Love God Love One Another

The desire for freedom is universal...if something, misunderstood. The true nature of freedom is not best served by asserting rights of personal freedom, but, rather, liberated freedom that allows openness to serve God and others in gratitude. It is transformative and rewarding because it is fully aligned with how we were created. #serving #messiahyl

We all mess up! Despite how great our failure is, God's grace is abundantly greater. We are made in the image of God with great capacity for love. We don't sin wildly because forgiveness is easy. We are part of a faith community and we belong to God. We are transformed and, therefore, live in response to newness of life—dead to the power of sin. Our failures are made right through the redemption of Jesus Christ. #dying #rising #newlife #BeWhoYouAre #messiahyl

Sometimes, I feel alone. How about you? We are in this together. Being made in the image of God, we are made for relationship...to God and to one another. You are not alone, Jesus is always with you—and we have each other. We have been rescued, freed, and are supported by a God who loves us. Rejoice, be reconciled, encourage one another, live in peace, and greet others with inclusion. #InThisTogether #YouAreNotAlone #messiahyl

Get cut in! Focus better, get it right, work harder! God offers an easier path to living burden-free. You can get it right and it doesn't require working harder...just living in the grace and goodness of what Jesus did. Live the good life with God's loving grace in Jesus Christ. #GetItRight #messiahyl

What gives you a worry? Do you find your mind cultivating anxious thoughts? Fear, worry, dread are part of the human condition...but we can let it go and be set free. Release begins when we focus on what Jesus did to free us, to forgive us, pay a ransom for us, defeats evil, and to daily care for us. Give your worry to God. #anxiety #befree #messiahyl

Have you ever found yourself in a place of pain, shame, or embarrassment? Bound in a prison of your own making? Peter may have been chosen by Jesus to be the foundation and rock of His church...not because of his great faith or actions, but because he, too, fell very short of this and was in need of grace and forgiveness. Confession is good for every soul. It is important for us to name what is broken in us to drill down to the heart of the matter—our need for forgiveness. As you have been forgiven—go be giving...#Forgiveness #messiahyl

What is it about us humans that "everybody wants to rule the world?" This yearning showcases our wandering, self-centered, and selfish desire for more power and control. Seduced away from the plan God set for us, we often find ourselves in the condition of being all messed-up. God is God—we are not. #LetsNotOppose #GodsWill #messiahyl

Would you agree, the best bite of the cinnamon roll is the delectable center? Living into the mindset of Jesus is a promise of the presence of God (always) and this state of being is sweet words of hope that are far better than cinnamon rolls. #FaithIsLike #LikeACinnamonRoll #messiahyl

In whom do you trust? Yourself? Others? What respect will you grant to someone proven to hold your best interests, shown to love you in every situation, and prepared to give even their own life to save you? Jesus is the fulfillment of a loving confidence in your worth. Pride in our self-styled success and worldly credentials is unremarkable in comparison. Living a generous and content life begins in realizing there's a surpassing value of knowing and following the one who made you (and makes you) worthy. #giveup #yourpride #tobegrounded #inlove #messiahyl

A divided house cannot stand. How do we build a proper, healthy foundation in our family, community, and world as a follower of Jesus? How can we find unity in our diversity—which is often so prickly? What does love require? We can make our deepest convictions come from our faith and unity of spirit and not our ideological preferences. When we ground our foundation in love and live as as peacemakers we mirror Christ to our world. #lovealike #commonground #unityofspirit #messiahyl

Ministry is an opportunity to always choose joy. Working in the country of Cambodia on prevention efforts of human trafficking and restoration work with young people, our ministry partnership is enabled by the work of Matthew and Melissa Stock #choosejoy #loveoneanother #messiahyl

While "location, location, location" is a famous real estate meme, "relationship, relationship, relationship" is the JoyFULL fellowship concept that characterizes our Christian connection to God, community of believers, and other people. We are thankful for your partnership! #EyesOnJesus #Partnership #JoyFULL #messiahyl

What is it that you believe and why? Easter is a perfect time for reflection. Uncertainty is normal and perfection is not possible. Jesus came and subjected himself to die on our behalf (in the very undeserving condition we are in) demonstrating the tangible way of everlasting love and humility. A dark world is not wiped out by Easter, but it is certainly overcome. #InTheDarkness #HeRose #ComeToTheTable #messiahyl

Are you coping with religion or is your faith free of expectations? Are you making Jesus your kind of king or do you stand down to honor the mission and methods that Jesus actually did, taught, and now expects? Jesus came in peace to save us from our sins...not save us from our earthly needs. Thank goodness for us! #expectations #messiahyl

Do you ever have doubts? Thomas was disciple-famous for being honest...and doubtful. Jesus never shamed Thomas for his doubting posture. Rather, Jesus came close, exposed his scars, and showed Thomas how real life will not be perfect, but victorious. #MyDoubts #HisScars #Victorious #messiahyl

The power of evil in the world is strong, but our God is not just stronger—God is also merciful...always ready to be gracious and forgive. #CheersTears #LikewiseBeKind #messiahyl

Have you ever heard God speak? a heavenly tug on your heart? What, perhaps, is more unnerving: clearly hearing God's call? or not hearing it at all? Living out our "call" is simply living (and giving) grace. Look for where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet. It is good news that, when we mess up, God still loves us despite our imperfections. #GraceForAll #Valentine #LaborOfLove #GodOfManyChances #messiahyl

What is God's call for you? You might not know...or you might perceive it clearly and are running from it. Want to get away? Jonah did. Nevertheless, God loved Jonah and God loves those who Jonah was called to witness. Why is sharing our faith so hard? #ThinkAboutIt #MyStory #HowGodLovesMe #messiahyl

In a world of long shadows and dark areas, we are called to spill light and be light givers. Where can we find the energy for our presence to be useful? God's Holy Spirit is the power to be witnesses to the love and grace of God and to bring hope into people's world. #IAmLight #PowerfulBeyondMeasure #messiahyl

Happy New Year! Welcome to the new you! Is it your resolution this year to become a better version of yourself? Begin with connection to your operating instructions and a relationship with the God who uniquely created you. Studying these plans and following God's ways are the superior pathway to happiness! #Trust #Obedience #Happiness #messiahyl