Posts with the category “devotional”

By Theresa Golden: Have you ever taken a minute to think about how many shades of a color there are? It's baffling for sure. I'd never given it a second thought until we built a home. If you've ever given your kitchen a fresh coat of paint or done any number of renovations, you've stumbled upon this mind-boggling fact.   Read More

By Guest Author | Ashley Piner: Who is the person in your life who encourages you, someone who speaks the words of God over your life? I pray that each person reading this can name someone. I love people like that, people who walk so closely with God that they can speak encouragement, Scripture, blessing, and even gentle warning into my life. These are the qualities I see in the prophet Haggai.  Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: Choose your hard. Have you heard this phrase before? I recently came across this online: “Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard. Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard. Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.”  Read More

By Mike Adkins: In Jonah 1, God calls the prophet to preach repentance to the wicked people of Nineveh. Instead of obeying, Jonah runs in the opposite direction—away from God's will and into a storm.   Read More

By Guest Author | Rebecca Alfred: Tehillah. It’s a Hebrew word that means praise: a song of praise, adoration, glory. Not the rehearsed kind, but something spontaneous, genuine, raw. It's a cry from the depths of the soul. You’ll find it throughout Psalms and Isaiah, often where praise is described not just as an action, but as a lifeline.  Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: In John 14, Jesus speaks to His disciples about His impending departure. It’s a chapter filled with both truth and comfort. Jesus declares that He is the Way, offers reassurance in the face of coming grief, and promises the gift of the Holy Spirit.   Read More

By Melissa Pearson: 1 Corinthians 12:12–14 reminds us of a powerful truth: "There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body.   Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: One of the best parts about being an elementary school teacher is summer break. The first thing I do is turn off that 5:30 a.m. alarm on my phone. But one summer, I noticed something. I was enjoying my slower mornings and sleeping in a little, but I also live in a house with five kids, ages 5 to 20.   Read More

By Joy Kimbril: Every time I go to the beach, regardless of whether or not I get all the way in the water, I make it to the water’s edge, dig my feet in the sand, and just let the waves wash over my feet and ankles. But every time I do that, the sand always seems to move and wash away from my feet, so I have to keep digging them deeper and deeper. Now compare that with going to the pool.   Read More

By Pastor Scott Conner: And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’   Read More

By Nikki Bailey: “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” – Colossians 3:12–15 (NLT)  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Today is the last part of our little three part series on a verse that my father spoke to my life since I was young. “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  Read More

By Mary Beth Dunn: Has life ever felt so chaotic that you weren’t sure the chaos would ever come to an end? A lot of my life has been spent trying to “pretty-up” and “doctor” myself, my thoughts, and my feelings before coming to God to talk with Him.  Read More

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