us can ask or even imagine that always takes me out of my comfort zone because I I stay safe normally but I think we all know why this is a Time in our world in our lives in our church to say God we believe that you we’re going to make way for you to do the impossible the amazing the wonderful and it involves all of us praise God good morning church go ahead and have a seat and thank you for leading us so beautifully and worship

we’re definitely I know you’re thinking about things that are in your answer to the question what what does that mean to me and I hope you won’t let that go quick I hope you’ll stay on that and say God you’re the one that we just sang about and we’re gonna we’re gonna follow you we’re not just gonna pray it move on we’re going to pray it and wait and one of the postures we take in the McCracken family for several years now is this posture which

is I had to ask Debbie when I first saw her with her hands her Palms up and so what is what is that I know it’s something personal and real and it’s just letting God lead the way it’s letting God have his way and it’s a posture of submission and the humility and and confidence in the in the god that we just sang about that I don’t want to be the guy in the way of what you can do Lord amen that’s really a truth that

I want us to live every way we can every day so I have a quiz for you so one question quiz okay it’ll be simple and easy and besides school’s out for the summer right here’s the quiz have you ever had someone not like you that’s only half the question just because you’re you ‘ve searched it out in your mind you don’t have a good answer you play the tapes over in your head and you wonder what did I do or not do that makes that

person unless I misreading their body language their you know silence is violence right that’s a saying in communication circles and and you know they’ve there’s just this silence it’s creepy it’s weird and you know you’ve at least intuitively since it’s against you it’s toward you so what do you do with that and and then you might even go a step further there’s a real personal part of that the pain of not being liked it’s a follow-up question that you sometimes just ask yourself because you’ve got

no one else to ask why me I mean they don’t like me because of me why me I would submit to you that a growing number of Christians feel a little bit like that in the world we live in you you tell somebody you’re a Jesus person and they’re cautious in some cases they’re trying to restrain and disdain in other cases or their outright hostile I’ve got some counsel that a father gave a son and it’s simple counsel but I want to state it out loud

and then get your opinion on it okay ready here it is he said to his son never start a fight son but if you have no other options hit first hit fast and hit hard this is some awkward Chuckles some are laughing out loud I I suspect that’s the range of possible responses right so I want you to know if you’re new to us here at Grace Point I grew up in the Bay Area and that was something of the unspoken language on the street in

the 60s when I grew up there I I was probably those words weren’t from my dad though they could have been and and that’s how it went in this in the streets in our neighborhoods in nearby cities it was kind of a you know live or die it was a fight or not see another day to fight at times keep in mind it’s in the 60s and there was a Revolution going on in a neighboring city called Berkeley we knew it as berserkley but it was

it was Haywire it was crazy it was like what’s going on here and I was a little kid and all that grew up to be a middle schooler and was almost daily in some kind of altercation so my father could have coached me similarly with those words don’t go around picking fights Steve be a finisher of fights not bad counsel this sets up a shocking I think and rather disturbing piece of news since the day you became a friend of Jesus let me stop myself before

I finish this I’m making an assumption that is likely not completely true even here in the house that there are some people that are kind of we used to call it Tire kickers you’re not going to buy the car but you’re kicking the tires checking it out maybe that’s true for you and when it comes to Jesus you hear enough about him you see a room full of people that somehow are here of their own volition and they like what they see and hear right so

so I want to find out why they’re they keep coming it’s not a one and done some of you have been here longer than I’ve been here which is a long time so maybe you’re live stream with us today and you’re just you’re you’re one of those people you just freely admit where you’re sitting right now so when you become a friend of Jesus what I’m about to say becomes true of you too let me finish it since the day you became friends with Jesus you

have entered into a fight with someone who absolutely hates you his name is Satan so it’s true Angels rejoice in heaven Luke 15 tells us that when one sinner I was one you are one and when we bow our knee and repent of our sin and turn to Jesus Christ on that day at that moment you can’t hear it here but there’s a thunderous celebration in heaven because one sinner repented those are all words from Jesus Luke chapter 15. That’s really true but what you also

don’t hear someone that is seething in Rage against you it’s true and he has not stopped and will not stop his efforts frankly to take you out I told you it was sobering kind of unsettling to some of us because some of us have almost come to a place where we’re not quite sure there is a devil and I won’t even go down that path but there’s a whole lot of evidence that we have to explain if he doesn’t exist Okay so and like it or

