Posts with the category “devotional”

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy | “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” – ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬  Read More

By Whitney Bailey | Reflections. There are days I like what I see in the mirror. And there are days I don’t. Sometimes, it’s my kids’ faces looking back at me, attitude and all, a reflection of me. Other times, it’s my choices, bouncing back with outcomes that reveal whether I made a good or bad decision.  Read More

By Pastor Scott Conner | For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function,so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. – Romans 12:4-5 We have a young man on our football team, who is very talented, but his discipline and self-centered approach keep him from being a stronger asset to our team.  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy | “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”– ‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.”– ‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: “When I think back on all the big mistakes I made as a pastor in my thirties, probably the greatest one was wanting to be a rising star.” —M. Craig Barnes As I read those words one day during my communion time with Jesus, they struck deep within my soul.   Read More

By Guest Author | Brittany Hoyt: 1 Corinthians 11:26 says: “For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.” Communion is a declaration for the believer, an invitation to agreement and alignment with God.  Read More

By Guest Author | Rebecca Alfred: I grew up Catholic. In the Catholic church, communion wasn’t just for anyone. You had to go through what’s called the sacraments: being baptized into the Catholic church, confirmed, and taking part in your first communion. There were also important guidelines: you must be fasting beforehand, you could not receive communion if you had sinned (unless you went to confession and did penance with a priest), and you had to believe that through the blessing of the priest, the bread and wine became the actual body and blood of Jesus.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him” —Psalm 34:8 (NLT) These words have rung so true in my heart over the last few weeks. So simple, yet within this one verse are some of the keys to peace and rest.  Read More

By Joy Kimbril: I always have a song in my head. I can tell what I’m listening more to when it’s a worship song and not something I’ve heard on social media. One song that has been on repeat in my head is “At the Altar” by Elevation Rhythm.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Before winning the 2025 British Open and dominating in every aspect of the golfing world, Scottie Scheffler said in a press conference leading up to the tournament: "This is not a fulfilling life. It's fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it's not fulfilling from the sense of the deepest places of your heart."   Read More

While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”   Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: Recently, I heard a new worship song by SEU Worship called “Dwell.” I’m going to type some of the lyrics that spoke to me, and I encourage you to go look this song up and listen to it today...  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Have you ever had something happen in your life that left you wondering, What did I do wrong to deserve this? If you haven’t yet, I can assure you that eventually you will. Life can be cruel like that. Disappointments, sickness, loss, and tragedy are a part of life.   Read More

By Guest Author | Rebecca Alfred: The other day I was driving through town and Promised Land by TobyMac came on. I've heard it plenty of times before, but for some reason the words, 'Where's my promised land?" stopped me in my tracks.  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Every year L and I slip away for a few weeks and take an extended rest, laying aside ministry and detaching from the weight of pastoring. This has long been a practice that our elders encouraged and required of my mom and dad before us, and one that we’ve continued over the past 10 years.   Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 Have you ever had a time in your life when you thought, man, this is hard. This task is hard. This season is so heavy. I don’t know if I’m actually doing what God has placed in my hands well?  Read More

By Christy Hubbard: I just returned from a family vacation where we spent almost every meal together around a table. We shared laughter and conversation as we ate, and afterward. We took turns working together to clean up. We were intentional in planning our meals, deciding who would cook what each night and making sure everyone felt included.   Read More

By Guest Author | Anita Harrison: “For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when He sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit His death angel to enter your house and strike you down.   Read More

By Meghen Haggard: Over the past several weeks, we’ve journeyed through the Old Testament’s Minor Prophets. These twelve books are filled with God’s calls to repentance, His reminders of unfailing love, and His promises of restoration. Each prophet carried a unique message for God’s people, yet together they painted a picture of His heart and His plan.   Read More

By Pastor Gina Robinson: I heard recently that God rarely works through control. He works through surrender. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. – Proverbs 3: 5-6   Read More

By Whitney Bailey: Bending until you break...Why do we fight the breaking? Is it because it feels too vulnerable? Are we afraid that the snap of us breaking will echo loudly enough for the world to hear? Will it expose all of our weaknesses, what’s deep down inside, and prove to everyone that we’re not perfect?   Read More

By Guest Author | Heather Hamilton: Have you ever experienced the “Sunday Scaries?” I didn’t even know that was a real thing until a few years ago. A quick search will tell you that it’s the anxiety or dread many people feel on Sunday evenings, anticipating the start of the workweek. For me, the start of the weekends felt light and joyful.   Read More

By Theresa Golden: We’ve heard the saying “Perception is reality,” and in many ways it’s true. Our perspective is a powerful thing. It impacts how we view success and failure, how we process situations that we face, and how we navigate the relationships in our lives.   Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” – Acts 21:14 What does it really mean to give up? Is it ever okay?   Read More

By Elliotte Pearson [Elder]: There are moments in life when shame feels like a heavy robe we can't remove — like standing in a courtroom, fully exposed, with every mistake shouted out loud. In Zechariah 3, Jeshua the high priest finds himself in exactly that place. He stands before God, and Satan is right beside him, hurling accusations.   Read More

By Guest Author | Angie Cline: This past Sunday, Pastor Sean, taught on the minor prophet, Haggai, and in the middle of hearing this word, I had to repent for saying to the Lord, “Not Yet.” There’s a stirring in Haggai’s message, a divine discomfort aimed at those who had settled into comfort while God’s work remained unfinished.  Read More

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