Amos 2:6Thus says the Lord, For three transgressions of Israel and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for money, And the needy for a pair of sandals....  Read More

Love Offers a Place to Unloadby Pastor Chuck SwindollLove Offers a Place to UnloadImagine two mountain hikers trudging along, each carrying a backpack.The one on the left has a light pack that a child could carry. The poor soul on the right is so loaded down we can’t even see his head or body . . . just a couple spindly legs wobbling under the burden he’s carrying.The hiker on the right illustrate...  Read More

Amos 1:1-2The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he envisioned in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.  He said, "The Lord roars from Zion, And from Jerusalem He utters His voice; And the shepherds' pasture grounds mourn, And the summit of Carmel dries u...  Read More

The WordOne of the greatest privileges as a child of God is that we can have the heart of our heavenly Father. We don’t have to wonder how he feels about us. We don’t have to wonder if he will guide us. We don’t have to question whether he loves us or cares about us. Through the Holy Spirit we have continual, free access to the heart of God. May your relationship with God go deeper and become free...  Read More

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GRIEVING GOOD FRIDAYGriefI grew up in a church that celebrated Easter, but we didn’t talk a lot about Good Friday. We were quick to say that Jesus died and was buried and then followed it with, “but Sunday’s coming!” We know the end of the story—Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t far behind His death; but we need to give ourselves the opportunity to reflect and realize the grief that must have taken place...  Read More

Job 19:25-29As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.  Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!  If you say, 'How shall we persecute him?' And 'What pretext for a case against him can we find?'  Then be afraid of the sword...  Read More

Share God's Love This Maundy ThursdayHow will you employ the Holy command to love as Jesus loved?by Nic Allen on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 9:00 AMI didn’t grow up in a church that noted or celebrated Maundy Thursday. I recall seeing the name and being at least vaguely familiar enough with the term to associate it with Holy Week and the days leading up to Easter Sunday. To define it or understand i...  Read More

Ecclesiastes 12:8-14 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "all is vanity!"In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs.  The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.  The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails;...  Read More

Courage in Placement “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments… let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel” — NEHEMIAH 1:5-6 Nehemiah is an inspiration in courageous repentance, intercession, and ac...  Read More

Beside Still Waters I ’m sitting in one of my favorite spots. The river glides by, smooth and dark green. I raise my face to catch the warmth of the October sun and think of it as Your love for me, pouring down from Your smiling face. I love these times of soaking prayer. I come without agenda, without requests or expectations. I simply bring my desire to be with You and the confidence that You lo...  Read More

Living Prayerfully all Day Long Luke makes this statement as 3,000 people accept Peter’s message of Jesus, giving their lives to him and being baptized. As brand new Jesus-followers, “They devoted themselves… to prayer.”Prayer isn’t the “advanced course” in following Jesus, or something for a small circle of those monastically inclined. As a group of people following Jesus together in community, w...  Read More