not he’s he’s not only picked a fight with you he has declared all-out war against you not just because you’re a man or woman but because you belong to someone that is his arch enemy and he is absolutely against Jesus in every way and will be even to the day he’s thrown into the endless pit of Hell and sealed there forever amen that day is coming but it hasn’t come yet which means he’s loose okay and that’s true weather as I said you’re a man or

a woman whether you’re a brand new baby Christian or you’re a seasoned Saint You’ve Been Around Jesus and walked with him a long time here’s one more it’s also not just true of pastors who are sifted frequently but of every a quiet Christian that just wants to mind his or her own manners and not get in anybody’s way it’s it’s you because of who you belong to okay now I need to State something that has me concerned as well and that is that there are a

fair number of people that aren’t convinced what I said is true you know it is an invisible enemy in large part and so you could be in the critic Corner that says Ah I’m not sure that’s true but intuitively something says that might he might be on some here okay if you’ll go that far with me on this the Bible actually gives us a peek I like to think of sometimes the the curtain that is concealing something is pulled back and for a moment we get

to go wow it’s like Let’s Make a Deal only not in a happy way remember the show I used to just pick always the right curtain and they would not always get it but you know you sometimes see and they they go here’s your grand prize and it’s like you know and it’s it’s something really cool and only this is the opposite of that so here’s a primer for you as I begin the the time we’re going to spend in God’s word I I’m going to

ask you to do something and reach for your notes many of you do that instinctively when we get started reach for your notes and find a pin because I want you to write down rapid fire rather than us turn to multiple scriptures some of these most of these in fact thanks to my wonderful assistant Judy are at the bottom of the page weekly so you can quick reference them Circle them if that’s the case and you see a reference to one of them so here’s my

primer that points to Satan’s end game you say well what is he up to what just to mess with me is that all he’s up to and I I think it’s more than that Satan’s great goal great goal you can write this down is to destroy your faith your faith so follow this Trail if you would biblical Trail here faith is a simple yet necessary element of salvation okay the Bible says it this way for by Grace you have been saved by faith through faith Grace

is a simple word for saying for by grace for a free gift given to you that you don’t deserve that’s Grace for by grace and that applies to everyone for by Grace you have been saved listen to this through faith Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9. It is a gift from God not as a result of your works so that no one not a man or woman no one can get to Heaven someday and boast I’m here because I mean did you check the videotape

get over it you won’t be there doing that and neither will Billy Graham be there doing that or my dad or pick a saint you know somebody that just walked tall no they’re the same way it’s a free gift and it’s through faith it’s something that you receive through faith in fact the New Testament some 200 times the word faith or belief is used so it’s ubiquitous it’s a big deal it’s on page after page in the New Testament and it’s essential for salvation here’s a

couple of passages we’ve been in acts so this will be familiar for you they were in Philippi Philip and Silas Paul and Silas are in Philippi and things didn’t go so well and they get arrested and thrown into prison and the prison guard is there to guard them of course and not let them escape and middle of the night they you know they the angel comes and they’re about to break free and this guy’s hosed he’s his days are numbered because you don’t let prisoners Escape

without paying for it with your life in those days and this comes out of Acts chapter 16 the man sees that he’s in the prison guard I can’t I’m in serious trouble and he asks a great question what must I do to be saved and Peter and Silas replied first word faith believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved I’ll stop myself again and plead with you if you’ve never put that kind of Faith he wasn’t asking for an academic answer to his question

it was life and death if you have not responded to that do it now and it’s that simple so that’s Acts chapter 16 verses 30 and following here’s another one this from Jesus to those who believe have faith in me I gave them the right to become children of God you don’t have to go to Seminary you don’t have to do a bunch of good stuff you don’t have to attend church you’re not here because you’re going to show an attendance record someday in heaven right

you just aren’t it’s good that you’re here because you’re growing up you’re hearing more about this God that saved you okay so that’s in John chapter 1 verse 12. From Jesus here’s the third one this is sort of a verse or two that we share with people when they’re considering taking that step of faith and saying I’ve heard a lot about Jesus or just a little but I want to step forward in an Embrace of him by faith if you confess with your mouth this comes

