Tough times come because of our personal choices or situations beyond our control. We can thrive in tough times because God’s grace goes beyond our failures and mistakes. Remember tough times are temporary but tough people lasts because of God.Remember the God of hope is with you.Remember God keeps His promises. When you trust God, His plan & His promises through tough times you can thrive.

To defeat the unseen enemy, we must be spiritual and use spiritual tools. To win the unseen battles we must learn to see in the spirit. Throw off the old. (Eph 4:22)Embrace the new. (Eph. 4:23, 24)Imitate God. (Eph 5:1-2)

When we live as heirs of our Heavenly Father we can live the best life. Benefits of having God as our Heavenly Father: God is Loving and Compassionate.God Give Guidance & Discipline.God Give Guidance & Discipline. As children of our Heavenly Father we should… Live freely righteous by faith Live by Love Live by the Power of the Holy Spirit

When our faith is tested, choose to trust and do what God says. Because the One testing your faith has your best interest in mind. Why does God test His people? Tests reveal the depth of our faith.Tests come as opportunities to demonstrate our obedience.Tests develops our reliance on God’s provision.Tests deepens our understanding of God’s character and purposes.Tests prepare us for the fulfillment of His promises. WHEN YOUR FAITH IS TESTED Trust that God knows what He’s doingObey God and honor Him in the midst of trialDiscern what God is teaching you about Himself and His ways

Our passing lives attain lasting significance only when we honor the eternal God We honor our Sovereign God when we pursue: Holy AccountabilityGodly intimacy Divine Legacy

Life in God’s Kingdom on earth is now possible because of JESUS through the power of the Holy Spirit. WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES: Conviction of Sin (John 3:5-6)Regeneration and New Birth (John 3:5-6)Indwelling of Believers (1 Corinthians 6:19)Sanctification (Galatians 5:22-23)Empowerment for Service (Acts 1:8)Teaching and guidance (John 14:26; Romans 8:14)Intercession (Romans 8:26-27)Distribution of Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)Unity and Fellowship (Ephesians 4:3; 2 Corinthians 13:14)Illumination of Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:10-14)

To avoid minor issues becoming major problems we should pause and think before we proceed.  To prevent others from stumbling and keep harmony, love like Jesus.  To love like Jesus, pause and think before proceeding for the benefit of the young in the faith. 1.      Consider Christ and others first.  a.  Think about where other people are in their faith journey.   2.     Build up don’t tear down.  a.  We must build others up instead of tearing them down with pride or indifference.   b.  Build others by teaching them what is right.

When we love the way Jesus loves it will be seen, heard, and felt. Our love for God should translate in how we live and treat people.Living God’s way is different from the world’s standards.

The gift is more meaningful because of the giver. Everyone has a spiritual gift. “They are God-given inclinations or desires, as well as special enablement or abilities…” Everyone and every spiritual gift are important. God is the giver of spiritual gifts. You are valuable not because of your gift but because you belong to God. We must discover, develop, and deploy the gifts God gives. Just start serving. Humility is the posture of service. When we use our gifts to serve people humbly, we build unity and honor God.

You cannot call yourself a Christian if you are living in contrast to how Jesus lived and taught. How we think influences much of how we live. When we change the way we think, we’ll most likely change the way we live. To live a transformed life, we must have a transformed mind that is surrendered to Jesus, submitted to the Holy Spirit, saturated by God’s Word, which serves God’s purpose. How? Surrender. Surrender to Jesus’s Lordship daily by offering your life to him. Submit. Submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit.Saturate. Saturate your mind with instructions from God’s Word and God’s presence.Serve. Serve God by obeying His instructions for all of life.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to live a life that glorifies God. The Spirit that raised Jesus to life is the same Spirit that's living in us. How do we live in the Spirit? Having a mindset guided by the Holy SpiritPutting to death old, sinful habitsAffirming identity as a child of God

What we believe determines where we belong which affects how we behave. When we believe in the Good News about Jesus, we will belong to God which will affect how we behave. Our belief in God brings us in a right relationship with God which affects our behavior. What are you believing in that will save you?

Because JESUS lives, HOPE is alive. How to find hope in hopelessness: Look for JESUS in hopeless situations.Remember the words of JESUS that bring hope.Seek to experience the life in JESUS personally.

Those who welcome Jesus as King must also learn to trust Him with their future. He is meek and gentle... and He cares deeply for you. He is mighty and fearless... to stand against the evil one.He is merciful... and will reach out and help you today.

True devotion to Christ involves sacrificial love, authentic living, and prioritizing Him above everything else. When we are truly devoted to Christ, it not only becomes a sweet aroma to God, but it leaves a lasting fragrance to the people around us. 3 Characteristics of True Devotion to Christ Sacrificial LoveAuthentic LivingRight Priority

Sometimes you win when you lose. Losing can provide valuable lessons and experiences that contribute to future successes;Facing defeat can build resilience and mental toughness;Losing gracefully, with dignity and sportsmanship, can enhance one's reputation and character;Losing can provide perspective and help individuals reassess their priorities and goals;Losing can foster camaraderie and strengthen relationships, particularly in team settings;Strategically losing a battle or sacrificing something in the short term can lead to a greater advantage or victory in the long run. When we deny ourselves and our own way, we’ll begin to live for God and his way of salvation. When we choose to lose to God we win. How can we win by losing to God? Discover who Jesus is as Savior and Lord. Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts.Surrender self-centeredness for Christlikeness.

The Kingdom of God is here, but not yet. Heaven is not just a place; it is the fullness of God’s presence. To appreciate God’s gift of grace, mercies, love, and salvation we need to understand our spiritual poverty. When we know we are poor in spirit, it is there that we know we are blessed in the Lord. The poor in the spirit can experience heaven now. Heaven can be experienced now when we know God does not owe us anything. Heaven can be experienced now when we acknowledge our need. Heaven can be experienced now when we accept and follow Jesus as our King.   When we know we have nothing to offer God, we are in a position to receive everything he has to offer. ~ Ed Teo

Types of Relationships Around Us Family RelationshipsFriend RelationshipsFunctional Relationships These relationships will either draw us closer to God - discover God's purpose and propels us toward God's purpose - or pull us away from God's purpose and desire for our lives. Relationships that point to JESUS can help us discover God’s purpose. To discover God’s purpose together: Direct people to seek JESUS.Tell others about your personal encounter with JESUS.

The law of cause & effect Who I am and what I do influences others around me and vice versa. The law of attraction I attract the kind of person I am. Relationships that make us better connects us to Jesus and one another with care and compassion. How can we build relationships that influence us and those around us in positive ways? Compassionately care for others as much as you care for yourself.Cultivate relationships that weathers all seasons.Connect people to Jesus.

Love, mutual respect and honor is a mark of Christian relationships. When we commit to Christ, one another, and the growth process we can grow healthy relationships. Commit to ChristCommit to one another.Commit to the process. The situations and seasons we face in our relationships challenges us to be more Christ-like in character and priorities. When it comes to character formation, slow and steady is better than fast and furious.