Posts with the category “devotional”

Have you ever seen someone demonstrate the trust-fall? You know, where they stand with their back to someone and they close their eyes and willingly fall back into the other person who then catches them and doesn't let them hit the ground.   Read More

By Mary Beth Dunn: If you’re anything like me, sometimes hearing the phrase “fasting” can feel a bit daunting. What does it even mean and how do we even do it? Well, the Bible clearly talks about fasting in the Old and New Testaments, and there are several different examples of why and how we should!  Read More

By Guest Author | Brittany Hoyt: Over the last few years, I’ve come to realize there are things I was never meant to carry. Health issues, fear, anxiety, kids, struggling family members, and life transitions can feel so heavy.   Read More

By Pastor Nikki Bailey: You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of Joy. - Psalm 63:5 A new year is a great time to reflect and dream of what is to come. We often say, the best is yet to come, but what does that truly mean?  Read More

By Guest Author: Heather Hamilton: Happy New Year, friends I don’t know about you, but I love the start of each year. It is a clear marking of a fresh start, a new beginning. It offers us hope for all that God will do in the upcoming year. Many of us start the year with great intentions.   Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: Matthew 25:31-46 reveals a sobering truth. Jesus is coming back one day, and He will be coming back for those that have truly served Him.   Read More

By Whitney Bailey: I’m a fraud. Do I have your attention? In the circles and groups of people I find myself, claiming to be a sinner saved by grace is an easy tagline, one we all assume, claim, and project with even some of our victory laced throughout like we actually did any of the work to arrive in that grace-filled place.  Read More

By Rachael Wynne: The beginning of the year is often spent with great intentions and many lofty goals for bettering ourselves for the year. We feel so inspired by the opportunity of a fresh start in a new year.   Read More

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: In this past season of intentionally slowing down, I feel like a student being taught and rewired. So often, I think I have used the business of ministry as an escape. Being about what I thought was His business.  Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: The start of a New Year is viewed differently by everyone. Personally, I welcome the fresh feeling of a new beginning. I’m all on board with making resolutions or setting goals, all the motivational things!   Read More

By Steve Miller: The Christmas season can be a whirlwind of excitement. We eagerly anticipate the celebration, enjoying every moment of the build-up. But once it's over, a strange quiet can settle in. It's easy to feel a little let-down, like the magic has disappeared.   Read More

By Pastor Mike Adkins: Luke 2:25-38 shines a light on two people that often go unmentioned in biblical history, Simeon and the Prophetess Anna. Both experienced an incredible moment of meeting the Lord Jesus as an infant seemingly near the end of their lives.   Read More

By Whitney Bailey: When we think of something being on fire, peace probably isn’t in the top three bullet points we are processing. In our physical world, fire represents destruction initially and then sirens coming to aid. Biblically, we have heard the stories of the fiery furnace and the Holy Spirit representing fire, a fire burning deep in our souls.  Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: Where is the joy in the middle of the night soothing a crying child? Where is the joy when sudden loss invades your life? Where is the joy when relationships fail? Where is the joy when paying bills is a struggle? Is it enough to be thankful? Will that bring the joy back inside your heart?  Read More

By Jake Haggard: Joy is a word that gets thrown around a lot during the holiday season; but for some reason, it seems like something we struggle with. Whether it is the hardships of life or mere business, joy is increasingly escaping from people's daily lives.   Read More

By Pastor Scott Conner: “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”  Read More

By Joy Kimbril: The last two months have been a little crazy in my life, from multiple projects at work all at once, to totaling my car from rear-ending someone, to celebrating my sister’s wedding, to burying my grandmother.  Read More

By Pastor Nikki Bailey: I must admit, I love holiday sweatshirts, not the ones for "Ugly Christmas Sweater" parties, but those with graphics and words that only some would understand. Inspired by movies and my personal faith, these sweatshirts always spark conversations, laughter, and simply the spirit of Christmas.  Read More

By Guest Author | Heather Hamilton: I love the holiday season! The start of December marks the Advent season, a time of preparation and joy as we look forward to Christmas and the coming of Christ. Many Christians mark the start of this season by reading the book of Luke leading up to Christmas, and I have joined this tradition again this year.  Read More

By Rachael Wynne: Christmas time. What an extravagant season full of celebration, loud gatherings, expensive gifts, lights, decorations, and endless traditions. This all came from a very simple and unglamorous day over 2,000 years ago when Jesus was born in a manger within a dark stable, surrounded by smelly animals.   Read More

