True North

Pride is one of the main things that gets in the way of our relationship with God and His people…and surprisingly enough, God allows this type of pride in our hearts, so that we can learn humility; We can learn to be submissive to a higher power than ourselves. We need God, no matter what our pride may say, we cannot do life without Him. In today's message, Pastor Gary will encourage you to set your pride aside and surrender in meekness before the Lord! You will be surprised at how God rewards that humility!

Worship is prayer, raising our voices in adoration to God, reading the Bible, and everything else in between; Everything we do, inside and outside the Church building, can be worship! Whatever it is, we can use it to honor God and show Him our faith! In today's message, Pastor Gary will challenge you on how, when, and where you worship. God is a good God, and He demands true and sacrificial worship. That kind of worship happens starting in your quiet time and then overflows on a Sunday morning!

God allows hard times in our lives to test us…to test our faith and trust in Him! The test itself is designed for us to withstand temptation…not on our own, but with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit working with us! In today's message, Pastor Gary will remind you that if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, then you have the strength and power to withstand any and all sin that threatens your relationship with the Lord!!!

Trusting God with our family, finances, and future isn't easy…but it is necessary! We can't say we trust God and want Him to direct our lives and then not move an inch to obey. Whether God gives us an undeniable sign or not, we have to move; God cannot direct us if we're not actively obeying…simply put…He can't steer a parked car! In today's message, Pastor Gary will show you how simply acting upon the prompting of the Lord without sign after sign can bless your life and set God's will in motion!

In life, we will go through hard times and good times…we know this. But, more often than not, we forget why this is. God gives us ups and downs in life to teach us! Whether it is to depend on Him for what we need on a daily basis or remembering to bless Him when He does provide what we need, we need to learn! In today's message, Pastor Gary will remind you that as you go through different seasons of life, whether good or bad, to be thankful either way! A grateful heart will never lead you astray!

After reading stories in the Bible of all God has done and all His people have done through the power of the Holy Spirit, how could you not want Him to intercede in your life?! How could you not want Him to bless you, use you, and guide you into amazing things, just like He has in the Scripture?! In today's message, Pastor Gary will encourage you to allow God to do those things in and through you! Surrender control to Him and then obey and see ALL that He can accomplish with and for you!

Think back to the time you were spiritually dead…or maybe you feel that way right now…Jesus came to defeat that spiritual death and physical death! He came so you and I could be spiritually alive in Him! In today's message, Pastor Gary will share some of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and what that means for you. Death is no longer a worry, your unending cycle of sin is no longer a concern, Jesus Christ defeated all your worries on the cross…and He did so with YOU in mind!

All people stumble and make poor choices…even Christians…the difference is we Christians know God and are forgiven when we approach God with a humble heart! We will never get to a place where we don't need forgiveness from God, not until we're in heaven with God. In today's message, Pastor Gary will encourage you to read your Bible. Reading your Bible sets you up for success, it can reveal more of God and His plan, and it encourages you to follow after God more fiercely!

A lot of time to the world, Christians look “wild”. People who don't know Jesus and haven't experienced Him tend to think we look crazy, but that doesn't matter! It doesn't matter what people think; It only matters what God thinks! In today's message, Pastor Gary will show you how nothing truly matters if you're obeying God and following Him! If you're aligned with God and His word and He says you're right, then no one's opinion matters. It is between you and the Lord to decide what is best!

Have you ever had an addition or a major renovation done on your home? Before the job started, did the construction crew get a blueprint? Or, did they just make it up as they went? Today, Pastor Gary shows how Jesus Himself set the example of following God's blueprint for His life. How well do you know God's blueprint – the Bible? And knowing it, how carefully do you follow it? By examining how Jesus observed God's direction, you'll gain insight into how you can do it as well.

In the New Testament, we read a lot of details about the birth of Christ. And of course, we have vast information about the years of His ministry. But what happened in between? Today, Pastor Gary shares some key insights from those few verses that describe Jesus' childhood, and how they relate to our lives. What does the grace of God do in your life? Besides salvation, does it have any purpose? When you see how grace worked in Jesus' life, you'll have a new understanding of how it can work in yours.

It doesn't take a lot to see that we're living in the end times. A day doesn't go by when we don't have some news that demonstrates how bad this world truly is. How long can things keep going the way they are before Jesus comes back? In his message today, Pastor Gary teaches you that, if you're saved, then you can't just live in anticipation of Jesus' return, but you've got to live in His presence NOW. Yes, heaven will be amazing, but are you living your life for Jesus today?

