In Matthew 19:13, we read, “Then people brought little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them.” Today, people bring their children to Jesus by bringing them to church, to be among believers, and learn lessons from the Scriptures.Matthew also tells us, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” (Matthew 19:14). As the children come to church, we want them to be unhindered and made to feel safe, secure, and welcome.Our Let’s Go campaign brings us another big step closer to gathering children together in a peaceful, spacious, and functional setting.

Your camera roll probably includes pictures showing the happy reactions of people receiving gifts. These are photo-worthy moments. Unwrapping the paper, opening the box, and seeing the gift for the first time creates a memorable experience. It’s much more meaningful than clicking on “accept.” There is joy all around.God offers each of us an amazing, transforming gift. Salvation through Jesus Christ is freely offered to us all. Accepting this gift is the choice of a lifetime.

Have you ever said something in haste or in anger to a friend and it severed your friendship? The two of you stopped speaking to one another and you now avoid one another. While words can’t be taken back, the friendship can be rescued with a sincere apology from one friend and forgiveness from the other.Romans 6:23a (ERV) reminds us that “when people sin, they earn what sin pays—death.” Sin can be the death of a friendship or it can be the death of a relationship with God. However, our relationship with God is not permanently severed for there is salvation to be found in one only—Christ Jesus, God’s sacrifice for His relationship with you.

God hates sin and cannot coexist with it. Because Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for us — all of us, from the first person to the last person, our sins are forgiven. If Jesus had not died for us, we would not have forgiveness!Now, that is a scary thought! Jesus, the Lamb of God, was perfect in every way and was sent to earth to bear the punishment for all our sins. He didn’t deserve it, yet became the ultimate sacrifice for us all. In this, He became our precious and perfect Holy Savior.

Before we can reach the end of the journey, we have to understand the beginning of the journey. The journey for all of us begins with sin. The sin that condemns us and keeps us from the life that we’ve always wanted. Sin is not confined to criminal or evil. Sin is the virus that infects us all.

WAYMAKER: JEHOVAH-JIREHThere was a family who lived on one income and had a tight budget. They rarely went out to eat. One Sunday the mother wanted to treat the kids to lunch out at a restaurant, but she knew they couldn’t afford it. A thought crossed her mind that someone was going to give her money to go out on, but she didn’t expect it.She never said anything to anyone, but right before the family left church that Sunday, a friend handed her money and told her to treat the kids with lunch. God is so faithful. He not only provides for needs, but he may sometimes reward the faithful with their desires, too.

“If patience is worth anything, it must endure to the end of time. And a living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm.”  - Mahatma GandhiReading the story of the prodigal son brings to mind what Gandhi calls “the blackest storm.” How long did the father wait, wonder, and endure? No matter the length of time in waiting or the unknown fate of the son, the loving father waits. The loving father is willing and ready to display the traits we long for in an ideal father… ready to proclaim when we come, “he was lost and is found.”

God created. His creation included time and space. Both were problems for a man lying by a pool in Jerusalem. He had been an invalid for 38 years. Many other disabled people were around the pool. They believed the first person who got in when the waters stirred would be healed. For the invalid, the distance was too great. The time was too long. He could never get into the water first.Then Jesus showed up. He removed the time and space problems and healed the man. It's hard to understand, and often frustrating, but God's timing is perfect.

In Matthew 28:18-19, Jesus gives us a very clear command, "Go and make disciples of all nations." The key word is "Go." It's not a suggestion or optional. As followers of Jesus, He expects us to do what He asked. Our task is to go. The authority to do this was given to us by Jesus himself. Our responsibility is to reach all of the world. The world needs Jesus now more than ever. We have the amazing task of being like Jesus and sharing the good news of the gospel with the world. We must not keep the truth to ourselves. We have to share it!

As babies, we are reliant on others to sustain our lives.  So, it is as we journey through our entire lives in relation to our mission and direction. Light shows the path in the darkness.  God is our light in this world.  He provides the moral light for us to follow.  God has a “way” for man. He has a course, a mission for every man. Of this “way” man is ignorant. He is in darkness. Without God’s guidance, we err at every corner. We are called to walk in God’s truth to worship, honor, and obey Him.