it changes EVERYTHING! Jesus came to live the life we couldn't live, to die the death we should have died. Yes,he paid for our sins and closed that gap of separation once and for all, but he came for SO MUCH MORE! He wants relationship with YOU! He came to give us access to the relationship with God we were created for! A life lived in oneness with God is a really fun life! Yes, we will deal with hard things, and yes we may mess up from time to time…but His LOVE is NEVER ending! His love is non judgmental, His love is freely poured out for all to receive. God loves you! This is a fact that once we embrace it – Changes everything! Hey, If you want to make this decision today, pray to Jesus and ask him to be in your heart forever! You can pray “Jesus, you are my Lord and savior. Thank you for your eternal sacrifice. I want you in my heart forever. I want a relationship with you.” You can text the word “Decision” to 797979 and we have people ready and excited to talk with you! We know it's the best choice you'll ever make! Isaiah 46:10 (ESV) - declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose, John 1:1 (ESV) - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Have you ever found yourself searching for joy and happiness in other people, your career, children, or anything else? When these things consume your time and energy, you may feel stressed and overwhelmed. Sometimes this process can unintentionally create idols--taking God's rightful place. An idol is something that removes God from the center of our lives. They can control you in unusual ways like trusting and hoping in someone or something else, other than God. If you're feeling convicted, remember there's NO condemnation for those who love Jesus. Keep in mind that God is relational. You have to choose to make Him your first priority because he's not going to compete for your attention. He knows the best thing for you is when He is at the center because this is where you find true joy and happiness. So if you find an idol, DON'T PANIC! You're not alone! It's as simple as recognizing the idols then eliminating them. Here are a few steps to help you out. First, be open to seeing the idol. This means listening to both God and trustworthy friends and mentors when they point out idols in your life. Next, change your mind and give this area of your heart back to God. Finally, wake up every morning proclaiming that God is King over your life and submit every part to Him. Because your source is God, you can truly find the joy, happiness, and fulfillment that only comes from a relationship with him. Be prepared for overflowing blessings! You must worship God only! - Exodus 20:3-6 NLT - “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. There is no condemnation! - Romans 8:1 TPT - 1So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One. Fulfill your purpose through me! - Matthew 6:10 TPT - Manifest your kingdom realm, and cause your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is fulfilled in heaven. YouTube link - God's Kingdom Realm - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIl-W-pmLy8&t=1s

When people start talking about reading the Bible, you can feel a little out of place – especially if you are new to following Jesus! You likely know what the Bible is and probably even own one. The Bible is actually the most important book you could ever read. If you simply approach the Bible from the right perspective, it is not as confusing or intimidating as you would think. The Bible matters so much because it helps us understand WHO God is – His character, power, love for us, and his good plans for his children. It also helps us to understand how to live the life God wants us to live – it tells us how to operate our lives to get the full benefits of blessing, protection, and provision. The Bible literally transforms us, changing who we are. Hebrews describes it as “it penetrates the core of our being, interpreting and revealing the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.” The Bible can seem confusing, it is not written in a linear fashion. It is creative and circular, full of twists and turns, connections and circles that don't always seem to follow a pattern. The Bible is filled with passion and emotion! When you continue reading As you dive into the Word of God, you will begin to see and know more of who He is, more of how to live life in the Kingdom of Heaven, and more of who He made you to be! Hebrews 4:12 - “For we have a living word of God, which is full of energy, and it pierces more sharply than a two-edged sword. It will penetrate to the very core of our being…interpreting and revealing the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts!” How to Get Started Reading the Bible: Step 1: Find a Bible translation that you can understand. You can even read it digitally – the YouVersion or OliveTree apps are great. Step 2: Set aside some regular time—15 to 20 minutes a day—where you sit and read! Step 3. Ask the Holy Spirit to read with you and help you understand! Step 4. Pick a book out of the bible library— Start with The gospels (Matthew-John), Psalms, or Proverbs - and read! Step 5. Say a short prayer based on what you just read. Step 6. REPEAT! Tips for Beginners: 1. Pick a bible reading plan or follow a devotional. 2. Find friends to do this with – read and discuss together. 3. Ask Holy Spirit for more desire and understanding for the Word.

