Love God • Love One Another

Has it been your experience that things go better with understanding? In living a God-centered life, we need to understand the "why?, who?, how?, and when?" to praise God. Praise is giving gratitude to our creator. Living for God is more than obedience, it also all-in adoration. Love God like a dog! #praisethelord #messiahyl

Praise and thanksgiving are a response to God's love: we say, "God's love endures forever." Psalm 136 gives us a chance to praise God in unison. God's love covers all people and exists at all times. God doesn't love us less or more because of who we are; God's love for you is defined by who God is and what he has made—you are God's child! #OhGiveThanks #messiahyl

Psalm 23 is a prescription for the problems of today. God is always with us in our unknowing. Hope and good news come from recognizing that everyone's needs are met in the abundant love of God. Are you craving consoling prayers at the end of your words? The Psalms are comfort to fill the gaps. #iwilltrust #ishallnotwant #messiahyl

Sometimes all things in life are good. At other times a perceived Kershaw curve-ball is coming for our head! The lament of Psalm 13 asks, "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?" God's reply is empathetic...and life-changing. #CryOutForHelp #messiahyl

Blessedness and happiness are less a physical circumstance and more a state of mind. The pursuit of happiness may be our American right, but it is only God who makes this possible. Happiness is not a set of rules with rewards. It is a process of seeking and moving toward a God-centered life. #AlignedHappiness #messiahyl

Is it possible to rejoice always (be continuously joyful)? Amid suffering, persecution, tough times, challenging situations; joy IS possible and it comes near to us. Leaning on strength higher than the power of positive thinking, discover the power-packed fruits of the Holy Spirit. #RejoiceAlways #messiahyl

For everything there is a season...weeping tears of joy and weeping tears of a clown (when there's no one around). The Lord meets us in our pit. God journeys with us through long nights. If joy seems distant; take heart, the morning is coming. #MorningJoy #messiahyl

How do we fight forgetting? And, especially, how do we not lose sight of what God has done? Nehemiah reminded the Jewish people, then, that God gives long-lasting hope, especially through tough times. As Bible reading and study can educate us, it can also lead us to understand the gifts we've received and help us appreciate God's joyful provision. The joy of the Lord is my strength. #ConnectToJoy #messiahyl

What makes us human? Is it our desire to achieve? According to our creator, what makes us human is our relationships...connections created for our joy. We are made in the image of our creator whose nature is love; we are called to serve the world—losing ourselves in build loving relationships. #JesusOthersYourself #JoyInRelationships #messiahyl

Looking at the Christmas story off-season gives time to ponder other perspectives including the season of the world that Jesus was born into. It was not a Hallmark movie moment. It was filled with violence, swirling political injustice, and social unrest. God's promise of hope was born (and lived among us) in a messy world. God is with us always..right where we are! Unspeakable joy comes to us, especially in darkness. #ChristmasInJuly #messiahyl