The Refuge Church

There is a stark contrast between the relentless, compassionate heart of God and the self-centered heart of man. It’s entirely possible to carry out God’s will while completely missing His heart. In the story of Jonah we uncover how our anger exposes what we treasure most, why God’s disruptions are actually divine invitations, and how to embrace God's heart for the "Nineveh" in our own lives.

In a world filled with endless distractions and competing demands, it’s easy to let our activity for God replace our intimacy with Him. In Luke 10:38–42 the story of Mary and Martha reveals what authentic discipleship really looks like and teaches us how to move from exhaustion and resentment into a life marked by presence, worship, and fruitful service.

Through the life of Elijah, we see that God’s protection is often found in learning to rest in Him. When exhaustion caused Elijah to lose perspective, God restored him through rest and positioned him to hear the gentle whisper that would guide his next assignment. We must learn to slow down, surrender our striving, and make room to hear God’s voice so that we can walk in His purposes rather than being driven by our own strength.

Through the life of Elijah, we see that God’s provision does not always look the way we expect it to. When the brook dries up, it does not mean God has abandoned us—it may mean He is leading us into a new assignment. We are called to trust His timing, remain faithful when the answer does not make sense, and believe that every miracle and every season is preparing us for what God has next.

Solomon's journey reminds us that wisdom, wealth, pleasure, and accomplishment can never satisfy the deepest longing of the human heart. God alone gives life its meaning, calling us to trust His character, release our need for control, and live each day in reverence, gratitude, and obedience to Him.

God is seeking those who will hold a posture that develops a life of true worship. A life of wholehearted worship is not what we bring, but through intentional preparation, seeking God's presence, practicing humility and repentance, and committing to daily obedience.

Throughout 1 Kings, we see that God is always at work accomplishing His purposes, even when circumstances seem uncertain. While the world places confidence in power, position, and influence, God looks for humble hearts that seek His wisdom and follow His direction. When we trust His leadership, align ourselves with His plans, and walk in obedience, we can live with confidence knowing that His glory will ultimately prevail.

Throughout 1 Kings, we see that God is always at work accomplishing His purposes, even when circumstances seem uncertain. While the world places confidence in power, position, and influence, God looks for humble hearts that seek His wisdom and follow His direction. When we trust His leadership, align ourselves with His plans, and walk in obedience, we can live with confidence knowing that His glory will ultimately prevail.

Despite being a man after God's own heart, David made some major mistakes. One of his biggest moments of failure, continued to reap consequences in the life of his family.

Following God requires more than relying on past experiences or familiar strategies. Through David’s story, we see that every season demands fresh dependence on the Holy Spirit, complete obedience, and trust in God’s perfect timing. When we listen for His voice and cling to His promises, we can overcome old battles and walk confidently in His purpose.

Through the life of Saul, we see how God anoints, empowers, and transforms people for His purposes, but also how that anointing can be hindered through disobedience, compromise, and neglect of God’s presence. God provides the anointing. It is up to us to protect it through obedience, intimacy with the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, and unity so that God’s power can continue to flow through our lives.

Belonging to God means accepting his power to transform you. In the story of Micah we see that claiming God outwardly does not overshadow a private life that denies Him. We cannot replace repentance and pursuit of intimacy with God with outward actions of what it looks like to be a part of Christian culture.

Saul’s life shows how a heart can slowly grow hard through fear, disobedience, pride, and ignoring God’s voice, while David’s life shows that a heart after God is shaped by humility, obedience, repentance, and trusting God’s timing. In the end, we all have a choice: we can either harden our hearts through compromise or grow closer to God by continually seeking, trusting, and surrendering to Him.

In the story of Gideon, God shows us how He uses ordinary and seemingly weak people to accomplish extraordinary things through the power of His Spirit. Even in hardship and fear, God sees potential beyond our circumstances and gives strength to those who trust Him. Hardship does not define the faith of a believer, because we can rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.

This very special day is set apart to honor and celebrate the women that have cared for us, nurtured us, and magnified God’s love in our lives. We invited three women, all in different seasons of life and experience, to share wisdom and perspective. The result was timeless and beautiful.

