Join us for a fun-filled Outreach and Family Game Night as we combine fun with an opportunity to make a difference. We will be playing games, eating snacks, and prepping Way To Battle Battle Pups to be sent across the world to those going through hard things.

Sign Up to help setup, tear down, bring games, snacks, etc. After you register to attend, please consider signing up to bring food, games, or yourself to help. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DADA628A2FBC34-47041309-family

We can't wait to hang out with you and your family! Please note this gathering is meant for families to enjoy together, so we kindly request that you stay and participate.

Thank you to all who came out this past Sunday to celebrate Commitment Sunday with us. We are excited to see how many people have already committed to be Partner with C3 in 2024. If you missed it, check out our Commitment Sunday message on the C3 App or Website, where we share vision for the year ahead.

Still interested in becoming a Partner this year? It's not too late. Click the link below to become a Partner today.

We invite you to Christmas Eve at C3 Church. Let's come together with our friends and family to celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Our 9am + 10:45am services will have a special song performance by our very own C3 Kids! Afterwards, kids will go back to their age-appropriate rooms for a fun and safe Christmas service.

Our 6pm service will be a candlelight service. We’ll have incredible kids environments that evening for infant through preschool aged kids. Elementary and Preteen kids are welcome in the sanctuary.

Through your generosity, you can help people in your community experience the life-changing power of Jesus' love.

Our people continue to make C3 what it is today, and we are so thankful for each of you! Your generosity and the sacrifice of your time, talents, and treasure is what continues to move forward the vision That All of Columbus Would Know Jesus. Thank you!

With today being #GivingTuesday, we ask that each of you consider how you can give back during this special season!

Whether it's through a special one-time offering today, or bringing your Big Give offering to service on Sunday, Dec 10, we can all play a part in making a difference.

Because of your generosity, we continue to make an impact in our community and beyond. We've already handed out all the Foster Family Wish Lists and Continue The Story Christmas Cards through Love Gives... thank you to all who have already jumped in to make someone's Christmas a little brighter.

The Joy Journey is a commitment to regain joy in our lives, our homes, and our minds. To do this, we have to focus, slow down, and understand that self-care is a choice we make every single day. This journey will challenge you to focus on choosing joy again - and for some, for the very first time.

Sign up for the Joy Journey and gain community, as we all head towards a holistic approach to our health. The Joy Journey 2023 kicks off June 4 and ends July 16

Check out the Daily 5 and the Joy Journey Meditation Reading Plan below.

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scripture: John 3:27-30
Song of the week: I Have A Savior

27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ 29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. 30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

There are many times that I have found myself, unfortunately, trying to be the “messiah” in different situations. Both at work and within my personal life. In some cases, I have been guilty of overextending myself to the point of feeling empty. Have you found yourself doing this very thing? Have you ever tried dating someone that wasn’t a Christian and wondered why you couldn’t change them? Have you tried to “be Jesus” to your family during the holidays and it didn’t work out? I am sure there are many stories that you all have. I honestly would love to hear them; whether through the comments of this blog or emailing me at Jacob@myc3church.com.

Today, I wanted to share with you one of my personal journal entries from 2017: “Lord teach me that I am not you. I am simply here to prepare the way for you to move. You are the healer. You are the restorer of brokenness. You are the messiah. Now, I have never thought I was literally the messiah. But, I allow myself to get down based on the difference that I am able to make within a situation. Whether that be helping people financially, with food, or the giving of my time. Lord, teach me to remain in you and have the strength and wisdom to continue to prepare the way for your will. I praise you this morning. I love you Jesus.”

I hope that sharing this encourages you and helps remind you that while we can all get caught up in helping others, we have to remember and accept that we are not the Messiah. We cannot save ourselves nor the ones we love the most. Only Jesus can do that. You are here to simply prepare the way. Don’t allow yourself to carry the responsibility of our Savior. Focus on being faithful and obedient to what God has actually called you to do.

