Pastor Dale started our new series, "All the Days of My Life." The 7 weeks following Resurrection Sunday mark an important time in the Christian calendar known as Easter Tide. This is a season spanning 50 days, reflecting the time between Jesus' resurrection and the day of Pentecost when Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit descended upon His followers. This is a season of new hope and growth, a season that celebrates: what Jesus said would happen, happened. As we navigate this season together, Pastor Dale will walk us through the 23rd Psalm.

In the beginning of the Psalm, we are met with a striking phrase: I lack nothing. Often we use "lack" to give us an edge, to drive us forward, to motivate us. The motivating piece we get from lacking is to somehow have it fulfilled. What we "want" is to "not want" anymore, and we end up connecting that to "I have no need because I have it all."

As Pastor Dale pointed out in Matthew 19:16-22, Jesus is calling us to so much more. Instead of pursuing stuff, status, or even religion to fill that lack, Jesus asks us to give up everything. He says, "I am enough, simply rely on me. With me, you never run out." A life without lack is rooted in our knowledge of God. What we place our minds on becomes the reality of our lives, so if we place our minds on God, the reality of God fills our lives. We cannot experience the riches of His glory however unless we leave Him the necessary space in which He can express Himself within us. "Give up everything, then come follow me."

Pastor Dale invited us to make a commitment over the next 50 days: to set our minds on God and see what happens. He invited us to read the creed of Psalm 23 out loud every day, paying attention to what the Holy Spirit brings up in you, listening to what God is saying to you, and taking a posture of submission to Him as He shepherds you.