out of Romans chapter 10 verses 9 and 10. If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and faith believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead last three words are the best words you’ll ever hear you will forwards be saved right so if you’re here right now earlier I ask and assume not everyone is a follower of Jesus but today you’re saying I just want give me the simple step Pastor there it is you will be saved if you confess with your

mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart he’s real what he did what he said it’s real you will be saved so it’s clear faith is really vital it’s not a hood ornament it’s the engine of the Christian Life with me okay so now it should come as no surprise that it it is something that Satan seeks to stop and that’s the work that God begins in a person’s heart by giving them salvation or for them to be born again as it said in John

chapter 3. Okay and and I I just sometimes just love a simple sentence by Jesus and he gave us one in John chapter 10 verse 10. He said it this way of the devil he starts with him he calls him the thief there but we know it’s the devil the thief gives you an idea of his DNA he comes to steal kill and destroy let’s pretend there’s two aisles okay and you can get in aisle number one or aisle number two the first aisle says hey

come this way and I plan to steal kill and destroy you Jesus fit there’s a comma there Jesus finishes John 10 10 and says second aisle but I came to give you life and abundance how many want to be in the first aisle you know it’s you know there’s even people out there that’ll mess with you oh that’s why I’m on I’m digging it man still still killed destroy it’s my game okay but of course we want the other Jesus said I came to give in

contrast to that life eternal life and I’ll give it to you abundantly meaning not a I’m not giving you a little crumb you have my life that means in a very real sense and the devil greatly resists what you’re hearing this morning so keep that in mind as We Roll Along here but Christians from that point on are targeted and that’s the bad news it really is it’s rough news the good news is you’re not the first to fight this fight it’s why we’ve got a

Bible and you won’t be the first to win this war it’s been one and one and one again and that’s nothing I my mission in life is nothing short of winning that war and staying strong and steadfast in the faith so with that in mind I want you to find your way to first Thessalonians this is the passage we’ll sit on for the rest of our time the short time we have each week but this morning first Thessalonians chapter chapter 3. And as you’re on your

way there it needs just a quick introduction but we’re going to meet ancient folks everybody in the Bible’s long ago these people live to a little over 2 000 years ago okay and they lived in a real place the the Apostle Paul planted actually a church in this place a city called thessalonica and it’s in the ancient Greek world the northern part of Greece known as Macedonia okay if you went there today you’d see the GNC it kind of goes this way and you’d see Philip

I over here in Ephesus and all these cool places come around here and up at the horn and you find places like thessalonica further south Athens Corinth Etc et cetera all in the Greek World okay so that’s that’s the place where Paul planted this church and he wrote this letter to these young Christians that filled the ranks of this brand new church in thessalonica this is his second missionary journey and he writes this letter after being chased out of the city hopefully you’re asking why because

Jews in the city did not appreciate his comments about Jesus remember they had rejected Jesus and so this doesn’t work for them at all the the message of Jesus as the savior of the world so and he writes them to encourage their baby Christians I want you to don’t forget that they’re they’re brand new Christian one of the earliest Letters by the way in the New Testament thessalonica or Thessalonians first and second written just a little bit apart from each other turns out they were being

persecuted already so Paul the guy that started this mess in the local Jewish communities Minds has left we chased him out of town but the people that he reached with this good news simple news of the Gospel they’re there and they’re they’re actually thriving and and there was a hostility against them and the guy driving it all is the Devil Himself this is this is hard stuff for for anyone much less young believers baby Christians it’s hard to handle so given that such things will likely

be faced by all who are Jesus people the darker our world gets I I just found myself freshly encouraged by what we’re going to read now and actually I want to start at verse 17 of chapter 2. Okay so Paul’s words and sisters when we were orphaned by being separated from you interesting way to say it we were driven out of town running for our lives there’s a we had to leave quick orphaned by being separated from you for a short time he’s hoping it’s a

short time in person but not in thought isn’t that great every word here is Cooley saying yeah we they drove us out of town but we have not stopped thinking about you and you’ll see more in a second praying for you out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you watch this for we wanted to come to you certainly I he’s putting it in first person singular terms I Paul did again and again but something came up how does the verse end Satan

