Normalizing the Conversation
on October 6th, 2024
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7    Sex is not dirty or demonic. It’s a gift from God, designed to be part of the beautiful, sacred, and holy experience of being human. Yet, the discomfort many of us feel around this topic has led to a culture where sex is often discussed only in hushed tones or hidden in less-than-ideal places. It’s ti...  Read More
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Reclaiming a Healthy View of Sex
on October 5th, 2024
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."- John 8:36   We can criticize and protest the way certain music and media portray sex and sexuality, but if we don’t provide a safe space for honest conversations about these topics, we’re setting future generations up for confusion and struggle. It’s crucial to create environments where people, especially young people, can talk openly about ...  Read More
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Creating Healthy Spaces for Sexuality
on October 4th, 2024
"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." — John 8:32  When we can’t discuss or explore our sexuality in healthy, open ways, it often leads to unhealthy explorations. This lack of open dialogue can cause misunderstanding, confusion, and even trauma. Imagine trying to navigate something as significant as your sexuality without any guidance, surrounded by silence and shame. Whe...  Read More
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Breaking the Double Standard
on October 3rd, 2024
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28    One of the most troubling aspects of how we approach sex in the church and society is the double standard between men and women. Historically, sexual purity codes were never really about morality or sin; they were about economics.  Thousands of ye...  Read More
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Let’s Remove the Stigma Around Sex
on October 2nd, 2024
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1   The church has long struggled with how to approach the topic of sex, often treating it like something shameful or dangerous. There's a history of seeing sexual desire as an enemy of spiritual growth, something that should be controlled, repressed, or even feared. For many, th...  Read More
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Speak Clearly
on October 1st, 2024
"Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil." - Matthew 5:37   There was a young Christian couple in their twenties that took a trip to Amsterdam, excited to explore a new city. When they checked into their hotel, they asked an elderly couple for recommendations on things to do. The older couple shared some great ideas—the canal cruise, the Van Gogh Museum, a...  Read More
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The Joy of Giving
on September 30th, 2024
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7   When you think about giving, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it a sense of duty, an obligation, or perhaps even reluctance? Too often, giving is seen as a burdensome task, something you do because you have to, not because you want to. But the...  Read More
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Giving Is About Gratitude
on September 29th, 2024
“And He said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.’” - Luke 21:3    In today’s world, being a widow doesn’t carry the same weight it did in the time of Jesus. Women now have rights, opportunities, and the ability to provide for themselves. But in the context of this passage, widows were some of the most vulnerable members of society, often denied access to resource...  Read More
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Embracing Your Struggle with Faith
on September 28th, 2024
“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them, for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” - Luke 21:3-4   The last couple of days, we have looked at a passage in scripture that depicts wealthy individuals parading their substantial donations in the synagogue, their gifts clinking and clattering in the offeri...  Read More
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The Heart of Giving
on September 27th, 2024
“He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.” - Luke 21:1-2    There was a time when giving was a public affair, without the anonymity of paper currency or online transactions. Back then, offerings were visible, and the sound of coins in a wooden plate revealed the giver’s generosity. It was an era where who gave and h...  Read More
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Generosity Beyond Limits
on September 26th, 2024
“And he looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all of them.’” - Luke 21:1-3    In our everyday lives, we might often hear the phrase "living on a fixed income," which generally describes those who are retired or otherwise on a tight budget. ...  Read More
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Appreciating the Blessings We’ve Been Given
on September 25th, 2024
"Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD, for they treated the offerings of the LORD with contempt." - 1 Samuel 2:17   Have you ever noticed how easy it can be to take things for granted? It’s almost a natural tendency to overlook the blessings we have when they become a part of our everyday lives. Hofni and Phineas, the sons of Eli, exemplify this very attitude. They...  Read More
