Living Faith Christian Church: Messages, Studies, & Stories

When his health began to fail in 1859, Rufus Choate planned a trip to England for some rest and advanced healthcare. At that time, a friend reportedly said to him, “I feel sure that your health will be restored, and you will be living ten years from now.” Rufus replied, “Living ten years from now! I shall be living a thousand years from now!” He died a few days later. Faith is not just looking back at the Cross for forgiveness and healing or looking up at the throne for power to change from King Jesus. Faith looks forward to what the Lord said he will do in the future. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 has five benefits of forward-looking faith that will help us persevere through the challenges of this life.

In Warning Sign, drawn from Hebrews 3:7–19, we are confronted with the serious danger of a hardened heart. Using Israel’s rebellion in the wilderness as a warning, this message urges us to listen to God’s voice today, resist unbelief, and guard our hearts against drifting from him. The sermon calls believers to persevere in faith, encourage one another daily, and remain obedient to Christ, recognizing that unbelief can keep us from experiencing the fullness of God’s rest.

Everyone loves a heartwarming rescue story—especially about a dog like Roxy, who was saved from despair and transformed by love. Roxy began abandoned and frail, afraid of touch, but through patient care and gentle reassurance, she slowly regained her trust, joy, and vitality. Her story mirrors our own deepest human needs, because we all long for the kind of love that lifts us up and gives new life. The good news is that God provides that type of love for us in Jesus Christ. No matter how exhausted or broken we feel, Jesus meets us as our rescuer, redeemer, and Savior—turning fear into hope, isolation into belonging, and hurt into healing. 1 John 4:7–21 reveals 4 ways Christ’s love is transformative in this way.

Dictionary.com defines adoption as the process of bringing a child into one’s own family through legal means for the purpose of raising that child as your own. Almost all of us have some life experience with adoption. When a married couple says, “We are adopting,” we know that means they are going to legally bring a child (not biologically conceived by them) into their own family and raise that child in the same way as a child conceived biologically. They are adopting. They are eager to love a child with that kind of love. Adoption helps us understand and appreciate Christ’s love for us. Ephesians 1:1-14 contains 5 adjectives to describe this adopting love of God.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has so many epic heroes, famous villains, and redemption arcs that echo even greater truths. The Juggernaut is one of those. He makes only a few appearances in the movie franchise but shows up more frequently in the comics. He moves with supernatural force—unstoppable, unless he chooses to stop himself. That kind of imaginary power is an echo us of a far greater genuine strength: Christ’s unstoppable love for his people. Despite lies that we are unloved or that something could block God’s devotion, the Bible teaches us that nothing can thwart the Lord’s passionate commitment to our well-being. Romans 8:31-39 lays out 3 truths about the unstoppable love of God.

Nothing compares to Christmastime in New York City—the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, 5th Ave. lights, Radio City Rockettes Show, Bryant Park Winter Village, Macy’s Santaland, Hudson Yards Holiday light show, Ice Skating in Wollman Rink in Central Park, and more! And then it culminates with the ball dropping on New Year’s Eve in Times Square, where 1 million people gather in-person, and 180 million Americans along with over 1 billion people worldwide watch it on TV. It’s matchless, truly one of a kind. In a much more profound way, Christ’s love is unlike any love we have ever experienced. Romans 5:1-11 describes humanity with 3 adjectives that highlight the 3 aspects of God’s love for us in Jesus that make it unique.

There are so many passages of Scripture in the New Testament about God’s love, which makes sense because God is love and Jesus is the full revelation of God. But we shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking God was a different God in the Old Testament. There’s a common misunderstanding that God was angry and even unloving back then. That’s not true. God is the same today as it was 3,000 years ago as it was before time began as it will be when the sun wears out. He is not like us. He doesn’t change. And neither does his love. Psalm 103 describes the steadfast love of Christ in 4 statements.

