Sometimes if feels like life is out of control. Chaos, confusion, frustration and anxiety seem to mark our days more and more frequently. We often feel overwhelmed and wonder if we can keep our heads above water. It can all be pretty discouraging. But there's good news. In scripture we see that Jesus is bigger than our storms and when we call on him, he will bring order out of chaos and peace in the midst of the storm. Jesus, the Lord of all creation, offers us his peace even when the storms are raging.

We like a sure thing. We like to know that whatever we do will succeed. But the reality is that we have no such guarantees in life. But when we try to play it safe and avoid taking risks, the only thing we succeed in doing is nothing. Jesus expects his followers to have a bias for action. Serving God by serving others doesn't guarantee success from the world's perspective, but it open's the door to God's approval. In the Kingdom, the biggest risk you take is taking no risks at all.

Most of us like a good bargain. We love the idea of getting something for nothing or at least getting a lot for a little. However, when we approach Jesus with a ‘bargain hunter’ attitude, we miss out on the depth, richness and fullness of his kingdom. There are no bargains to be had when it comes to following Jesus. Following is always costly and a faith that doesn’t cost something is worth nothing. However, when we are willing to go all in, we discover that it is always worth the price.