Speak Life Church

Takeaway: God does not rush His work, and He never abandons His people. The same hand that allows a season of struggle is the hand that lifts you in due time. • 1 Peter 5:6 — "Humble yourselves… that He may exalt you in due time." • Galatians 6:9 — "In due time we will reap, if we do not give up."

In the Bible, "other gods" refers to anything—spiritual, cultural, or man‑made—that people treat as divine, trust as ultimate, or obey as if it has the authority of God.   Every generation thinks idolatry is ancient history—stone statues, carved poles, temples in far‑off lands. But the Bible is wiser than we are. It knows the human heart never stops creating gods. Not with chisels and hammers, but with desires, fears, and misplaced trust.   When God says, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3), He isn't just talking about Baal, Molech, or Asherah. He's talking about the subtle rivals that creep into our lives today.   This sermon explores what the Bible means by other gods—and how God calls us back to Himself.

  The God who sees, slows, redirects, and teaches:  • Genesis 16:13 — El Roi, the God who sees • Deuteronomy 8:2 — God leads the long way to teach • Psalm 23 — He slows you to restore you • Proverbs 16:9 — God directs your steps • Psalm 37:23 — Ordered steps, not rushed steps

The World Is Loud, but Grace Is Stronger   Negativity has a way of filling the air like static. It's on the news, in conversations, in the quiet corners of our own minds. But the believer's hope is not built on the world's volume — it's built on God's character. Staying positive is not pretending everything is fine. It's remembering Who holds you when everything is shaking. Grace is not just a doctrine. Grace is oxygen for the soul.   "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." — 2 Corinthians 12:9    

The heart of this message is simple but sharp: the Christ you display publicly must match the Christ you embody privately. Jesus warned that some will say, "But didn't I heal in Your name?" and He will answer, "Away from Me… I never knew you." The danger isn't in failing publicly — it's in performing publicly while failing privately. Matthew 7:22–23    

Family, if you live long enough, you learn something: Life does not move in a straight line. It moves in cycles — emotional cycles, spiritual cycles, generational cycles, historical cycles. Solomon looked at the world and said: "Generations come and generations go… the sun rises and the sun sets… the wind blows… the streams flow… what has been will be again." (Ecclesiastes 1:4‑9)   He wasn't being cynical. He was being honest. He was telling us that life repeats itself — and if we don't understand the cycles, we will misinterpret the seasons. Some of you are in a season right now that feels unfamiliar, but it's not. It's part of the rhythm of being human. And God, in His wisdom, teaches us how to live inside the cycle without losing hope.

Worshipping God the Way You Are Wired Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 16:4–7, Psalm 73 Introducing Asaph   We often think worship only happens when we sing on Sunday mornings. But true worship is much larger than a musical style or a church service. It is a lifestyle of honoring God using exactly how He built you. In the Old Testament, King David established a massive worship operation for the Ark of the Covenant. He did not just hire random volunteers. He appointed a man named Asaph as the chief worship leader. Asaph was not just a singer; he was a leader, a writer, and a visionary. Like Asaph, we can worship God in everything we do by using the unique ways He has wired us and the opportunities He has given us to honor Him and make Him known.

The phrase "God won't put more on you than you can handle" is not Scripture. It's a comforting cliché, but it's not a biblical promise. The Bible teaches something far more honest and far more hopeful: God meets you in the moments that exceed your strength. Most people are misquoting -  1 Corinthians 10:13 — but that verse is about temptation, not suffering.  God provides a way of escape when you're tempted.

"Your buddy needs your prayers. Your buddy needs your presence. Your buddy needs your faith. And God has placed you in their circle so His love can reach them through you."   ~kenn blanchard 

A message about gratitude, witness, and the courage to live your faith in the open. "Gratitude Has a Rhythm" Some people thank God like it's a reaction. Some thank Him like it's a routine. But the believer is called to thank Him like it's a lifestyle.   Thanksgiving is not what you do after God blesses you — it's how you live because He already has.