By Pastor Tyler Braden: A few days ago, I stood in an operating room with my daughter as she prepared to undergo a procedure. It was a basic procedure, one we had gone through with her three times before, but this was my first time inside an operating room. If you’ve never been in one, it can be an intimidating place.  Read More

By Mary Beth Dunn: As we journey through Advent, we can look at the story of the birth of Jesus and learn about how faith in God can absolutely change our lives.   Read More

By Theresa Golden: “What if you woke up this morning and had only the things you thanked God for yesterday?” - Max Lucado What a sobering thought. With busy schedules, family functions, shopping lists, and more, we often lose track of time.   Read More

By Miranda Braden: Growing sunflowers track the sun's movement across the sky to receive the maximum amount of sunlight while they are still growing. While the sun travels east to west, the sunflowers face tracks right along with it.  Read More

By Steve Miller: As followers of Christ, our number one focus should be to know Christ—not just in an "I'm familiar with Him" sort of way, but in a deeper, more intimate, and connected way. Think about the relationships you have in your life.   Read More

By Meghen Haggard: “Is Jesus Enough?” This single question has continually presented itself in conversations, messages, podcasts, and staff meetings over the last few months.  Read More

By Christy Hubbard: I’ve always admired the way Paul wrote to Philippi with such a thankful heart when he was imprisoned. He had a joy that I cannot imagine feeling if I were in his shoes, or shall I say shackles.   Read More

By Guest Author | Anita Harrison: How often do we use Scripture to “fix” things? I do. And even though I know better, it’s really easy to find a verse to make it fit my situation, or maybe someone else’s situation. The thing is that we often miss the rest of the story when we focus on one verse. And by the “rest of the story,”   Read More

By Christy Hubbard: If you’re like me, you may catch yourself complaining without even realizing it. Here’s a little confession. I was praying while driving one morning; and in the middle of my prayer, I honked and threw my hands up at a driver in front of me. My flesh took over before I knew it.  Read More

By Guest Author | Ashley Piner: Handwritten notes have always held a special place in my heart. I cherish cards, treasuring the unique handwriting and signatures of loved ones. My husband and I often leave little notes for each other, and I write messages for our kids, whether tucked into their lunchboxes or written on our storm door.  Read More

By Elliotte Pearson: I was reading through Philippians last week in preparation for the upcoming series at church, and I read verse 6 of chapter 1, which says, “For I am confident of this very thing, That He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Read More

By Whitney Bailey: A whole tree. A broken tree. A processed tree. A garden tree. A redemption tree. A final tree. Whether we have realized it or not, as believers, our entire faith begins and ends with trees.  Read More

By Mike Adkins: Holy Spirit, grow in us the fruit of joy despite adversity. - Philippians 1:12-13 The Apostle Paul is in a Roman prison when he pens the letter to the church in the city of Philippi. He helped plant this church on his second missionary journey in Acts, chapter sixteen.  Read More

By Miranda Braden: Paul asks if our hearts are tender and compassionate. He urges us to work together with one mind and one purpose, reminding us not to be selfish, but humble, thinking of others as better than ourselves.  Read More

By Guest Author | Rebecca Alfred: Pain is NOT optional. I don’t like pain. I’ve been running and hiding from it for the majority of my life and attempt to avoid it at all costs. Life is hard on this side of Heaven.   Read More

By Joy Kimbril: When I raise my hands to worship God, it costs me something. When I kneel in surrender during worship, it costs me something. When I choose God’s way instead of my own as an act of worship, it costs me something.  Read More

By Guest Author | Megan Wamer: Saying goodbye to anyone, anything, or any period of life often brings great pain. It might be a season of a job or a season of raising children, but no matter the season, it is just that—a season.   Read More

By Pastor Nikki Bailey: Leaving a legacy is more than material possessions; it is a way of spiritually giving from generation to generation. Legacy goes beyond and gives far more than you could ever imagine, impacting the lives of many that come close every day.   Read More

By Pastor Scott Conner: So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. (Nehemiah 6:15-16, ESV)  Read More

By Mary Beth Dunn: Over the last few weeks, we have been journeying through a study about the Tabernacle. I have found this topic in the Bible to be incredibly interesting as I've studied it over the last few years, and this message series has really stirred up new faith and joy in my heart. One idea that has stuck out to me is the intentionality of God when it comes to the Tabernacle.  Read More