God puts us into a family. I said that last week. He puts us into a birth family, sometimes is an adoption into a birth family, and he puts us into a church family…the family of God. church family and birth families are a lot like a potluck…you get what you get!

We function best in environment of family. For a family to function in health there must be structure…we could call it a recipe. Every family is different and every church family is different but there are

commonalities that define every family. Our church family has a recipe. We also have a clear purpose…Building Lives that honor God by leading people to Love God and Grow, Love Others and go. These life commitments help us to thrive as a church family and they can help your family thrive as well. In order to have a Life Built by God there must be a decision to allow God to do His purposes in, for, and through us. It sounds funny to say “allow God”, but He is a gentle God who woos us and never forces us. We therefore,

must choose to live the life God has for you and both of your families…birth and church families.