Heaven is one of humanity’s greatest mysteries and most heartfelt questions: “What happens after we die?” While Scripture gives only a glimpse, that glimpse offers a breathtaking vision of the church in Heaven—a worship service beyond anything found on Earth, filled with overflowing love, unity, and transformed joy. The future for believers isn’t just heaven, but a new Heavens and a New Earth, a world where all that is good endures without the pain of sin. And when we gather for worship in this final church, people from every nation will join to proclaim Christ’s glory, echoing what happens in churches today but perfected forever. In Revelation 7:9-12, Jesus reveals five aspects of heavenly worship and gives the church on Earth five instructions based on this vision. Church life now finds meaning in its heavenly destination—worshipping Jesus together, forever.

Vacationers sometimes find welcoming bowls of fruit at their rental—only to discover, especially if they take a bite, that the fruit is plastic. Outwardly beautiful, inviting, and seemingly satisfying, fake fruit lacks substance and has no power to nourish or refresh. Plastic fruit is fruitless, not fruitful. That common experience offers a timely lesson for Christians and churches: it’s possible to look rich, successful, and spiritually productive while actually lacking genuine fruit beneath the surface. Jesus wants more for us than a hollow, fruitless life. In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus spoke words of encouragement, correction, and promise to churches that appear prosperous but desperately need his perspective and presence.

In 2006, the Chicago Tribune ran a quirky story about “Flat Dave”—a cardboard cutout that attended family gatherings, celebrated birthdays, and became a local celebrity, even as the real Dave lived three hours away. While the community embraced Flat Dave and his reputation grew, the truth remained: he wasn’t really present, and he wasn’t alive. That funny headline offers a somber parallel to Jesus’ words in Revelation 3:1-6: “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” Churches and believers can be active, well-known, and admired, but still lack true spiritual life—a reality far weightier than cardboard imitation. Jesus speaks with both correction and grace, offering encouragement and promise to those who feel spiritually lifeless. True life is found in Christ alone; his words invite every church and every Christian to wake up, repent, and receive the fullness he offers.

The 1980s were marked by optimism, technological progress, and memorable music, yet the era also witnessed tragic events. One of those tragedies, the Chernobyl nuclear plant meltdown, serves as a lasting example of what happens when important warnings are dismissed: tolerance of preventable danger can have devastating consequences. In life and faith, not all tolerance is good; sometimes, what we allow to persist can quietly undermine what matters most. In Revelation 2:18-29, Jesus addressed the tolerant church—affirming the good, but warning of the perils of tolerating sin and false teaching. Christ’s words bring encouragement, correction, and promise to all churches, urging us to discern between commendable patience and damaging negligence. Good tolerance builds community; bad tolerance can erode faith.

Serious runners know the agony of hitting “the wall,” when pain and exhaustion threaten to overwhelm any hope of finishing the race. Life is similar—everyone faces suffering, and often it feels endless, lonely, and unbearable. Physical, emotional, or spiritual anguish can leave the finish line of relief feeling impossibly far away. In a broken world marred by rebellion, disease, and loss, Christians are not spared from hardship; sometimes, our struggles mirror marathoners pressing on through intense pain. In Revelation 2:8-11, Christ spoke words of encouragement and promise to the suffering church, assuring them—and us—that he is present in our darkest moments and his love, comfort, and hope are greater than any affliction.

The human search for significance can leave people exhausted as they strive to meet overwhelming expectations. Many pour themselves into raising children, trying to provide the perfect upbringing, while guilt and fear whisper that every failure means defeat. Others seek approval at work, in relationships, or online, believing their value depends on constantly measuring up. That pressure—whether as a parent, employee, friend, or student—can drain every ounce of energy and hope. These lies corrupt our minds and hearts, but Jesus offers good news to those running on empty. In Revelation 2:12-17, Jesus spoke to the drained church with words of encouragement, correction, and promise. His love assures us that our worth comes not from our performance, but from his grace, which refreshes exhausted souls.

Those who aspire to play guitar, know that the learning process means enduring sore fingers and raw skin, but after enough practice, callouses form—making the pain fade and the music flow. Yet, those same callouses that strengthen a guitarist’s skill can eventually dull sensitivity to touch and feeling. In life, there’s a similar risk: we work hard to build spiritual resilience, but sometimes what makes us tough can make us insensitive, less tender to others and even to God. Jesus addressed this danger in Revelation 2:1-7, which contains his words of encouragement, correction, and promise for callous Christians.

