WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.399 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:23.120 All right, you can grab your seat. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:24.879 Great to be with you this morning. 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:28.000 As you can tell, we're doing something a little different. 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:34.560 This is our final Sunday of the year, and uh it's such a joy to get to lead worship with my kids. 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:35.439 They're back in town. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:39.840 Just got back from France and Ryder from San Diego. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:41.280 Thanks for being here, guys. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:42.719 Yeah, super fun. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:49.520 And then uh we're in the middle of the series presence, God's antidote for hurry, anxiety, and loneliness. 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:51.039 Today we're talking on loneliness. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:52.960 I asked Ashley to team teach this with me. 00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:54.320 Will you welcome Ashley? 00:00:54.479 --> 00:01:16.400 Um not really um and uh part of this is I'm just so grateful that you're a part of this because not only did I not want to um teach on loneliness all by myself, um, but what we're teaching today and where we're going, you live out in such a like really beautiful and practical way. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:17.040 So thanks again. 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:18.159 Yeah, I'm really looking forward to you. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:19.040 Glad to be here. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:32.799 And something we're doing this morning is our prayer and our hope is you would have a just really profoundly personal and powerful moment with your Heavenly Father today. 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:36.959 And to do that, we've structured our service a little bit different. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:44.799 Um, instead of worship, teaching, worship, goodbye, we're doing a little bit of a worship teaching weave. 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:51.680 So we'll have different movements throughout uh our morning together uh as we unpack this. 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:53.359 Uh sound good? 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:54.879 All right, thank you. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:58.000 Uh well, it may not, and that's okay. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:01:59.920 We can we can have honesty here. 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:13.360 Um isn't it striking in our day and age that we can be in a crowd, you can be in a room like this and yet feel so alone. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:19.919 Surrounded by people, yet feel invisible, unknown. 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:25.919 Be sitting at a table with loved ones and yet feel deeply disconnected. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:36.080 You can be chasing after a toddler all day long only to put your head on the pill and just feel this sense of loneliness. 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:42.879 Question that begins to race through our minds is why do I feel so alone? 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:49.280 Why do I feel so alone, especially in such a socially connected world? 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:55.759 And underneath that question, we begin to wrestle with like, is something wrong with me? 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:58.000 Is something broken in me? 00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:04.719 Because when I look out, it seems like everybody else has it all together. 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:06.639 You've heard this, you know this. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:14.960 We live in an age and day where our experts say our culture, our society is experiencing a loneliness epidemic. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:22.159 Uh, 50% of adults say they feel lonely frequently or almost all of the time in America. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:27.520 Nearly one-third of Americans say they seldom or never feel understood by others. 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:33.840 Among young adults, loneliness rates have nearly tripled compared to 30 years ago. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:43.199 At Awakening, we do a survey of our church, and 25% of you said loneliness is a significant struggle right now. 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:46.719 And that's the paradox of our time, isn't it? 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:55.599 The paradox is we are in the most connected generation in history, and yet we are the most relationally disconnected. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:04.319 Access and information to people all the time, and yet we are experiencing deep and profound loneliness. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:07.120 Uh we experiencing it for a few reasons. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:12.479 One, we today confuse intimacy for intimacy, don't we? 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:15.120 Uh or information rather for intimacy. 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:17.040 We confuse intimacy for intimacy. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:18.319 Do you get it? 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:21.439 No, we confuse information. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:24.879 We have so much information about people, don't we? 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:26.879 More than you care to at times. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.279 Like, I know where you traveled, which is awesome. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:33.759 I also know what you had for dinner, which is, yeah, thank you. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:35.360 Um, I guess. 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:40.639 But relationally, we're spending far less time with people. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:55.439 In fact, interestingly enough, the top 25% of social media use, those who use social media, are more than twice as likely to report feeling lonely as those in the lowest group. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:02.639 As our connection online goes up, our experience of loneliness increases as well. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:11.680 Not only do we confuse information for intimacy, but we also trade presence for preoccupation. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:16.399 Even when we're with people, we're not really present with them. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:18.720 We're more distracted than ever. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:21.360 The next time that you go out to eat, look around. 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:28.720 Notice how many people came to a restaurant to spend time with somebody else and they're looking at their phone instead. 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:34.720 At home, screens fill our time together all while we sit right next to each other. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:44.480 Research shows that even having your phone on the table, face down, on silent, it reduces attention and connection. 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:45.279 Why? 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:54.079 Because your brain is working to not think about your phone, and that effort pulls attention from the person right in front of you. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:56.800 And here's what's happening as a result. 00:05:56.959 --> 00:05:57.759 You know, we know it. 00:05:57.839 --> 00:05:58.639 We experienced this. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:02.079 We replace being known today with being seen. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:10.800 Our greatest desire, deep longing of our soul is to be fully known, fully rejected, and fully loved. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:15.439 Our biggest fear is to be fully known and rejected. 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:32.800 And we've created a world in which we curate, we cut and paste and hide and present just the best version of ourselves because we're afraid if anybody saw the real us, they wouldn't like us. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:38.319 They wouldn't love us, they wouldn't want to be around us. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:51.040 At Christmas time, we celebrate this incredible reality, the greatest event of human history, Emmanuel, God with us, God stepping into our mess. 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:53.439 The incredible reality, think about this. 00:06:53.680 --> 00:07:05.439 The God of the universe who knows you fully and completely, knows even the things that you wish and hope nobody else would ever know about you. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:11.199 He knows it, he sees it, and he isn't repulsed by it or moved away. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:17.920 In fact, he moves towards us, he moves towards you in love. 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:46.480 What I want to say in our time together is if you're feeling lonely, if you're feeling like you're in a place where you walked in discouraged, hurting, just feeling that sense of like, gosh man, I'm just trying to get through this season. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:56.399 I believe God wants to meet with you both really personally and profoundly. 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:08.079 Something that we've been doing this entire time, this series, is we've been lighting a candle to remind us of the presence of Christ. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:11.360 This is a practice the church has been doing. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:15.199 That he is the light of the world, that he is with us. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:21.279 And so before we continue on, can we just take a moment to settle ourselves? 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:31.360 To take a breath, to invite the Holy Spirit to meet with us in a new, in a fresh way. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:33.279 Go ahead, take a deep breath. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:57.600 Close your eyes if you want to do this. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:32.240 And the longing of your soul, my soul. 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:34.320 We've said this for the last couple weeks. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:37.759 It's found in eight profound words. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:43.360 Psalm 46, 10 says it this way Be still and know that I'm God. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:44.559 Would you say that with me? 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.320 Be still and know that I'm God. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:54.159 We we said it this way: that we must learn to be present to the presence of God in the present. 00:10:54.240 --> 00:11:00.240 We're losing our ability through distraction to being present. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.159 We must learn. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:09.840 It's something we have to develop to be present to the presence of God, God who's already with us in the present. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.279 And this begs the question. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:13.440 We've been going through this, you know, be still. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:20.639 This addresses the area of hurry and no, and we talked last week in Psalm 121, addresses the area of anxiety. 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:22.240 I am God. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:26.399 Who is the God who draws near to us? 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:30.639 What kind of God is the God who draws near to us? 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:33.919 I want to take you to Psalm 68. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:39.360 In Psalm 68, we see this picture of the kind of God that draws near to us. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:46.559 In it, he says that God is a father to the fatherless and he sets the lonely in families. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.840 I love that. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:51.840 He's a father to the fatherless and he sets the lonely in families. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:58.000 One encouraging thing is loneliness isn't a modern problem, it's simply a human problem. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:00.399 The question is something wrong with me? 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:01.840 No, you're human. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:04.720 But God wants to meet you in it. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:17.919 Jesus' primary picture of God when he wanted to explain God clearly was Heavenly Father, our Father who art in heaven. 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:29.919 When we hear the word father, we all have a different picture that comes to mind, likely from our personal relationship or non-relationship from a father in our own lives. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:33.360 Some of us have a wonderful relationship with our father. 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:38.960 You might have had a dad who is supportive and loving and invested in your life. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:41.279 And some of us have the opposite. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:46.480 You might have grown up with a dad who is angry or abusive or absent. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:49.200 I really understand both of these. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:53.200 I actually grew up with two pictures of what a father could be. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:55.039 One was my stepdad. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:13:00.799 He married my mom when I was four years old, and he fully embraced me as his daughter. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:07.919 He's always shown up for me, cared about my life, and he has loved me in every season. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:11.600 My other picture of a father was my biological dad. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:22.159 And while being cautious to not tear someone down publicly, I will share that he was quite the opposite of my stepdad, the other end of the spectrum, you might say. 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:34.720 Those of you in the room who resonated with the words absent or abusive or angry, you and I may react to this idea of God the Father similarly. 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:44.000 When you have had a father who didn't show up lovingly for you, it can be difficult to relate to God as your father. 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:50.080 Maybe you resonate with one of those pictures of a dad, or maybe yours is somewhere else on that spectrum. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:57.279 Here's the thing both the good and not so good examples of a father ultimately fall short. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:02.559 Even the best father in the world falls short because he's human. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:05.360 Dads in this room, this feels true, right? 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:10.000 I know many of you in here, and you're amazing dads to your kids. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.679 My husband is one of them. 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:14.080 He's an incredible dad to our kids. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:20.159 And he would tell you that no matter how hard he tries, he still falls short. 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:25.360 Now, that's not a knock on him, but it's the reality of being human. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:27.360 We don't get it right all the time. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:34.080 So if God is our father, this leads us to the question: what kind of father is he? 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:38.720 Many of the writers in scripture describe God's character in the same way. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:47.200 They say the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:54.960 Compassionate, he's deeply moved by suffering and pain to respond with care. 00:14:57.039 --> 00:15:01.919 God gives us the gift of himself, his life, and his love. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:03.759 He's slow to anger. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:08.159 He's patient and he gives people lots of time to change. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:11.440 And he's abounding in faithful love. 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:16.559 This is a combination of love and generosity and enduring commitment. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:20.720 It's loyalty motivated by deep personal care. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:24.720 Maybe some of these words describe our earthly fathers as well. 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:26.720 Maybe your dad is compassionate. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:28.320 Maybe he's gracious. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:31.919 Maybe he's so patient and slow to anger. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:39.279 Maybe his love really does feel unconditional, like nothing you could do would stop him from loving you. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:45.279 Dads who hold these characteristics are all beautiful pictures of what God the Father is like. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:52.399 By experiencing a dad that shows up in these ways, we catch a glimpse of the goodness of God. 00:15:53.679 --> 00:16:02.559 But even the best dads will eventually be tired or hungry or sick or stressed, and they'll wane in some of these qualities. 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:06.240 However, God is unchanging. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:19.600 And he is abounding in faithful love always. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:28.159 While our earthly fathers who are angry or abusive or ad absent, they fall short of both the presence and love that we need from a dad. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:41.600 And while those earthly fathers who are a beautiful picture of God's love and care for us are still limited in how they can show up simply because they're human, God is a perfect father. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:49.919 He isn't like our earthly fathers because he shows up in every single one of these ways, every single time. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:52.320 Because that's who he is. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:55.120 So we're gonna go back into worship now. 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:57.039 And there's an invitation here. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:03.919 If you're someone who struggles with this idea of God as father, I'm not gonna ask you to pretend like you don't. 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:10.160 I'm not gonna ask you to pretend that this isn't a painful idea, but here's what I want you to hear. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:15.599 God, as a perfect heavenly father, will show up for you. 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:18.799 He is compassionate. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.720 He's gracious. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:30.319 What he gives is himself because of his deep love for you. 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.960 He's slow to anger. 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:41.680 If you lived in fear of a dad who was quick to anger, this idea can feel so foreign and unsettling and maybe even too good to be true. 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.480 Like, when is this gonna come back at me? 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:48.799 But God is so very patient. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:51.759 And he's abounding in faithful love. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:59.440 He's committed to showing up for you and caring for you and won't ever waver in that commitment. 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:07.599 So as you're in this time of worship, if that's you, would you bring all of those feelings that you're experiencing to God in prayer? 