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scripture: Psalm 150:6
Song: I Want Jesus

Jesus was beaten, bruised, and executed for the sins of the world. On the third day, Jesus was risen from the dead. We see in Mark 16 that Jesus first reveals himself to Mary Magdalene and then two others after this. The remaining eleven disciples, even though they had heard of these two encounters did not believe.

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. 15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16:14-15)  
 
The first response for Peter was to drop what he was doing and immediately go and accomplish what Jesus had commanded. Peter's response may have been very similar to what many of us instinctively do. We drop everything and spring into action. While we do this with only the best of intentions, it can leave us feeling depleted at the end of the day. Let me ask you this, "when's the last time you had "me" time?" I'll take it one step further and ask, "when's the last time you spent time alone with God?" Sometimes we spend more time doing things for God instead of simply being with God.

Before we do things for God, we must worship Him first.

"I believe that our Lord wants us to learn more of Him in worship before we become busy for Him. He wants us to have a gift of the Spirit, an inner experience of the heart, as our first service, and out of that will grow the profound and deep and divine activities which are necessary." (A.W Tozer).

My challenge for you to this week is not to do yet another thing, it's simply to take time and worship who He is. Don't ask for anything. Just worship. Worship is more than a song. It's acknowledging the worth of Jesus throughout your day.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6)

Lord, may our actions this week and the things we do for you come not from a place of proving our worth or earning grace, but from the overflow of our worship and time spent with you. Amen.  

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7
Song: In Over My Head

This week is the last week I can say that I am 30 years old. Next Wednesday, I will be 31. Wow, that's weird to say. Last night I took time to look at all the pictures and videos that I have gathered over this past year. I believe we all have moments where we wish we could freeze time or that we could stop aging. Even college doesn't seem so long ago, yet, it is.

After getting through my aging crisis, I began to celebrate all that God has done and the accomplishments I have seen over this past year. One of those is losing 85 lbs. as of today. That was evident as I scrolled through all my pictures.

Although that is a huge milestone, my greatest accomplishment would be the change within. I  began to love myself enough to have God-honoring boundaries in my life. What does that mean, you ask? It means that I have proactively put boundaries in place that are for me, not a reaction to someone else. How many times have we created boundaries from a reactive posture rather than a place where we are pursuing growth for ourselves? Boundaries, at their purest form, are preventive, not reactive.

A new boundary I have implemented is before I open my mouth, I do these three things: 
Think about it. Pray about it. Then talk about it.

Every time I have followed this framework and respected this preventive boundary, it keeps me consistent, balanced, and God-honoring towards myself and others. It helps me not say those words that you try to catch in the air once they leave your mouth. This not only prevents me from hurting others, it prevents bitterness and resentment from growing in my heart and mind. It reminds me to give my worries and cares to the Lord. Boundaries do not limit intimacy, they cultivate healthy relationships.

Do you regularly give your worries to God? Scripture says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for us” (1 Peter 5:7). Do you have intentional and preventive boundaries? Or, do you live life from a reactive stance?  

I would encourage you this week to ask yourself, what boundaries do I lack and what boundaries do I need to implement in my life?

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scripture: James 4:8 ESV
Song: Give Me Jesus

A few weeks ago, our C3 Youth students attended a week long church camp experience. At camp, distractions are limited; which allows students to fully focus on their holistic selves.

It took me back to when I was a teenager. Every year, I looked forward to going to camp. I remember kneeling at the front, weeping in the presence of God, for hours. Camp helped create a time and a space to lay the foundation for my faith. It taught me early to have a mindset of "give me Jesus".

The Sunday after camp, I asked one of our students, "How did it go?" I could tell she had something to share. She lit up and went on and on about how God is so amazing and some of the cool experiences she had while there. One thing she said was "If I could just spend the rest of my life teaching people how to read their Bible, I would do it. I just want to do things for Jesus." Needless to say, I do not have to manufacture excitement for a conversation like back. Our entire conversation was overflowing with enthusiasm. It was obvious to me, she was saying "give me Jesus".