blocked our way I don’t know what that looks like I hope you’re like me you look at something like that and go what did that look like was it a physical manifestation of the devil I suspect not whatever it was Paul was not this is not hyperbole he’s not making it up he’s saying there’s an opposition here that opposed my efforts my longing to do more than think about you and pray for you but there be there and present with you what a great heart then

chapter three begins so when we could stand it no longer this Longing To Be With You thank you we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens that’s where he landed so we sent Timothy who’s a who’s our brother co-worker and God’s service spreading the gospel of Christ we sent him for this purpose to strengthen and encourage you in your faith so that no one would be unsettled by this trial or these trials for you know quite well that we are destined for these

trials in fact when we were with you we kept telling you this what I’m telling you right now is not new we kept telling you that we would be persecuted and it turned out that way as you well know for this reason when I could stand it no longer he repeats himself I sent to find out about your faith there it is again it’s in play why because it’s at risk I was afraid that in some way he calls them here the tempter had tempted you

and that our labors were poof in vain now stop just for a second let’s just summarize in a sentence this is persecution intense difficulty you put it in language that works today okay intense difficulty is a serious threat to a Christian’s faith it is a time when you see somebody go through a crisis where they’re the the tree is bending the the faith core is quaking don’t don’t ask assume assume it’s true and then the rest of the council here that we’re going to read about

makes tons of sense because Paul doesn’t just speculate he not only sees it and calls it what it is but he has a wonderful response Paul knew from the hostilities he left behind that when he fled from there these young Christians would be in the crosshairs of Satan’s attack and that’s still true today this fact stated a lot more so let’s do what we just did and give you a couple other passages he mentions Timothy this is I told you early 50s later in his life

another 15 years or so he’s saying goodbye and ready to go home and see Jesus and his last two letters are written to a young man who’s mentioned here Timothy verse 2. Timothy had grown up and matured and Timothy was now ready to step into his shoes there was a succession going on between Paul and Timothy and he tells Timothy in two letters first and second Timothy the last two Paul ever wrote that are in our Bible and he tells Timothy some things chapter 6 of

verse of First Timothy chapter six he says this to Timothy fight the good fight of faith remember we talked about fights at the beginning he links it directly with a fight for your faith to hold on fight too good and he calls it a good fight it’s worth everything you’ve got First Timothy 6 verse 12. Here’s the second one and this comes at the end of his last chapter of his last book second Timothy chapter 4 verse 7 he says looking back I have fought the

good fight I have finished the course I have kept the faith and I’m heading home to the one who gives crowns not only to me but to all who look forward to the promise of his return the the rest of the the faithful people like me people like you second Timothy 4 verse seven here’s the third one this comes from Peter you’re familiar with these words because because we quote them often but Peter tells us that Satan has this certain quality like a roaring lion be

of sober Spirit he said and be on the alert for your adversary the devil prowls about as a roaring lion on the hunt seeking whom he may devour but resist him now listen firm in your faith Shore up your faith hold on tightly it does matter it does have consequences so resist him standing firm in your faith John adds what we often experience this is our victory that you overcome the world by your faith by your faith first John chapter 5 verse 4. Paul acknowledges however

that not all keeps the faith that’s that’s that’s the kind of sobering piece that has to go with this today I’m not guessing numbers but I’m guessing some will hear all this and other pleased to hold on to their faith and they’ll let go of it Paul says in first Timothy chapter one don’t reject faith and suffer shipwreck like hymenaeus and Alexander in other words people in that day and people in our day there are some who will suffer shipwreck in their faith so so I’m

giving you a broad scattering this morning but concerned that the Thessalonians might give up on their faith I want you to imagine the relief he must have felt when he got word back from Timothy let’s pick up at verse six Timothy has just now come home come back to us from being with you and has brought good news about there it is again your faith your faith you can just imagine when they arrive there’s so much in this statement he’s told us that you always always

have pleasant memories of us and that you that you long to see us just like we long to see you verse 7 therefore brothers and sisters in all our distress and persecution we were we were encouraged we were encouraged because of what we heard about your faith verse 7 ends you’re staying on you’re hanging tough for now we really live since you are standing firm in the Lord how can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence

of our God because of you prompting what follows a prayer verse 10. Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again in Supply great statement here if you’re circling things in your Bible Circle this Supply what is lacking in your faith remember they’re baby Christians they got some room to grow wings to fly but they’re not there yet so he’s praying for them he’s I’ve seen several cities removed from them and not welcome to come back so he says we we pray

all the time for you that we may see you again and Supply what’s lacking in other words keep building you up keep growing you keep teaching you so now may Our God and Father himself and our lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you may the Lord Make Your Love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else just as ours does for you and may He strengthen your heart so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our