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:11.440 God, I'm afraid to trust that you really are slow to anger. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:16.480 God, I'm sad that I can't see you as my father because my dad was really that terrible. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:20.880 God, I'm angry that I have a dad who isn't a good picture of you. 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:26.799 God, as our perfect heavenly Father, knows how to hold all of that. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:31.039 He cares about you and He can handle the pain. 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:37.119 He will be moved by compassion because of his love for you. 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:44.799 And for those in this room who this is less complicated, because your picture of a dad was more positive and trustworthy. 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:48.319 As we worship, make this personal. 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:54.480 Jesus prayed, our Father, but he often spoke of my father. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:19:00.559 This relationship between God the Father and you is incredibly personal. 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:04.720 Who you are approaching is your own father. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:12.799 So this morning, this is your reminder to step into that personal moment with God your Father. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:18.400 God loves you, he cares for you, and he's with you. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:24.799 So would you meet with him this morning as we sing together of his goodness and love? 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:27.759 Stand with us as we worship. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:03.680 Okay, this is running me, she's running up to me. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:22.400 Oh my god, bits. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:13.279 Be on the shadow. 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:33.519 What should I give from his free? 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:40.640 What should I gave from his dream? 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:47.279 What should I gave from his dream? 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:52.480 I can give it. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:27:00.079 But it's an old man. 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:39.759 Would you just take a moment and just cry out to your heavenly father right now. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:47.200 Father, who's never had a bad day. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:51.599 You've never bothered your heavenly father. 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:54.240 You've never interrupted him. 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:56.880 He's never been too busy for you. 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:02.640 Like you've never gotten on his nerves. 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:06.480 In fact, when he hears your voice, it's music to him. 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:09.440 He delights over you with singing. 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:12.319 You're the object of his affection. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:15.039 No good thing will he withhold. 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:16.319 He loves you. 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:17.599 He loves you. 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:19.200 He loves you. 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:25.119 And wherever you're at, would you just call out to him? 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:29.599 Cry out, Heavenly Father. 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:33.759 I long to know you in a more personal way. 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:36.079 I long to know you as my Father. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.839 I long to meet with you. 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:42.720 I long to experience your presence in such a personal way. 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:06.400 Heavenly Father, we thank you that we were your kids. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:16.240 In Jesus' name. 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:37.920 This relationship is one of the antidotes for loneliness. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:43.119 Being loved by a good father who always shows up for us. 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:48.400 And having God as your father means that you are part of a greater family. 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:58.559 Taking us back to Psalm 68, God is a father to the fatherless, and he sets the lonely in families. 00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:04.400 When my kids were much tinier than they are now, my daughter asked me if she could have another sibling. 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:12.880 But her one request was that she wanted a sibling that she didn't have to share with her brother, one that was just hers. 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:18.480 I had to break the very sad news to her that that's just not how siblings work. 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:24.319 When you have the same parents, you share all of your siblings with your other siblings. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:29.519 My daughter just doesn't just have an isolated relationship with me as her parent. 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:41.839 We have this personal relationship, and also our relationship means that she also has a relationship with her brother because they have me, their parents, in common. 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:53.680 This parent-child relationship that we have with God, that He is our father, brings us into a whole family of siblings who all have a relationship with their father. 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:57.519 God sets the lonely in family. 00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:01.519 Our family has really found this in our friendships. 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:10.880 It's common in Filipino culture, which my husband is, so I'm married into, to have your kids refer to your close friends as Tita and Tito. 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:12.559 This means aunt and uncle. 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:16.880 The family is extended past just biological relationships. 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:20.480 We have friends who we have decided are part of our family. 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:23.599 My kids know them as Tita and Tito. 00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:27.680 They have a key to our house, they're part of our holiday celebrations. 