Posts with the category “devotional”

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy | “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” – ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬  Read More

By Guest Author | Brittany Hoyt | He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord said to the woman, “What is that that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” – Genesis 3:11-13   Read More

By Rachael Wynne | “In God there is no hunger that needs to be filled, only plenteousness that desires to give.” C.S. Lewis If we were all honest, how many arguments or frustrations have we had with those we love because we placed unfair expectations on them or expected them to meet a specific need? Probably a lot! God created all of us with basic needs and desires, but those things were always designed to push us back to Him and remind us of our dependency on Him.  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy | The book of Revelation closes with a breathtaking promise: God dwelling with His people, His throne at the center, and His life-giving presence healing all pain. One day, God will step fully into our broken world and make all wrongs right, all pain vanish, and all things whole.  Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer | Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, We will also live with Him; If we endure, We will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.  Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy | “The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.” – ‭‭Psalm 27:1–3 (NLT)‬‬ The truth is, man can do a lot to us.  Read More

By Meghen Haggard | Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely.” – Psalm 139:4 CSB “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.” – Isaiah 46:9–10 CSB  Read More

By Pastor Gina Robinson | “Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” — Linda Dillow, Calm My Anxious Heart There is a better way. His way. Whether we are single, married, divorced, or widowed, we all make daily shifts and changes to meet the needs of the relationships and seasons we’re in.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy | Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten" - Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf A close friend recently reminded me of these powerful words, spoken by Count Zinzendorf to Moravian missionaries. His encouragement was simple yet profound: live solely for God’s glory, not for the fleeting glory of people.   Read More

By Guest Author, Angie Cline | As I have been praying God’s heart over this devotion series on the covenant of marriage, my family has been planning and prepping for our middle son’s wedding day. In all the hustle and bustle of planning the details of the day, my prayer is not for a perfect wedding day for my son and his bride but for a lifelong journey, united in the perfected One, Jesus Christ.  Read More

By Guest Author, Rachel Edwards | My husband and I recently went camping to get away and spend some time together before our 2nd anniversary. I don’t mind camping, but the idea of setting up the tent feels so overwhelming to me. I look at the pile of poles and fabric and clips and wonder how we’ll ever get it to become a structure.  Read More

By Guest Author | Tanner Hoyt: “For husbands, this means to love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.” — Ephesians 5:25-28 (NLT)  Read More

By Theresa Golden | Life is full of seasons we don’t understand, moments of loss, pain, or confusion. In these times, it’s easy to feel alone or overwhelmed. Yet God invites us to bring our questions, our fears, and our burdens to Him. Through prayer, Scripture, and practical steps, we can find peace and comfort in His presence, even when life doesn’t make sense.  Read More

By Elliotte Pearson [Elder] | I have said for years that marriage is more about covenant relationship and commitment than anything else. Many couples have come to me over the years and have all asked me some variation of these questions; “What makes a successful marriage?”   Read More

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