Do you remember getting in trouble as a kid? It was bad enough when you got caught doing something you weren't supposed to, but what about when you slipped up and did something really stupid right in front of your parents? That's the worst, isn't it? Today, in his message, Pastor Gary teaches you that if you're a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian, then God is with you now. The Holy Spirit is God dwelling in you, and He's with you everywhere you go. Are you living your life in a way that's pleasing to Him?

Sometimes it's hard to separate the message from the messenger. Perhaps someone you don't particularly like tells you something that you know is true and important. Or maybe a friend says something that's right, but you don't appreciate the way they said it. What should you do? Today, Pastor Gary reminds us that we need to listen to the message, regardless of from whom, or how, it's delivered. Be sure that you are hearing every message that comes from Christ as He speaks to you in many ways.

There are a lot of things in this world that are clamoring for our attention – all the time. We get emails, we get bills and ads in the mail, and there's the never-ending barrage of media and social media. Would it be possible to be so overwhelmed with these things that we miss what's most important? As Pastor Gary shares today, not only can we miss the point, but we usually do. During Jesus's life on earth, many people missed His point completely. So, pay close attention to what He's saying to you.

A lot of things have been accomplished that people once thought were impossible. From getting an airplane to fly, to getting people to the moon, many amazing things have been done by the human race. But what about the impossibilities in our personal lives? Many wonder, “How could God possibly forgive me?” Today, Pastor Gary shows that Jesus did the seemingly impossible to forgive you, by dying for you on the cross. And you have the privilege of passing that on to others.

Most people in Western countries have heard that a person named Jesus existed. From the manger scenes and the crosses displayed on churches and around peoples' necks, there are some general ideas about His life that they're familiar with. But today, Pastor Gary emphasizes that knowing facts alone about Jesus is of no value. Unless you understand and believe Who He is. He is the only way to God, and He Himself is the One who created you as a human being. And there's much more!

Many people will go through their entire lives thinking that there's plenty of time to give their life to God. But the reality is that no one knows when their time is up. And when you come to the end of the line and meet God, will you still have time to make things right? In today's message, Pastor Gary urges you to give God your life NOW, instead of waiting to let God into your heart. Accept Jesus Christ into your life today because there will soon be a day when He will return for His family, and that day is closer than you think.

In the Bible, God created Adam and Eve. One day, Satan came into the Garden of Eden and convinced both of them to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. And when they did that, Adam and Eve disobeyed God's only commandment to them, and sin entered the world. Sin is what separates us from God. And when someone dies with sin in their heart, they'll face eternal separation from Him. But today, Pastor Gary reminds you that God gave the World Jesus so that all who believe in Him will have everlasting life!

When life gets you down, and your troubles seem to pile up, isn't it amazing to know that there's someone by your side? In today's message, Pastor Gary wants to encourage you to lift God up in every circumstance. Even when your future feels uncertain, the Bible teaches that you must trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. And when you submit to God and let Him into every area of your life, you can trust knowing that God will stay true to His Word!

Jesus knows what it's like to face human sorrow. Not only did He deal with death and tragedy during His time on Earth, but He also endured the worst of human suffering when He faced the cross. Pastor Gary wants you to know today that you can place all of your grief and sorrow at the feet of Jesus. He will take those burdens and bear them for you so that you can live a life of freedom and joy in Christ. You aren't meant to handle all of those burdens and grief on your own. Let Jesus share the load.

Sin is an all-or-nothing game. Either you are guilty of sin or you aren't. Well. Pastor Gary reminds you today that it is the sin of all mankind that put Jesus on the cross. But yet, Jesus chose to go to the cross willingly, so that you would have the opportunity to be forgiven of your sin, and be restored to a relationship with God. When you take the time to meditate on that truth, you begin to see just how important it is for you to share the message of the Gospel. Forgiveness is available to all who call Jesus lord.

Every church on the planet is made up of humans, and the fact of the matter is that humans are flawed beings. We are bound to mess up and hurt our neighbors, even if we don't mean to. But Pastor Gary encourages us today, because even though we are part of a body made of imperfect people, Jesus is at the head, and He is perfect. Christ's perfection cancels out all of the division and discord we find within the Church, and He makes His bride into something greater than the sum of its parts.

You have on-demand access to the Creator of the universe! That's a privilege that shouldn't be discounted. Pastor Gary implores you to get excited in today's message because you can pray to God and know that He hears your prayer. When you were adopted into God's family, the connection between God and man that had been destroyed by sin was reformed. That's why more people should be excited by being part of the Body of Christ, it helps restore you to the purpose you were created for!

