Today we welcome back Pastor Casey from our Edgerton Campus. Casey is very faithful in taking care of his person fitness. You don't get muscles like Casey's without experiencing some soreness. Let's discover how soreness plays a role in our generosity journey. - Pastor Matt

Some of us really like Christmas time. Ever see those folks that start counting down shopping days in, like, June?

“Yay!!! Only 89 weeks till Christmas!!!!”

See it on Facebook all the time.

Some prefer the start of the new year. Or maybe it’s just the end of Christmas hustle and bustle that is so appealing to us—I mean them (did I just give away what camp I’m in?).

Regardless, what both types tend to do is make New Year’s resolutions—you know, get in shape, be a better person, be a better spouse or parent…basically do gooder things. I’ll resolve to have gooder grammar when 2016 comes around.

When we haven’t been doing some of these things on a regular basis, starting up these things can be hard. In our Generosity challenge, you may be going through the “soreness” of starting to tithe for the first time. For some of us, life gets crazy as soon as we start being obedient in our tithes and offerings.

Just like hitting the gym when we haven’t in a while, exercising the “generosity muscles” can make us want to go back to the Lay Z Boy fast. But push through it (Salt N’ Pepa anyone?), and see what God does!

James 1: 2-5 says

"2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

So hang in there my friend. Keep working out those generosity muscles. Persevere, finish the work(out), and you never know—you just might become a spiritual bodybuilder. Just please don’t wear a speedo!