Growing up playing sports, I learned the power to debrief, evaluate, and review. After our football games, we would sit and watch the game over to see how we did in order to encourage and correct in order to improve. I have also learned this from Jesus because He would meet with His disciples after a ministry experience to talk about what the teaching meant. Have you done that this summer yet? Paul wrote the following...

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." Gal 6:3-4 (Msg) 

Summer is coming to an end more quickly than we wish. So, let's take time to push pause and evaluate. How are we doing? Are we encouraged by where we are in life, what is happening around us, who are we becoming?
What is our relationship with Jesus like right now? Is He close, distant or somewhere in between?

-What is our relationship with our spouse and children like? Are you making great memories this summer? Are you spending intentional time to connect and be involved in each other's lives? Do we know how each other is feeling and what their experiences are like?

-What about our relationship with our church family? Are we helping others be encouraged, cared for, prayed for? Do we feel close or a little distant?

-What about our relationship with others, especially those far from God? How are we serving and caring for them?

-What about our responsibilities at work, at home, at church? Are we well balanced or are we out of balance?

-What can you do today, this week, and each day to make sure you are moving closer to Jesus, closer to your spouse, closer to your family, closer to your church family, closer to the lost people in your life?

Praying for all of us to be fully alive with Jesus, His family and His mission.
Pastor Chris