Filled With Messages

We all know that how we talk to others matters. But how often do we think about how we talk to Jesus and God. Listen in to explore how to expand and improve our conversations with God.

There are a plethora of stories that tell us who we are. Much of the time, we choose to focus on the negative stories. But God wants us to lean into the stories that lead us to life.

Life is filled with scary situations, proverbial lions' dens. Although it may seem that we are all alone, God is always with us, filling us with the courage to persevere.

All humans need encouragement to survive and thrive. Christians are repeatedly called throughout scripture to be the hype men of our family, friends, neighbors, schoolmates, co-workers, even strangers. Listen in to hear more about our call to be encouragers.

Life is better when we're part of a team, but being part of a team can be a challenge. Today's scripture shares some wisdom about best practices for teams.

When life is hard, it's easy to feel defeated. Reframing difficult seasons as having work to do can help us give ourselves a little more grace as we journey through them.

Olympic athletes have incredible training regimens. While we might not need to be so intense, training and being goal oriented is a wise way to live. In today's scripture passages, we're encouraged to run, train, strain for the goals God places in our lives.

Joy can be so allusive some days. Life can be filled with so much tragedy and trouble that joy can seem inappropriate or inauthentic. But God gave us the gift of joy to help us through the stresses of life. Relaxing into it leads us to God's peace, healing, and hope.

In the movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, one of Ferris's goals is to help a friend who's struggling. In today's scripture passage, we hear the story of three different people who in their own unique ways helped someone who was in trouble. Their actions (and Ferris's!) can give us some ideas about we can be a helper to those having a hard time.

How do we know someone's character? How can we discern who to let into our hearts and lives? A story from 1 Samuel can give us some ideas.

It's so hard to know when it's time to get out of the way. In this message, we hear the story of someone from the Bible who struggled with doing just that. Hopefully by listening to his story, we can do so with more grace.

Most of us have a judgmental attitude at least from time to time. Today's scripture text reminds us to be curious, not judgmental. In doing so, we follow in Christ's footsteps.

Life is filled with boring, mundane, ordinary moments, even seasons. God's grace is with us in those times as well as the extraordinary ones. How can we learn to be more attuned to God's grace in all our days?

When we are experiencing ends in our lives, it's normal to struggle, to find it hard to be hopeful. Jesus' promise is that God will not leave us in the ends of our lives, but will bring beautiful new things out of them.

How we live and move and have our being in this world effects not just us and those closest to us. It affects the whole world. As Christians, we're invited to follow Jesus' model of being full of generosity, empathy, kindness. But how do we do this in a world that feels like it's filled with more and more chaos and hatred? Listen in to hear more.

In scripture, we are repeatedly encouraged to walk in God's love. What are some practices that help us do so?

Forgiveness is often hard and complex. At the same time, it's something Christians think they should be able to do easily. How can we give ourselves grace when we are struggling to forgive?

One of the things Christians celebrate at Easter is that God is all about resurrection. Not only did God bring Jesus back to life, but God brings us back to life, too. Listen in to hear how God does this.

Just like us, Jesus had good days and bad days. The ways Jesus approached the hard days can help us better navigate them when they come our way.

Just like many of us, at times Jesus struggled with self-care. In looking at his example we are reminded of the importance of taking care of ourselves.

Boundaries are important parts of healthy relationships, but they can be tricky to manage. Jesus modeled healthy boundaries. Following his example can help us navigate their complexities.

Most of us are thirsty for genuine and meaningful connection. How can Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan Woman help us build useful skills for connecting well with others?

When life's storms are upon us, it can be hard to let go and have faith. But Jesus modeled napping in the midst of life's storms. He encouraged us to trust God to take care of us while we get some much needed rest.

Growing older isn't always fun. There are stages and seasons of life when the aging process is a challenge. Following Jesus' example can help us weather these storms, maturing gracefully in mind, body, and heart throughout our days

Many days we feel like zombies wandering thoughtlessly and aimlessly through life. But God wants more and better for us. How can we follow Jesus to a full life, an abundant life?

