My wife Melody and I are very intentional about what we wear and how we look. We believe God, who wonderfully and fearfully made us, wants us to be kept...
Have you ever felt unsettled? Maybe things at home are unstable. Your job may be about to be terminated. Or anxiety threatens to steal your breath every chance it gets....
That’s why I like to think of each new day that God blesses us with as a freshly tied bow tie. Even though we are all far from perfect and in constant need of God’s grace, when we allow his grace to work in and through us...
WRITTEN BY: EMILY COPELAND Keep calm and carry on. That mantra works well in many areas of life, but it’s not so easy to keep calm or carry on when...
So here’s a question for you, that I’ve had to ask myself a lot since opening my screen time app: How do we stay focused on our purpose when as a culture we are so distracted?
WRITTEN BY: Emily Copeland When we welcome someone into our home, it’s not uncommon to receive questions about the two jars of marbles on display. The cool thing about that...
As I gave that first “yes” there was a hunger for a relationship with God, an eagerness to know what was next. I wanted to know what big thing he was going to ask of me and where to find his purpose in this yes.
Maybe you’re even questioning if this is your next step, but how do you know if it is? As we dive into the “why, what, and who’s” of baptism, we hope that you will find the answers you...
Have you ever found yourself in the space in between hopeful expectation and a reality that seeks to pry your fingers loose from the tentative hold they have on to hope? Maybe that promotion at work you anticipated getting was awarded to another, and
Prayer. What is it exactly? Have you ever struggled to find the “right” words to pray?
You might wonder to yourself, ‘what’s next?’. If you’re like me, then the structure of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting followed by the Day 22 devotional established a new rhythm...
We are not cleansed for only a season or outwardly, but by the shed blood of the perfect Lamb of God, we are washed clean...
The Holy Spirit, in truth, is more than just a friend who sticks close or has a particularly helpful set of skills or knowledge.
What that looked like for me was laying my battle of depression at the feet of Jesus—replacing feelings of unworthiness, selfishness, fear, and worry with God’s Word.
Being brought to your knees, tears flowing down your face is not of our own doing—that is the Holy Spirit. Moving and working through the power of the worship, and it doesn’t stop there!
...something resonated in my spirit as the youthful preacher offered the invitational prayer...Through the spirit of adoption, I had found my Daddy Warbucks and joined God’s family.
When you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, imagine yourself as a blank canvas, just as the earth once was...The Spirit of God was hovering and waiting for us, just like when the heavens and earth were created—ready to paint yet another masterp
Time can feel long to us, especially the dark times we go through. But they pass by in the blink of an eye to God.
In the midst of uncertainty, instead of giving us what we so desperately want in the moment, Jesus gives us the only thing we truly need, his presence and eternal promise.
God chose Jesus, our Messiah, to die on the cross for our sins. As followers of Christ, he has chosen us to be his hands and feet, bringing more people into his presence.
God sent Jesus to rescue us from our sins because he is the Good Shepherd! He loves you unconditionally and is searching for you while you are lost.
The name Jesus (also written Yeshua) means Savior. Before he was even born, God was announcing that Jesus was destined to be our savior.
Immanuel is no longer far away, but is now with us. Jesus, the Son of God, came and walked this earth then died for our sins so that we would never have to face those dark and despairing times alone.
There are times when I lose sight of who Jesus is and feel surrounded by the darkness of the world.... I pause and meet Jesus in his Word.
Being eternal is a weird concept—let’s be honest! It’s difficult to picture something that has always existed. This would mean the laws and concepts of time do not apply to God.
Have you ever felt that what God was requiring of you was too much? Did you struggle to respond in obedience? Abraham demonstrated his faith in God by responding in immediate obedience. God honored his faith and provided exactly what he needed.
Even when we can not see him, God sees us in our distress and is working for our good. You are loved, you are cared for, and you are not alone.
You might face times when your journey becomes exhausting, and you want to retreat back to your previous circumstances that you know best
There was a point in my life when I was spiritually bankrupt. I didn’t just not have money, but I had no sense of direction. I felt alone as if God had forgotten me.
On a recent vacation, I found myself in absolute amazement of Elohim, our Creator. I was reminded of what a masterful Creator he is; no one compares to him.
I’d love to share something better than a resolution. It’s a habit that will surpass any resolution you may have this year, and it’s called your Slot and Spot–your time and place with God.
We decorate, sing carols, bake cookies, and exchange gifts. Unfortunately, not everyone experiences these warm and fuzzy feelings during the holiday season.
The holiday season can be an exciting time of year…but also one of the most stressful. With so many parties to attend, decorations to put up, and gifts to buy for your friends and family, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and overspend!
As the days went on and the countdown to August 18th–move in day–approached, I really second guessed myself. Could I handle moving away from home? Yet, I knew that I would rather try and fail than not try...
I was completely and utterly unprepared for the wave of emotions that consumed me. No one told me, warned me, or equipped me with how to handle the very challenging, life-changing event...
Shepherd to King! What a beautiful depiction of the scope of David’s life. David trusted God. He was called from a simple life in the field to become the leader of his people, and, as we’ve seen, it was anything but a straight and easy path.