Do you tend to ignore your emotions and stuff them down? Do you fear feeling your emotions and numb them away? Or are you the kind of person that is emotional about everything? Maybe you don't feel like others and you blame it on your personality. Did you know that allowing yourself to experience your God-given emotions is actually healthy self-care? This can lead to living a rich, satisfying, and successful life! Maybe someone in your past has made you feel like your emotions are too much. Sometimes we equate crying and emotions with weakness. Advertisers and speakers appeal to our emotions to persuade and manipulate our thinking. It can be confusing, and we don't always know what to actually FEEL! God created us to have emotions. The key is to surrender our emotional selves to Jesus – He will lead us into emotional health. Unhealed hurts and unprocessed feelings will eventually show up in negative ways. Jesus wants to heal us, so let His compassion comfort, heal, and restore your emotions! Now we are not talking about emotionalism, where every tiny feeling needs pampering. We are talking about healthy emotional self-care that allows us to fully experience the life He has called us to. We have to allow His healing by having an open posture and being ready for Jesus to teach us about our own emotions. When practice proactively bringing our hearts to Jesus, we begin to recognize and experience joy! Jesus has come to give us an abundant life! And we want to honor the price He paid by not settling for a half-life—devoid of emotions and passion. We want the FULL spectrum of what he has for us! When we are healthy, we are able to share emotions with others! John 15:9 - “I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts.” Mark 12:30-31 - Love the Lord Yahweh, your God, with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, with every thought that is within you, and with all of your strength. This is the great and supreme commandment.”

What does a healthy dating relationship look like? Have you been bombarded with people asking you about your dating life? Questions associated with dating can create confusion, overwhelming pressure, and anxiety. Take a deep breath and relax! The good news is, you can filter these questions through the Holy Spirit by using a few simple guidelines. The most important is, does this person love Jesus? Next is, can you laugh and have fun together? Is this person willing to set and maintain healthy boundaries? Finally, can you clearly communicate with each other? If you can answer these questions with a yes and you're seeking a relationship with that handsome guy or gorgeous lady then ask them out! Don't hide behind technology for fear of rejection but have a face-to-face conversation. If you're looking at taking the next step in your relationship, here are a few other points to consider. Can you see yourself living with this person for the rest of your life? Are you both committed to hearing God's voice and sharing the same values? As you talk and learn and grow together, are you willing to continue walking side-by-side? You have a choice whether to marry each other or not! If you are struggling to make a decision, seek WISE counsel from someone who has been there. Healthy dating, like everything else in life, is about bringing your choices into alignment with God's Kingdom. If you are operating within healthy boundaries AND listening to Holy Spirit, it's going to work out just fine.

Have you ever had your feelings hurt because you got left out of a social event with your friends? This is a classic case of FOMO: the fear of missing out. It probably has happened to all of us at some point. Because of social media and constant connection, FOMO is becoming a major cultural reality. Guess what? You can actually live free of FOMO! FOMO is a state of fear, worry, or anxiety about whether or not we're getting all we can or should be getting out of life – and it is no laughing matter! The root of FOMO is a strong desire and need to be accepted. Every person has an innate desire to have a group they belong to because God created us to depend on one another. Today, social media encourages us to share our lives, which leads us to project a “brand image” of ourselves to the world. Most of us tend to oversell our brand representation. We try to fit it and market ourselves to others so that they will like that they see. We always want to be what we are told to be, putting unwanted pressures on our lives. This leads to more anxiety and fear, isolating us to what we really need most, true connection. This cycle is exhausting. We have to choose to live a life based on faith rather than fear. In Timothy, Paul tells us to do what God has created us to do and rely on the Holy Spirit, rather than fear. We have to let go of looking to others for validation and instead, look to God. Ultimately, it is our choice to live in fear or faith. We are free to fully trust God for our future and simply live in the peace of the present. 2 Timothy 1: 6-7 – “I'm writing to encourage you to fan into a flame and rekindle the fire of the spiritual gift God imparted to you when I laid my hands upon you. For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.” 4 Steps to Eliminate Fear: 1. Daily ask God to give you his will and direction for your life. 2. Don't be afraid to say “NO.” 3. Choose to live in the moment. 4. Don't spend your life watching for someone else's next move. 2 Timothy 1: 7 – “For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.”

Unless you've been living out in the wilderness, you've probably noticed that there's a lot of pressure out there to get fit and healthy. God made us 4 dimensional beings: Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, Physical. For us to be “healthy” each of these four dimensions needs to be in balance. So often we tend to focus on the other three and neglect our physical bodies. Your body is like the check engine light. Learn to listen to the body it's telling you a lot of information. We have to pay attention to the physical signs so that we don't crash and burn. First: Stop comparing yourself with others. This isn't a competition, and there is no shame for where you are today. You are uniquely designed by God, and it's important to figure out what works best for you. A really good doctor can help with this. Someone who will take the time to help you understand your own body and needs. When we say physical self care – we are talking about taking care of your physical self in three key areas: Rest, Diet, and Exercise! Start small, think manageable next steps, and plan for it. As you meet one goal, set the next! But be consistent. A 30 minute walk once a month won't make much difference, but a 30 minute walk four times a week can change your life! The bottom line is that caring for your body is just as important as caring for the rest of your life. Being healthy and whole enables us to fulfill God's call on our life both now and in the future. It's investing in your now and future self by stewarding the body God has given you.