God and Father when our lord Jesus comes with all of his holy ones wow I I don’t know if you’re in the practice of doing this I would suggest it if you have never done this just Google it Paul’s prayers the Apostle Paul’s prayers and they will take somebody’s gonna guide you to a list of prayers that are actually recorded I don’t know if you’re in the habit of recording your prayers from time to time I’ve done that but it’s really cool that they’re they’re recorded

by Paul and kept for our sake in the Bible for our benefit and I think there’s good truth in them we would call it theology good information that actually is worth emulating for those of us that have people in our lives that we’re concerned about that we want to see flourish in the faith but we’re not sure it’s happening you know anybody like that we all do we love them but we’re not sure what to do and how to help them let’s just break it down

real quick because Paul’s praying for that same thing we might do for young Christians that we know or for struggling Christians they’re brand new in their faith or or for our people our children and our grandchildren but this is good stuff this is so he prays three things the first thing he prays for is in verse 10. Look back at verse 10. Pray that people’s Faith might mature is how I would word this night and day we prayed most earnestly that that we may see you

again and Supply what is lacking in your faith let’s just start with the obvious this was not a occasional prayer oh Lord I just remembered so and so and wanted to you know throw this idea your way no he says night and day right and he uses the word earnestly that’s intentionality there’s a constancy here that’s a this is on my heart and my knees show it I’m on my knees before you God and I’m saying night and day most earnestly please help please cause their

faith which is lacking not because necessarily of choice because they’re they’re young they’re not weather tested yet and so we keep praying it because we know we know if we’ve been walking with Jesus for a while that the battle oh yeah it rages on so I’m going to lift them up I’m going to do it often I heard this expression once I think it’s worth repeating faith that isn’t tested can’t be trusted some of you are getting there think of your trials maybe it’s a new

view of what you’re going through huh because my Faith’s involved there it’s for real and it’s ongoing and it’s no less hard it’s being tested you know the promise of that you know the outcome of that you can trust it it’s being tested I’ve been called a steer and a blizzard I think it’s a compliment I don’t know but it’s that it’s that dumpster that just stands there and looks straight into it horizontal snow goes not gonna blink not going away no one told me to

move you know whatever no I have to Twilight Paris had a song called The Warrior is a child I was that guy that looks strong and tough and mighty and Powerful and I was a I was a weak baby at times and I wanted to run and hide so for a while I faked it but but there’s something inside me today that’s different it’s a faith that’s strong you think of a trial you’ve gone through and you were going to take be taken over by that

it’s going to wreck you who did you go to somebody whose Faith had been tested right and you went to them because it can be trusted right every one of us has so I got chills everywhere when I tell you that true you go to that person that they have been young and now they are old Psalm 37 and they have never seen the righteous forsaken because right now you feel forsaken and you go to them because they are the they’re the steer and the blizzard

and this Blizzard’s about to take you out we’ve had a great study about James both from this pulpit and in our men’s table talk every Saturday morning it’s about to wrap up and we’re thinking of doing it again is that right John a third time so it’s but the the book the five chapter book in the Bible begins consider it pure joy when you encounter trials what comes next knowing that the testing of your faith is producing a maturity producing a trusted faith so ask yourself

the question what trouble creates for me a crisis in my faith could be could be your family relations your health your finances why not why not just pray this way based on this moment with God why not pray God don’t take that trouble away but mature me as my takeaway I’ve seen that I haven’t always done that I’ve seen that in people and I won’t embarrass them they’re in this room there’s examples of that around all of us here’s a second focus of Paul’s prayer Pray

that that the love of your people abounds look at verse 12 we read it already may the Lord make you your love increase and overflow for each other for everyone else just as ours does for you times of suffering here’s why you pray that times of suffering can tend to dry up of expressions of love it’s true it’s a side effect instead of being others focused and extended suffering we become self-absorbed which I think explains Jesus words in Matthew 24 verse 12 because of the increase