Have you ever watched someone build a tower out of playing cards? It takes a lot of delicate balancing and placement in order to create a free-standing structure. Remove one card and everything will collapse. In today's message, Pastor Gary teaches that each member of the Body of Christ is vitally important to the mission of the Gospel. There are other believers who are relying on you to be faithful to God's commandments, looking to you to be an example of how to put Jesus first!

Have you tried getting exercise after not exercising for a while? You will probably feel sore, as your body isn't used to the level of activity you're now trying to put it through. But with consistent effort, you can get stronger. Today, Pastor Gary explains that if you treat praising God like an exercise, and do it consistently over a long period of time, it'll become like second nature to you. You will learn to praise God, even when problems come your way, because you know He's got you in His hands.

It's been shown throughout Scripture that people who understand even a small fraction of God's glory can't help but praise Him. Moses was so close to the presence of God that his face glowed, as he descended Mount Sinai. Today, Pastor Gary wants to know when your praise is going to glow! Are you going to obey the words of Scripture praise God and acknowledge the supremacy of His glory? You can be stubborn all you want, but that won't change the fact that He's deserving of all your praise.

How often do you praise God? Jesus said in the Gospel of Luke that if the people don't praise Him, the rocks of the ground will cry out in their place. Pastor Gary teaches you today that the need to praise God is built into the very fabric of human existence. When you don't give the Lord the praise that He is due, you begin to become separated from Him and begin to follow the ways of the enemy. The best way to align your life with that of Jesus is to spend time in prayer and worship of the King.

One of the ways that God uses obstacles in your life is to remind you of your need to rely on Him. When God left Jacob with a limp, it served to remind Jacob of the weakness of his flesh, and it taught him to rely fully on God. Pastor Gary reminds you today that while your flesh is weak and incapable of following God's commandments on its own, God lends you His strength to go the rest of the way. You're not meant to go through life alone, and God is your perfect and most reliable companion through life.

God never promises you an easy path through life. Sometimes the obstacles you face in life are meant to get your attention. When you step away from God's path and end up following your old patterns, the Lord may allow the enemy's stumbling blocks, to remind you of where your heart needs to be. Today, Pastor Gary teaches that Jacob was a man who had begun to serve his own interests over the Lord's. God wrestled with him and helped Jacob recognize his need for a merciful God. This pointed him back to the Father.

Have you ever felt awkward having to pray in front of a group of people or at a dinner table? Sometimes it can be hard to pray to God in front of people you don't know, or people who don't believe in God. In today's message, Pastor Gary will empower you to pray like no one is watching. Don't change the power and impact of your prayer depending on who's in the room. You should pray with passion and fervency no matter what. Don't be ashamed of the Gospel. There is power in the mighty name of Jesus!

How do you receive blessings from God? Are you suddenly blessed after you've hit a certain amount of hours prayed or by giving a specific amount of money? It might sound ridiculous if you understand God and the bible, but many other religions believe that you can earn your way into heaven. Today, Pastor Gary will remind you that God gives you His blessing by simply following His word. When you listen to God's word and apply it to your life, you will begin to see the true blessing of God poured into your life.

Think about how you feel loved. Some people feel loved by getting gifts. Other people feel loved by spending quality time with someone. We all have unique ways of feeling loved, but how does God receive our love? Today, Pastor Gary will remind you that loving God is no different than loving another person. You can spend time with Him, give Him gifts, and express your joy in serving Him. Don't think God is some distant being that can't be loved. He deserves the same love that He gives you.

How do we know we need Jesus when we already have all our needs met? For people living in first-world countries, it can be harder to see why we need Jesus, because we have food to eat, a roof over our heads, and clothes on our backs. It's harder for people to see the need in today's culture because we have more abundance than we could ever imagine. In today's message, Pastor Gary will remind you that even if your physical needs are being met, you have spiritual needs only God can fulfill.

What is following Jesus costing you? If you don't feel the impact of what it costs you to follow Jesus, you might need to start sacrificing more. Is it a sacrifice to put your money in the offering bucket, or do you not even notice it? Are you only in church on Sundays and not giving your time throughout the week? Today, Pastor Gary will remind you that following Jesus isn't a checklist or a step-by-step guide into heaven. You must be willing to give up your sinful past for the hope of a future in eternity.

The Lord will never fail us. We simply need to walk by faith in Him. In today's teaching, Pastor Gary reminds listeners of the priority of actively pursuing Jesus in all areas of life. As we aim to make a Kingdom impact here on earth, the Lord is pleased, and Heaven rejoices. We are not called to “sit on the sidelines” of Christianity! What action might the Lord be calling you to today? Ask Him to reveal ways to use you for His work. Lean into the opportunities presented for you to get involved!

