Posts with the category “devotional”

By Guest Author | Rachel Edwards: Recently, my family has found ourselves in the middle of some unexpected grief, and I have been given the opportunity to witness the unique ways each of us faces disappointment and loss.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: In this three-part series, we have been looking at one of my favorite verses, one that’s been spoken into my life since I was young. My dad used to remind me of it often, and as I’ve grown older, it’s stuck with me.   Read More

By Christy Hubbard: I recently had an amazing opportunity to travel to Greece to walk “The Footsteps of Paul.” Honestly, I’m still reminiscing and processing all the sights and history we experienced.   Read More

By Guest Author | Anita Harrison: Even though I’m not sure I can pronounce it correctly, Habakkuk has always been a book that speaks to me. As I was recently studying its background, I was amazed at how applicable it still is to us today.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: “The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.” – 1 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬ In his first letter to his spiritual son Timothy, Paul includes this one verse that echoes throughout the rest of the book. It’s so simple, yet so profound.  Read More

By Meghen Haggard: There are times when obedience to God feels clear and full of peace. And then there are times when obedience feels more like stepping into a fog, when doing the right thing still brings an ache you didn’t expect.  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: In a world obsessed with platform and popularity, what we need more of is spiritual legacy. We need to find a Paul from whom we can learn, and a Timothy to whom we can pass it on.   Read More

By Steve Miller: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Life can be chaotic. I know that’s certainly been true for me over the past couple of months. There always seems to be something happening.   Read More

By Guest Author | Brittany Hoyt: Jonah 1:1-3 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.”   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: “Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.   Read More

By Jake Haggard: Do you remember the first movie you ever saw in the Movie theater? Maybe it was the original Star Wars with the loud music and scrolling text taking you to a galaxy far far away. Or perhaps it was Indiana Jones, and you were convinced that giant boulder was going to come off the screen and flatten you like a pancake.  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Joy is the field that happiness was meant to grow from; but when we try to make happiness the field, we will always be left to reap sorrow. “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Read More

By Elliotte Pearson [Elder]: Love it or hate it… social media is here to stay. Our lives—our values, thoughts, even our identities—are shaped in part by 15-second clips of other people’s lives or creativity. It’s not just a tool anymore; it's a platform, a culture, a way of life.   Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: Have you ever found yourself in a storm in life, wondering how you got there and what God might be trying to say through it? Sometimes, we’re the ones who ran, and sometimes, we’re just caught in the chaos around someone else’s disobedience.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Sacred Delay is the time between hearing God speak something and seeing it come to pass. It is waiting with purpose instead of doubt. It is believing God is working even when we can’t see it. It is patience in action.  Read More

By Whitney Bailey: A Prophet and a prostitute. As beautiful and compelling as the story of Hosea is, so powerful that it has inspired books and movies, relating to those two livelihoods has been a challenge for me.  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Quality over quantity. I think it is ingrained in our culture that we think that quantity is the goal, but what I’ve come to realize is that this mindset isn’t just untrue; it can also be destructive.   Read More

By Pastor Mike Adkins: Israel had power, prosperity, and religious activity, but their altars were empty. Not empty of ritual, but empty in their hearts.   Read More

By Pastor Scott Conner: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: This week we are going to discover three ancient practices of connecting with God. The question I get asked most often is how do I hear from God? This week I hope to give you some ways in which I have learned to dial up His voice in my life.  Read More

By Rebecca Alfred: “They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed...” Amos 2:6–7 (NIV)   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.” – ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬  Read More

By Melissa Pearson: What kind of legacy are we leaving? I recently attended the funeral of a friend’s father. During the service, the speaker shared what his life’s theme song would have been. That got me thinking. What would mine be? What song would encapsulate the story of my life?  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: “We are not what we devour but what we digest.” – Unknown In a time when we constantly consume content, information, and opinions, I can’t help but wonder: how much are we truly digesting and applying?  Read More

By Joy Kimbril: As we read through the Old Testament, we know the nation of Israel goes through cycles with their relationship with God. First, they praise and worship Him for delivering them from their previous situation. But as they enjoy the blessings of His deliverance, they begin to forget who provided those blessings and begin to worship other gods, giving them the credit for what only God did.  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.” – John 21:15 NLT This moment in Peter’s life, I believe, changed everything.   Read More

By Theresa Golden: In the book of Joel, God sends a swarm of locusts that devastates the land. Crops are gone, joy is depleted, and normal life grinds to a halt. But beneath the devastation is a divine invitation: “Wake up!” (Joel 1:5) The disruption wasn’t punishment for the sake of punishment. It was a call to return, to reflect, to remember what really matters.   Read More

By Melissa Pearson: “How long must I put up with this wicked community and its complaints about me? … You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die.” – Numbers 14:27, 29 NLT  Read More

By Pastor Aaron: This week, I wanted to do a two-part series on “waiting.’ The first part was on Saul. You can see it here: The Hardest Gap. Today, I want to look at two verses on David’s journey of waiting and how it was much different than that of Saul.  Read More

By Mary Beth Dunn: Have you ever felt trapped by the belief that you’ve done too many bad things for God to love you anymore? I know that I definitely have. This misunderstanding of God's vast love for me affected my later teenage years and much of my twenties.  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: The hardest gap is the time in between God saying something would happen and the time it actually happens. This week, we are going to look at two stories in Scripture and how God uses time to get out of us what needs to be gotten out and also uses time to put into us what needs to be brought into maturity.  Read More

By Guest Author | Ashley Piner: Do you ever read the Bible and just sit in awe of how God uses the inspired authors to communicate His message? I love how the Psalms are beautifully poetic, while Romans and Jude are epistles, letters full of doctrine and encouragement.  Read More

By Theresa Golden: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 NIV Recently, I was talking with a friend about some big decisions they were facing. As we discussed the pros and cons of staying where they were or making a big change, I found myself saying something that has been on my heart a lot lately: “No matter what you choose, it’s going to be hard. You just have to choose your hard.”  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Once, Nelson Mandela spoke about a prison guard who said to him, ‘Do you know that I have the power to have you killed?’ Mandela responded, ‘Do you not know that I have the power to go to my death freely?’   Read More

By Guest Author | Rachel Edwards: Micah 6:1-8 (NIV)In Micah 6:1-8, God speaks through the prophet Micah and brings a legal case against Israel. He reminds them of the things He’s done for Israel, including delivering them from Egypt, providing leadership, and protecting them.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you...."  Read More

By Theresa Golden: “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.”  Read More

By Meghen Haggard: “Then he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.” –Exodus 3:6   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Samson is one of the amazing and fun stories in Scripture. For three chapters in Judges, we read of Samson’s exploits, how he single-handedly beat the Philistines. They hated him but could seemingly do nothing to him.   Read More

By Steve Miller: Discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit can be difficult. When I was younger, I grew up in churches that rarely talked about the Holy Spirit. We believed in Him, but we didn’t really talk about Him. We knew He existed, but most of our focus was on God the Father and God the Son.   Read More