And for all of us, throughout our day, how many times do we say "give me [fill in the blank]".

This week, don't reflect on what you merely say, but how you live your life. Does your weekly rhythm have a central focus on Jesus? I was reminded recently that while Jesus was hanging on the cross, He bowed to the father's will. Jesus' actions communicated, give me my bride.

24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24 ESV). Jesus wants to be with us!

When the world gives me pain, give me Jesus. When friends betray me, give me Jesus. When unforeseen tragedy strikes, give me Jesus. When insecurities invite me to action, give me Jesus. The scripture says, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8 ESV).

So today, draw near to God, repent and purify your heart. No matter where you are in your journey, He desires to be in communion with you. Jesus loves us. May our actions communicate, give me Jesus.

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scripture: Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Worship Song: Divine/Sailing/Time/Hymn

How many gifts have you stored away to keep safe, or put out only on display as not to be used? One Sunday night, I attended a class where people learned more about their spiritual gifts. Throughout the conversation, individuals around the table admitted that they had not really been using the gifts that they knew they possessed.

Later that evening I began to ponder what was keeping everyone from stepping out in their gifts? Could it be comfort? Comfort, although feels safe, can be a dangerous place to dwell.

There is a quote by John A. Shedd that says, “A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for.” Just as ships were built for sea, you were built to step out of your comfort zone.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

For the believer, stepping out refers to stepping out in faith. Understandably, it is difficult to set sail without a clear destination. But, that's also the wonder and awe in this journey Jesus invites us on. If we knew it all, it wouldn't be faith now would it?

Outside of the comfort zone we will find our growth, we will find an intimacy with God that can only be developed through stepping out.

Have you been avoiding stepping out of your comfort zone? Are you allowing this exciting life of being a Christ follower to pass you by? I want to encourage you - set sail and discover the beauty that God has in store for you. Though the seas may rise, God is with you. Keep focused on Him, and step out of your comfort zone. Your sea is waiting for you.

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scripture: Matthew 18
Song: When You Were A Child

Before writing this blog, I started my morning with going into the Sanctuary, and worshiping alone on the piano. Something I realized I haven't done in awhile. Each time I worship, God reveals something to me. This specific time, I was reminded of when I was a child.

I was such a joyful kid. I loved so intensely. I gave my all to everything I did. I was the kid that didn't just watch Disney, I had to watch it and then dress up like my favorite character! That's right, when I would watch The Lion King, I would crawl around, growling at any of my siblings brave enough to enter our family room. Most of all, I feared nothing.

I remember one time, my older brothers, Doug and Josh, took me to a haunted house. I still don't know if my mom knows this - welp, now she will. Sorry bros. The devilish looking employees called our ticket and it was our time to enter. Deep down, I did not want to be there, but I wanted my older brother's approval. I wanted to impress them.

We go in, and if you have ever experienced a haunted house, you walk in and all the things start jumping out at you, it's dark, and there's loud, scary music. All of my senses went into shock. I remember this scary clown came up at the end and got in my face. My response was not what the clown expected. I said, "I'm not scared of you, I have Jesus." The clown was shocked and just moved on. Looking back on it, I can easily view that response as childish. But today, I see it different. I see it as childlike faith.

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells us “whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Having faith like a child requires putting aside our will. This way our opinions and misconceptions do not get in the way of trusting Christ wholeheartedly.

I find the more I have gone through in life, my senses, like that day walking into the haunted house, go into shock. You may also find yourself in shock, in sensory overload, that you begin to forget, "I'm not scared of you, I have Jesus."
 
Maybe you need to look at yourself in the mirror and say something like this: I'm not scared of my circumstance. I'm not scared of what people are gossiping about me. I'm not scared that life may get hard. I'm not scared to face my pain anymore. I'm not scared to forgive and let go. I'M NOT SCARED. I HAVE JESUS.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

This morning I was reminded of a worship leader who has influenced me greatly. I would listen to Jason Upton as a teenager and just worship until 3:00am. I was reminded of a song, and I believe the lyrics are so beautifully written.

