The Stories that are hard to tell. The drug addiction, alcohol addiction, lust addiction, and toxic relationships are just some of the stories that surround us all. The skeletons we talk about this time of year are not near as scary as the ones we all have in our closet. This week we will talk about how beautiful it is that the ugliest parts of our story taught us grace. This week join Pastor Sean, myself and our special guest as we talk about moments of doubt and using those pieces to build us back up. God gives us the strength to be strong, fierce and brave in the moments that could break us. God sees every version of us and is never disappointed.

Can we agree that there is some darkness in the world today? Just as there has always been? We live in a broken world. It can be a fearful place. A discouraged place. A skeptical, angry, frustrated place. But the amazing thing is, that the darker a place is, the less light is needed! The smallest flashlight or candle can light up a dark room. No matter how small your light is, it is exactly what this world needs. In Matthew 5:13-14, during the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls his followers the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world". This week on the Pekin First Podcast we will explore How when Jesus told us we were the salt and the light, he knew just how valuable Those two items were .

Do you ever look at someone and think I wish I had that blessing.. We all wish we had the blessing of something more. Some wish they could sing or play an instrument while Some wish they had the blessing of money or vanity. In Mathew Chapter 7, 7-8 as a part of the sermon on the mount, Jesus says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”. Does this mean that if we ask God for money, we will be rich if we ask God for talent we will have talent? We will explore this text and how it applies to the world today and how our wants may not be what Gods plan is for us.

In Golf many will say that the drive off of the tee is one of the most important shots of the game. It sets up the entire hole. Some golf enthusiasts will also say that where you stand in relationship to the ball when teeing off is what sets up the drive. To far in front of the ball and the ball goes too far one-way. To far behind the ball it goes to far the other. The key is to be centered on the ball as is in life! As we work our way thru life Centering ourself on God sets us up for each phase of life. Not centering ourselves on God takes us off the best path.

What is your happiness? Is it wanting to live on the beach? Maybe it’s wanting to travel the world or having enough money to never have to worry about money. What in your mind will make you happy? In this world of wanting more all the time we lose track of what happiness is. God never promises to give us all that we want so we can be happy, God will provide according to his plan to glorify his kingdom.