in lawlessness an increase of wickedness the love of most will grow cold these people were going through it some of you are going through it and I don’t think Jesus was making it up it might be harder to reach out from there to express your love and Paul counters that by saying I’m I’m praying that your love would increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else including the people that are mistreating you they’re in there just as ours is overflowing and then thirdly don’t

miss verse 13 it’s such a cool prayer and it’s prayer for self and for anybody else on your list pray that your people would live blameless and holy lives may he strengthen your heart so that you would be blameless it’s a Jesus move it’s a holy spirit result in your life and the holy that you would be blameless and holy in the presence of our God when we stand before him this is an important clarification at the end he did not say that you would be

sinless I did not read that here and I don’t think it’s a correct translation if you happen to have one that says oh it’s in my Bible it’s not it’s not a good one that he would be that you would be blameless meaning when you sin you’d get things squared away right away ain’t no blame sticking on me this does that mean you’re saying you’re sinless no it means I blew it like three or four times this morning this week I don’t know whatever but I

I stopped in my tracks because the holy spirit said don’t go further fix it and then I fix it confess my sins he’s faithful and just forgive me for my sin first John 1 9 and cleanse me of all rotten righteousness there is therefore now no condemnation among those who are in Christ Jesus Romans 8 1. Done and I’m cleansed and I’m blameless that’s not only a Bible idea I read these words I think it’s well stated we are only one small step away from the

first step in a series of steps that could lead to our ruin you know what happens when you mess up and don’t fess up you begin to rot on the inside there is a consequence you say well now I’ve kind of forgotten about it your soul hasn’t neither has the Holy Spirit he’s trying to get your attention the door’s shut right now open it because he’s got some cleaning to do he wants to do a deep cleaning in you one more thought that’s a footnote to

all this but it kind of weaves its way starting back in chapter two where we began and ends here in chapter three don’t limit your spiritual concern for those you’re praying for listen to me I know some of you are going well that’s not limited yeah it is don’t limit your concern I mentioned kids grandkids people you love don’t limit it just to prayer be willing to my sleeves are short today roll up your sleeves and get in it he prayed for mature Faith verse 10

right that’s what he’s praying for he prayed for abounding love those are things you keep praying for day and night fervently we’ve covered that and keep praying for blameless living in those people it’s a great outline for how to pray but don’t miss what he might want you to have a hand in and praying for and rolling up your sleeves and those you’re praying for look at verse 17 that we started with when we were orphaned by being separated from you for for a short time

out of our intense longing we made every effort to pray for you no to see you and we couldn’t see you so we’ve been praying like crazy ever since you see it there you see it in verse 13 flip across or verse 17 flip across to verse 13. May he strengthen your hearts that’s a prayer to be blameless and holy okay that’s a longing for you and this is the one that wants to come see you again verse 10 tells us that’s why I often remind

people sometimes in our men’s prayer group but other other people as well they say you know I’m praying I’m just praying I’m praying and praying and I say that’s so awesome sounds like you’ve been doing that for a while I have but have you picked up the phone as well some cases you can’t but it might be a new thought as you pray to ask the Holy Spirit if he has some kind of Hands-On part for you to play comma and leave the results to God

I’d like you to Bow your heads this morning with me we are a people Lord that like feel good facts and information and today is an example of that there’s some really good feel-good moments but to get to them we’ve got to face a fight we’ve got to face the battle we’ve got to face the reality that’s something that seems so harsh and and hard but God a lot is riding on this and we want to be up to the task we want to be people

who are aware of the battle and the fight and are aware of the victory that you intend for your people so God today we come to you asking you to help us pray like we’ve seen modeled today and still even after doing what you might tell us to do leave the results to you I love you Lord I I thank you that you’re at work in so many ways and I pray that we would not give up keep praying for outcomes that would bring you glory

and your wonderful name we pray amen let’s stand together we’re going to sing a song and have a little footnote to all that we’ve talked about this morning everybody’s everybody up and lead us with that be a great way in gratitude I’m in my own life when I walked through really dark seasons and the darkest season I can think of the only way that the Lord was able to pull me out was through gratitude I started writing down thankfuls and gratefuls every day it was so

hard to see them at first so they were simple like coffee in the morning and the smell of fresh cut grass and coffee again you

Transcript machine-generated from the sermon audio, so it may contain errors. 6,686 words.