Do you ever struggle with those inner thoughts that you do not matter, that you are not smart enough, nor good looking enough, that you eat too much, you spend too much, people do not like you? 

Do you hear the subtle lies that come at you through every advertisement that says you are not cool enough so you must buy their products?

2 Cor 7:5 reminds us that "we are harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within." There is this powerful, invisible attack on our souls, our identity. God does not like this so He created a family and invited you to belong to it. Do you know how important and valuable you are to God?

When was the last time you daydreamed? What did you daydream about? New car, clothes, house, cell phone, friend, date, job, fun time...

"Even before God made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes."  Eph 1:4 (NLT)

Before the foundation of the world, God tells us that He dreamed of you. He dreamed of creating you. You mean so much to God, that you were on His mind before He spoke anything into existence.

Acts 17:26 (NET) "From one man God made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live."

In this verse, God is telling us that He loves you so much that He planned you out. He planned when you would be born and where you would be born.

Ps 139:13-15 (NLT) "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born."

Here, God clearly reminds us that we are one-of-a-kind. That He creatively took His time to hand-make us, uniquely. You are special to God.

James 1:18 (NCV) "God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made."

He dreamed of you, planned you and uniquely created you for one reason, to love you. So, "God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure." Eph 1:5 (NLT) 

You are the most important thing to God. No matter what you are going through today. No matter what kind of season you are in. No matter who likes you or dislikes you. No matter if you are doing a great job or a poor job. No matter if you are in a season of pain and suffering or are feeling pretty good.

Know God receives the most joy when you hear, experience and know that God loves you and you belong to Him. Do not forget He has adopted you into His family. You belong to one of His local church families. All of you who are part of Southtown, you are God's sons and daughters. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

I look forward to being with all of you because you are my family. You are my brothers and sisters in Christ. Every time we have an opportunity to gather; Sundays, Wednesdays, FMSC, Fresh Start, Bonfires, Bring Your Own Lunch, I get excited. Because I love just being with you.

See you this week on Wed opportunities, Thursday FMSC and Sunday morning.

Praying for all of you.
Pastor Chris

Dear Southtowners,

Last week at our Church Council meeting, I asked everyone to share who influenced them the most to become more and more like Jesus in attitude, thinking and living. It was such a privilege to hear each servant leader's response. Each story was different and very powerful. So much so, I have been reflecting on each of their stories. 

Each story was about how they saw Jesus clearly in these "Influencers." The stories were different, yet similar. Each "Influencer" was going through a challenging circumstance and each Church Council person saw first hand the presence of Jesus in them. I cannot help but praise God for bringing such wonderful "Influencers" into our Church Councils' lives. 

After reflecting on this as a Church Council last Thursday evening, the challenge was, how can we be an "Influencer" to the people in our lives? How can the people in our lives, see Jesus in our attitude, thinking and living? Are people attracted to how we respond to life and circumstances? Do people sense the presence of Jesus in our attitudes? Then we prayed and continued with the rest of the meeting.

Who has influenced you to become more like Jesus in attitude, thinking and living? Have you thanked them lately? Have you praised God and prayed for them lately?

How can you become more and more of that kind of "Influencer" in your sphere of living?

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Phil 2:1-4

Praying God uses each of you to be powerful and practical "Influencers" today and every day.
Praying that God uses this new fall series, Challenging Questions, to encourage and strengthen Christians and to reach those far from God.
Praying God uses Southtown to change and enhance the world.

See you Sunday when we talk about Why Isn't God Answering My Prayers?

Praying,
Pastor Chris