The power of Psalm 23:4 is not in the valley, not in the shadow, not in the fear — it is in the through. You are not stuck. You are not abandoned. You are not finished. You are walking through with a God who refuses to leave your side.

Psalm 71:9 — "Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone."   "There is a loneliness that doesn't come because you've done anything wrong. It comes because you've lived long enough. The children have grown. Friends have moved away—or passed away. Retirement has changed your routine. The house is quieter. The phone rings less often. And somewhere along the way, a man who spent decades taking care of everyone else discovers that he is sitting alone with his thoughts. The hardest part is that good men rarely talk about it. They keep mowing the lawn. They go to church. They smile when people ask, 'How are you?' They tell everyone they're doing fine. But in the quiet moments, they wonder, 'Does anyone still need me? Does my life still matter? Has God forgotten me?' If that's you today, or if you love someone who quietly carries that burden, I want you to hear this before we go any further: Your loneliness may be real, but it is not the final word. God has not abandoned you. The same God who walked with you through your strongest years will walk with you through your quietest ones. Today, we're going to talk about The Loneliness of Good Men—and the God who never leaves an empty chair unoccupied.

David's family reminds us that even godly people have troubled homes. Our hope is not found in having a perfect family, but in serving a perfect Savior who brings grace, healing, and redemption into broken homes. That truth is perhaps the greatest lesson from David's house: God's covenant faithfulness outlasted David's family failures. It gives hope to every parent, every spouse, every child, and every believer who has ever wondered whether God can still work through a messy family.

The Weight We Carry We all carry something—grief, anxiety, regret, fear, or burdens no one else can see. But God never intended for us to carry them alone. In this episode of Broken & Believing, Rev. Kenn Blanchard explores the powerful promise of 1 Peter 5:7: "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." Discover what it truly means to surrender your burdens to Christ and find peace in the God who genuinely cares for you. Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

"I Wanna Praise God Like Caleb" Because only an old man knows what it really means to see God keep His word.   POINT 1 — PRAISE THAT SURVIVES THE YEARS POINT 2 — PRAISE THAT OUTLIVES DISAPPOINTMENT POINT 3 — PRAISE THAT STILL HAS STRENGTH IN IT POINT 4 — PRAISE THAT KNOWS GOD IS NOT DONE   Numbers 13:6, 13:30, 14:24 Joshua `4:11, 14-15   God Is James Cleveland & The Southern California Community Choir      Thank you,   Kenn   

Count on God A Sermon from the Valley, for the Valley, by the God Who Never Leaves the Valley and a Psalm at the end.  Thank you.  Kenn 

  https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/92878792-faith-is-not-a-feeling-by-rev-kenn-blanchard   A sermon for the days when emotions wobble but God remains steady   Takeaway   The heart of the message: Faith is strongest when it stops depending on how you feel and starts depending on who God is. Feelings shift. God doesn't.

let me know what you think of the Psalm.    Kenn 

People think pastors, evangelists, and preachers just open the Bible and start talking. But you and I know better.   There are days I sit with God and say, "Lord… what do You want me to say to Your people today?"   And sometimes the hardest part isn't writing the sermon — it's wrestling with the fear that I might say too much, or not enough, or something that touches nobody, or something that glorifies me instead of Him.   And on the days when that fear wins… there is no episode. There is no sermon. There is only silence. Because I refuse to speak if He hasn't spoken....

"When Hope Slips Through Your Fingers"   TEXTS:   • Psalm 42:5 • 2 Corinthians 1:8–10 • Lamentations 3:19–24 • Luke 24:13–35   Kenn Blanchard 

