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Why I’m Thankful for Growing up and Remaining Joyful

/ Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.”

Matthew 7:24-25 CSB

The other day a memory came up on my timeline from a training I had for youth small group leaders. The crazy part, it was from seven years ago, seven years ago and still I have the same training for leaders because the core remains the same. It’s about the heart, about discipleship, about growth, true growth that comes from a firm foundation in Christ.

My dear Danielle’s birthday was also this past weekend, and it was so fun to look back at our own story and the years from when we met to who we are now.

When I look back I see a joy-filled spirit in every moment. Now that doesn’t mean every moment has been amazing and wonderful, there have been lost jobs, heartaches, and unknowns, yet in every season our foundation has remained the same and our joy has not been quelled.

I’m so thankful for the growth, not becoming hardened and angry, but remaining joyful in all seasons because of our foundation in a loving God.

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Whatever is True

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“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.”

Philippians 4:8 CSB

A few days ago, dear Danielle and I were having a nightly recap of watching the TikToks we sent each other because we’re cute like that. I had seen a wild video of a security video of a bear climbing onto a trampoline, but as we watched it, I realized that it was an AI video and not real…which was so frustrating.

Thinking I had quickly seen a funny video, only to realize it was fake, was such a bummer because rather than seeing something real, I had been fooled. Now, I am not a fan of AI at all, I think God has made us creative, and cutting out a creative person for a lesser quality product is just wrong (not only that but the negative environmental impact of God’s creation doesn’t sit right with me). It’s harder to differentiate what is real and fake on digital platforms, and it reminded me of this Scripture where Paul encourages the church to dwell on things that bring praise and are true.

We are called to dwell on what is true in a world where truth is relative.

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Kind is Cool

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“Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”

Ephesians 4:31-32 CSB

I really loved the new Superman movie. Dear Danielle and I had a date night to go watch it, and it was so encouraging for us to see the hero on the screen, and the whole theme of the movie, be kind above all else. I’m always inspired by stories of heroes and people doing the right thing, it’s why I love D&D and reading comics books, the art reveals the heart of God. The heart of a kind God.

I’ve always strived to be kind and have joy, that word “strived” means that I am not perfect at that feat, but I try my hardest. Try to live with humility and give others the benefit of the doubt, doing what I can to see the good in all things even when things aren’t good.

Sometimes it doesn’t always work out for me, and that’s okay.

I tend to let humility make me be overlooked for my achievements and wins, I have given people chances that I really shouldn’t have, and I easily fall into the “if I don’t text first I don’t hear anything backup friend” vibe.

And you know what, that’s okay, it happens. Life happens, but you know what?

I can’t let bitterness build up, because kind is cool.

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Are You Called to Comfort or Compassion?

/ Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

“Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.”

Mark 10:21-22 CSB

I think this moment during the ministry of Jesus is a cautionary tale for all of us. The story of the rich young ruler is a short one, a man comes to Jesus, asking how he can follow Jesus and be a part of the heavenly kingdom. The response we see is filled with love and Jesus calls the man to give up his possessions to help others and then actively follow Jesus.

Seems simple, yet, he doesn’t do it, and he fades into obscurity of history where we don’t even know the name of this man.

We can infer that this man knew of what Jesus was doing and how he was calling others, to the point where he wanted to follow and have this new life in Christ. But we see that when Jesus called him to compassion, the man chose comfort. It was easier to keep his possessions than to give to the poor and have a life of meaning through being a part of God’s kingdom.

In reading this passage in Scripture, I was asking myself this question and it is one that I want to ask you as well, are you called to comfort of compassion?

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Remain in Me: A Look at John 15 and a Daily Walk

/ Joshua Thomas / 1 Comment

I’ve shared in most of my posts this year, that my word for the year has been “rooted,” the idea being that I am choosing to be rooted to the truth and the source of all life; Christ. This has influenced many of my posts, as I have been writing about the fruit of the Spirit that are produced when you are rooted, which must be hand in hand in our walk with Christ.