Did you know that in a completely pitch-black room it only takes one tiny light to change the visibility? It's impressive how a little bit of light changes the atmosphere. This small amount of light represents you because you have the light of Jesus burning on the inside. As this light shines, you've probably noticed that there are many people around you who are hurting, grieving, and full of pain. Which leads you to wonder, what could you do to change this dark atmosphere? Does this mean you have to perform miracles, preach on the street corner, or become a missionary? No because changing the atmosphere isn't about DOING more, but it is about BEING more. Most often letting your light shine is accomplished through the regular, every-day, seemingly unimportant interactions with others. It's when you show up and be present with the people on all sides of you. These tiny moments help establish relationships and gain trust that leads to transformation. It was Jesus' presence that transformed you, and that same transformation begins to happen to other people when you allow Jesus to shine through! We live in a tense and uncertain world, but we can change the tone of every single environment we step into—bringing peace instead of anxiety, hope instead of fear, diffusing arguments rather than starting them, discerning the pain behind a person's actions rather than simply reacting to undesirable behaviors, and genuinely loving the people around you. So let your light shine before others and watch as HE transforms the atmosphere! You are the light of the world! - Matthew 5:14-16 ESV - “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Share Jesus with everyone! - Matthew 28:19-20 NIV - “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Have you ever wondered what God's will is? Beyond that, what about the different aspect of God's will? Without meaning to, or even being aware of it, we can tend to take the idea of God's will and use it as a way to make sense out of what is or is not happening for us, to us, or around us. And even further, we begin to wonder what God's specific “will” is for us. In this questioning, we begin to build our understanding of His will based on things we're passionate about, people we admire, and the ways we hope to be seen, valued, and loved. But what if I told you there's a way to approach God's will that doesn't focus so much on, well, YOU —missing it OR trying to take control. When considering His will, there are three things to keep in mind: First, God's overarching plan for humanity. Second, God's Circumstantial will. Our circumstances are the “right now” parts of our life, some we chose and others we did not. Finally, God's specific plan for my life. The flip in our thinking is to stop making ourselves the center. It's not that God doesn't care about his individual plans for our life. He does!! AND even when we do focus on self, he is still working all things out for our good, BUT when we hold on to a self-centered understanding of His will, we miss the point! And can get frustrated and stuck along the way. We operate within the will of God by embracing His heart, allowing him to lead us through our circumstances, and holding our destination outcomes with open hands. If we make Him the center, it's a win win!

Have any of you noticed that the phrase self-care is EVERYWHERE? Do we really need THAT much self-care And isn't all of this “self-love and care” getting to be a bit selfish and self-centered? But what if I told you that true self-care isn't actually about spending MORE time and MORE money on new activities at all. Instead, it's about the way we position our hearts before Jesus—the ONLY one who actually knows how to care for what we need. Bitterness, judgments, unforgiveness…all of these things take a toll on our health—mental, emotional, and physical. Before long, we don't have the energy needed to love anyone anymore. The need for care isn't weakness! Jesus cares about our hearts, and our uncried tears. He is filled with compassion for us. When we bring ourselves to him - all of the pain and thoughts and struggles, he floods in with His presence. It's there that we find healing, wisdom, compassion, and become whole again. True self care has to begin with soul care! Part of this means spending time with other members of the Body of Christ. There's nothing like the compassion of Jesus living inside of a close friend to help us feel loved, heard, and whole again. Once we have received nourishment from Jesus, however, all of the other plans - for ways of caring for our bodies and minds are no longer coping mechanisms, but true forms of care! Our needs are legitimate, and we cannot get them met from anyone other than Him! The father cares about our whole self, not just our soul! Mark 12:29: Jesus answered him, “The most important of all the commandments is this: ‘The Lord Yahweh, our God, is one! You are to love the Lord Yahweh, your God, with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, with every thought that is within you, and with all your strength. This is the great and supreme commandment. 1 Corinthians 6:19: Have you forgotten that your body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in you? You don't belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside your sanctuary. You were God's expensive purchase, paid for with tears of blood, so by all means, then, use your body to bring glory to God! John 15:9 : “I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts. 3 John 1:2: Beloved friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and that you continually enjoy good health, just as your soul is prospering. Thanks for watching "In 5 Minutes"! We'll post a new episode every week. Subscribe to Trinity Fellowship for this show and more!

