If you are a follower of Jesus, that means that you were once dead in your trespasses and sins, following the course of the world and the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), but God made you alive together with Christ. Yet, our actions can either confirm that we really do believe what we say we do, or we can send mixed messages to the world, proclaiming a gospel with our lips that does not change anything about how we live. The Thessalonians lived with integrity, showing the difference that the real Jesus really makes in the lives of those who turn from idols to serve the living and true God.

The Thessalonians remained steadfast. So can we.

Friends, I know what it’s like to be rejected for being a Christian. If I could give one encouragement to my former teenage self, I’d remind her that sometimes people won’t like her simply because she loves the Lord. Sometimes she’ll be uninvited, left out, or forgotten. She’ll be teased. She’ll be disliked. And if we’re honest, when circumstances are difficult, it is easy to become cynical. It’s easy to become discouraged when encountering isolation. Both my husband and I know and love people who mock us for following Christ. We experience this as adults as well. But we continue to wait, pray, and hope. Let us remain steadfast so that we too can be examples to all believers and in doing so, encourage others too.

We can trust that He is using the everyday moments to honor and glorify Him.

The God who started this good work in you will bring it to fruition at the day of Christ, when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Weary Christian, this is the God whom you serve. Rebuild in His strength today as you envision this glorious future.

Rushing may produce quicker and more visible results, but often what is created is fragile and only an imitation of the real thing. Stay patient in your waiting, in the slow work of your character and your strength. God is far more concerned with who we are at our core than what others can see. There’s no rushing the character He is developing in us, the likeness to Christ He is forming.

Pruning can feel a lot like loss.

Death wove its way into my story when I was least expecting it.

On ordinary Sunday mornings, extraordinary things are happening.