I am rooted and therefore I produce good fruit.

A friend of mine, Jay, recently shared some posts that I believe are a good reminder for a follower of Christ, that the goal is not one thing or action, but the reminder that we are called to live with a kingdom mindset. That when we follow Jesus, our whole life shifts to that focus. I believe this focus means that you are rooted in truth and your life will produce good fruit that points others back to our Savior.

This requires something very important, you need to be rooted, and the way we do this is by remaining in Christ.

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who is my neighbor?

/ Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

“But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?”

Luke 10:29 CSB

I really love moments like this in Scripture, because it shows the nature of what sin can do to us. This person asking the question of “who is my neighbor” to Jesus, is an expert of the law, a person who knew the old testament deeply. This question comes after the expert is trying to trip Jesus up and asking what the way to eternal life can be found, to which Jesus replies that we are to love God with everything, and love our neighbor (my paraphrase of Luke 10:25-29).

Then the expert follows it up with a question that I used to judge, but I now realize is something that we all do, who exactly is my neighbor? And he asks this because we don’t want to love every person around us, and that’s exactly the call of who Jesus tells us to love.

We are called to love everyone, no matter what.

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Words are Magic

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“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Proverbs 18:21

I recently watched a video come on my feed from the comedian Pete Holmes, and in this short clip, he spoke to the fact that words are spells that we cast on each other and ourselves. I love that imagery! Now, before anyone gets fundamental on me, it’s not evil, it’s a picture of the power our words hold. This comes straight from Scripture, and I believe it is a vital reminder to us every day.

The words we use are magic.

Life and death are in their power, and that should not be glossed over as we go about our lives.

There are memories I have of an encouraging word that have stuck with me through the years, and there are also memories of negative words spoken of me as well. The thing that we need to remember, is that our words have power, so we need to do the right thing and use it for good.

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Splendor of Seasons

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“Because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.”

Galatians 6:8-10 CSB

Dear Danielle and I have been doing a ton of gardening. We’re both jumping into this thing full swing without a huge knowledge base of what we’re doing, all while learning a ton along the way. I’ve really enjoyed it, minus the humidity and billions of gnats that fly into my eyeballs, but it has been a blast because we get to prepare the soil, sow the seeds, and then harvest something beautiful.

I think that’s beautiful. Scripture continually uses imagery of agriculture, and I believe this is intentional as it continually reminds us that life is about cycles of sowing and reaping.

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Imago Dei

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“So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.”

-Genesis 1:27 CSB

“God saw all that He had made and it was very good indeed.”

-Genesis 1:30a CSB

I love this moment that we read in Scripture, the creation of humans. I love this moment because humans have the distinction that we are all made in the image of God and therefore are image bearers of the creator of the universe. The story goes that God’s original plan was for us to live in a beautifully created world and take in all of its gifts.

Then, sin enters the picture, distorting the original plan and creating a separation of us and God.

But God made a way.

His beautiful creation made in His own likeness, He made a way for each of us to be made whole again through the death and resurrection of His own son, Jesus, paying the price.

This is the love story that is written for us, and it is also the start of our calling. To make disciples, helping others be made whole again. Why? Because every person bears the image of God and deserves to be made whole again.

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A Different Kind of King

/ Joshua Thomas / Leave a comment

This past week we celebrated Easter. Easter is a powerful time, because we remember the whole point and purpose for Jesus coming to Earth to save each and every one of us. The thing I love about Jesus, is that He is a different kind of king. He flips upside down the beliefs that the religious had about Him, and He reorients us through His actions how each of us are called to live.

I have seen a lot of current culture both in and outside of Christian spaces, attempt to tell everyone the kind of king Jesus is. Some tell us that Jesus is a harsh and unwavering king. Some tell us that Jesus is a kind that is just good with the whatever we feel mentality. Some view Jesus as a political leader that is hard and fast on certain sides of the aisle.

So, what kind of king is Jesus?

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