THE WORSHIP THAT HEALS — PART 4 Psalm 34:18 (NIV), "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit," is a biblical promise emphasizing divine presence and comfort during times of deep emotional pain, loss, or distress. It reassures that God is near to, rather than distant from, those suffering and actively works to heal and restore them.    Key Interpretations of Psalm 34:18:  Proximity in Pain: God is not far away when life is difficult, but draws closer to those with broken hearts. Active Salvation: He does not merely witness the pain, but "saves" or rescues those who are crushed and have lost hope. Comfort for the Humble: The verse speaks to those with a "contrite" or humble spirit, offering hope to those who feel at the end of their rope. Context of Trouble: In the wider context of Psalm 34:17–19, this passage emphasizes that while the righteous may face many troubles, the Lord is listening and delivers them.      Scripture II  • John 14:15 — "If you love Me, keep My commandments." • James 1:22 — "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only…" • Isaiah 1:19 — "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land."   Shalom, Kenn 

The Worship of Surrender"   Texts:   • Romans 12:1 — "Present your bodies a living sacrifice…" • Matthew 11:28–30 — "Come to Me… and I will give you rest." • 2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."     https://blusician.substack.com    Kenn 

  • Psalm 51:6 — "You desire truth in the inward parts." • Mark 9:24 — "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." • Psalm 34:18 — "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted."   There's a kind of worship that doesn't need a microphone. It doesn't need a Hammond B3. It doesn't need a choir or a praise team.   It's the worship that happens when you finally tell God the truth.   Not the church truth. Not the rehearsed truth. Not the "I'm blessed and highly favored" truth.   I'm talking about the real truth. The truth you don't post. The truth you don't testify about. The truth you don't want anybody to see. The truth that lives in the inward parts. God says, "That's what I want." Because God can't heal what you pretend isn't hurting.

I decided to interrupt my own series for Holy Week.  He is the reason for the season, right?  Check out this biblical history perspective of the man we know as Jesus of Nazareth.   Feel free to share and discuss.  Kenn 

  • 1 John 4:19 — We love Him because He first loved us. • Psalm 46:10 — Be still, and know that I am God. • Zephaniah 3:17 — He will rejoice over you with singing. • Romans 5:8 — While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

"THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY"   Scripture: Galatians 6:9–10; John 13:34–35   https://open.substack.com/pub/blusician/p/the-missed-opportunity?r=5x6a64&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true    

Sovereign and Near: The God Who Knows My Situation Texts: Psalm 139:1–5; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 121:3–5; Hebrews 4:16; Genesis 16:7–13

Don't Walk Away From the Mirror - James 1:23-24    There's a certain kind of honesty that only shows up when you're standing in front of a mirror. Not the mirror you check before you leave the house. I'm talking about the mirror that tells the truth. The mirror that doesn't care about your title, your age, your résumé, or your excuses. The mirror that shows you you.   James says that hearing God's Word without doing anything about it is like looking in that mirror, seeing something wrong, and then walking away like you didn't see a thing.   And family… we've all done it.  

Moved the Youtube channel to @revkennblanchard Psalm 90:12 whispers into that space: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Welcome all my new friends here.   https://www.kennspodcast.com  Psalm 34:18 — "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." If God is close to the brokenhearted, then being brokenhearted is not a disqualification. It's a location where He meets us.   Shalom baby,  Kenn 

Psalm 23:4  Family, everybody loves to talk about worship on the mountaintop. When the sun is shining, the bills are paid, the body feels strong, and the future looks bright — oh, we know how to worship then.   But the older I get, the more I realize: the deepest worship doesn't come from the mountain. It comes from the valley.

Proverbs 19:11 — "A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense."

"Written, Chosen, and Still Becoming"   Scripture Reading: Psalm 139:1–16; Romans 7:15–25; Psalm 34:18

"Lessons From the Tight Place: When God Teaches You Through Family Pressure"   Genesis 37 • 1 Samuel 16–19 • Mark 3:21 • 2 Corinthians 4:8

Every one of us knows what it feels like to love people who don't always love us back. Some of the deepest wounds don't come from strangers — they come from kinfolk. People who share our blood but not our values. People who take our time, drain our peace, and expect access without accountability.   The Bible does not hide this reality. It speaks honestly about takers, users, manipulators, and relatives who bring strife instead of peace.   Today's message is not about bitterness. It's about clarity, wisdom, and boundaries that honor God.