When you were a child
I called you my own
And you were mine
When you were a child
You could not standalone
But you were fine

I want to know that child again
Maybe time has changed you
But Love remembers when
You called my name and like the wind
I carried you away
It seems like only yesterday
When You were a child
When you were a child

The world was the unknown
But you were wise
To simply trust in me
That I will never leave
And hold on tight

Today, push back all of the "adulting" distractions and just be a child in His presence. Call on His name. What lies ahead in the world is unknown. But we can choose to trust in Him. Jesus is the truth we need to discover. Not our own truth. Remember when you were a child. God is inviting us to approach Him once again with our childlike faith.

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scripture: Isaiah 43:2
Song: Still

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2)

God is communicating to His people, the Jews, that He is with them in their greatest trials and tribulations. I believe He means the same for us still today.

This entire chapter conveys that God was speaking to the Jews, who were at that time, in captivity in Babylon. The Jewish people faced many afflictions and were persecuted by men, which is represented in this scripture by the waters, rivers, and fires.

Just like today, some Jewish people had rejected God and unwelcomed His wrath. For those who acted as such, the metaphor seen here represents temptations that ultimately led them to being separated from God.

To dive deeper, let's break down some key parts of Isaiah 43:2.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;…” Found in the book of Exodus, you will see that God opened the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to walk on dry land. After they safely made it through, God allowed the walls of the sea to swallow Israel’s enemies. That would have been wild to see! For fun, go watch the Prince of Egypt.

“…and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” We see this in the book of Joshua, chapter three. God dried up the Jordan river as a band of priests carrying the ark of the covenant stood at the river’s edge. The Jordan river would typically overflow all its banks at the time of harvest in the spring, from the melting snow from Lebanon. What does this ark that they're carrying represent? It represents the presence of God. God packed the water to reveal a dry riverbed that allowed His people to walk into Canaan and end their wandering in the wilderness. Theologians say that the journey through the wilderness into Canaan symbolizes the believer’s passage from a sinful life, through death, and into heaven.

“When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Some of us may remember the story in how God protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar commanded his soldiers to throw these men into a furnace after they refused to bow down and worship any God but the Father (Yahweh). The furnace’s temperature was so hot, that the soldiers that threw these men into the furnace perished from the flames of the fire. Yet Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the furnace completely unscathed. There was another in the fire.

Today, I want to encourage you... when you go through deep waters, God is with you. When you feel like you are getting burned and attacked by others, the flames will not set you ablaze.

God’s promise for the Jewish people still holds true for us today. Emmanuel means "God is with us". Though the seas in your life may rise, God remains with you. Hold on to this promise.

Lyrics from our song this week:

I lift every fear to the heavens
Watch them disappear in Your presence
One by one they fall into perfect peace
You know everything, yet You listen
Through my anxious thoughts with compassion
One by one they fall into perfect peace
So I will be still
Oh, I will be still
And know that You are God

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25
Song: House of Miracles

6305 Waterloo Road NW, Canal Winchester, Ohio; this is the address of our church, C3 Church. However, the Church is not limited, nor defined, by a building. The concept of "church" is that it's a body of believers in where Jesus Christ is the head.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12).

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:18).

Now, since the body of Christ is the church, let's look at why the gathering of believers is so important.

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:19, NIV)

What does this mean for us? Hebrews 10:19-25 is an uplifting transition between two major sections of the book of Hebrews. Earlier verses convey a detailed explanation of why the new covenant is superior to the old covenant. The latter section of scripture is intended to inspire Christians to be confident, courageous, and uplifted in living out their faith. The following passage is thought to be a word of caution to believers about the danger of "falling away from the faith".

The verse I want to focus on while still acknowledging its full context is verse 25, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The personal gathering with other Christians is not only suggested in the Bible: it is commanded.

