Not everything happens for a reason; however, God's grace can help you overcome any circumstance you are facing and redeem them for His purposes.  

Our hurts have a way of lingering around. Old wounds and past hurts can continue to plague us, preventing us from enjoying life to the fullest. Whether we are talking about a physical wound, or maybe an emotional wound, sometimes the pain can be so great we wonder how we might ever move past this. Will we always carry these scars? Some hurts certainly will leave their mark on our lives, but that doesn’t mean we have to keep living with the pain. In our key text this week, Jesus is asked the question we all wrestle with, "how many times must I forgive?" Jesus’ answer would have been shocking. His point is that it isn’t the number of times that is important, but modeling the same kind of grace and forgiveness we have received.

I believe God gives us seasons like summer for a reason, and no, it’s not just our reward for surviving a Minnesota winter.  Summer is a great opportunity to slow down, to rest, and draw closer to God. That’s why we have begun summer with our series, A Summer to Remember, hopefully helping you make the most of the opportunities you have.   The weedy season of my garden is not my favorite.  I don’t mind pulling the thistles, but it seems like an endless battle some days.  There are so many things I would rather be doing, more important things than pulling weeds.  Yet, it’s the very thing that will make a big difference on the outcome of my garden.   Do you ever look at things in life and say, “I’m too busy for that?”  Are there tasks you sometimes feel are below your abilities? In our key text this week, the Apostle Paul writes a letter to the church in Thessalonica.  This important, prominent city was home to many wealthy citizens. The thought of pulling weeds would have been well below them, for manual labor was something for others to do, something for those of a lower class or even slaves.  Yet Paul commends the church for their service, saying, “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”   As Christians, we serve not to earn God’s favor, but because God has loved us.  We work with faith, recognizing God has called us to use our gifts and talents for his Kingdom.  Our labor is motivated by love, because when we serve others in love it is a witness to our faith.  And we can endure for the long haul because we keep the end in mind, trusting that Jesus will one day return and grant us eternal life.  So, even though we may be entering a weedy season of our lives, may you continue the hard work of faith, serving one another with faith, hope and love as you grow in your faith.

Summer is a great time to simply be, to make the most of the opportunities you are given.  So how can you make the most of the time you have?  How can you make it a summer to remember?  

The bulletproof vest is a vital part of every police officer's uniform. But what about the bullets we don't see? How can we protect our spirits? In part one of our series, Pastor Gordon shares the importance of establishing lifelines and examining them before they break.