We live in a multitasking, juggle it all world. But balance is essential to our wellbeing. Perhaps Jesus' example can show us some steps can we take to make sure our priorities don't get lost in all the demands we face.

Most of us know the importance of using our words gently and kindly. But there are times in life when a stern word is necessary. How do we know when it's appropriate to speak a stern word? Today's scripture text offers us some insight.

It's easy to judge people by what we see on the surface. Jesus invites us to a different way, a way of seeing beyond the masks most of us wear. A way of witnessing the beauty and truth of ourselves and each other.

God is always placing signs in our lives that lead us to grace, peace, healing, love. How do we tune into those signs so that we can be closer to God every day?

There's so much that wants to rob us of hope, but God is always bringing light into our darkness. So when we do have hope, it's important for us to sing it loud and clear for all to hear.

Many of us are stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, wearied by all life throws at us. God calls us to lay aside the pressures of life for awhile by finding joy and peace when we connect with others.

Weariness is such a familiar feeling to many of us that when God tries to gift us with hope and joy we completely miss it. How can we acknowledge our weariness while at the same time open ourselves to God's goodness to us?

We all know that being thankful is important. Yet it's easy to forget to give thanks. Why? What gets in our way of being grateful, especially to God? Listen in to hear more.

Some days the violence and destruction in our world can feel overwhelming and hopeless. How does God invite us to bring peace to this broken world of ours?

Most of us have habits, behaviors, patterns we would like to change so that we can experience and share more of God's freedom, joy, peace. But doing so can be very hard. How can we work together with God to free ourselves of no longer helpful habits?

Having safe homes (both physical and relational) is so important to our wellbeing. Scripture teaches God is one of our safe homes. But what does that mean? Listen in to learn more.

Forgiveness is essential to our wellbeing. It's also a cornerstone of our faith. But it can be so hard. How can following God's example help us learn to forgive?

Life is so often filled with pain and burdens. How can we follow Jesus' lead and lighten the loads others bear.

Scripture tells us that animals have things to teach us. More specifically, they have wisdom to share with us about the ways God cares for them and us. Listen in to hear more.

Scripture calls us to love God with our whole beings. But how do we do that? What might it look like in practical terms? Listen in to hear more.

God often calls us to go, to move, to shift our locations, our attitudes, our beliefs so that more people can experience God's blessings. But going and changing is hard for many of us and we will face difficulties along the way. Listen in to hear a scripture story that will build our faith that God is always with us along the way.

All of us face new beginnings from time to time. How does God approach new beginnings and how might following God's lead help us when we are in these situations?

How do we keep trusting God, believing in God's faithfulness even when life is full of pain and suffering?

God asked Joshua to be strong and courageous as he led the Israelites through a season of exponential change. Listen in to hear more about how we can be strong and courageous when we are experiencing change.

Our words have incredible power to do both harm and good. How can we learn to harness them to bring Christ's light and healing into the world?

Sometimes life seems like one long downward spiral to death. But along the way, God invites us to find joy in the good stuff of life.

Scripture employs metaphors to help us understand God better. In today's text, the author speaks of God being like a Mama Bear defending and protecting her cubs. Listen in to learn more.

Along our life's journeys, we encounter surprises. Some are good, others less so. Learning to lean into the surprises helps us be more agile, more gracious, more open to the movement of the Holy Spirit.

It's easier than ever to isolate ourselves from new people, but God's call is to open ourselves to others so that everyone can receive God's grace and love and hope.

At times we have to leave the people, places, and things that feel like home. Learning to trust God always goes with us helps us make it through the anxiety and fear when we have to do so.

Some days it's really hard to believe Jesus was raised from the dead or that his resurrection matters today. On those days, how do we keep trusting God?