A practical reason for this was mentioned in the prior verse 24, And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. A relationship with other believers is one way we can be encouraged to act on the belief we confess with our mouths. We are all called to "hold fast" through our spiritual maturity. Personally, I would not be where I am in my faith without the encouragement and gathering of the believers. The gathering of believers was, is, and will always be such a vital, foundational aspect of my faith.

If you reference the great commission, the church is to "make disciples". This requires being doers of the word, not just talking about it (Matthew 28:18-20). Verse 24 is a command to Christians to seek opportunities to encourage others to love and do good.

The greek term used within this verse is enkataleipontes, referring to "an abandonment or forsaking." The verse is saying to believers, do not abandon or forsake the gathering place. We as Christians have an obligation to gather and fellowship with one another. This concept is not only for discipleship, but so we can serve one another and meet each other's needs. So that we can encourage one another in life and faith. (Hebrews 3:13; Colossians 3:16).

The house of the Lord is more than a building we attend. It's more than an obligation. The gathering of believers is commanded because it is essential. We are one body in which Chris is the head.

"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD.'” - Psalm 122:1

The house of the Lord is holy ground. All are welcome. And yes, I mean all. See you at the church.

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scripture: Ezekiel 34:12
Song: Don't You Give Up On Me

Most people that I know love the sunshine. I know that when I wake up, and the sun is shining bright, the C3 staff will just have a different level of energy. Pastor Konan and Danielle Milliken especially thrive when the sun is out, showing off its optimism.

For me, clouds, darkness, rain, and storms...that's my vibe. That sounds depressing to others, but I love it. I always have. Why? For me, some of my greatest memories spent with family indoors was when the weather was bad. That's when the board games came out and competition began. My board game of choice is Sequence. If you have not experienced this game, that is your action step today (not kidding). This type of weather is perfect for a movie night in, or even better, one of those afternoon naps that you wake up hours later and find yourself potentially drowning in a pool of drool. You know what I'm talking about. Too far? Sorry about that.

This type of weather also forces me to slow down and reminds me to reflect. Unfortunately, many times throughout my life, clouds also represented failure, pain, hurt, and sometimes hopelessness. What I had to learn is that clouds, darkness, rain, and storms are necessary for growth, and they remind me to celebrate - to learn how to dance in the rain.

My darkest moments are an invitation to grow closer to Jesus.

Ezekiel 34:12 “As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.”

The clouds and darkness do not limit God's reach. Now, this type of weather is a reminder not only of my need for a savior, but the reality that I have a savior that pursues me, and will never leave me.

Next time we have a "bad weather day", look outside your window with a different perspective. Celebrate that you made it to that day. For me, when I'm fighting these "bad weather thoughts", I say to God, "You are with me in the battle."  

Just like the scars on His hands were one of the signs of Jesus' triumph over death, may the clouds and darkness be a sign of your strength found in Jesus. He is with you in the battle, in the darkest of days.

I will end with the lyrics of this weeks song: "Open your heart. Open your hands. Open Your Eyelids. I've got more dreams. I've got more plans. I've got more blessings. Don't lose your hope. Don't lose your faith. That's where your fight is. I got more dreams. I got more plans. I got more blessings."

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scripture: Luke 12
Song: Kingdom Come

I grew up near the shores of Virginia Beach. If the weather was nice, you would find me outside, in the pool or at the beach. The majority of my childhood was spent in the water.

The coastal breeze. The music of seagulls; also the attack of seagulls if food is near (it can get intense). The best part of the beach for me as a kid was building my own castle in the sand. Have you ever built one? To build a great sand castle, you need wet sand so that you can compact it. That requires you to build it closer to the sea. You finally finish your sand castle and couldn't be more proud of your hard work. But, after an hour or so, it happens... CRASH! A wave, out of nowhere, comes and destroys your work and washes it away as if it never existed. When you're a kid, you furiously attempt to hurt the water, kicking it and smacking it. Now, as an adult, witnessing that takes you on a journey down memory lane to when that happened to you for the first time.

Castles in the sand don't last.

