Today, we want to reflect on the transformative power of embracing Christ's forgiveness. This incredible force unshackles us from the weight of guilt and offers a fresh start, a chance to rewrite our narrative. As we grasp the depth of His forgiveness, it triggers an internal healing, releasing us from our past blunders and infusing us with a sense of inherent value. This newfound perspective should ignite compassion and a profound desire to extend that same forgiveness to others.

Today, we direct our attention to a powerful weapon that pushes the darkness back to help us see beyond our circumstances and the emotions of our current situation: worship. Throughout the book of Psalms, the writers pour their hearts to God. Yet, amid their pain, worry, anger, and anxiety, worship springs up to refocus their eyes and refuel their hearts.

Today, we want to consider a spiritual habit that, at first glance, feels like an impossible task - thinking your thoughts. Our minds are constantly bombarded with noise, distractions, and negativity in this fast-paced world. It's easy to get caught up in the chaos and lose sight of what truly matters. But, we are called to live differently—to set our minds on things above.

Today, we’ll focus on our pursuit of wisdom and the immense value of studying Scripture. To grasp God's heart, it's essential to understand it. The Bible is the lens through which we can truly comprehend His character and ways. It's a collective story leading us to a compelling Jesus. Everything contained in its pages points to Him - His love, His pursuit of us, and the promise of redemption that runs through its pages. With this in mind, I invite you to read Colossians 3:16. As you do, pay attention and note any words, phrases, or themes that stand out to you.

Today, we begin by reflecting on the importance of stillness and nurturing daily conversations with God through prayer. Amid life's busyness, finding moments of silence is crucial for cultivating a deeper connection with our Creator. With this in mind, we invite you to read Matthew 6:5-7. As you do, pay attention and note any words, phrases, or themes that stand out to you.

In Joshua 6, God commands the Israelites to march around the city of Jericho. A little aside here: notice that God declares that He has already given Jericho to the Israelites. Translation: God’s perfect plan was not dependent on the obedience of the Israelites, but on the goodness of God.

Every big journey starts with a single step. We get that in lots of parts of our lives. But when it comes to prayer, we sometimes want everything to be perfect right away – even if we don't realize it. We want to be prayer pros before we've even given it a try.

The other day I was scrolling through Facebook when a shared post from a friend caught my eye. It came from one of those "frugal" sites and boasted of a savings trick that could turn pennies into Christmas presents. Being a fool for click-bait articles, I followed the link, even though I was highly skeptical of the claims.

It's hard to believe, but this July marks twenty years of calling Wilmington, NC my home. Yes, I'm one of those Yankees who uprooted themselves after falling in love with the sweet tea and laid-back Southern charm. I love everything about living on the coast - everything except hurricane season. Being a northerner, I can handle anything snow-related, but powerful storms, not so much.

Today, let's dive into a verse that's like a cool breeze on a sweltering day—Romans 15:13. In this little gem of a passage, the apostle Paul packs a powerful punch of truth, hope, and encouragement that I believe we all need to hear, especially in the world we find ourselves navigating.

Today, I want to dive into a verse that has been a cornerstone of our faith, providing us with unshakable assurance amid life's uncertainties – a verse that beautifully reminds us of God's incredible plan for our lives. Life often throws unexpected curveballs, leaving us wondering why things aren't going as planned. In those moments of confusion and doubt, we must hold onto this promise from Romans 8:28.

Life is an incredible journey filled with desires that stir our souls. We yearn for success, happiness, love, and purpose. These desires aren't wrong—they're part of our design, woven into the very fabric of who we are. But, as we navigate life's twists and turns, we often allow these desires to take over, becoming the focus of our thoughts and energies.

Picture a young child squinting and straining to see the world around them. They may not even realize that their vision is less than clear. But then comes the day when they put on a pair of glasses. As they peer through those lenses, the once-blurry landscape sharpens into focus. Colors become more vibrant, details emerge, and the world takes on a new dimension.

In a world that often pushes us to strive harder, meet impossible standards, and carry heavy burdens, the heart of the Gospel invites us into a different kind of life—one where we're already forgiven, loved, and accepted by our Savior. Take a moment to think about that. It's like we've been given a brand-new identity in Jesus—a forgiven one wrapped up in the incredible love of our Heavenly Father.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Thanks to some retail trickery, the answer to that question is harder to answer than one would think. First, it depends on the mirror's location. We've all picked up an outfit off the rack that looked picture perfect in the store, but it didn't seem to fit right when tried on at home…

Life can get chaotic and overwhelming, and sometimes we feel like we're all alone in this big world. But guess what? There's something amazing, something beautiful, that cuts through all the chaos and welcomes every single one of us to an extraordinary gathering - it's the table of communion.

If you repeat a word enough times in quick succession, the word loses its meaning. Scientists call this phenomenon “semantic satiation.” You can experience this sensation yourself: choose a random word, and say it to yourself over and over. Oddly, the word starts to feel like it isn’t a word.

Life's journey is a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with both moments of pure delight and times of overwhelming despair. At first glance, it may seem like these experiences are opposites, but God utilizes every season, the good and the bad, to open our eyes to a more profound understanding of our faith. As followers of Christ, we are called to embrace the truth that joy and hope can thrive even in the darkest circumstances.

What is this world coming to? At one point or another, we've all grappled with this question. Sometimes we wrestle with the frustration and futility of our unsteady world due to trying circumstances that greet us at our front door or when we turn on the news or flip through our social media feed.

When we find ourselves alone, we often reach for our phones to scroll through social media or turn on the TV to fill the void. But instead, what if we took the opportunity to connect with God?