I would like to invite you into a concept I have used over the years in visioning. “You were created in the image of God. In the image of God you were created…” Genesis 1:27. Before you were ever genetically coded to a mom and a dad, God knew you. You were His idea before you were anyone else’s child. This being true, He must have placed within you characteristics of His very own nature. Think about that for a moment. If we are created in His image, then the very qualities of God—His kindness, His creativity, His compassion, His strength—have been woven into the fabric of who we are. Sometimes we get caught up in believing that our identity is wrapped up in what we do: the jobs we hold, the responsibilities we carry, or even the roles we play in our families and communities. But what we do is not who we are. At our core, we are reflections of God’s nature. We are of much greater worth than anything we will ever accomplish. Over the years, I have often encouraged people to take time to reflect and actually list their top ten God-given attributes. At first, it might feel uncomfortable or even prideful to write down things like, I am kind. I am faithful. I am sincere. But this exercise

The Empty Nest by Julie McClain...   I didn’t even know I have a Nest! So, I’ve been trying to figure out – where did this phrase ‘Empty Nest’ come from? It’s a colloquialism that describes a very significant stage in a families life cycle. But it’s a bit random when we look to birds to describe what happens when our child or children leave home and move on to live their lives as adults. Empty Nest is even considered a ‘Syndrome’. Oh wow. At the end of our 18-30 years of raising our kids (depending on how many eggs you laid and how far apart they hatched) we end up with a “group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition or a set of concurrent things such as emotions or actions that usually form an identifiable pattern”.* So, at the end of all the years of blood, sweat, (laughter) and tears – you are graced with a SYNDROME! You’re welcome. Even if you don’t qualify for the syndrome title – if you are feeling pretty good about the inevitable transition of no longer raising kids – or if you’re making it over the hump quite well, we can’t ignore what a HUGE reality it is to have our kids grown and gone. A wise mentor of

WHAT IS A GODLY MAN? THE CHALLENGE EVERY MAN FACES by Brandon Bradford This question has lingered for what seems like an eternity. Actually, it really has been around since the very beginning. Adam had to have asked himself and maybe even God this very question after that mishap in the garden. Now thrust into a very different reality than before, I’m sure this difficult question was present as Adam toiled to provide for his now growing family all the while trying to understand what it meant to be a husband and a father. It’s a question that every man has and or will ask himself as he looks to find his way. In the world today this can be a difficult topic to navigate, but one that I think is essential for us as believers to try and answer. The very notion that a Man is even different from a woman is under attack at the hands of a world that doesn’t acknowledge our divine creator. So, how do we answer this question? First let’s take a deeper look at some of the pressures and challenges that men face as they seek to find this answer. THE PRESSURES AND CHALLENGES Societal Inconsistencies and Influence. Let me start by saying this, a society that tries to

"THRIVE" A 6 week virtual Life Group designed for Christian women who are single and 30 something. Mondays at 7 Eastern. Starting soon! More info at ranchofhope.org/thrive-2/ or to register call (719) 783-9642.

Comparing ourselves to others never leads to a good place. How does the Lord want us to see ourselves?

Mariah shares the dangers of a defensive posture in marriage in this 60 second video. Check it out.