Why am I talking about castles in the sand? Because we still build them today in our everyday lives. They just begin to look a little different as we grow up.

We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we've purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we've built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren't supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there's a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom. You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who have messed up, but kingdoms have grace. (Bob Goff, Everybody Always)

Luke Chapter 12 talks about this kingdom we are appointed to build. The chapter gives its readers a caution against covetousness and uses the parable of the rich man. Within this parable, the questions were money and inheritance focused. In other words, they were focused on building castles. They were focused on building bigger and better. They were focused on taking life easy at the end, eating and drinking, and being merry. Sound familiar? We have a culture that strives to build castles for all to see and enjoy, and when we don't, we feel a part of "the least of these" club.

We determine our success based on the wonder and awe of our castle.

I look forward to retirement one day. However, I am not sure that we are ever called to retire from building a kingdom.

Are you focused on building a castle in the sand - a castle that has no capacity to withstand eternity? This week, take time to evaluate what you're focused on and see if your path aligns with building a kingdom or a castle. This week, begin to make changes in your life that allow you to focus on building a kingdom that will not wash away. A kingdom that is built on Jesus Christ.  

Stop building sand castles. Start building His kingdom.

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scriptures: Colossians 4:2
Song: Jesus You're Beautiful (Live)

Recently in a group discussion, the topic gratitude was presented. Many within the group discussed and approached gratitude through the lens of being expressed through words and being happy.

Here's what I know to be true... You can't always be happy, but you can always be grateful.  

If we break down the definition of gratitude, we see that the first portion refers to the quality of being thankful. The word "being" simply means existence. I would suggest that we need to exist with a mindset of thanksgiving in order to obtain this quality of living/existing from an overflow of gratitude.

Colossians 4:2 says, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." This scripture instructs its readers to devote themselves to prayer, while allowing watchfulness and thankfulness to exist (be) at the foundation of our perspective and daily lives.

For the Christian, I would argue this is a way in which we can live from an overflow of gratitude... devoting yourself to a relationship with God. When referring to the word prayer, this does not mean your wish list. It means a conversation where you speak and listen.

The second portion of gratitude's definition is readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Returning kindness is a response, but readiness is the state of being fully prepared for something or willingness to do something.

It is this other side of gratitude that leads me to ask this question, "Is your gratitude dependent  on your circumstance? Or, is your gratitude an overflow from your communion with Jesus?

I will leave you with this quote from one of my favorite authors, AW Tozer, "Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it."

This week, journal and ask yourself that question. I encourage you to live gratefully.

Author: Jacob Tynes
Main Scripture: Colossians 3:12-15
Song: Refiner

December 9, 2016 I packed a moving truck, attached my car to the back, and drove through the mountains of West Virginia. I was moving to Columbus, Ohio. My first step into the next Chapter of my life was one to remember.

With the anticipation of a fresh start, I had given little forethought to my attire for the day and the weather that awaited me. Nice house slippers from Target, mesh gym shorts, and a white t-shirt is what I threw on that morning.

Finally pulling into the Canal Winchester Walmart parking lot at 9p that evening, I had arrived. Upon opening the truck door, the heat that had comforted me during the eight hour drive quickly escaped, and I was met with a chilling 25 degrees.

"Ahhhh, the feeling of frozen optimism."

Jumping down from the truck, ready to begin my new adventure, I was instantly introduced to something called black ice. You can't see it. The ice doesn't wave and say, "Be careful." It waits... It waits for its victim. In that moment, I was ejected from the Penske truck as quickly as the comforting heat was just moments before. And there I was - taking a little rest on the cold, frozen over parking lot of Walmart.

Welcome to Ohio, Jacob.

Later on that week, I attended an event called, "Christmas on the Street." This event was targeted to meet the needs of the homeless community in Columbus, Ohio. Right then and there, I came to the conclusion that my version of winter attire was not what would be required to maintain a normal and comfortable body temperature in Ohio.

I didn't dress for the occasion.

How many of us have experienced a situation where you felt as though you didn't dress for the occasion? I don't write about this moment in my life to only make laugh, I write it because what we clothe ourselves with, what we put on, determines much.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15)

This scripture challenges us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. The word clothe means to endow with a particular quality. We are instructed to adopt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience as a part of our daily lives.

What I find interesting is the order in which this scripture was written. If I refuse to clothe myself as instructed, I have not dressed appropriately for what comes next; to "bear with each other and forgive one another...to forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Do you find yourself dressing for the occasion?

The scripture continues and talks about that love is above all these other virtues. Why? Because love is the fabric that creates compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Love is the foundation in which we stand upon to bear with each other and to forgive.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? What are you clothed in? Self-evaluation is an invitation to oneself and an opportunity for personal growth. This week, from the posture of love, clothe yourself every morning. In situations throughout day, visualize yourself putting on compassion. In some moments, I have to intentionally tell myself how to respond. If someone comes up to me and vomits emotions towards me, I tell myself, "Be kind, Jacob." If I don't tell myself that, I will naturally desire to make them regret their actions.

Clothing ourselves with these virtues grants us an opportunity to live God-honoring. It allows the peace of Christ to rule in our lives. It cultivates a character that aligns with our Creator. It prepares a response and prevents an emotional, uncontrolled, and unreceivable action. To clothe yourself with these virtues is to step toward the likeness of Christ.

Let the presence of the Lord refine you. Let Jesus purify your heart. Let Him reset your foundation so that love exists at your core. Let go of what needs letting go of. Surrender those thoughts that need surrendered. Lift your eyes to the heavens so that you may clothe yourself, so that you may dress for the occasion.

The alarm goes off. You notice the sunshine peeking through the blinds. Your first thought is, “Here goes another day. There is so much to do.” This routine was so present in my life for a length of time I sometimes find it shameful. Wake up, go to work, fake being at peace, go home, go to sleep, and then wake up and live this nightmare all over again and again and again.  

That was the totality of my life's rhythm. For some of you it’s your rhythm right now. If it is not your now, it could always be our tomorrow.

To ask yourself a question is to grant yourself the opportunity to be honest with yourself, for yourself.

For me, I had to ask myself the question, “What are you searching for?”

When I first asked myself this question I didn’t even fully understand how to answer it. “What am I searching for? I don’t know, maybe time, money, community…” What are you believing for? What was it that you want? What do you desire?

I couldn’t articulate or identify the answer I knew to be true. Confusion rested within the forefront of my mind like the dew rest on the grace at the breaking of day. What was I searching for?

With intentional effort, I reached a place where I could articulate the answer of the question that paralyzed thought before. I was searching for me. Throughout the journey of life I thought I had lost something valuable, I was missing out on opportunity. I had missed the opened door of success. But really, I was pining for me.

Life has the agility of progressing away from us. We become inattentive. We develop new fixations that eventually guide us down a path that we will forget how we even got to its destination. We lose our own self. Throughout this process we develop behaviors that are followed by our expressions of those behaviors that then become habits that ultimately demand further distance from who we were created to be. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

And every step further in this direction we often know deep within, "My image is lost."

For such a length of time, I lived astonished at the lack of longevity of my relationships. I began to examine why people didn't last. I lived life so oppressed with worry that eventually I ceased loving myself. I took the absence of intentionality from others and how they treated me as the defining factor of my value. You could even say that I sold my worth to people I don’t even speak with today. I sold my “birthright”.

James 4:1 says, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?”

That’s just it. I forgot who I was in the process of trying to gain everyone’s acceptance and love. I thought that would “fix” me or my lack of. I went from being created in His (God) image to being influenced by man's approval, or lack thereof. When the pain I had endured reached a depth where I felt as though I could not breathe, it forced me to ask myself, “Who am I? Why am I this?” I had to go back to my image.

For awhile, I blamed everyone else. I blamed people like you.

My healing didn’t happen in the blaming. It happened in the searching.

