Happy New Year!! I'm Craig Denison, author and founder of First15.  A growing relationship with God comes when you experience him every day. So thank you so much for starting your year with us.  I’ve got a really exciting announcement with what you can expect from First15 this year.  One is, we’re expanding the writers that are contributing to the daily devotionals. There will still be a lot of content written by me, but this month we’re kicking the year off with a focus on spiritual awakening actually written by my Dad, Jim Denison. He’s one of the smartest and most heart-felt people I’ve ever known. It was a privilege growing up with him as a father. And I’m really excited for you to get to experience God with his content as a guide this month.  Along with some new content, you’ll hear a new voice on the podcast reading the days devotional. That’ll help give consistency to your experience with God, not making First15 about the author, but about creating space for God to fill.  Happy New Year. May God bless you as you seek him this morning, and every morning.   --   As we continue our first week of the new year, today we’re going to look at how God redeems all that he allows. Each of us faces difficult seasons in our lives, but thankfully, God does not abandon us there. Even today, even now, God is working to redeem our pain and heartache for his glory and our good.   Our Scripture for today comes from Romans 8:28-29, and today's worship is I Am Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave.