He is making all things new

"Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth,' for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'"

Our God is making all things new. He is taking our broken hearts and making them into hearts of flesh. He is restoring relationships between him and his people. He is making all things new. 

He is making me new. I love seeing how God is drawing me closer to Himself. He's given me a renewed sense of love for His scripture that I haven't had before. I cherish seeing how He is helping me relate better and less selfishly to those around me. 

He is making the students new. College can be a rough time but God is pursuing people extravagantly. He is bringing them to His people and preparing them to be His beautiful bride. 

And because He is making all things new, we have hope for tomorrow and the future. A world with no more death, mourning, crying, and pain. A world free from the corruption and decay that sin has done on creation. He will be with us and He will be our God. 

But we don't always have to wait for that hope. He is moving in the here and now. He is making changes now. We get to live with Jesus and let Him be our God. But we have to surrender to Him. He is making things new now and we get to participate. We are kingdom people and get to bring people into the kingdom and relationship with God and that is the most amazing thing.

One of the things that happened this month was our apprentice sermons. The apprentices got to share how they have seen the gospel at work in their lives. It was so sweet to see how God had been pursuing people and being there in all the parts of their story. 

I'd encourage you this month to take some time to think through your walk with Christ and how He's guided you along the way. Also, think about some ways that you can start to bring the kingdom more here and now!

My sweet friend was baptized this month!

My small group at the Christmas Party this year. We watched a movie and had a blanket fort contest!

Our leader team did a gift exchange with something from their house. Some of the funniest gifts were an unpaid parking ticket and a cardboard box full of individual cereal packs!

My friend Angel graduated! I am so excited to see where God takes her post-graduation.