Imagine being brought up in a world where you could not do what you wanted to do, or go where you wanted to go. You lived in constant fear of being killed, or your children being taken away from you. You worked your fingers to the bone, all for someone else’s gain. This is what the Israelites lived under in Egypt for 430 years. 

Sometimes we stay stuck in the comfortable, we don’t want to move forward into all that God has for us. We have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable…

What would you say is the greatest need in the Church today? A great children’s program? Amazing worship? Perhaps you would say you need a pastor who can really preach the fire of God down? 

All of these are wonderful but what does this all boil down to? The greatest need is not for more programs or strategies, it’s that each one of us has the Spirit of God resting on us and working through us…

You can’t be a good leader if you can’t first be a good follower. That’s why God calls us “followers of Christ”. You don’t get to negotiate with your commanding officer on whether or not you want to get up when the reveille is played, or whether you want to dig ditches, or run 13 miles in a day. Joining the armed forces is much like a covenant. You sign your life away. 

It is no longer your own…

Several years ago I had a dream that I was in a palace garden with Jesus. We were sitting at a tea table and there were several other little girls sitting around the table. We were all around eight years old and had beautiful dresses and tiaras on. We had a great time together, just laughing and having fun with Jesus. For whatever reason, I looked to my left and saw an iron gate, where another little girl was pressing her face against the bars, looking in at our tea party. Her dress was ragged and dirty, her hair was a mess, and her face was smudged with soot. I leaned over to Jesus and asked Him who she was. He said, “She’s my daughter, too. She just doesn’t know it yet…”

All of us have questioned why we were put on this earth. What was I made for? Am I living out the purpose God destined for me? All too often, we get caught up in the specifics of that ‘calling’ and if we are doing that will perfectly or not…

In Exodus 15, the children of Israel had just witnessed one of the greatest miracles of all time: the parting of the Red Sea. Isn't it interesting that a test came right afterward? In this life, we either find ourselves going into a test, in the middle of a test, or getting ready to enter another test. Testing is how God proves our faith is genuine. As we talked about last week, God is looking for veteran Christians, not rookies. God wants to know what we’re made of…

You’ve probably seen these people, the ones that are so on fire for God, serving on every team possible, and worshipping with full abandon. Then, you start to see them less and less, until one Sunday, they’re gone. Unfortunately, sometimes, you never see this person, only to find out later that they’ve walked away from their faith and passion for God. Why does this happen? What causes a genuine disciple to say “I’m out!”…

I’m sure we’ve all heard this famous phrase, “What would Jesus do?” I remember wearing a bracelet with the letters WWJD emblazoned on it, and even reading a children’s chapter book all about a girl who had to walk through some pretty hard circumstances, all while asking “What would Jesus do?” 

But a less famous question would be, “What would Jesus NOT do?” What compromise, offenses, or actions would He refuse to engage in to ensure His integrity and mission remained on track? We live in a very similar spiritual climate as Jesus did when He was on the earth. There were different people groups, oppression from different nations, and varying mindsets, but the bondage and unrest we face are very real and very much the same. Jesus was misunderstood even in His day. What would He do if He had come in our day? And would we have recognized Him…

Usually the things we are passionate about are pretty easy for others to see. For some, it may be hunting, or riding motorcycles, crafting or playing an instrument. It’s difficult to cover up what we are interested in and what brings us life and joy. 

When we are invested and passionate about something, we talk about it! Many times, those hobbies and pursuits become a part of our identity…

We fast for several reasons: to show our love for God, to press in for a breakthrough in our lives, to devote ourselves to prayer, and to increase our faith. However, we can sometimes become skewed in our outlook and we forget the reason we started. Today, God wants to do a spiritual reset. First, why does God call us to fast…

In Genesis, we read about the first sacrifice offered by man to God. It may seem strange to us. What’s the big deal between sheep and vegetables? Lets read in Genesis 4: 

Genesis 4:2-5 NIV

2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Familiarity brings cynicism, discouragement, disillusionment, resentment, skepticism, division, and steals your purpose. 

This silent killer comes in to cause havoc in our spiritual lives. We get comfortable and get consumed with the things of this world. Our walk with God becomes common, something that so easily takes the back burner until we feel disjointed and disconnected where once we felt a burning passion for the things of God. Not only that, it steals your urgency for reaching the lost…

My husband and I met in choir class during high school. He was a freshman and I was a junior, and while he tells the “love at first sight” kind of meeting, we didn’t start out dating each other. We started out as friends. We would hang out at each other’s houses with our siblings, friends, and parents. We spent the next five years building a friendship. If we wouldn’t have ended up married, I have no doubt that we would still be really good friends, because we built on the right foundation…

Relationships are not something we simply have—they are something we steward. Just as a shepherd carefully tends his flock, God tends our hearts. Sometimes, that care doesn’t feel comfortable.

Picture a wounded sheep. When it has been attacked, the Shepherd must clean out the wound before healing can begin. Dirt, infection, and debris must be removed. The process stings—but it saves. If the wound is left untreated, infection spreads, and ultimately brings destruction and death…

Marriage, according to Scripture, is not merely a contract but a solemn covenant. Biblically, a covenant is an agreement sealed with sacrifice. It is sacred, intentional, and enduring—and it will cost you something. When we understand marriage through this lens, it changes how we show up for one another. It doesn’t only take showing up when things are easy and good between you and your spouse, but when things are difficult. It is in these times that the true value and weight of our relationship is tested…

Have you ever noticed how many times the theme of marriage or weddings are mentioned throughout scripture? This is for a very profound reason—Paul calls it a profound mystery. Marriage is a beautiful picture of what our relationship with Jesus is supposed to look like. Jesus longs to have an intimate relationship with each one of us. 

So why is marriage under such heavy attack…

Despite what many may think, unity is not everyone thinking the same. Unity is the commitment to love and honor despite our differences. God made us different on purpose. He did not create us to be robots, to all think and act the same way. He made each one of us unique—with special gifts and talents that, when partnered with His Spirit, are meant to bring people into His Kingdom. It is so true that when we work together, our efforts grow exponentially. We are better together, because our efforts are multiplied…