When the alarm clock goes off, and you awake from your nightly slumber, have you ever stopped and thought about why you are getting up? I'm not talking about an important business meeting or shuffling the kids off to school. I'm highlighting something much more profound, something that drives not only our words and actions but also the way we perceive the world around us. So, let me ask again: what motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?

You have a say in who you become. It's very easy to hear a statement like this and begin to list all the things you need to change feverishly. Many items that make the list are attempts to make up for the past or avoid remaining the person that you currently are. Almost all of the selections are some version of behavior modification centered on replacing the bad with the good.

The other day I was scrolling through Facebook when a shared post from a friend caught my eye. It came from one of those "frugal" sites and boasted of a savings trick that could turn pennies into Christmas presents. Being a fool for click-bait articles, I followed the link, even though I was highly skeptical of the claims.

It's hard to believe, but this July marks twenty years of calling Wilmington, NC my home. Yes, I'm one of those Yankees who uprooted themselves after falling in love with the sweet tea and laid-back Southern charm. I love everything about living on the coast - everything except hurricane season. Being a northerner, I can handle anything snow-related, but powerful storms, not so much.

In today's verse, Jesus starkly contrasts two opposing forces: the thief and Himself. The thief symbolizes everything that seeks to rob us of the life God intends for us. It's a representation of the enemy's tactics to steal our joy, kill our dreams, and destroy our relationships. On the other hand, Jesus reveals His mission—to offer us a full life beyond mere existence. Jesus wants us to understand God's heart and desire for us—a promise of abundant life that resonates with hope, purpose, and a future beyond our wildest dreams.

Today, let's dive into a verse that's like a cool breeze on a sweltering day—Romans 15:13. In this little gem of a passage, the apostle Paul packs a powerful punch of truth, hope, and encouragement that I believe we all need to hear, especially in the world we find ourselves navigating.

Today, I want to dive into a verse that has been a cornerstone of our faith, providing us with unshakable assurance amid life's uncertainties – a verse that beautifully reminds us of God's incredible plan for our lives. Life often throws unexpected curveballs, leaving us wondering why things aren't going as planned. In those moments of confusion and doubt, we must hold onto this promise from Romans 8:28.

Life is an incredible journey filled with desires that stir our souls. We yearn for success, happiness, love, and purpose. These desires aren't wrong—they're part of our design, woven into the very fabric of who we are. But, as we navigate life's twists and turns, we often allow these desires to take over, becoming the focus of our thoughts and energies.

Isn't life an incredible journey of changing seasons? God's handiwork is all around us, and those changing seasons are like God's way of reminding us about the natural order of things. Just as God directs the rhythm of nature, He's also orchestrating the rhythm of our lives, moving from one season to the next; as one chapter ends, another begins. Embracing the art of introspection and reflection is pivotal during these transitions; without them, we miss witnessing God's provision, protection, and guidance through it all.

Picture a young child squinting and straining to see the world around them. They may not even realize that their vision is less than clear. But then comes the day when they put on a pair of glasses. As they peer through those lenses, the once-blurry landscape sharpens into focus. Colors become more vibrant, details emerge, and the world takes on a new dimension.

In a world that often pushes us to strive harder, meet impossible standards, and carry heavy burdens, the heart of the Gospel invites us into a different kind of life—one where we're already forgiven, loved, and accepted by our Savior. Take a moment to think about that. It's like we've been given a brand-new identity in Jesus—a forgiven one wrapped up in the incredible love of our Heavenly Father.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Thanks to some retail trickery, the answer to that question is harder to answer than one would think. First, it depends on the mirror's location. We've all picked up an outfit off the rack that looked picture perfect in the store, but it didn't seem to fit right when tried on at home…

Life can get chaotic and overwhelming, and sometimes we feel like we're all alone in this big world. But guess what? There's something amazing, something beautiful, that cuts through all the chaos and welcomes every single one of us to an extraordinary gathering - it's the table of communion.

If you repeat a word enough times in quick succession, the word loses its meaning. Scientists call this phenomenon “semantic satiation.” You can experience this sensation yourself: choose a random word, and say it to yourself over and over. Oddly, the word starts to feel like it isn’t a word.

Life's journey is a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with both moments of pure delight and times of overwhelming despair. At first glance, it may seem like these experiences are opposites, but God utilizes every season, the good and the bad, to open our eyes to a more profound understanding of our faith. As followers of Christ, we are called to embrace the truth that joy and hope can thrive even in the darkest circumstances.

No matter our circumstances, hope is always within reach when we know Jesus Christ. Life can sometimes throw unexpected curveballs, leaving us feeling disoriented and overwhelmed. But, amid it all, Jesus stands as our constant companion, offering hope that transcends every situation.

What is this world coming to? At one point or another, we've all grappled with this question. Sometimes we wrestle with the frustration and futility of our unsteady world due to trying circumstances that greet us at our front door or when we turn on the news or flip through our social media feed.

When we find ourselves alone, we often reach for our phones to scroll through social media or turn on the TV to fill the void. But instead, what if we took the opportunity to connect with God?

I have an odd obsession with the reality television show, Hoarders. If I'm flipping through the channels and it's on, I stop what I'm doing and tune in. Sometime during each episode, I wonder what leads this individual or couple to be consumed by clutter…

What comes to our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us. It influences our words, thoughts, actions, emotions, and sense of identity. We all have a different viewpoint of who God is and what He should do. When we hear the word "GOD," our minds try to figure out who He is, what He's like, what He's passionate about, etc. We do this to explain the world around us, deal with our questions about life, justify our behavior, or push our agenda.