What do you picture when you hear the word worship? Odds are it's some form of singing to God at church! This is because often the way you choose to worship is through song. Did you know worship can be expressed by singing, shouting, clapping, raising our hands, dancing, giving thanks, writing a poem, drawing a picture, playing an instrument, or anything that outwardly displays your affection to God? The purpose of worship is to open Heaven's door, allowing you to intentionally connect your heart and personally engage in God's presence. True worship is finding God in spirit and truth. In spirit, his presence is everywhere and you can access it any time. In truth, it has to do with the condition of your heart as you begin to worship him. A common misconception is that God likes being worshipped. But the truth is, He loves to be near you, and worshipping draws you closer to him. As a loving father, God embraces worship as the pathway to bring you closer to him because God is personal, interactive, and relational. In the personal presence of God, you will find encouragement, strength, transformation, enlightenment, refreshment, energy, relaxation, hope, power, and so much more! Worship isn't limited to Sunday or church services. You can worship anywhere and anytime--day or night! God is ready and eager to draw near to you! You can worship anywhere! John 4:20-24 (NIV) - Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

When you think about prayer, what comes to mind? Is it something super serious or grandiose? But what if I told you that prayer doesn't have to be complicated or grandiose at all? Prayer is simply a conversation with God--a way for us to invite him into the details and circumstances of our everyday lives! The problem is that we can get psyched out and hesitant to enter the conversation due to some pretty common misconceptions. Misconception #1: “You Can't Talk to Him about That!” God is really awesome and important, but also, he wants to live in an intimate relationship with you. Misconception #2: “You need to have it all together before God can hear you!” Because of Jesus and his death on the cross for ALL of our sins, we no longer have to have it all together in order to have conversations with God. Through Jesus, we get to go right into God's presence. Misconception #3: “You have to be careful what you say and how you say it, or God might get angry with you!” This is simply not true! Pretending to have the right attitude or approach is nullified when we consider that he already knows our every thought and feeling. Misconception #4: “There's one right formula for how to pray!” In the same way that God created each of us uniquely and individually, he wants to connect with us uniquely and individually through prayer. The bottom line is this: prayer is an essential part of living in God's kingdom. It is how we grow in the intimate relationship with Him that we were created for! Try it – set aside some time, create a quiet place, talk to God, and listen for his response. All He wants is you! Matthew 6:30-32 TPT - So if God has clothed the meadow with hay, which is here for such a short time and then dried up and burned, won't he provide for you the clothes you need—even though you live with such little faith? “So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?' or ‘What will we drink?' or ‘What will we wear?' 32 For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn't your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require? Hebrews 4:16 TPT - So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned, to receive mercy's kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness. John 15:9 TPT - I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts. Romans 8:26 TPT - And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don't even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for word. The Lord's Prayer: Matthew 6:5-14 ESV Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you

Most of us at some point in time, have been asked the question “What keeps you awake at night?” The idea behind this question is that the fear and worry keeping us awake are a badge of honor and a source of inspiration. Our culture not only champions fear, it perpetuates it by continually using media to show us all of the ways in which we aren't quite measuring up. The idea is that fear is a motivator for change. So what if I told you that Fear actually has the potential to KEEP you from reaching and achieving your dreams? We are called to live extraordinary abundant lives—and not just some of us, but all of us! Fear either traps you in the past or paralyzes you and keeps you from the future. The truth is that both of these scenarios hinder you from being fully present in today! They keep you from living the abundant life Jesus has promised for you! Did you know the statement “Fear not” appears 80 times in the Bible? God is clearly aware of the fact that humanity would be subject to fear. His repetitive nature indicates the seriousness of His encouragement to us– FEAR NOT! We're going to let go of past behaviors, habits and relationships that are not good for us. We're going to let go and stop hedging our bets. And we're going to refuse to settle for less than ALL God has for us. How do you move on and combat fear? You have to recognize that you are NOT ALONE. God is with you. God will help you – He provides you with His strength. And He is holding you! FEAR NOT! So what if I told you that Fear actually has the potential to KEEP you from reaching and achieving your dreams? 2 Timothy 1:7: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." BE FEARLESS! Isaiah 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Have you ever been on the receiving end of unkind words? It definitely does not feel good. Words have the power of life and death. Research indicates you need five more positive acknowledgments to every one negative criticism. This ratio of five to one is required to maintain a healthy level of self-esteem, trust, and confidence. We at some point or another have said things we shouldn't, and someone gets hurt in the process. If you are intentional, you can change your habits and tame your tongue. When trying to change a habit, it's always important to recognize what's in your own heart because that's where words originate. There are a few simple steps you can take to create a healthy habit of positive interactions with others. First, when you realize that you're struggling with the way you speak to someone, ask Holy Spirit to help you figure out the root of those words. Second, the way you treat other people is often a reflection of the way you treat yourself. Ask Holy Spirit to help you operate in grace and kindness. Third, examine how you talk about you and your circumstances because this might reveal an area of your heart or a deep belief that God wants to heal. As you begin taking these steps, you allow and trust God to do a work in your heart. As a result, you develop a healthy habit of kindness and positive language. The way you think, your perspective, the atmosphere around you, your relationships, and all of these things and more will just get better. Remember you get to choose your words. You can choose to leave someone better than you found them! You can choose to be cheerful and life-giving. You, along with Holy Spirit, have the power! Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Proverbs 18:21 Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life, and the talkative person will reap the consequences.