At the eastern tip of Long Island, there’s an iconic lighthouse, a steadfast symbol of a time past when ships sailed the dangerous waters of the Atlantic. When you stand next to it or even inside it at the top, it’s not hard to picture the storm battered lighthouse keepers—the men responsible for shining the light when sailors depended on it most. Like a keeper in the storm, the Apostle John found hope while exiled on Patmos, surrounded by the storms of persecution and uncertainty. In that isolation, John wrote down his shining vision of Jesus: radiant, glorious, walking among his church. John realized the churches weren’t abandoned, but held safely by Christ, the true Lord—present, active, and commanding history itself. Revelation 1:9-20 contains four statements that describe our Lord of the Church.

In February 1861, Abraham Lincoln’s said farewell to the town where he lived, Springfield, Illinois, as he was about to become the President of the US. His speech was filled with emotion, gratitude, and a desire for his people’s blessing as he faced the unknown. In a similar, but much more profound way, Jesus gave a final message to his church in a vision to the Apostle John, which John wrote down called the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ words are weighty and filled with blessing, not only for the ancient churches, but for every church—including yours—across time. It begins with Revelation 1:1-8, which celebrates these blessings—where they come from, who receives them, what they’re like, and how we can open our lives to receive all Christ has for us.

A few months ago, I went to start one of our church vans, and when I turned the key all I heard was silence. The battery was completely dead. After a jumpstart, a trip to autozone, and a new battery, it roared back to life. That van is a mirror of how many of us live. We smile and show up, but deep down, we’re running on fumes. We’re emotionally drained, spiritually empty, and mentally worn out. In John 15, Jesus says, 'I am the true vine,' reminding us that he is our source of our life and power. Jesus isn’t calling us to try harder. He’s inviting us to abide. Come experience the joy of renewal as God breathes life into what feels dry, tired, and worn out.

In 1998, Thomas Monaghan retired the founder, president, and chief executive officer of Domino’s Pizza, Inc. From 1970 to 1985, he grew it from a small debt-ridden chain to the second largest pizza company in America, with sales of over one billion dollars. When asked to account for the phenomenal growth of the company, Monaghan explained, “I programmed everything for growth.” How did he do that? He said, “Every day we develop people – the key to growth is developing people.” He didn’t focus on special cheese, a tasty crust, or fast delivery schedules, but on developing more leaders. If that is true for a pizza chain, how much more true is it for the church! 2 Timothy 2:1-7 contains 5 characteristics God wants his faith leaders to develop so that his church grows.

One day, a farmer pointed out to a friend his thriving crops and healthy livestock. His companion was especially impressed with the beautiful sheep in the pasture. He had seen the same breed before, but never such attractive animals. Curious, he asked the farmer how he had managed to raise such outstanding sheep. The answer was straightforward but profound: “My friend, I just take very good care of the lambs.” There’s a lesson in that story for churches. No matter how big a church gets, it should always maintain a focus on shepherding. Further, that focus should be particularly strong towards new people, the lambs that God has led there. Acts 20:17-38 describes at least 4 characteristics of good spiritual shepherds for every church to emulate.

A man who sold Christmas trees, noticed a couple on the hunt for one in his parking lot. They found a Scotch pine that was okay on one side but pretty bare on the other. Then they picked up another tree that was not much better. The salesmen agreed to sell them both cheap because he didn’t think anyone else would buy them. A few days later he noticed a beautiful tree in the couple’s apartment. They had pushed the two trees together where the branches were thin and tied the trunks together. The branches overlapped and formed one full and healthy-looking tree. That story is similar to something taught in Ephesians 4:11-16. It has 3 principles about how God puts imperfect people together in the church to form one full and healthy group.

As a young girl, Maya Angelou stopped speaking for nearly five years due to childhood trauma. During this time, she was sent to live with her grandmother in Arkansas. One day, her grandma’s neighbor named Mrs. Bertha Flowers, invited Maya to her home for tea and cookies. During their visit, she gently encouraged Maya to read aloud and introduced her to the beauty of literature and the spoken word. This simple invitation—to share an afternoon and read together—helped Maya find her voice again, literally. She started to speak again. And it, thus, set her on a path to becoming one of the most influential speakers and writers of the 20th century. A simple invitation can have that sort of impact, and no invitation has more power than the one given by Jesus. John 1:35-51 describes 3 aspects of Christ’s invitation to the world.