If your legacy was based on who you are and what you do right now, would you be relieved or disappointed? Is it honoring God?
As David relinquished his plans to God, God’s vision for the temple was honored. Similarly, once we relinquish ours to him, we are allowing God’s plan to flourish.
Betrayal is a very human experience. In fact, many of us have either been betrayed by someone or something, or if we’re honest, we’ve been the person who betrayed someone else.
God has a story for each and every one of us. Yes, there will be times when we walk off the path and get lost or stuck, but God is with us every moment.
In the midst of our brokenness, God can heal our wounds and turn our eyes back to heaven when we simply ask him to enter our hearts. A miraculous change occurs, and our old, troubled heart is replaced with a new, pure one.
God can use anything to get our attention to draw us back to him because he loves us that much. He could even use something as drastic as a break-up in a relationship. However, he is always with us.
When we’re no longer relying on our GPS to recalculate, we eventually have to stop and ask ourselves, “Where am I, and how did I get here?”
I am so thankful that we serve a God that loves us and is always there for us. God was always there for David. He was faithful to his promises for David’s life, and we can trust him to be there for us and faithful to his promises in our lives.
When we are fearful, we may act out of character or do things, such as lie, because we do not want to face what we are scared of.
Forgiveness is not easy. Forgiveness is not a feeling. Forgiveness is rarely a “one and done experience.” We may need to ask God to give us grace to help us continually keep our heart pure towards those we feel have hurt us or wronged us.
"Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) Just as important as loving God, is loving the people around you and not just in a friendly, neighborly way but with the same intensity with which you value your own life.
But at the minimum, we should have a few people that we know will be there for us through spring, summer, fall and winter—and that we can be there for as well.
Godly relationships are built on love, trust, and excellence. You can form a friendship with someone simply because they admire you!
No battle is too big or too strong for us to conquer when God is on our side. So whether you are dealing with anxiety, depression, addiction, or whatever the case may be, run to God with your battles and fight them head on.
Life will throw many bears and lions at us, but what is our response? Are we going to run and hide just as the armies of Israel did in the face of Goliath, or are we going to grab the jaw like David and walk in complete faith and trust in God?
When we fight battles with the things of this world, we are only welcoming failure and temporary peace. David relied on his faith and God's strength to protect him.
Paul lets us know in Ephesians 2:10 that we have already been equipped to make a difference in the lives of others. He says, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned...”
Each of us has been blessed with a special gift, and God sees it in us even if we can’t see it in ourselves.
Whether you were picked last for a team, passed over for a job, or told that you didn’t measure up to the task, you probably know how it feels to be overlooked. Chances are that David experienced some of those same feelings that you have.
Who was David? What can his life teach us about God and ourselves? For the next twenty-one days, I invite you to join our community to explore answers to these questions.
Does it ever feel like the world is a dark place? Despite the chaos, there is still beauty in the world for us to see every day.
Endure persecution patiently? … Really? I don’t know about you, but that can feel like a lot to ask...
God speaks to us in various ways and one way is through scripture, but we need to be in a position to listen. What does this mean, putting ourselves in a position to hear from him?
"We got the news that we were moving to Delaware - we were less than excited"... read on to find out how God changed that!
My mentor suggested that I join the Journey Leadership Institute Evening Program...The best part was being able to grow my leadership abilities with the other leaders in the program. Everyone was so supportive.
"On My Side", Journey City MSC's new single release, helps us declare the truth even when the darkness in our life seems to great to overcome!
Big moments are wonderful, but what about the little ones in between? What if we viewed them as important too?
Peter is the "rock" on which Christ built his church, but that doesn't mean he always got it right. Read how he fell short and Jesus loved him anyway.
When we are grateful, our “antenna” is adjusted, and our mindset shifts. We become more joyful, more considerate, and we find peace in our circumstances.
We are called by God to have an attitude of gratitude, giving thanks when life is great and when it is not. Today, I’m grateful...
Something I have found helpful is to know my triggers! The lack of sunshine because the days are oh-so-short and the nights oh-so-long is a huge contributor to SAD for me. I'm that person who turns their face to the sunshine...
While most of us may not be constantly physically falling on our faces, there may be times when we feel like we are falling in an emotional, or spiritual way. Have you ever felt that way?
In an effort to remain patient through this season, I kept confessing and surrendering all of this anger. It wasn’t until I began reading that verse from James 1:19 daily that I began to see change…
I‘m going to go out on a limb here and say that you have experienced heartache and pain in your life at some point because someone has wronged you. I’ve been in that same position...
I thanked him for giving his only Son to wash my sins away. In that instant, I felt peace and knew I was already forgiven.
Here’s the kicker - we serve a God who has every detail of every second of every day already planned out. So why are we obsessing? He sees us. He knows us. And he loves us.
When I intentionally hand over my anxiety and other cares to God, allowing him to fight my battles, it helps me to focus more on being joyful, prayerful and thankful.
Bind kindness and loyalty deep into our hearts. Tie them around your neck each day like a necklace, as a reminder of how we should treat one another. Then you will find favor with God and people.