Have you ever found yourself in a friendship where the other person needs to control every circumstance, isn't willing to contribute equally to you, gives with strings attached, and even shows signs of jealousy over your other relationships? Friendships like these can leave us regularly second-guessing our status in the relationship. The result is that we tend to come away wounded, and we now have to control the narrative of our next and new friendships. This is why it seems so much easier to simply have “cyber friends”. It gives the appearance of being in control and avoiding all of those negative feelings. Here's the bottom line, WE NEED FRIENDS! We were created by a relational God to be in relationship! But, those relationships have to be healthy! We've all been hurt! And, when we've been hurt relationally it is our natural tendency to operate in one of two modes - fight or flight. Both of these reactions make it difficult to experience healthy friendship. And lead to a false sense of health. However, if we are going to experience the kinds of friendship we need it will require two things from us – 1. You are going to get hurt and 2. You're going to have to embrace vulnerability! The truth is we were created by a relational God for relationships, which means, we need friendship! Healthy relationships must become a non-negotiable in our lives. Even in healthy relationships, there are going to be some uncertain moments, and there will definitely be times when you are hurt, but we still need the relationships. Ultimately, we need friendships because life is better when we are moving through with others. You are not meant to do life alone – get out there and be a healthy friend with healthy friendships!

All of us, at some point or another, need to make changes in the direction of our lives. But what happens when your feelings change? What if I told you that real change doesn't begin with your passions or feelings at all? In Matthew 6 Jesus says, “Don't keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value. Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value. For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure.” Here, Jesus is explaining to us the danger of making bad investments of ourselves – pursuing earthly treasure by focusing on getting rich, gaining power, and pursuing status or influence. Instead, he tells us to invest in “heavenly treasure” by loving others and doing good. The flip in our thinking is to stop using passions and emotion as a navigational tool. Our choices and our actions must precede our feelings. The truth is, God has some pretty big plans for your life, but it's up to you to set the course. This pursuit comes through making small shifts and choices right where we are. It's in these little shifts and changes that God is able to lead us where he wants us. God is in a continual process of changing us into who he made us to be, but he wants us to be participators in this process. The small choices we make right now will have a huge impact on our future, and ultimately lead to joy. The great news is that you don't have to wait, you can begin making small shifts right now! Preparing for the fruitfulness he has called you to! Matthew 6:19-21: "Don't keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value. Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value. For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure." Mark 12:30: You are to love the Lord Yahweh, your God, with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, with every thought that is within you, and with all your strength. This is the great and supreme commandment. Thanks for watching In 5 Minutes. The show where we take a question or a topic and we break it down in 5 minutes or less. We'll post a new episode every week. Subscribe to Trinity Fellowship for this show and more.

Do you need strength to achieve goals like eating healthy or working out? Do you need patience for a colleague who regularly challenges you? Or maybe you need an extra dose of gentleness and love for your strong willed toddler? If your answer is yes the Holy Spirit is here to help you, and the awesome part is you don't have to strive or work for it. You only need to have Holy Spirit living in you to have limitless access to operate in all the Fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Just ask. Here's a couple of pointers to help you tap into those overflowing gifts. First, when you are filled with Holy Spirit, he takes up residence inside of you. Everything he has, you now have full access to every time you need it! Second, he is ready and willing to provide exactly what you need. Third, allow Holy Spirit to express himself through your responses and actions in the situation. This means you have limitless strength of spirit to stick to your goals, compassion for your co-worker, gentleness and love for your toddler, and whatever else you might need from Holy Spirit to meet life's daily challenges head on! The real discipline is not striving and working to have more of the Holy Nature of God…it's about remembering to access Holy Spirit regularly. And, as you practice accessing and receiving, the process becomes more like muscle memory—automatic. And all the while, as we are accessing his nature, we are actually being transformed. So give Holy Spirit a try! What do you have to lose?? You will not regret it! You have the Fruit of the Spirit in you!! - Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.