There is a temptation in us to try to tame Jesus. We tend to domesticate the Son of God in our minds so that he is always kind and nice and unoffensive. One pastor said that we think Jesus is like Mr. Rogers with a beard. Such a good way to put it. The thing is though…he’s not. Sure, he is gentle and compassionate, but he’s also holy and fierce. After all, would the religious establishment have had a problem with Mr. Rogers? Would the Romans have crucified Mr. Rogers? Probably not. When we read about Jesus turning over the tables in the Temple, we are confronted with an untamed Jesus. Why was he so zealous? Mark 11:15-19 has 3 insights for us about the purpose of his actions that day.

In a world where people often feel overlooked, forgotten, or unworthy, this message reminds us of the heart of God—open, welcoming, and full of grace. Drawing from Jesus’ parable of the great banquet in Luke 14:15–24, this sermon is an invitation to all who feel like outsiders: There is still room for you. Whether you’ve wandered far, feel broken, or wonder if you’ve missed your chance, this message proclaims the truth that God’s invitation still stands. His table is not full. His mercy is not exhausted. And His arms are still open. Come and be encouraged by the hope that no matter your past, there is still room—for grace, for healing, and for you

What does it really mean to be saved? Is simply knowing about Jesus enough? In Finding Your Seat, we’ll dive into Luke 13:22–30 and uncover the urgency behind Jesus’ words about the narrow door. This message will challenge common assumptions about faith, explore the danger of missed spiritual opportunities, and ask the question every heart must face: Are you truly ready to enter?

You’re invited to more than a meal, the King has set a table for you. In week two of our series 'Back to the Table,' Pastor Mike explores Jesus’ wedding feast parable in Matthew 22:1-14. Discover how God’s invitation is open, His table is set, and the right attire, which is Christ’s righteousness is required. The question is: will you keep walking by, or will you take your seat at the table?

Join us for the first message in our four-week series Back to the Table as we explore the heart of God’s welcome home in “An Open Invitation.” Drawing from Luke 15, we’ll discover how Jesus turns an accusation—“this man receives sinners and eats with them”—into an astonishing offer: a seat at the King’s table, reserved for every prodigal and every self-righteous skeptic alike.

Consumer products have some of the most obvious warnings on them: On a batman costume: “Warning: Cape does not enable user to fly,” on a cardboard sun shield for a car: “Do not drive with sun shield in place,” and on a portable stroller: “Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage.” Who wouldn’t know that you shouldn’t do those things? Interestingly enough, those warnings a bit like the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount. God himself became man in Jesus Christ and told humanity what to do. Who wouldn’t know that we should listen to him? Matthew 7:13-29 contains 3 summary statements about why it’s so obvious we should follow Jesus for true life.

A lady in an airport bought a book to read and a package of cookies to eat while she waited for her plane. After she sat down and became gotten engrossed in her book, she noticed that the man one seat away from her opened the package of cookies on the seat between them. The lady couldn’t believe the man’s nerve, but soon the announcement came to board the plane. Once the woman was aboard, still angry at the man’s audacity and puzzling over the incident, she reached into her purse for a tissue and found her still-unopened package of cookies. This story is a reminder that sometimes we read situations and people wrongly. That’s why we need the reminder from the Lord to always be loving in our relationships. Matthew 7 provides us 3 words that fill in what the Lord means when he tells us to love each other.

There is a story of a wealthy woman who, when she reached heaven, was led to a very plain house. She objected and asked, “Whose is that fine mansion across the way?” Her guide replied, “It belongs to your gardener.” She said, “How is it that he has a house so much better than mine?” The answer, “The houses here are prepared from the materials that are sent up. You choose them by your acts of faith while on earth.” Now, that’s probably not how it is really going to go when we get to Heaven, but the story bears some truth about the “treasures” we accumulate, doesn’t it? It alerts us as to why Jesus has commanded us to invest in Kingdom possessions, not worldly ones. In Matthew 6, Jesus has 4 lessons for us on this topic.