Times when we feel like we are running into the same temptation over and over again, we need to remember God’s promises and the example he set for us. We all have been tempted - even Jesus.
God restored my worth and now my value is not determined by how I'm treated or viewed but by my connection with him through Christ.
Through it all, he is right there with us. In my darkest days of 2021, I knew God was always by my side, holding me up.
But when I confess my sins, whatever they may be, they lose their power over me. I am strengthened by the grace of my Holy Father and he truly provides a way out.
I found myself on my knees, in tears, grieving. It was there that I acknowledged the weight of my sin, recognized that no amount of sin is too great for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for me.
I wish I had all the answers (like my kids think I do) or have everything in order (like my coworkers think I do); but the truth is, I have to remember to keep God as the center of everything.
The first step to true surrender is willingness. In the first part of the scripture, Jesus says, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way.”
God asks us to forgive whether it’s easy or difficult, when it’s convenient and when it’s not, and when it takes seven times or seventy times seven times.
Once you put your faith in Jesus, you know that his sacrifice on the cross covers up your sins. You start to realize the importance of sharing your life...
It is easy to get so caught up in our worry that we believe we are not able to help someone else. But by putting our focus on the needs of others we are able to take on the character of Jesus...
But as the scripture states, through Jesus we are forgiven of our sins. So instead of carrying that weight and shame, willingly be transparent with Jesus and confess everything.
Our Heavenly Father is omniscient, meaning he knows everything, and that knowledge extends to our sins. So, if God already knows, then why is confession so crucial?
In order to surrender to him fully, you have to get to know him through building a relationship with him. Through a relationship with God, we can meet him where he has always been; right by our side!
For the next 21 days, Journeyers will share a devotional. Drawing on a daily scripture, they'll share an observation to focus on, the application of that scripture, and a prayer to help us internalize God's truths.
How do we overcome the thoughts of regret and failure during this holiday season, as we start a new year? We choose to see how far we have come since then!
We all know just how stressful the most wonderful time of year can be, so how do we find the joy of the season? Where is Jesus in all this busyness?
I found out that if I drew closer to God, he came close to me. It has been a time for me to experience him in a way that I never have before. Everything we go through is another opportunity...
Do you ever feel out of place? Like you’re just somewhere you don’t belong? I’m willing to bet that you’re a lot like me and can answer “yes” to these questions...
Courtney and Scott were ready to proclaim their faith through baptism in the fall of 2021! Even when trials and struggles came, they saw God in it all. Read their story...
Many of those hymns that I dismissed as a child have become part of me as an adult. They remind me of God’s promises, his love for me, and the security that a relationship with him offers.
God calls us as believers to share his love and to lead others to the salvation that is available through Jesus.
The streams that he [Jesus] leads us to will be life-giving, forever. There, with him, there will be an endless source of comfort and happiness.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past year, it’s that being around other people going in the same direction as you can bring you back to life.
I began to compartmentalize God. I isolated my experience with him to Sundays and lived my life independently Monday through Saturday.
I thought to myself, “The pastor is saying I can have joy and experience happiness if I practice a slot and spot and get with a group of like-minded individuals. Who could be like me?”
I began seeing a therapist and we determined that what I was experiencing were anxiety and panic attacks. It was one of the worst things I’ve ever gone through.
I can only marvel at God’s saving grace! He led us to the healing hands who could save my wife and since that time has blessed us.
This led to me losing the people in my life that I felt I needed and it left me very heartbroken. In these moments, I cried out to God...
Peace that could only come from God. I knew, deep in my soul, that no matter what happened, God was with me...
It would certainly be amazing to live in a world where suffering was gone. But before we get to heaven, Jesus warned us that on earth we will experience temporary pain...
But I’ll be bold enough to suggest that the template for dealing with it [trials] is the same – invite God into the fray with you.
Sometimes, we are begging God to remove that thorn from our side, to make the pain go away, because we can’t deal with it!
The test is refining you, as tough and difficult as that may be, it is for a greater good in your life and the lives of others!
Asking God to remember something he promised sounds a bit absurd, but reminding him of his promises is an act of faith.
Our God loves us deeply and he will stop at nothing to win our hearts. He declared his love for us by sending his Son to suffer the penalty of our sin on our behalf, purchasing our freedom.
... I am now where I am closer to God than I ever have been. Over the past few months, the biggest change in my life that I have made is having a slot and spot every day.
It took some serious soul searching, and a special person in my life to introduce me to Jesus for the first time... and initially, I still wasn’t sure.
I placed unfair expectations on myself and those around me, in hopes that someone, somewhere, would live up to them. No one ever did. That was… until I put my faith in Jesus.
God loves us, and his love is so strong that nothing in all creation could stop him from loving us一not even our own self-doubts and shortcomings.
Sometimes our environment makes it easy for us to feel like we don’t deserve to have a relationship with God. The good news is that this relationship isn’t merit-based, meaning we can’t earn it.
Romans 8:31 says, "If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" For the next 21 days you'll be on a journey to answer this question.