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A Lesson in Love
on September 24th, 2024
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” - Philippians 2:4   When I was young, I strongly disliked bananas. One day, my mother made banana pudding with vanilla wafers, a treat that everyone seemed to love. As my sister and her friends eagerly dug into the dessert, I was less than thrilled. I just couldn’t stand the taste of bananas. But to my surpr...  Read More
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The Golden Rule
on September 23rd, 2024
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” - Matthew 7:12   Yesterday, we touched briefly on this idea of the Golden Rule. But today, I want you to imagine a world where everyone lived by it. Picture a community where kindness and respect were the standard, not the exception. What would that world look like? How would it transform our...  Read More
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Teaching by Example
on September 22nd, 2024
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” - Matthew 7:12   Have you ever felt disheartened by the behavior of someone you thought you knew well, only to realize that their actions reflected more about their own upbringing and experiences? This is a powerful reminder that the way we, as parents, conduct ourselves dramatically shapes o...  Read More
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Teaching Honor
on September 21st, 2024
“Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.” - 1 Samuel 2:12   The story of Eli and his sons serves as an important reminder of the vital role that parents play in guiding their children. Eli’s sons, despite growing up in the temple and being exposed to spiritual teachings, did not know the Lord. This stark reality raises a crucial question: How could they be so close to t...  Read More
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The Role of Parenthood
on September 20th, 2024
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6   Parenthood is one of the most important and influential roles you can take on. Scripture lays out a clear picture of what it means to be an impactful parent, outlining five critical functions that apply to both fathers and mothers. Understanding and embracing these roles can shape your jou...  Read More
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The Power of Influence
on September 19th, 2024
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14   Influence is a powerful force that shapes lives, cultures, and communities. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you stand; everyone has the capacity to influence others. The truth is, no matter our position or circumstances, there are always people watching and observing us, whether they are friends, famil...  Read More
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decision declares decreed dedicated dedication deeper defeat delay delight deliverance deliver demands deppth depression deserved deserves deserve desired desires desire desperate desperation despite destination destiny destroy destruction determination determined determine deter developed development develop difference difficulties dignity diligent directing directly direct disbelief disciples disciple discouraged discouragement discourage discovered discover dismayed disobedience disrespects disrupt distance distinction distractions distract divine division donor doubt dreams dream drought drowning dwell ebdured effective effects elevate eliminate embedded embraced embraces embrace embracing emerges emotinal emotional emotions emotion empathy empowered empowerment empowers empower enabled encountered encounters encounter encouraged encouragement encourages encourage encouraging encouters endangering endurance endures endure enduring enemy energy engaged engages engage engaging enjoyable enjoying ensure ensuring entire entrusting enviroment environment equips equip eternally eternal eternity evangelism everlasting evidence exaltaion examine exceeding excellent excitement excuses exhaustion expectations expectation expected expecting expects experience expertise expression express external fabric facing failure faitful faithfullness faithfully faithfulness faithful faithless faith famine fasting fate fathers father faults favor fearfully fearful fearless fear feeding feelings feeling fellowship fight finaces firmly fixed focused focusing focus followed followers follower following follow folow foolish force forever forgave forgiveness forgiven forgive forgiving fortunate forward foundations foundation freedom free fresh friendships friendship friend fruit of the Spirit fruitful frustrated frustrations frustration fulfilling fulfillment fulfill fullness future gain generations generosity generous genuinely genuine gesture gifts gift given give giving glimmer glorify glorious glory goals goal godly goodness gospel grace graititude grateful gratification gratitude greater greatness greed grief grieved grieve ground growing grown growth grow guarding guard guidance guide guiding guilty guilt habits habit handle happier happiest happy hardest hardships hardship harmful healed healing healthy heal heartbreak heartbroke hearted hearts heart hear heavenly heavy heir helped help hiding highlighted home honesty honest honored honoring honor hoped hopeless hopes hope hoping house humanity humble humility hurtful hurting hurt identiy ignorance ignore illustrate image imbalance immediately immense immortal immovable impactful impact imperfections imperfection imperfect importance important