Brothers and sisters, we often hear people say, "Life is good" or "Life is hard." But the truth is—life itself doesn't change. Life is simply life. You either have it, or you don't. The labels we put on it—good, bad, hard, joyful—are shaped by our perspective in the moment. 

"My God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 4:19   "Even to your old age, I will be the same… I will carry you." — Isaiah 46:4   "Forsake me not when my strength faileth." — Psalm 71

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Isaiah 43:18–19 (KJV)   I Resolve   I resolve… To seek God daily, not just occasionally,   To breathe His Word in rhythm, faithfully, relationally.   I resolve… To trust His timing, not rush the plan,   To wait with patience, resting in His hand.   I resolve… To walk in obedience, though the path feels tight,   To step through discomfort, still choosing what's right.   I resolve… To guard my mind, my heart, my soul,   To keep His Spirit steady, making Him my goal.   I resolve… To forgive quickly, to love with intention,   To heal with mercy, beyond all convention.   I resolve… To show up for worship, to grow and to stay,   To honor His presence in each passing day.   I resolve… To step into purpose, not retreat in fear,   To claim the calling that God made clear.   And so I commit— To walk forward with God, my anchor, my guide,   Through valleys and peaks, His will I'll abide.   No turning back, no shadowed disguise,   I resolve to live boldly, with faith in my eyes.

the importance of goal setting with God.

Goal setting is not about perfection — it's about progress. It's about moving, step by step, in the direction God is calling you. It's about aligning your life with His will, His wisdom, and His Word.

"When You Don't Have the Words"   Romans 8:26 — "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us…"

• Hebrews 10:24–25 — "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…" • 1 Timothy 4:14 — "Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you."

Brokenness in the Bible is not a curse but a doorway to grace: it teaches us humility, repentance, and dependence on God, opening the way for healing and transformation.   • Brokenness as Humility and Repentance Psalm 51:17 declares, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." This shows that God values a heart that admits weakness and turns back to Him Bible Hub +1. • Brokenness Precedes Renewal The Bible often portrays brokenness as the moment before restoration. Like clay in the potter's hand, our self-will must be "crushed" so God's Spirit can reshape us into something stronger and more faithful ctoministrie.... • Types of Brokenness Scripture highlights different forms:• Spiritual brokenness – when sin separates us from God, leading us to repentance. • Emotional brokenness – grief, loss, or disappointment that draws us closer to God's comfort. • Physical brokenness – weakness or suffering that reminds us of our dependence on His strength believeinthe....   • God's Nearness in Brokenness Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Brokenness is not abandonment—it is the place where God's presence is most intimate christianity.... • Transformation Through Brokenness Brokenness is often the soil where growth happens. It strips away pride and self-reliance, teaching us to trust God fully. As Paul wrote, "When I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10), showing that weakness becomes strength when surrendered to Christ biblestudyfo....   Practical Takeaways   • Brokenness is a spiritual posture: It's not about despair but about openness to God's healing. • God uses brokenness to shape character: It's the refining fire that produces humility, compassion, and resilience. • Brokenness is communal: Sharing our brokenness with others fosters empathy and strengthens community. • Hope is always present: Brokenness is never the end—it is the beginning of restoration.      Reflection   Brokenness is the paradox of faith: what feels like loss becomes the very place of gain. It is where pride is shattered, and grace flows in. In ministry, storytelling, or psalms, brokenness can be framed not as defeat but as the sacred space where God rebuilds us into vessels of hope and light.

Had a rough week and wanted to share a little about it.  The Psalmist's Guitar is a project /  book I am working on.  Thanks for listening.   Kenn 

How important is love?    I Corinthinians 13:1-3 

Biblically, the sin of not resting is seen as disobedience to God's rhythm of creation and a rejection of trust in His provision. It leads to spiritual dryness, societal injustice, and even exile.   Here's how Scripture frames this:  

To Warn against false teachers and divisive influences.  Phil. 3:2   Kenn.blanchard@gmail.com