Ephesians – Part 1 -- “Who We Are: Seen by God”

Hi everyone! Welcome back to our new mini-series of messages titles “Who We Are”, where we are taking some Biblical in-sites that can help us pause to pause, look inward and help us to see ourselves the way God sees us.

Have you ever had a moment where you felt pushed aside? Not rejected outright… just quietly moved to the margins. Maybe by circumstances, maybe by people, maybe by life itself. And in those moments, it’s easy to wonder if God sees you at all — if He notices the weight you’re carrying or the questions you’re wrestling with.

If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone. One of the most overlooked people in Scripture is Hagar.

Hagar didn’t choose her situation. She didn’t choose her role. She didn’t choose the tension in her home. She was a servant caught in a story she didn’t write — and when things became unbearable, she ran. She didn’t run toward something; she ran away from pain, confusion, and mistreatment.

And that’s where God met her.

In Genesis 16, Hagar is alone in the wilderness —with no support, no protection, no plan. But Scripture says, “the angel of the Lord found her.” Not by accident. Not by coincidence. God went looking for her.

He spoke to her. He comforted her. He gave her direction. He gave her hope. He gave her a future.

And Hagar said something no one else in Scripture had ever said before:

“You are the God who sees me.” (Genesis 16:13)

Not the God who sees crowds. Not the God who sees nations. The God who sees me.

Ephesians 1 tells us the same thing about who we are in Christ. We are seen, known, and remembered by God. Not overlooked. Not forgotten. Not lost in the shuffle.

Sometimes the wilderness is where God speaks the clearest. Sometimes the lonely places are where He reminds us who we really are. And sometimes the moments we think are the end are actually the beginning of something new.

Maybe today you’re carrying something quietly. Maybe you’re walking through something nobody else fully understands. Maybe you’re in a place that feels like a wilderness.

But, my dear friend, hear this clearly: God does sees you and God knows you. And God is with you — right here and right now.

So today, walk like someone who is already seen. Pray like someone who is already known. Live like someone who is already remembered by God.

Because that’s exactly who you are… in Christ.

And that's another reason to Keep Choosing Love Today!

Hi everyone! Welcome to this series of messages I’ve titled “Who We Are.”

Let me start with a question — something simple, but something every one of us feels at some point: Have you ever wondered if you’re really loved? Not “liked,” not “appreciated,” not “tolerated”… but genuinely, deeply, unconditionally loved?

Most people won’t say that out loud, but almost everyone feels it. We all have moments where we question our worth, or wonder if we matter, or hope someone sees us and cares. And Paul, right in the middle of Ephesians, speaks directly to that part of us — the part that needs to know we’re not alone.

In Ephesians 3:17–19, Paul prays that we would be “rooted and grounded in love,” and that we would somehow begin to grasp “the breadth and length and height and depth” of the love of Christ — a love that “surpasses knowledge.” That’s not just encouragement. That’s identity. That’s who we are. We are loved.

Rooted and grounded — those are foundation words. Paul is saying love isn’t just something God feels toward you. It’s the ground you stand on. It’s the soil your life grows out of. It’s the anchor that holds you steady when everything else feels uncertain.

And he doesn’t describe God’s love with small words. He uses words with size — breadth, length, height, depth — like he’s trying to stretch our imagination far enough to understand something we’ll never fully grasp. Because God’s love isn’t fragile. It isn’t conditional. It isn’t based on how well you’re doing or how strong you feel. It’s bigger than your past, stronger than your fears, and deeper than anything you’ve ever walked through.

Let me bring this into real life for a moment.

There have been days — and you’ve had them too — where I didn’t feel very lovable. Maybe I was tired, maybe I was frustrated, maybe I wasn’t proud of how I handled something. And in those moments, it’s easy to think God must feel the same way about us that we feel about ourselves. But He doesn’t. His love isn’t a reaction to our behavior. It’s a commitment rooted in His character.