impossible impovement impressions impression impress improve increase indeed indication indulgence inflation influenced influences influence influencing informs injustice innocence inspiration inspire instruct integrity intelligence intended intending intends intentional intention intents interactions interested interest internal interpret intimacy intrested intresting invaluable invested invitation invites invite inviting involved involve isloation jealousy journey joy judgement judgment justice justified kindness kingdom knowing knowldge knowledge labels labor leadership leading leads lead learning learn leave led legacy life lifted light limitations limits listening live loneliness lonely lonliness loss loved loves love loving loyalty magnitude maintain maintenance manager manage master matchers medication meditating meditation members memorable memories merciful mercy message mighty milestones mindset mind ministry miracles miracle miraculous missed mission mistakes mistake mistrakes modestly modification modifying molding moment money mothers motivated motivate motives name navigate needs neglect newfound nourishment obedience obedient obeying obey obligation observe obstacles obstacle obtain offered offering offer operate opinions opportunity opposition oppressed oppression oppurtunity outcome overcome overcoming overflowing overlook overshadowing overstressed overwhelmed overwhelming overwhelm overworking package painful pain parenting partner passage passions passion past patience patienc patient peacefully peace perception perfectionism perfection perfectly perfect performance perform perish perplexed perserverance perseverance perseverence persistance persistent personal perspective physical placing planned planning plan pleases please pleasing pleasures point positions positive positivity possessions possibilities possibility possible potential pounding powerfull powerful powers power practical practice praises praise prayed prayers prayer praying pray preaches preach prejudice preparation prepared prepares prepare preparing preperation presence present preserved preserve preserving presevered pressure pretending prevented prevent pride principle priorities privacy private privilege proactive problem proceeded proceed process productive profits profound progress prominence promised promises promise promising promote promoting promotions promotion prospect prosperity prosperus prosper protected protecting protection protector protect provider provides provide providing provision pure purify purposeful purposely purposes purpose pursue pursuing pursuit questioning questions quitting race radiance raise random reaching reaction reading reality realize rebuilding rebuild recharge recieve reciprocated recognize reconciliation redeemed redeems redeem redemption redemptive redirect refining reflected reflecting reflections reflection reflects reflect refocusing refocus refreshment refresh refuge refusal regrets regret rejected reject rejoices rejoice rekindle relationships relationship relation release reliance relied religious relinquish reminded reminder reminds remind remorse renewed renew repair repeating repentance repent replenishes replenishment replenish request require rescued rescue resources respect respond response responsibility rested restful restoration restored restores restoring restricted restrore rest resurrection retaliation returns reunited revealing revelation reward righteousness righteous risen rises risk rituals rock roles romans royalty rulers running saaanctified sabbath sacrifice sacrificing sadness safety sanctification satisfaction satisfies satisfy saved scribes scripture scrutinized sealed seasons secures secure seeking seeks seek seize self-control selfishness selfish selflessly self senses seperate seperation sermons serves serve service serving settle shackles shame share sharing shattered shield shining sidetracked sight significance significant signifies single sinned sins sin situation sleep society solutions solution solving souls soul source sovereignty sovereign spare speak special specific specified spirirt spirits spiritually spiritual spirit stability standards stewardship story straining stranger strenghth strenght strengthens strengthen strengths strength stress striking strive striving stronger strong structurally struggled struggles struggle struggling struglles study stumble submit succcess succeed successful success suffering suffer suggests supernatural supported supporting support surface surprised surprises surprise surrendered surrendering surrender surrounded surrounding susceptible suspend sustains sustain swallow table takers talents teachings teaching tears tear temper temptations temptation tempting testament testimony test thankfulness thankful thanksgiving thanks thank thoughtful thoughts time timing title together tomb tragedy transformation transformative transformed transforming transform treating trials and tribulations trials tribulations triggered trigger troubles trouble troubling true truly trusted trusting trustworthy trust truths truth ultimate unclear understanding understand unexplained unified unimaginable unites unity unsettled unworthy urgency urgently utilize validation valuable values value victim victorious victory vilence violation vision void voyage vulnerable waiting wait walk wandering waste wavering weakness weapon weary welcomes welcoming well wholeness will of God willingness willing wisdom wise wishful wish witnessed working work world worrying worry worshipping worship worthiness worthy worth wrong