#Hustle is EVERYWHERE. But what if I told you that the “Hustle” is actually slowing us down? That it is counterproductive to living a full life? Putting all your heart into what God's given you to do is a good thing! Our culture, however, has taken this idea of “putting your heart and soul into it” and turned it into, “and if your soul is not completely worn out, and if you're not living on the brink of exhaustion, you aren't giving it your all!” In this process we've become a performance-based, no-rest culture. We've all heard the old saying that a little hard work never hurt anyone, but it turns out doing too much on the other hand is actually hazardous to our health! God designed us to need rest. We learn quickly, in Genesis, that rest is important to God. So important that even He rested on the 7th day of creation. Rest is reinforced again when God gives Moses the ten commandments. God makes rest a requirement for his people and calls it Sabbath—a predictable day each week to slow down and NOT work. Studies have shown that taking a regular sabbath results in less stress, better physical health, mental clarity, and more productivity! So actually, to give our best, we need to flip our thinking – part of living a full, healthy life in God's kingdom is actually about receiving a gift God has given us – the rest that we were designed to need. Even though life is still demanding, we can step away from the chaos and participate in Sabbath by giving ourselves predictable time away from work to do what recharges us. Make it happen! Rest is the remedy! Colossians 3:23 (ESV): Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. Mark 12:30 (ESV): And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' Mark 2:27 (ESV): And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

What if I told you that who you are is not defined by what you do? The path to finding our identity is a long and often winding road, but the drive to find it is hardwired into each of us. We try to fit in with this group or that one, trying each one on for size, and it seems each group is formed around what they do together. Whichever group we find ourselves in, we begin adopting their code. Our language, clothing and habits begin to conform to the group norms, and our so-called identity starts forming. The fundamental problem with this is that our identity is being formed by individuals who are still looking for identity themselves. I want to find happiness, and everyone says if I want to be happy, I need to know who I am. We begin a journey towards identity beginning with the reason to pursue happiness. So, we start a list: get a good career, make lots of money, travel around the world, get married. When we follow the normal path starting with our pursuit of happiness, we let what we do – and ultimately our life circumstances – define our identity! But when we do things God's way, we let him define who we are, trusting in him, pursuing him, seeking him, then he sets our identity grounding us firmly in who we were created to be. Then we find our life taking shape from this place of center rather than it trying to define what center should be. Embracing who God says we are leaves us free to be who we were created to be, leading us to the true place of success, fulfillment, joy and satisfaction. Psalm 139 - “You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I'm about to speak before I even start a sentence! You now every step I will take before my journey even begins. You've gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. With your hand of love upon my life, you impart a blessing to me.”

Do you ever see or think about a person and immediately have feelings of irritation or maybe even anger? If so, you might have an area where you need to forgive! Unforgiveness can affect both your spiritual growth and mental health. Let's examine what forgiveness looks like and how to apply it. Forgiveness is the act of addressing the issue, releasing the other person and hurt, then blessing the person who hurt you. But sometimes forgiveness can feel confusing due to some misconceptions like the idea of "forgive and forget" or that forgiveness is for the other person and requires a confrontation. Though these misconceptions can be part of the forgiveness process, they don't always need to be used. Taking a step back from the situation allows you to follow these simple steps. First, you need to identify the area of unforgiveness. If this is difficult, then ask the people that know and love you best to help point you in the right direction. Next go before God and tell Him about it. He already knows so don't hold back. The final step in forgiveness is praying and asking the Lord to help you forgive. Simply pray a short prayer acknowledging the hurt, releasing the person to God, and blessing them. Depending on the scale of pain you are dealing with, forgiveness may require this process multiple times. If needed, seek help from trusted friends and relationships. Keep in mind that forgiveness is between you and God, NOT you and the other person. When you make the choice to forgive, the other person doesn't necessarily change, but you move forward free and clear to live a full and healthy life.

The phrase “you do you” permeates our current culture encouraging us to pursue our independence, find success, and live empowered. But is it possible that this idea of “you do you” is actually all about selfishness driving our egos? Because if that's true, it will lead us away from true happiness, not towards it. “You do you” is born out of an independent spirit which believes that if a person can simply find their thing and do it, then they will find happiness. Here is the problem: When we make independence and the pursuit of happiness our highest goal, we make selfishness the foundation. God did not create us to be independent. He created us to be interdependent – to need and depend and serve one another! Jesus said, “You are to love the Lord Yahweh, your God, with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, with every thought that is within you, and with all your strength. This is the great and supreme commandment. And the second is this: ‘You must love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself.' You will never find a greater commandment than these.” When we embrace this “great commandment” of loving God and loving others, we find our lives intertwined with those whom we love. Our sense of worth comes from our ability to love and give to others. The foundation of our ego then becomes loving God and others rather than a pursuit of happiness for ourselves. Success becomes service to others not being served. When we do things God's way, we find we have everything in abundance, more than we can expect. This is the way to really “do you” – and ultimately, the answer to finding true happiness.