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:35.359 I've received this beloved name of Tita from friends who consider me a sister to them and an auntie to their kids. 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:39.599 This is the way that our family does life within the family of God. 00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:51.279 I got a little picture of how ingrained this is in my kids yesterday when my little guy, he was looking at all the Christmas cards that have been mailed to us that we tape up on the wall, and he looked really troubled. 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:54.880 And then he said, Where's the picture from Tito? 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:58.079 And I said, Well, we haven't gotten a card from them. 00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:00.880 And that wasn't sufficient for him. 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:06.559 He said, Well, we need a card from them because he's part of our big family. 00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:10.000 And I said, Yeah, but let's call him and tell him that. 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:18.240 Being part of God's family means now our family is extended. 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:25.759 Our family includes all believers, everyone who has been adopted as a child of God. 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:29.839 This adoption has come by the way of Jesus. 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:33.920 In Jesus, you have a new family. 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:44.640 We read in Galatians 4, but when the set time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:48.400 So you are no longer a slave, but God's child. 00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:51.759 The Son of God, Jesus, he came. 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:55.119 That's what this advent season has been leading up to. 00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:58.640 That's what we're gonna celebrate on Wednesday on Christmas Eve. 00:33:58.880 --> 00:34:01.200 That God's Son came. 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:09.280 He came to redeem us and to pave the way for us to be adopted into the family of God. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:12.320 God sets us in his family. 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:26.079 We get to have him as our perfect heavenly father, and we get to be a part of the greater family of God, which means that in Jesus, you have lots of sisters and brothers. 00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:31.599 The person you're sitting next to right now is your brother or your sister in Christ. 00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:35.360 Even if you forgot their name since the meet and greet, don't worry. 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:42.719 The family of God goes deeper than just these acquaintances that you might see at church or talk to in that two-minute meet and greet. 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:49.199 Maybe the only thing that you know about them right now is what their least favorite Christmas song is. 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:58.719 But in Jesus, they are your sister or your brother, and you are their sister or their brother. 00:34:59.119 --> 00:35:05.519 A common greeting in my larger family that I described is calling each other sister and brother. 00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:13.599 When my best friend sees my husband, she greets him by saying, Hi, brother, and he says, Hey, sister, because it's true. 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:23.119 Not just in this cute chosen family situation, but because in Jesus they really are sister and brother. 00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:35.840 So to make this a little more real right now, in this room, turn to four people next to you and greet them again with these relational titles, saying, Hey sister, hey brother, turn to them. 00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:50.480 Oh, that was great. 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:57.679 Um Jesus, you have lots of brothers and sisters, sisters and brothers. 00:35:57.920 --> 00:36:02.000 And the reality is, is that's the beauty and the challenge, isn't it? 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.400 True. 00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:06.480 The beauty and the challenge is you have a new family. 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:12.320 The beauty, every follower of Jesus is a family member. 00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:17.599 Like you didn't earn it, you didn't work for it, you're in. 00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:19.440 You're already in. 00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:25.119 And the coolest thing is you can be in a different country and be with family. 00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:34.079 I we got to visit my daughter in France, and we got to go to her church, and it was like really precious of getting to be with other believers. 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:41.679 It's a different culture, a different language, and yet we all have the same God, the same Father, the same Spirit, worshiping Jesus. 00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:48.400 We're all saved by grace, and we're all part of this big, beautiful, incredible family of God. 00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:53.440 It's beautiful because some of you have, you know, moved here and you got to experience that. 00:36:53.599 --> 00:37:06.719 You didn't know a soul, and then you stepped into this community and you experience a family of a group, a small group, and friends and new friends coming alongside you to pray for you, to encourage you, to strengthen you, to support you. 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:09.920 Like there's just this incredible reality. 00:37:10.239 --> 00:37:25.039 And yet at the same time, the challenge, the challenge is every follower of Jesus is a family member, whether you want them or not, whether you like it or not. 00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:32.320 I want to give us a little challenge for our church, it's probably for the church in America. 00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:40.480 But I think we need to address the casualness and the consumer mindset in our approach to church. 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:44.960 It's antithetical to the family of God. 00:37:46.320 --> 00:37:53.519 We have lost our commitment to one another, and we're more in favor of what's convenient for ourselves. 00:37:54.639 --> 00:37:57.519 I mean, is this sermon feeding me? 00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:59.360 Is this community serving me? 00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:02.079 Do I like the music, the style? 00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:04.960 Um, why are they so Swedish this weekend? 