Each of us is given 168 hours a week. No more. No less. If you figure that we sleep 56 hours a week, we have 112 waking hours. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average American works 8.8 hours, everyday. That means, many of us work 44/168 hours each week. That's about 40% of our time goes to work.

If you're like me, you grew up believing (and living) as if God was part of the few hours at church - but the other 168 hours of the week was my time. Certainly, the 40% of the time I spend at work was mine - not God's. I never really made sense how Jesus and the rest of my week were to go together.

But, what if every hour of every day was God's to use as He would want? My work, included?

That would mean that my work is not merely a way to earn money, of achieving status, or investing in personal gain. It means that work is a personal calling to love God, love people, and live like Jesus.

This connection changed how I understood work and how I worked when at work (say that three times fast!).

I can't wait for us to discover how faith and work come together, this Sunday. Pastor Matt is going to help us understand what it means to work at all things as for the Lord. Bring a friend and bring your bible!

So, off to work we go because Jesus is already working there!

Love you more than you know. -pt

PS: Thanksgiving Eve Worship is at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27. I can't wait to "give thanks" with you. You'll leave inspired to say, "thank you" all through the holiday season. Bring your entire family and your friends.

If you were with us this past weekend, we dove into Colossians 3:18-21. We unpacked the "S-Word" (submit) and discovered there is actually Biblical Christian Marriage is more about mutual surrender to each other than a game of tug-of-war waiting for one of the parties to submit. If you missed the message, you can watch it here. My prayer is that it encourages you, reminds you of your identity in Jesus (the new clothes you wear), and live like Jesus in your relationships, marriages and families.

​Also, here are the resources our team wanted to share with you. If you have any questions about these resources or want to go further in these conversations, you can reach out to Pastor Matt at [email protected] or myself at [email protected] and we can best connect you to the right teams and people.

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Right Now Media //  http://go.oslc.com/rightnowmedia
This "Netflix of Church" is packed full of videos and other resources for relationships, marriage, family, and parenting.

The Parent Cue App & Blog  //  http://www.theparentcue.org
This resource syncs with our Weekend Children's and Youth Ministry Curriculum to help you "win" at home the other 167 hours of the week when you're not at church.

Married People Blog & Resource  //  http://www.marriedpeople.org/blog
This resource is geared for single, dating, engaged, and married people.

The picture above is from 2006. I remember thinking that our relationship would be easy. She liked me. I really liked her. I got the better end of the deal. What could be so difficult about having fun together?

Then, we got married.

Throughout our almost-13 years together, we have learned that relationships, marriage, and parenting are some of the most difficult things in life to work at. They're messy. They're always a work-in-progress.

​Truly, no matter how bad it seems, in order for our relationships, marriages, and families to thrive, we must invest our time and energy to do some hard work - perhaps, more so on ourselves than on those we live with. It's a constant dying to ourselves and putting on new and different clothing - attitudes, actions, perspectives, and understandings of who we are as people. Thankfully, we have what it takes.

I believe that this Sunday's message could be a game-changer for you and how you live with your dates, mates, spouse, and children.

Indeed, Jesus gives us everything we need to work through and live in healthy relationships, marriages, and families. You have what it takes. I can't wait to unpack these principles with you!

If you know someone who would be encouraged by a message like this, invite and bring them with you, this weekend. Take them to brunch afterwards. Invite them into your Life Group discussion this week. Share with others you have what it takes and they do, too. . . with Jesus!

Love you more than you know. -pt

PS: If you missed this past Sunday's message, you can check it out, below (it begins at 34:10).