Home: Encanto Series

    If I were to ask you where is the place where you are most comfortable in the whole world, what would you say? I am sure many of you would say: your home. Home is the place in the world where you have the most control. You decide what it looks like, what you eat, when you do things, etc. The writer of the song "Colombia, Mi Encanto" talks about how he loves his home in the last song in the movie Encanto.

   We probably love our homes too. We love how home reminds us of family, warmth, love, and so much more. Yet, for some, home doesn't bring up these feelings. For some people home brings up hurt feelings, pain, and sorrow. Others have never had a place where they call home.

   Whichever camp you land in, I have good news for you. Wherever you think of when you hear the word home on earth isn't your real home. In John 14:2 Jesus tells us "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" Our home is not on this earth. Our home is in heaven.

   When we feel out of place, lonely sad, scared, etc. We can have hope in God. God loved us so much that he wanted to be with us. He sent his son to die for us so we could be home with him.

   So, as we close this series, I encourage you to remember that we can see God in all things on earth (whether in depravity or in creativity). I encourage you to think about where you are headed when you die. Where is your home? How can you help others get home?

 

We Are All Loved: Encanto Series

    There are times we feel like we are not special or unique. But God made us all different. He made us all for a purpose. This is what the song "All of You" is about in Encanto. Mirabel is the only member of her family without a special gift. Yet, she still works hard to help her family.

   Mirabel may not have a gift that seems like a superpower, but she does have a gift. Actually, she has multiple gifts. She is an encourager, she's creative, she's loving, caring, strong, and so much more. Without her, the family would have cracked under pressure and lost the miracle. She reminded them that they were all special and loved even without their gifts from the miracle.

   1 Peter 4:20 says: "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." Because of God's grace and love, we are saved. He wants none to perish and he lets us be a part of his story. He gives us unique gifts and missions so that all may come to know him. 

   This means that not only are we unique and have gifts but anyone we meet is as well. God loves everyone and that's what we are called to do as well. We are to celebrate our differences and love others no matter what they do or say. That's the serving part in 1 Peter 4:20. We are not given gifts to glorify ourselves. We are given gifts to reflect God's glory.

   So, are you showing love to others? Are you using your gifts to reflect God's glory? How can you show love today?