When people first put their faith in Jesus, they usually don’t know how to pray. Sometimes listening to others can add to their confusion. For example, they hear someone waxing eloquently on and on in a deep voice that’s different from their normal voice, and another person ecstatically uttering unintelligible words with no grammar, syntax, or vocabulary, and still another reading a prayer from a piece of paper. They wonder, “God, how you want me to pray?” The good news for everyone is that Jesus has commanded us to pray a certain way and it is recorded in Matthew 6. It has four answers to the question, “How does God want us to pray?”

Western civilization has been greatly influenced by the altruistic thinking of Immanuel Kant. If you never read anything he has written, it is important for you to know, that you have likely still been influenced by him, particularly on the connection between faith and reward. He said, “An action, to have moral worth, must be done from duty.” That stands in stark contrast to the teaching of Jesus. The Lord has promised to reward us, and therefore, approves wholeheartedly of us being motivated to obey him for reward. Matthew 6 touches on 3 religious practices that were the most common in Christ’s day, and Jesus assures everyone that they will be reward for them if they practice them in the way he instructs.

The United States has some really odd laws. For example, in Arkansas, honking your horn near a sandwich shop after 9 p.m. is against the law. In Topeka, Kansas, it is illegal to sing the alphabet out on the street at night. These, and others, all reflect the desire to control specific outward behaviors. Religious leaders in Jesus’ day had that desire too, and it resulted in laws like…spitting on the ground was forbidden on the Sabbath because it might disturb the dirt, which was equated with plowing. Jesus is different than religion like that. He insisted that law keeping is a matter of the heart. Matthew 5:21-48 describes his law, but more so, contains 5 descriptions of the heart that Jesus commands us to cultivate as Christians so that we are more virtuous like God.

God is Not Great! Thus, declared the former atheist Christopher Hitchens in the title of his 2007 book, which was a case against the greatness of God. The adjective, former is appropriate, not because he became a theist, but because he died on December 15, 2011. Certainly, he is no longer an atheist. Surely, God is now proving to him that his thesis was wrong. Matthew 5:17-20 is meant to have that effect on us, during our Earthly life before we die. Though many may not see it in those four verses, they communicate that Jesus is a great King who deserves our life. This passage has 3 aspects of what he has done that warrant us giving our lives to him.

In 1999, there was a science fiction film released called the Matrix. The main character is a software programmer known in the computer hacking world as Neo. He investigated a mystery called the Matrix, and his search led him to a man named Morpheus. Morpheus offered Neo a choice: swallow a red pill to see the truth or swallow a blue to forget everything and return to normal life. Neo chose the red pill, and it revealed to him what was really going on. The Kingdom of Heaven is a bit like that. We walk around every day seeing what see but there’s an unseen world beyond what our eyes can see. In Matthew 5:1-16, Christ reveals 3 “red pill” actions for us to take in order to participate in the unseen Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

Way back in the 1700’s in England, a pastor named Henry was riding a horse on a road to preach at church when he came into another rider’s company. After conversing on several different subjects, the stranger, looking in Henry’s face, said, “Sir, I think you are on the wrong side of fifty?” “On the wrong side of fifty!” Henry replied. “No, sir, I am on the right side of fifty.” “Surely,” the stranger said, “you must have turned fifty already?” “Yes, sir,” added Henry, “but I am on the right side of fifty, for every year I live I am nearer to glory.” Revelation 21:9-27 has 4 glorious descriptions of Christian destiny beyond death so that we can all have that same attitude.

Two buddies went on vacation in upstate NY and decided to stop to see Niagara Falls. As they gazed over the edge where the rapids went over the cliff and saw the massive cloud of mist and heard the incredibly loud sounds that are constantly there, one of them said, “This must be the most untapped power in the entire world.” The other replied, “I think the most untapped power in the world is the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit, who is a person, not just a power, has so much more power to be used in our lives than we are currently using. Acts 1:1-8 explains how God has granted you the dynamic spiritual energy for 3 tasks in your Christian life.

