Church was never intended to be a place where we serve God to the exclusion of meeting with Him.

The Christian way is a life of faith. In order to hold on to the promises of God, you've got to believe them and live by them.

The marquee scrolling across our minds trying to reinterpret life reads: "God-Against-Us." This becomes the dominant lens through which our flesh interprets life. We no longer give our loving Father the benefit of the doubt. Instead, we view every event as conclusive proof that God is against us.

What you hope for determines what you live for. What you hope for determines WHO you live for. Hope misplaced can devastate you.

Humility is losing yourself in the doing of serving.

Doubt is a lack of confidence or assurance that God will keep his promises. Faith is an active confidence that God's promises are always true.

You'll face overwhelming odds; you'll be incredibly outnumbered. Fear would be your natural inclination. But keep in mind, God is with you.