The moment I stopped blaming everyone else was the beginning of my healing. I had forgotten a key lesson I learned back in the day of Sunday School. I was created in the image of the most high. I was created in the image of the almighty God. I have a choice to accept the invitation of an unhealthy mindset and life rhythm. I have the choice to live life seeking the approval and love of others. I have the choice to love or shame myself. I have the choice to treat others with kindness in love without the expectation of reciprocation.

We all have a choice and we all are searching for something. Today, take time and ask yourself, “What am I searching for?” For me, healing happened in the searching. It happened in the reminder that I am created in His image.

You will never shame yourself enough to love yourself again.

James 4:1 says, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?”

Your healing is in the searching. You were created in the image of God. You were beautifully made. You may have lost yourself along the way, but God is calling your name. Call on the name of Jesus. Believe for the shift to take place and then act on that belief.

Life has its share of difficulty. One day the sun is shining, the next, rain is all around us. We can all recall moments and seasons within our lives that were hard. Maybe you find yourself in that season right now. Those circumstances almost took us out completely. We have lost loved ones, received a traumatic diagnosis, went through a nasty divorce, never knew a parent...the list  goes on.

John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  

The first part of that scripture reads so that in me. Who is "me"? Jesus. How many times do we attempt to find inner peace in material possessions or even distract ourselves with fun activities? But when the money's all spent and the party's over, peace is nowhere to be found. We go back to our circumstance the same way we did before. John 15:4 says, "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." Our scripture in John 16:33 continues to say, "...so that in me you may have peace."

Peace comes from remaining in Jesus.

The scripture also says "In this world you will have trouble". Peace is not the absence of pain, it's a gift that allows us to take heart, to gain courage, in knowing that Jesus has overcome the world (which includes our current circumstance).

Our pain does not outweigh His presence nor His being.

Take heart, because Jesus has overcome the world. You will have difficulty in this life, as I am sure you all have already come to know. Even so, remain in Jesus. He will give you peace regardless of the circumstance.

There's such a beautiful line in the song this week that says "When the whole wide world is crashing down, I fall to my knees and breathe in Your peace."

So today, when you choose Jesus, peace is the fruit in which you can bear.

Take heart. Breathe. Jesus has overcome the world.

Join us tomorrow for Easter at C3! If you haven't registered for your free tickets yet, there's still time. Be sure to invite your friends and family and join us as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior! We invite you to worship, to celebrate, and to experience Easter at C3 Church for yourself.

Join us for a message of hope, online or at our Canal Winchester campus, at one of our 3 services happening April 17 at 8:00am, 9:45am, and 11:30am. If you’re attending in person, we’ll have incredible kid’s environments as well. You can RSVP for your free tickets by clicking the link below.

Join us for Eggstravaganza! It's a free community 20K Easter Egg Hunt! We'll have free activities that include inflatables and games, face painting and balloon artists, pictures with the Easter Bunny along with popcorn and more!

Doors open at 9:30am. The Egg Hunt will begin promptly at 11:00am for ages 0-2 & 3-5, then at 11:30am for ages 6-8 & 9-12. All other activities will be open from 10:00am-12:00pm. You don't want to miss it!

Thank you to all who came out Sunday, January 30 to celebrate Dream Night with us. We are overwhelmed by the number of you who have already committed to be Partner with C3 in 2022. If you missed it, check out our Dream Night message here, where our team shares vision for the year ahead.

Still interested in becoming a Partner this year? It's not too late. Click the link below to become Partner today.

What is the C3 Marriage Conference?
It's a two-day experience that includes a Friday Date Night, along with expert marriage advice and practical teachings to help couples navigate their marriage journey.

Grow Closer Together
The C3 Marriage Conference will bring you closer to God and each other, reigniting your relationship and creating a love that lasts. Friday night is Date Night full of fun and laughter with comedian Dave McCreary and a catered dinner from the Polaris Grill. By Saturday afternoon, you and your spouse will walk away feeling more connected, inspired, and encouraged in your marriage journey.