When he was getting his haircut, a pastor talked to the barber about being saved by Jesus. The barber responded, “I do my best and that’s enough for me.” After the haircut was over, the pastor got up, and when the next man was seated in the chair, asked, “May I cut this customer’s hair?” “No, you mustn’t,” replied the barber. “But I would do my best,” answered the pastor. “So you might,” the barber replied, “but your best would not be good enough for this gentleman.” The pastor responded, “No, and neither is your best good enough for God.” Good Friday is a reminder to us that we don’t get right with God because we do our best for him. That’s not good enough because we are sinners. John 19 has 2 statements regarding the salvation that Jesus provides.

When he was getting his haircut, a pastor talked to the barber about being saved by Jesus. The barber responded, “I do my best and that’s enough for me.” After the haircut was over, the pastor got up, and when the next man was seated in the chair, asked, “May I cut this customer’s hair?” “No, you mustn’t,” replied the barber. “But I would do my best,” answered the pastor. “So you might,” the barber replied, “but your best would not be good enough for this gentleman.” The pastor responded, “No, and neither is your best good enough for God.” Good Friday is a reminder to us that we don’t get right with God because we do our best for him. That’s not good enough because we are sinners. John 19 has 2 statements regarding the salvation that Jesus provides.

In the early 1900’s, the Standard Oil Company was preparing to establish itself in Indonesia. Company executives sought a manager for their Indonesian operations. They were informed that the man best qualified for the place was a certain missionary. Their offer of a salary to him was enormous, but he declined. After more offers were turned down, finally they said, “Just name your salary.” “Oh,” he replied, “the salary is big enough, but the job isn’t!” That man had a firm grip on something that nags at all our souls as Christians. We know that we are called to be involved in something greater than our regular work – the mission of Jesus. Matthew 28:16-20 explains the 3 ways we can do that.

Most tombstones at cemeteries share some things in common like the name of the person, their birthdate and death date, and some words of tribute like “Loving husband and devoted father,” or “Much loved wife to John and mother to James and Daniel,” or “Beloved daughter, forever young, forever beautiful,” or “Our son, always in our hearts.” What do you want etched in stone on your tomb? What message do you want to send out from your grave? There is a tombstone outside of Sydney, New York, with no name on it, and no dates. It just has a one-word inscription, merely three syllables: “FORGIVEN.” That’s worthy of consideration for all Christians as Luke 23:33-49 describes 3 wonderful truths about the forgiveness of Jesus.

In his book Miracle on the River Kwai, author Ernest Gordon retold a true story about POW’s in WWII. During one work detail, a shovel was missing, and the guard put all the prisoners in a line, threatening to kill everyone until the person who stole it stepped forward. As the guard cocked his rifle and pointed it at the head of the last person in line, another man stepped forward, stood at attention, and said calmly, “I did it.” After he was subsequently beaten to death, the prisoners picked up his body, shouldered their tools, and marched back to the camp. When the tools were counted again at the guardhouse, no shovel was missing. He died to save everyone. When we hear stories like that, we are inspired and think, “I want to be like that guy.” But where do we get that kind of courage? Matthew 17:1-13 addresses 3 fears that are common to all people and shows how Jesus provides the courage we need to face these 3 fears.

One day long ago, a church goer asked his pastor how he was doing. The pastor replied that he was overloaded, but he said it with a smile. Puzzled, and still with some concern, the man asked a follow up question, simply, “Overloaded, pastor?” The pastor responded, “Overloaded with all the blessings of God!” What a great attitude that is. To walk around in life, counting your blessings every day. But sometimes that’s a challenge. Some days or even seasons of life, we just don’t feel blessed. It’s hard to consistently maintain the attitude that pastor had, isn’t it? To encourage us, especially in those times, Matthew 5:1-12 proclaims 4 truths about the abundance blessing there is for anyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ.