It's safe to say that trust is foundational to our society because it's essential for healthy relationships. For most of us, there comes a point when the possibility of more hurt outweighs our willingness to reach out and trust other people. God designed us for relationship, and he also knew relationships would cause pain. It's not that he's playing some big trick on us by designing us for inevitable pain! He knew that pain was going to happen, and still made a way for us to engage. From the beginning of our lives, we are full of trust, however, our relationship with trust begins to shift. It begins with being taught by those who love us most to not trust strangers. This cycle continues and by the time we reach adulthood, we have adopted the belief that trust has to be earned, and that most people are not trustworthy. People tend to broadcast pre-rejection as a protective mechanism. When we live in pre-rejection mode, the enemy wins because he cheats us out of the chance for good friendships! Jesus anticipated our pain and made a way for us to still have meaningful connected friendships. God is in others, so I can trust them more because I trust Him. But even when we trust God in others, pain is still possible. In John 15 Jesus tells us to continually allow His love to nourish our hearts! When I choose to trust God in others, and his compassionate heart towards me, to walk in forgiveness, and to make allowances for other's faults, I can be genuinely good! You will be hurt again, but you can go to God. He is compassionate and will heal you every time.

How do you feel when you hear the word tithe? Do you cringe and get upset because you think someone is trying to get their hands on your money? Giving away your hard earned money can be a real challenge. But, let's shed some light on what tithing actually is. Tithing is the literal act of bringing the first ten percent of your increase to the storehouse which is your local church. It is also the act of giving back to God, and by not giving back, you are robbing Him. That means the first ten percent is His! In scripture, God encourages you to test him in the area of your finances. He promises that if you bring your tithe into the storehouse, He will open up the windows of heaven and abundantly bless you. However, God can't bless irresponsibility! You need to learn to live within your means and manage your money wisely. The blessing God's referring to is that when you tithe, you invite Him to be in control of your finances. Then He becomes both the source and protector of your resources. Tithing is all about demonstrating trust in God. He is your loving father who desires to bless you more than you could ask or even imagine! God wants the best for you! Give tithing a try for yourself and see what happens!

The thought of submitting to authority can sometimes feel like a complete loss of independence and control—giving up of our power. But what if I told you that you could only have as much power and authority as you were willing to submit to? When we misunderstand submission, we think it means loss--the giving up of our independence, dignity, desires, and free will. While submission is an act of yielding, true submission, the way God designed it, is the pathway to blessing, provision, and power! The truth is you only have as much authority as you're under because all authority comes from God. God designed authority structures and submission so that we would be protected and have the power and provision needed for life. We all need power to find breakthrough, to grow, to be successful, to fulfill our purpose. That power is found in the authority structures around us, and we can only tap into it by submitting to those in authority. Submission is often difficult because our nature and our culture push us towards independence. The flip in our thinking is to realize that we were created for interdependence—living a life of mutual submission and honor with others. True maturity is not measured by how independent we are but by the positive effects of the healthy relationships we are connected in with. The secret to learning to trust the authorities in our life is that we CHOOSE to trust God—believing that if I do the right thing, He is big enough to make it all work out. To see the fullness of God's plan unfold in your life, you must be submitted to the authorities over you. When you do that, you are ultimately submitting to God and his authority.

We live in a cultural environment that constantly projects how we “should” look and behave, and we work hard doing what we are told and trying to conform. Attempting to become like other people rather than ourselves creates feelings of jealousy, strife, and comparison. Humans were never meant to live in an environment like this! All of these things are the result of a really bad day in the Garden of Eden, and since then mankind has been trying to solve a major identity crisis. In Ephesians 2:10, the Bible tells us that we are God's workmanship! That word workmanship is the word poema, which literally means masterpiece. In other words, you are God's work of art! He made you exactly how he wanted you to be, and he made you for a specific purpose. Here's the catch, it's impossible for us to live God's kingdom purposes while we're wearing the mask and refusing to embrace who God has created us to be! God really likes you! You might be struggling to believe this, but it's true! The Bible is full of promises about you that confirm this! His Word defines, shapes, and confirms the real you. It also helps to find trustworthy people in your life who love you, are constant, and fully love God. When they tell you things about yourself, believe them! Friends like these can really give us courage to take off the masks and embrace who we really are. God has an amazing dream in His heart for you. Let's stop trying to be like everyone else and fully embrace “the real you” so that we can live in His design for us! Ephesians 2:10 (TPT) - We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it! Poema = Masterpiece Proverbs 18:21 (NIV) - The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Learn how to be the real you!