I remember a morning not too long ago when everything felt heavy. I was running on fumes, trying to get through the day, and somewhere in the middle of all that noise, God reminded me: “Mike, you’re loved. Not because you’re doing great. Not because you’re strong. Not because you’re getting everything right. You’re loved because that’s who you are in Christ.”

And that’s true for you too.

So whatever today looks like — whether you’re confident or uncertain, whether you’re carrying joy or carrying weight — remember this: you are loved with a love that surpasses knowledge. A love that doesn’t shrink. A love that doesn’t fade. A love that doesn’t depend on your performance. A love that holds you steady.

That’s who you are.

Thanks for listening… and keep Choosing Love Today.

Ephesians – Part 1 - “Who We Are: Chosen, Seen, and Called”

Hi everyone. Today, we are starting a new mini-series of messages sub-titled “Who We Are”. These mini-messages are simple reminders of who we are in Christ. They're short reflections that help us pause, look inward, and see ourselves the way God sees us.

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you’re just… overlooked? Not forgotten, exactly — just kind of lost in the shuffle. Life gets busy, people get loud, responsibilities pile up, and before long you start wondering if anyone really sees what you’re carrying.

If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re in good company — because one of the most overlooked people in Scripture was David before he ever became king.

When Samuel came to anoint the next king of Israel, Jesse lined up all the sons he thought looked the part. Strong ones. Impressive ones. The ones who fit the mold. And David? He wasn’t even invited to the lineup. He was out in the field doing the quiet work nobody noticed.

But God noticed.

And when Samuel asked, “Are these all your sons?” Jesse had to admit, “Well… there’s still the youngest.” The one nobody expected. The one nobody chose. The one nobody saw.

And that’s exactly where God stepped in.

Ephesians 1 tells us that in Christ, we are chosen — not because we look the part, not because we earned it, not because we impressed anyone, but because God sees what others overlook. He sees the heart. He sees the quiet work. He sees the faithfulness that nobody applauds.

Maybe today you needed that reminder.

Maybe you’ve been doing the right things in the quiet places. Maybe you’ve been faithful when nobody was watching. Maybe you’ve been carrying something heavy and wondering if anyone sees it.

And yes, it hurts when nobody notices, or when you think nobody notices, but God sees it and God sees you. And just like David, you are chosen, blessed, adopted, redeemed, and called — not someday, not eventually, but right now, in Christ.

So today, you need to walk like someone who’s already chosen.

Listen to me....you need to think like someone who’s already seen. Live like someone who’s already called.

Because that’s exactly who you are… in Christ.

And Keep Choosing Love Today.

In this first part of our Ephesians overview, we explore one of the most foundational truths of the Christian life: who we are in Christ. Paul doesn’t begin his letter by correcting problems or addressing conflict — he begins by reminding believers of their identity, their blessing, and their calling.

This episode walks through Ephesians chapters 1–4 with a clear, encouraging, story‑driven approach. We talk about spiritual identity, the blessings God has already placed in us, the clarity Paul prays for, and the practical way we “walk worthy” of the calling we’ve received.

If you’ve ever struggled with confidence, purpose, direction, or understanding what God is doing in your life, this message will help you see your faith with fresh eyes.

Ephesians Part 1 sets the foundation. Part 2 will build on it with clarity, strength, marriage, family, and spiritual sight.

Galatians— Faith, Not Law "What Faith Really Is"

Before we close this Galatians mini-series, I want to talk plainly about something Paul refuses to soften on....and that's faith. Not rules. Not performance. Not religious pressure, but Faith.

Because if you miss this, you miss the whole book of Galatians.

Paul watched the Galatians drift from grace into rule-keeping. They started trusting their effort more than God’s power. They started measuring their spiritual life by what they did instead of who they trusted.

So let’s slow down and get this right.

Hebrews 11:1 says faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” That’s beautiful — but let’s put it in real life language:

Faith is choosing to trust God with what you cannot see yet.