00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:06.239 I don't know. 00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:11.119 Is there something better down the road? 00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:15.760 The early church, by the way, didn't have options. 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:28.000 They had a house church filled with people, one filled with messy people, immature people, annoying people, people who voted differently. 00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:29.760 They didn't get a vote, by the way. 00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:37.199 People who sinned differently, people who hurt each other and had to figure out how to forgive and what it actually meant. 00:38:37.840 --> 00:38:45.840 When you were baptized, you were immersed in a new communal identity of the family of God. 00:38:48.800 --> 00:38:55.360 Which it means spiritual growth doesn't happen in isolation. 00:38:56.400 --> 00:39:00.000 Your spiritual growth cannot happen like all by yourself. 00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:01.840 That's more popular today than ever. 00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:04.400 It's all about me and I can do my thing. 00:39:04.639 --> 00:39:12.480 It happens with friction, it happens through forgiveness, it happens through learning how to stay when it'd be easier to leave. 00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:19.920 Your spiritual maturity is often limited by your level of commitment to the family of God. 00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:22.000 Let me say that again. 00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:31.840 Your spiritual maturity is often limited by your commitment to the family of God. 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:34.800 Listen to what the Apostle Paul said in the Colossians. 00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:36.079 This is a church in Colossae. 00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:39.119 He's writing this to them because they need to hear this. 00:39:39.840 --> 00:39:45.280 The letters in the New Testament aren't because all the churches were this hunky-dory, amazing, perfect. 00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:49.840 He writes letters because there's things that needed to be addressed, encouragement and correction. 00:39:50.159 --> 00:39:55.519 He says, therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, that's who you are. 00:39:55.679 --> 00:39:59.840 You're chosen, you're wholly set apart, you're dearly loved. 00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:02.159 Clothe yourself, put this on. 00:40:03.280 --> 00:40:10.079 Clothe yourself with compassion, with kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:14.000 And he says this bear with one another. 00:40:14.880 --> 00:40:15.440 Why? 00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:19.199 Because sometimes people are a bear to be with, right? 00:40:20.239 --> 00:40:25.920 Like bear with one another and forgive one another if you have any grievances to give. 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:26.800 How are we to forgive? 00:40:26.960 --> 00:40:29.920 Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. 00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:35.840 And over all these virtues, put on love which binds them together in perfect community. 00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:40.719 Notice what Paul assumes about community, about the family of God. 00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:43.360 Paul assumes there will be grievances. 00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:46.960 Paul assumes there will be friction. 00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:55.360 That people will be in your life and in this family that you'll need to bear with. 00:40:57.360 --> 00:40:59.039 That's not a failure. 00:40:59.119 --> 00:41:00.239 That's family. 00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:04.079 Welcome to the family. 00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:08.079 And that's why communion is so very important. 00:41:08.159 --> 00:41:12.880 It's what the Churely Church and we do regularly when they commit together. 00:41:13.280 --> 00:41:19.920 Because communion reminds us that we didn't belong to this family because we agree on everything. 00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:29.599 We belong to this family because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and making us a new family through his sacrifice. 00:41:29.840 --> 00:41:35.199 It reminds us of our desperate need for God's mercy and grace. 00:41:35.760 --> 00:41:44.159 Which, when we are freshly reminded of our need for mercy and grace, we tend to give others mercy and grace. 00:41:46.239 --> 00:41:52.800 Today we're going to take communion together, as one body, as one family. 00:41:52.960 --> 00:42:01.199 Often the way we do this is uh if you've been around, you're familiar, we play music, you come forward, you take the bread, dip it in the cup, and you go back personally. 00:42:01.360 --> 00:42:05.920 Today we have these really fancy cups on your yeah, it's cool, right? 00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:09.679 Um we're gonna do this all together. 00:42:09.760 --> 00:42:11.519 I want to give you a little coaching though. 00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:16.159 Flip it upside down because the wafer's on the bottom, the cracker. 00:42:16.639 --> 00:42:21.199 And you can even pre-get it ready and open it with the cracker side of it. 00:42:21.840 --> 00:42:32.000 We're gonna sing Jesus Paid It All, and in the middle of the song, I'm gonna just pause for us to do this and partake in the Lord's Supper together. 00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:36.079 Today we're gonna take communion as a family. 00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:44.480 Let me ask you this. 00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:37.760 How can I not forgive you? 00:43:37.920 --> 00:43:45.280 Is there bitterness, is their anger, is there frustration, is their contempt, is there is their hurt and pain from the relationship? 00:43:45.360 --> 00:45:38.480 Is there things that you carried in that you need to draw off and cross you go ahead and just begin to play and I want to invite you to just take time with Change the leather's name is hardest. 00:45:41.119 --> 00:45:55.199 Jesus paid it all in all to get my sin I left the crimson stain. 00:45:55.599 --> 00:46:36.400 He was before the throne and complete Jesus died, my soul to say my lips shall still be. 00:47:02.400 --> 00:47:09.360 This is his body broken for you for the forgiveness of your sins, the healing of your brokenness. 00:47:09.599 --> 00:47:11.039 Take and eat. 00:47:18.719 --> 00:47:23.760 Take the cup of the cup of the new covenant. 00:47:25.599 --> 00:47:34.079 Jesus' blood poured out for you to rescue you from the kingdom of darkness and bring you into the family of God. 00:47:34.559 --> 00:47:36.239 Do this in remembrance of God. 00:47:36.480 --> 00:47:36.960 Take care. 00:47:41.360 --> 00:47:49.840 You stand with us as we worship, as we praise the one, that we just declare it out. 00:47:50.159 --> 00:48:01.519 Just our heart's gratitude that God says the lonely in family, He is our Heavenly Father, made possible by the finished work of Jesus. 