Culture holds gravity. It governs the decisions and behaviors of entire societies. God has specifically defined a culture for His people. We have a choice in whether we will be pulled by the gravity of a culture of ‘my best life now’, or centered in the standard God has set for the inhabitants of His kingdom. One leads to compromise and the other abundant life.

What we do in the wilderness will impact our legacy. Just because you can’t change the outcome doesn’t mean you’re excused from obedience. Moses repeatedly interceded on behalf of the people of Israel. He remained faithful to his assignment, even when he knew he would not see the dream of crossing into the promised land fulfilled. Faithfulness is proven most when the outcome no longer benefits you. We may not personally reach all of our dreams, but we can help prepare others to reach theirs. Our greatest legacy is not what we build—it’s who we build.

When God gives us a promise, He also gives us a plan of preparation for receiving all of the potential for that promise. He is a God of order and He requires purity from us, both individually and corporately, so that we can remain in His covering, receive His blessings abundantly, and avoid the traps of our enemy. Not only are His promises perfect, but so is His plan.

Much of life has ups and downs, But when we fully commit our lives to God, he will fill us with his peace. It is not by our might or by our power but by His spirit. We should not be easily swayed by our fleeting feelings but should stand firm in Gods character that never changes.

Everything in the book of Leviticus points to the work that Jesus has done to allow us to now have personal relationship with God. It also reveals the posture our hearts should hold in worship, consecration, and gratitude as we approach Him. In an extensive list of do’s and don’ts given to Israel, we find an invitation to community with our holy God through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Holy order brings heavenly outpourings. God has a plan and it’s so important that we follow his directions and lead. Our lives consist of chaos without alignment with him. Everything we need is found in his presence, and his instructions are an invitation to greater intimacy with him.

In their season of wandering in the desert, God provided every need for the Israelites. This taught a generation that they could rely on the Lord. Despite God’s faithfulness, they often allowed their flesh to cause them to complain. This should challenge us to recognize where we have allowed ourselves to lack in thankfulness towards the Lord.

What does true redemption look like? In true redemption, God provides what we cannot produce on our own. We do not deserve His mercy and we can never earn it, but He gives it to us freely and engraves His character into our hearts. He removes the anchors of our past, makes us new, and positions us to bless others through the gift of our own redemption.

God always keeps his word and keeps His promises moving forward throughout time. A delay does not mean a denial or defeat. Fulfillment is not on our timing, but on His, based on his sovereignty and wisdom, and they are not subject to our consistency, or to the laws of logic and nature. God’s promises are fully based on His character.

Our faith journey requires us to trust God even when He’s asking us to do things that don’t make sense. In the story of Abraham, we are shown the difference between belief and trust, which demonstrates truly walking out real faith.

Faithful living values integrity over outcome. It means even if we suffer, or even if God is silent, we will not sin to survive. We choose to trust his character when we don’t understand his plan. It’s okay to lose rewards the on earth in order to keep the reward He will give you for living faithfully. The prize of suffering is not answers, but transformation.

The book of Job addresses the problem of pain and contains deep insights into the nature of God. It does not answer why God allows suffering, but reveals to us that God can be trusted with our pain and suffering, because He has experienced it with us.

We begin this new year by inviting the Holy Spirit to move over that which is unformed or lacks order in our lives, as He demonstrated in the opening of Genesis. In chapters 1 through 11 we unfold the formation of creation, the fall of man, and we are introduced to the faithfulness of God. 

We were built to have the tangible glory of God touch us. It is not our prayers, our discipline, or knowing the right scripture that heals and delivers. It is the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit alone that brings the realities of heaven to earth, which is why reaching for the presence of God should be our greatest desire if we want to witness change in the lives around us.

Throughout the bible, God gives us examples of times when he has called his people to be creative in their strategies. In 2026 God is calling us into a closer following through new strategies.

The number of prophecies foretelling the coming of Jesus - his life, death, resurrection, and return - is astounding. For every prophecy on the first coming of Christ, which were all fulfilled, there are eight on his second coming. At Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our savior, we also look with hope, certainty, and anticipation to His return.

Isaiah 9:6-7 - “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Roughly 700-800 years before Jesus was born, Isaiah tells us exactly who our savior will be and the power His name will hold.This Christmas season let us rediscover the wonder of who He is.