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What is the Best Version of You?

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It's a new year and another reminder of who we would like our best selves to be.  What is the best version of you?  Someone skinnier? Healthier? More outgoing? Disciplined? 2018 Resolution - Catch More Fish I find it interesting that for many people the new year brings this thought to mind -  "What can I do to bring out the best version of myself?" I'd say maybe the most impressive people are those who make no resolutions because they are always working on the best versions of themselves.  Those kind of people also make me sick.  ;) On Christmas Eve, I was really challenged to stop neglecting the people and grace I already have in my life for whatever I felt was missing at the time.   Sometimes we miss the grace that God has put right under our nose because we are looking for the next thing.  I want to be thankful in the moment for every blessing and opportunity I already have.  From my devotions this morning: "As water reflects the face, so one’s
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A New Work

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I'm very excited and blessed to be pastoring at CrossLife Church in Indianapolis.  I hope to be blogging more often, but I probably will be posting on the church site rather than here on this blog. I'm so glad to be preaching and teaching again and I'm looking forward to growing together with some great people on the south side. If you'd like to follow any of my messages, you can get them from the  podcasts on iTunes  or straight from  the church website.
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Because you say so

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"I know what I'm doing." "I've already tried that." "I'm tired." I've told the Lord all these things before.   And then he reminds me that He knows what He's doing - much more than I know what I'm doing. Luke 5:5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” You know the end of the story.  They haul in a huge amount of fish and these disciples end up leaving their livelihood to follow Christ. Lord, forgive me for the times I think I can figure it out all when I just need to be following you.
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Thirty Three Years

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I was reading in Mark today about the Lord's crucifixion. And then it hit me again - Jesus lived the most significant life ever lived and yet he only lived to 33. All around we see everyone trying to extend their days. Diets, exercise, fountains of youth, it seems like everyone is trying to live as long as they can rather than to live as meaningfully as they can. There's nothing wrong with living a long full life, but maybe my focus should be on meaning rather than on distance. What have been the most meaningful days in your life? What would you consider significant?
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Afraid of the Crowd

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Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.  (Mark 12:12 NIV) How many times our are own actions changed because we are afraid of the crowd?
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Lose your life

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Oh how I need this reminder... For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. (Mark 8:35 NIV) Lose your life. 
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The Shout of a King

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"No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them. - Numbers 23:21 Balaam is being paid to curse, but he can only bless God's people. I love the description of God's presence with His people - The Shout of a King is among them. I look forward to the day, when the Lord Himself will descend with a shout and all things will be "right" again.
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