00:49:42.800 --> 00:49:47.760 Here it was in it left. 00:50:01.920 --> 00:50:03.440 Thank you, Jesus. 00:53:22.079 --> 00:53:24.079 You deserve the Lord. 00:53:43.440 --> 00:53:51.119 Mighty God, wonderful counselor, everlasting Father, the Prince of Jesus come for us. 00:55:06.239 --> 00:55:13.519 God has adopted you into his family and placed you among many, many siblings. 00:55:14.159 --> 00:55:24.400 But for all this, to truly combat the loneliness that you feel, either occasionally or often, you need to be known by the people around you. 00:55:24.639 --> 00:55:28.239 And this requires something of you, of us. 00:55:28.880 --> 00:55:33.679 It requires you to take a step toward being known. 00:55:34.079 --> 00:55:36.800 This morning, we have two ways for you to do that. 00:55:36.960 --> 00:55:46.159 The first is if you're new to awakening, or not new and just don't know anyone yet, or you know people, but you're still feeling lonely in this community. 00:55:46.480 --> 00:55:49.280 This card that's somewhere around you is for you. 00:55:49.440 --> 00:55:50.000 Take it out. 00:55:50.079 --> 00:55:52.159 Everybody take it out so that we don't feel lonely. 00:55:52.400 --> 00:55:53.599 Everybody take it out. 00:55:54.960 --> 00:56:00.239 By filling out this card and taking it right outside to that white tent that we have. 00:56:00.800 --> 00:56:07.599 You are taking a step toward being known by sisters and brothers in this church family. 00:56:07.840 --> 00:56:16.800 The people who will be out at that white tent, they want to meet you, they want to get to know you, and they want you to help you find your people here. 00:56:17.679 --> 00:56:22.639 Now, the second way that you can take a step toward being known is by serving. 00:56:23.119 --> 00:56:29.519 I understand that might sound cringy, like I'm just trying to get you to fulfill a need that the church has, but hear me out. 00:56:30.159 --> 00:56:36.079 Every one of my best friendships, every single one, I did like a tally this weekend. 00:56:36.320 --> 00:56:39.199 Everyone has come out of serving together. 00:56:39.679 --> 00:56:43.039 I met Missy while being junior high small group leaders together. 00:56:43.440 --> 00:56:54.400 We spent our Thursday nights eating snacks and playing games with sixth graders, and we formed this deep friendship that has lasted over a decade past our time on that team. 00:56:54.800 --> 00:56:56.800 I became friends with Megan Looper. 00:56:57.119 --> 00:56:58.400 She's here this morning. 00:56:58.639 --> 00:57:02.880 Well, she was playing drums on the worship team at a winter camp that I was leading. 00:57:03.039 --> 00:57:12.880 We were in college at the time, so we started having weekly homework hangs that then turned into movie nights, that eventually turned into us being a part of each other's weddings. 00:57:13.039 --> 00:57:15.679 And now we meet weekly in a small group. 00:57:16.159 --> 00:57:18.559 I even met my husband through serving. 00:57:18.719 --> 00:57:23.039 And our relationship grew as we served in the church together. 00:57:23.519 --> 00:57:34.960 On Wednesday is Christmas Eve, and to make it a welcoming and beautiful space to celebrate the coming of Jesus and to help people feel like they're actually a part of the family of God. 00:57:35.440 --> 00:57:36.559 Come serve with us. 00:57:37.119 --> 00:57:39.360 The commitment is small, it's one time. 00:57:40.079 --> 00:57:46.719 There are roles to greet people as they walk in and to prepare the hot cocoa bar and then to clean it all up after. 00:57:47.039 --> 00:57:54.719 And as you serve, you have the opportunity to get to know and be known by the people who you're serving alongside. 00:57:55.039 --> 00:57:57.920 If that's something you want to be a part of, I'm going to show you exactly how to do it. 00:57:58.159 --> 00:58:10.960 In this bulletin that you probably have, that very first QR code is going to take you to all the times and opportunities that we have for you to come and serve and get to know and be known by the people who you're serving with. 00:58:11.840 --> 00:58:12.239 So good. 00:58:12.320 --> 00:58:17.760 Because we can take, know that we're placed into the family God, but we have to take a step to being known. 00:58:17.920 --> 00:58:22.400 The second thing, this is incredible, is invite somebody into the family of God. 00:58:23.599 --> 00:58:26.400 Would you invite someone into the family of God? 00:58:26.719 --> 00:58:30.559 I was reminded of the power of invitation like a month ago. 00:58:31.360 --> 00:58:35.360 My buddy Brian and I, we get to work out together five days a week. 00:58:35.440 --> 00:58:36.239 It's super fun. 00:58:36.400 --> 00:58:37.119 He's amazing. 00:58:37.280 --> 00:58:39.679 He's like super strong. 00:58:40.000 --> 00:58:42.320 I'm not, so I like to be around people that are. 00:58:42.400 --> 00:58:44.239 I'm like, oh wow, I can one day he's my hero. 00:58:44.320 --> 00:58:45.440 I want to be like him, right? 00:58:45.679 --> 00:58:49.599 Um and one of our good buddies, we haven't seen in a long while. 00:58:49.760 --> 00:58:55.280 He's big into fitness, and we're like, hey, would you want to come work out with us? 00:58:55.840 --> 00:58:57.920 And he's like, oh yeah, sure. 00:58:58.079 --> 00:59:03.039 So he came over on a Friday morning, worked out, and he's he puts both of us, I don't know why. 00:59:03.280 --> 00:59:06.480 He's like, he's like a Greek god, I think. 00:59:06.559 --> 00:59:07.679 I mean, like, he is that. 00:59:08.079 --> 00:59:12.639 He's like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm just I'm gonna go hide in the corner. 00:59:12.800 --> 00:59:21.440 Um we have this great time together, and at the end of it, he said this to us he's like, thank you so much for inviting me. 00:59:21.679 --> 00:59:24.719 And he did something that we men especially struggle with. 00:59:24.880 --> 00:59:26.719 It was courageous vulnerability. 00:59:27.599 --> 00:59:30.960 And he and he said, you know, I've just been really lonely. 00:59:32.880 --> 00:59:35.519 I mean, I I would have no idea. 00:59:35.760 --> 00:59:40.239 He's super successful, has a beautiful, amazing family. 00:59:40.400 --> 00:59:42.480 His Instagram game is awesome. 00:59:42.639 --> 00:59:45.599 I look at what he's doing, I'm like, wow, that's cool. 00:59:45.840 --> 00:59:50.639 And yet underneath all of that was loneliness. 00:59:50.719 --> 00:59:52.159 And it was an invitation in. 00:59:52.880 --> 01:00:01.199 One of the amazing things that we get to be a part of is not just placing in the family of God, we get to invite others into the family of God. 01:00:02.159 --> 01:00:06.639 But Paul would say it this way that he's given us the ministry of reconciliation. 01:00:06.960 --> 01:00:13.519 We get to help people experience a reconciled relationship with their heavenly father. 01:00:14.159 --> 01:00:20.400 And chances are you're at awakening or you came to know Jesus because someone invited you. 01:00:21.119 --> 01:00:27.599 And I want to ask you, this Christmas Eve happening in three days, would you invite somebody to Christmas Eve at awakening? 01:00:27.679 --> 01:00:34.800 Maybe it's a coworker, maybe it's a friend, maybe it's a classmate, maybe it's a family member, maybe it's just somebody you haven't seen in a really long time. 01:00:34.880 --> 01:00:36.960 Like, hey, they used to be around, but they're not. 01:00:37.039 --> 01:00:41.599 And you're going like, maybe they're just great, but honestly, they just might be lonely. 