For most of my childhood and teenage years, I was going through an Identity Crisis, struggling to find myself and my place. I know many people struggle, because of their culture, upbringing, environment and other influences of the world, and lose sight of who God created us to be. I am using the imagery of India, the most populous nation in the world as a visual of being lost in a crowd of billions. It can be scary and we can wear masks to look one way on the outside while struggling on the inside. I will share various masks that I wore throughout my life as I struggled with figuring out who I was. Then I learned who God is and who I now am I Christ.

Perspective changes everything. What appears safe at first glance may, in reality, be far more dangerous when viewed from another angle. In Genesis 3:1-24, the story of Adam and Eve reveals how temptation can be deceptive, sin carries consequences, and how Jesus offers redemption. Join us as we explore how to stay rooted in God’s Word, establish healthy boundaries, and trust Christ as our ultimate Savior.

In today's message, we're taking a journey to Antarctica, a place most wouldn't think to visit due to its harsh, icy conditions and isolation. This remote continent might feel unimaginable, much like anxiety—a place we never expect to find ourselves, until it becomes our reality.In 2010, after the birth of our first child, anxiety took hold of me. Juggling work, finances, and the pressure to provide, I began to fear losing control. The panic attacks were overwhelming, driven by "what ifs" and the fear of failure. I realized my trust was in myself, not in God.Through a powerful moment of reflection, I knew I needed to shift my trust from myself to God. Just like King David in Psalm 139, we can find comfort in knowing that God understands our deepest fears and walks with us through our anxieties. We’re never truly alone.

When Ronald Reagan was a kid, his aunt took him to a cobbler to buy a new pair of shoes. At the shop, the cobbler asked him, “Do you want square toes or round toes?” Unable to decide, Reagan didn’t answer, so the shoemaker replied, “Your shoes will be ready in a couple of days.” When the future president returned, the cobbler handed him one square-toed shoe and one round-toed shoe. Reagan said later, “I learned right then and there, if you don’t make your own decisions, someone else will.” This is true in the Christian life. To be passive about your life means you will become a person the world wants you to be. 1 Kings 18 has 3 truths to strengthen our resolve to become the people God wants us to be.

A missionary by the name of Aretta Loving was washing her dishes when she saw Jimmy, the five-year-old neighbor, headed straight toward the back porch. “Come around to the front door, Jimmy,” she shouted. “There’s wet paint on the porch rails.” “I’ll be careful,” Jimmy replied, not turning from his path. “Jimmy, stop!” Aretta shouted. “I don’t want carefulness. I want obedience!” As the words burst from her mouth, she thought to herself, “How often am I like Jimmy! I rationalize that I will be careful as I proceed with my own plans and sometimes flirt with sin. But God doesn’t want carefulness. He wants obedience.” Deuteronomy 11:26-32 describes our need for consequences, containing 4 principles we can apply to our life in order to obey God more.

If you set aside a glass of clean water, put a little waste in it and left it undisturbed for a few days, the particles would settle to the bottom of the glass so that the water would begin to look drinkable. However, we all know that it would still be dangerous to drink, even though it appeared safe. If you took a sterile spoon and stirred the water, it would become readily evident that the water was not clean. God’s law is a bit like the sterile spoon. We need it to know what we are dealing with regarding sin. Exodus 20:1-21 gives us 3 purposes of God’s law in our lives as it relates to sin.

When a young man was studying to become a pastor, he went to hear him preach and spoke to him afterwards. He said, “I confessed that I was not quite sure that I was saved.” Moody responded with words that helped the young man through that insecurity. We all have experiences like that. It is common to feel insecure in your relationship with God. In Exodus 3, Moses met God on Mt Horeb, and he was feeling quite insecure. He needed assurance and the Lord gave him 5 reasons why he could be assured. All of those reasons were because of God, not because of Moses, and they are for us too.

The story is told of a politician who, after receiving the proofs of a portrait, was very angry with the photographer. He stormed back to the photographer and arrived with these angry words: “This picture does not do me justice!” The photographer replied, “Sir, with a face like yours, you don’t need justice, you need mercy!” We all need mercy, don’t we? Not just for our looks, but for our souls. And not just from each other, but from God himself. In Genesis 22, God met Abraham on a mountain. The story plays out in 4 acts that reveal how God has the mercy we all need in Jesus Christ.