Like most game series that have survived from their original 8-bit NES incarnations into the modern era of photo-realistic graphics, Final Fantasy has come a VERY long way. When this franchise first started in all of its original pixel-based glory, nobody would have ever imagined it would grow over the years and transform into some of the most graphically impressive games of each console generation. But while the dream was always there, the graphical capabilities of the hardware didn’t exist to fully realize that vision until now… and now that the technology has finally caught up with the imagination of the team, we get to experience these stories in all of the fullness of the design team’s intentions.

The Lord places dreams and desires in our hearts for us to fulfill them, but there is still a growing period we must experience before His vision will reach fruition. Just as Joseph grew his character and his leadership skills in his roles as a servant and a prisoner before he was elevated to his destiny as second in command of Egypt, the Lord builds each of us up slowly… not because He is testing us, but because He is TRAINING us. His plan for us requires our “hardware” to catch up to our calling, so let’s embrace each challenge we face as a part of growing into His larger destiny for us. These small beginnings have big endings.

I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. Exodus 23:29-30

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. Zechariah 4:10a

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My favorite part of the Kingdom Hearts franchise has always been the incredible diversity of all of the characters that make it up. Gaming icons such as Cloud Strife and Auron from the Final Fantasy series battle alongside Disney’s Donald and Goofy… all while exploring levels based on films featuring cinematic icons like Jack Sparrow or Tron. But this incredible mix of complicated protagonists and larger-than-life cartoon characters works because they’re all serving the same story in different ways… saving the world takes a team who understands that the things that make each of them unique and different from each other is what gives this team its strength.

We’re all called to serve the same Lord, but we will each serve Him in different ways… and the uniqueness of our calling and purpose means it will look different for every one of us. The diverse ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus meant that one of them lived off of locusts and honey in the desert while the other ate and drank with those He was sent to save… each of them served the same kingdom in different ways based on the specific calling they were given by the Father. Rather than expect every member of this team to follow Christ in an identical manner, let’s embrace the way we’ve been gifted to serve Him… as a kingdom of unique hearts joined together as one.

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon.” The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” But wisdom is justified by her children. Matthew 11:18-19

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. Romans 12:4-5a

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