01:00:42.320 --> 01:00:44.960 And they need a fresh invitation. 01:00:46.400 --> 01:00:52.320 Now, invite them to Christmas Eve, but don't invite them to next Sunday. 01:00:52.800 --> 01:00:54.079 There's no church next Sunday. 01:00:54.480 --> 01:00:55.199 No church. 01:00:55.360 --> 01:00:58.000 This is our last church service of 2025. 01:00:58.239 --> 01:00:59.440 Can you believe it? 01:01:00.159 --> 01:01:00.719 Yeah. 01:01:00.960 --> 01:01:02.239 Where it's crazy. 01:01:02.480 --> 01:01:02.719 All right. 01:01:02.960 --> 01:01:04.719 So invite them into the family of God. 01:01:04.960 --> 01:01:05.840 What was the final one? 01:01:06.159 --> 01:01:06.400 Yeah. 01:01:06.639 --> 01:01:22.079 Sunday mornings are great for gathering with this whole church community, but coming and going on a Sunday morning and having that be your only interaction with the family of God each week isn't enough to combat this loneliness that we experience. 01:01:22.400 --> 01:01:29.760 We want to invite you and challenge you to join or continue in a group or a study in the new year. 01:01:30.000 --> 01:01:32.559 This is where deep relationships grow. 01:01:32.800 --> 01:01:41.679 As you study the Bible and pray together, what this morning is an idea of brothers and sisters starts to turn into your reality. 01:01:42.239 --> 01:02:06.320 When you meet together and you have a common commitment to each other, when you know what's going on in their lives and they know what's going on in yours, when you send that text between group meetings to ask how their exam went or if they're feeling better after being sick, these are the things that are the antidote to loneliness as you take an active role in the family that God has placed you in. 01:02:06.960 --> 01:02:12.159 We have many options for you of what type of group or what type of study and when they happen. 01:02:12.480 --> 01:02:14.960 Now, I understand this commitment is a big one. 01:02:15.280 --> 01:02:24.320 The small group that I'm in, it meet we meet every week, and sometimes it feels like a big burden when I'm exhausted from a really full week. 01:02:24.480 --> 01:02:27.199 I see one of my group members smiling at me for saying that. 01:02:28.239 --> 01:02:36.800 But every time that we meet, every time, I'm reminded of how vital this group is in my life and in theirs. 01:02:37.519 --> 01:02:41.920 We've walked through great celebration and great suffering together. 01:02:42.159 --> 01:02:54.400 We've prayed for each other in each season, and as we've been committed to studying the Bible together, our relationships have grown, and the loneliness that each of us feel starts to dissipate. 01:02:54.880 --> 01:02:59.360 If you do one new thing in this new year, make it this. 01:02:59.599 --> 01:03:05.840 Join a group or a study and see how God really uses it as an antidote to loneliness. 01:03:06.159 --> 01:03:06.880 Absolutely. 01:03:07.199 --> 01:03:10.960 And my wife started a women's study in January. 01:03:12.239 --> 01:03:13.360 Yeah, amazing. 01:03:14.880 --> 01:03:23.360 As we conclude our time, for some, you know, God brought up some stuff and even met you, and you need to not rush past this moment. 01:03:23.440 --> 01:03:25.360 Our prayer team is actually in the back. 01:03:25.599 --> 01:03:28.559 And we'd love to pray with you and for you. 01:03:28.880 --> 01:03:42.559 Uh whether it's going through something significant, something that God spoke to you in this moment, or even if it's just a celebration, that you have something that you go, oh, God's doing something really amazing, and I need somebody to share it with. 01:03:42.719 --> 01:03:44.960 We'd love to be that with you. 01:03:45.199 --> 01:03:47.440 Hey, would you stand on up with me as we close? 01:03:47.519 --> 01:03:52.559 One of the things we want to do well is celebrate well as a family. 01:03:52.880 --> 01:04:00.960 And we said that this Del Mar Giving Fund, we had a hope and dream to raise uh$35,000. 01:04:01.440 --> 01:04:04.719 We actually raised$44,000. 01:04:05.360 --> 01:04:06.000 Way to go. 01:04:06.159 --> 01:04:06.719 Way to go. 01:04:06.800 --> 01:04:07.679 That's amazing. 01:04:08.000 --> 01:04:09.599 Great job. 01:04:10.320 --> 01:04:13.519 Um and uh thank you for that. 01:04:13.679 --> 01:04:20.719 And just a reminder for those of you who give at awakening and want to be a part uh significantly as we end this year and next year. 01:04:20.880 --> 01:04:29.119 If you want to partner with us in year-and-giving, uh, that would be incredible in fueling the mission here of awakening this generation to new life in Jesus. 01:04:29.199 --> 01:04:30.960 Uh, a couple things before we go. 01:04:31.199 --> 01:04:35.760 One, uh, today is my wife and I's anniversary, 23rd, 23 years. 01:04:36.000 --> 01:04:36.800 Super fun. 01:04:37.760 --> 01:04:40.800 Uh another is Ashley, thanks so much. 01:04:40.880 --> 01:04:41.360 That was great. 01:04:41.519 --> 01:04:42.239 You did awesome. 01:04:42.400 --> 01:04:44.159 Thanks for doing this thing and kids. 01:04:44.639 --> 01:04:46.880 Um writer, that was fantastic. 01:04:47.119 --> 01:04:50.559 Uh, by the way, uh this is I'm just gonna be family right now. 01:04:50.719 --> 01:04:53.199 It's Liam's 16th birthday today. 01:04:54.800 --> 01:04:57.519 So, man, great to see you here. 01:04:58.000 --> 01:05:07.840 Uh, normally we do a benediction, and a benediction is a blessing, and I it generally is in the frame of just reminding you of how loved you are by God. 01:05:08.079 --> 01:05:09.039 I want to change it up. 01:05:09.199 --> 01:05:12.639 I want you to actually give one another a benediction. 01:05:12.960 --> 01:05:18.239 Okay, on your way out, this is your invitation or challenge, depending on your personality. 01:05:18.400 --> 01:05:20.719 Um, would you bless somebody? 01:05:21.199 --> 01:05:24.880 Real simply, hey, you're loved by your heavenly father. 01:05:25.360 --> 01:05:25.760 That's it. 01:05:26.400 --> 01:05:28.239 We're all gonna do it, so it won't be weird. 01:05:28.480 --> 01:05:46.800 But if you're feeling like it might be weird and I need something to kind of intro the conversation, um, I was thinking about um one of our family's favorite Christmas Eve traditions, because I'm gonna see you all on Christmas Eve, is after our Christmas Eve service, we have La Villa raviolis. 01:05:47.039 --> 01:05:47.840 They're delicious. 01:05:47.920 --> 01:05:52.000 And if you don't know what Lavilla raviolis are, um look it up. 01:05:52.480 --> 01:05:55.119 We ordered ours already, picking them up tomorrow. 01:05:55.360 --> 01:05:56.639 Praise the Lord. 01:05:56.880 --> 01:05:57.440 All right? 01:05:57.679 --> 01:06:06.559 So if you need a question to ask somebody to go a little, you know, start the conversation, just say, what's one of your favorite Christmas traditions? 01:06:07.199 --> 01:06:10.159 And then you are loved by your Heavenly Father. 01:06:10.320 --> 01:06:11.039 You got it? 01:06:11.519 --> 01:06:15.519 All right, you're loved to see ya three days, Christmas Eve. 01:06:15.760 --> 01:06:17.760 We hope you are blessed by this message. 01:06:17.920 --> 01:06:22.400 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 01:06:22.559 --> 01:06:24.639 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 01:06:24.800 --> 01:06:30.320 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.