It’s choosing to believe He’s working even when you don’t feel it. It’s choosing to take the next step even when you don’t know how it will turn out.

Faith isn’t pretending. Faith isn’t forcing yourself to feel strong. Faith isn’t acting like everything is fine.

Faith is trust — not performance.

And here’s the part we don’t like to admit:

⭐ Faith grows when life stretches you.

Not when everything is easy. Not when everything is predictable. Not when you feel in control.

Faith grows when you’re tired. Faith grows when you’re unsure. Faith grows when you’re praying about something you cannot fix. Faith grows when God asks you to trust Him deeper than you did yesterday.

Let me give you a picture.

Faith Is Like a Muscle

Do you realize that worry is a sin? It's basically practical atheism. What that means is …..at that moment, in that situation your saying you don't believe God (if you believe in one) is big enough to handle your problem. How crazy does that sound? The God who created the universe can't handle your problem. But in order for you to grow your faith you have to treat it like a muscle. A muscle only grows when it’s challenged. When it’s pushed. When it’s stretched.

Nobody builds muscle by sitting still — and nobody builds faith by avoiding the places where trust is required.

That’s why Paul is so firm with the Galatians. He’s not angry — he’s urgent.

He’s saying:

“Don’t go back to rules. Don’t go back to performance. Don’t go back to trying to earn what God already gave you.”

Because rules can’t produce faith. Pressure can’t produce faith. The law can’t produce faith.

Only grace can.

So let me ask you — directly, clearly, gently:

Where is your faith being stretched right now? What part of your life feels uncertain? And what would it look like to trust God with that one thing — not everything, just that one thing?

Faith doesn’t grow all at once. It grows one day at a time. One choice at a time. One step at a time.

And my dear friends… whoever’s listening — God isn’t asking you to perform for Him. He’s asking you to trust Him.

Thanks for listening to this Galatians mini-series. Keep enduring, hold the faith… and keep Choosing Love Today.

Galatians – Faith, Not Law "The Heart of the Problem"

As we move deeper into Galatians, Paul keeps circling back to one truth the Galatians struggled to accept: the law can tell you what’s wrong, but it can’t make you right.

And that’s where so many of us get stuck.

We think rules will fix us. We think pressure will change us. We think guilt will motivate us. We think trying harder will finally make everything click.

But Paul says something bold — and he says it without apology:

The law can reveal sin, but it cannot remove it.

The law can diagnose the problem, but it cannot heal the heart. The law can expose the wound, but it cannot restore the soul.

Only grace can do that.

Let me give you a picture.

The Mirror

Have you ever looked in a mirror and seen something wrong — maybe dirt on your face, or a stain on your shirt?

The mirror shows the problem. But the mirror can’t fix it.

You can stare at it. You can analyze it. You can get frustrated with it. You can try harder to “look better.”

But the mirror has no power to clean you.

It can only reveal what needs to be cleaned.

That’s the law.

The law shows you the truth — but it cannot change you.

Grace is what cleans you. Grace is what restores you. Grace is what transforms you.

Paul isn’t tearing down the law — he’s putting it in its proper place.

The law is a mirror. Grace is the water. Faith is the step you take toward the One who can actually make you new.

So let me say this plainly:

Rules can’t change your heart. Only Jesus can.

Rules can’t produce love. Rules can’t produce joy. Rules can’t produce peace. Rules can’t produce transformation.

Only grace — received by faith — can do that.

So today, instead of trying harder… trust deeper.

Instead of performing… receive.

Instead of measuring yourself… rest in the One who already made you His.

Thanks for listening to this Galatians mini-series. Keep trusting, keep growing…

and it will help you to Keep Choosing Love Today.

Galatians — Faith, Not Laws -- The Law Can’t Change You

As we walk through Galatians, Paul keeps pressing one truth the Galatians struggled to accept: the law can reveal the problem, but it cannot fix the problem. And that’s where so many of us get tangled up.

We think rules will make us better. We think pressure will make us stronger. We think guilt will make us change. We think trying harder will finally make everything click, But Paul says something bold — and he says it without apology: The law can expose sin, but it cannot heal the heart.

Let me give you a picture. The X-Ray

If you’ve ever broken a bone, you know what an X-ray does. You sit there, the technician positions your arm or your leg, the machine clicks — and suddenly the truth is right there on the screen.

The X-ray shows the fracture. It shows the damage. It shows what’s wrong.

But the X-ray cannot heal you. You can stare at it. You can study it. You can point at it. You can get emotional about it. You can even try harder to “feel better.”

But the X-ray has zero power to fix the break.

It can reveal the problem… but it cannot repair it.

And here’s the deeper truth:

The X-ray doesn’t just show the break — it shows you your need.

It shows you that something deeper has to happen. It shows you that you need a healer, not a picture. It shows you that information isn’t transformation.

That’s the law.

The law shows you the truth — but it cannot change you.

The law exposes the wound — but it cannot restore the heart.

The law diagnoses the issue — but it cannot heal the soul.

Only grace can do that. Only Jesus can do that. Only the Spirit can do that.

Paul isn’t tearing down the law — he’s putting it in its proper place.

The law is the X-ray. Grace is the healer. Faith is the step you take toward the One who can actually make you whole.

And here’s where this gets personal:

⭐ Some of us are living our spiritual lives just staring at the X-ray.

We keep looking at what’s wrong. We keep replaying our failures. We keep measuring our weakness. We keep diagnosing ourselves over and over again.

But staring at the X-ray doesn’t heal the break. And staring at the law doesn’t heal the heart.

So let me say this plainly: Rules can’t change your heart. Only Jesus can.

Rules can’t produce love. Rules can’t produce joy. Rules can’t produce peace. Rules can’t produce transformation.

Only grace — received by faith — can do that.

So today, instead of trying harder… trust deeper.

Instead of performing… receive.

Instead of measuring yourself… rest in the One who already made you His.

And thank you for listening to this series of messages from the Book of Galatians on the importance of developing a deep faith in our Lord. When you keep trusting and keep growing…..

it's easier to keep Choosing Love Today.

Galatians: Faith, Not Law – What Grace Produces

So, all week we've been talking about grace and what it has done for your past...but what can it do for your future? You know what is the benefit of you growing in grace?

Well, let me ask you something — have you ever noticed how real growth sneaks up on you? You know, you look back and realize, “I’m not who I used to be.” Not because you tried harder… but because something changed inside you.

That’s what Paul is trying to show the Galatians.

They were trying to perform their way into spiritual maturity. Trying to earn what God had already given. Trying to finish in the flesh what began in the Spirit.

But grace doesn’t just save you — grace grows you.

Grace doesn’t just forgive your past — grace shapes your future.

Grace doesn’t just clean you up — grace produces something new in you.

Paul calls it the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

And here’s the key: Fruit doesn’t grow because the tree tries harder. Fruit grows because the tree is connected to the right source.

Let me give you a picture.

⭐ The Garden Hose

Have you ever tried to water your yard with a hose that wasn’t connected?

You pick the hose up. You walk across the yard. You squeeze the handle. Nothing comes out.

You shake it. You twist it. You try again with determination. Still nothing.

Because effort can’t make water flow. Only connection can.....That’s grace.

Trying harder is you squeezing the handle. Grace is God turning on the water.

When you’re connected to the Spirit, something starts flowing that wasn’t there before — strength, patience, kindness, peace. Not because you forced it… but because you’re connected to the source that produces it.

Rules produce pressure. Grace produces fruit.

Rules produce guilt. Grace produces freedom.

Rules produce exhaustion. Grace produces transformation.

So, here’s the truth about “What Grace Produces”:

⭐ Grace doesn’t just change what you believe — it changes who you become.

And my friends… that’s what Paul wants for the Galatians. And that’s what God wants for you.

And that makes it a whole lot easier to Keep Choosing Love Today.