Have you ever felt anxious about sharing your faith in Jesus with others? Don't worry! We've all been there. Rest assured that in your uneasiness you can share Jesus with others by simply being kind, listening, and loving others. You can also share what Jesus has done for you, because He is your source of joy, peace, and confidence. He is your rock and hope in times of trouble. You have His love, and you have Holy Spirit! This means you have answers for people feeling lost in this spinning, shaking, and breaking world. His name is Jesus and he is what people need. But, how are you supposed to share Him with others? You can do this by allowing what's inside of you to show on the outside and by consistently loving the people around you. This allows you to build trust and safety in your relationships. When people trust and feel safe with you, they become vulnerable and express their struggles and pain. It is in this place you can show empathy, kindness, and comfort. The key is compassion! The people around you are waiting to hear about Jesus. When you persist in loving the people around you, this compassion is able to melt hearts and change minds. Sharing Jesus is a lifestyle. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see Jesus in the people around you. Ask him to begin showing you what people need AND how you can show them love, then be sensitive to what He says. Keep in mind, your job is just to show up and love people. Jesus will take care of the rest. Jesus is your helper! - Psalms 46:1 (ESV) - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Jesus has plans for you! - Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) - For I know the plans I have for you, “says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jesus's kindness will melt your heart! - Romans 2:4 (TPT) - Do the riches of his extraordinary kindness make you take him for granted and despise him? Haven't you experienced how kind and understanding he has been to you? Don't mistake his tolerance for acceptance. Do you realize that all the wealth of his extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance?

When you think of the word “hell,” what comes to mind? The idea of Hell is controversial at best, and for many it is downright unbelievable. People are often willing to believe in Heaven as a place we go to after death but choose not to believe in Hell. People cannot understand how a good God would send his children into eternal damnation. Hell is a very real place, but God never intended for humankind to live there. It was always God's plan for us to join Him in Heaven. When we choose to put our faith in Jesus, we have instant access to the Kingdom of Heaven. Hell, in contrast, is an eternal place of unquenchable fire—where those who have not put their faith in Christ have chosen to go. Hell is the most awful place imaginable, devoid of the tangible presence of God. A long time ago, Lucifer and his cast of demons had a rebellion in Heaven, so God cast them down to the earth and created Hell for their eternal destination. God always intended for us to live forever with him in the kingdom of Heaven. God never wanted the separation, so he made a way through Jesus for us to eliminate it, and to give us a pathway into life forever with him. All we must do is put faith in Jesus and choose to follow him. You are an eternal being created by God—that means when you take your last breath here on earth, your next breath is in eternity—either Heaven or Hell. While hell is a very real and awful place, God never wanted you to go there, and because of your faith in Jesus, you don't have to go there.

Did you know that you can learn to live in Heaven right now? That's right, you don't have to wait. Jesus loved to teach on the Kingdom of Heaven, but he rarely spoke of it as a place we go to when we die. Instead, He always referred to God's Kingdom Realm as something available to us right here and right now. When we put our belief in Jesus and make him the Lord of our life, we now have access to God's Kingdom Realm. And, we can invite the Kingdom of heaven into every aspect of our lives -- our work, our relationships, our finances, our school -- everything! Jesus demonstrates how to do this in the Lords Prayer when he says "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." Through this, Jesus is teaching his followers to pray for the Kingdom of God to come into the earth realm where we live and for God's will to be done. This does not mean that we won't have challenges and difficulties to overcome here while we are living on the earth, but it does mean that we don't face those challenges alone! We get to face them with the full backing of Heaven!

What is church? Where did it start? Why is church still relevant today? When you think of church, you might picture a small countryside building with a steeple or the church choir singing or the preacher preaching. Do all of these things make the church? No! It wasn't the building or traditions or religion that created the church. The church started when the disciples began speaking about Jesus, His life, His death, and His resurrection. People were so eager to learn about Jesus that they hung onto every word. It didn't matter where they came from, what language they spoke, or even if they knew each other. The disciples, rooted in relationship with others, established the foundation of the church that is still pertinent to today. They were believers joined together because of their belief IN and love FOR Jesus Christ! Their pursuit of Jesus is what united and connected them. The people are the church. That means you are the church. Your job is to bring Jesus to those around you and include everyone into the church family. You were created for relationships because God is relational. You can't do this alone! Because when the journey feels steep and long, you need other believers walking beside you to help you navigate your pursuit of Jesus. This was God's plan all along! This is life in the church!