How passionate are you to obey God, live righteously, serve Him in your ways, and bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus? Today, Pastor Gary expounds upon this question as he calls listeners to action. The Lord does not want you to be sitting idly by, as there is much work to be done for His Kingdom! He desires to use those who are wholly devoted to Him. What lifestyle changes can you make to reflect a life that is centered around the person and work of Jesus Christ?

Sometimes, we just need to embrace the position that we are in, instead of always looking for brighter circumstances. In today's message, Pastor Gary teaches listeners that God may be wanting to maximize the situation we are in. Too often, we seek comfort over calling. The Lord may not want to deliver you from something hard, because He may want to teach or use you through it! How can you accept the calling that God has placed on your life for this season, and maximize His potential through you?

What opportunities are available to you to serve the Lord and impact His Kingdom? In today's teaching, Pastor Gary challenges listeners to “get into the game” when it comes to serving in ministry. There are always needs within the local church and community, and perhaps your specific giftings are just what is needed. How can you be more aware and involved in what the Lord might be calling you to do? Ask God to present you with the perfect opportunities to serve Him in your domain.

Do you know that your simple practice of faithfulness in everyday things, including devotion to the Lord, can be the most impactful witness upon someone's life? In today's message, Pastor Gary shares how influence doesn't always require special status or treatment. Our world needs more people who are simply faithful to do the “little things.” Have you been deflecting responsibility looking for something bigger and brighter? Embrace and thrive in the role that God has you in today!

The Bible states that ALL Scripture is God-breathed. In today's teaching, Pastor Gary will warn listeners against cherry picking which verses they like, and accept that every Word of God is True. What the Lord declares in His Word WILL come to pass, and in His Word should rest our security in life. Some things can be hard to swallow or understand, but the Holy Spirit is always working to reveal Himself to you through His Word. How can you prioritize every portion of Scripture in your life today?

There is no better place to live in, rest upon, and operate from than God's presence! In today's message, Pastor Gary encourages listeners to look no further than our Savior for ultimate joy, peace, and satisfaction. The enemy will offer every worldly alternative to steal your attention and affection, but nothing compares to walking with the Lord. Have you been living from the presence of God in your life? You will never regret handing the reigns of your life to King Jesus!

How do we become connected to God, or even more so, how do we live from the presence of God? In today's teaching, Pastor Gary will break down this important concept, noting the mighty work of the Holy Spirit to make this possible. Perhaps you still remember the day that you accepted Jesus as your Savior, and perhaps you have experienced the fruits of that decision by a greater oneness with God! Without the Holy Spirit's initial tug on your heart to respond to the Gospel, Salvation wouldn't be possible!

As a kid, it was hard to tell others that I was a Christian. But as I grew deeper in my faith, I realized that the Bible teaches that the world will treat you differently as a Christian. Jesus says in the book of Matthew, “Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” In today's message, Pastor Gary tells you that if someone casts the proverbial stone at you, know that the world hated Jesus first. And it's in these moments where your true faith will shine.

Have you ever been to a church where you see the congregation supporting and uplifting each other? It's a powerful sight. As Christians, it's normal to want to socialize and be together. The Bible teaches that if you and I walk in the light, as Jesus is in the light, then you and I have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses all from sin. So, In today's message, Pastor Gary invites you to have fellowship and encourage one another in the Body of Christ

In today's message, Pastor Gary inspires you to envision: What does faith look like? The Bible teaches that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. You might be thinking, “How can I have faith in something I can't see?” Perhaps you can't see where your next paycheck will come from. Maybe you can't see when your season of struggle will end. But today, Pastor Gary reminds you that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Have faith in Christ, and imagine if you will, where Jesus will take you!

Have you ever heard another Christian say, “Take up your cross?” It's not about carrying a physical cross, but about embracing sacrifice. As Apostle Paul writes in the book of Galatians, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” Paul is urging the reader to follow Christ's example, to make sacrifices in their lives, and to let Jesus live through them. In today's message, Pastor Gary is here to remind you to embrace your cross and allow Jesus to work through you!

Did you hear what Pastor Gary just said? He shared that Jesus Christ, the only one qualified to die for the sins of humanity, did so on that cross because He was sinless and perfect. Imagine a world where God didn't send His Son to die for your sins. The Bible teaches that the penalty of sin is death, but God's love for you is so immense that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay that price. In today's message, Pastor Gary invites you to give your life to Jesus Christ, and make Him your Lord and Saviour!

Keep your eyes on the horizon of Jesus and not on the waves of turbulent seas! As you listen to today's message from Pastor Gary, he shares with you that no foundation will ever be solid without the Lord. Jesus is to be your Rock. Not the things and cares of this world. When you keep your eyes on Jesus, He becomes your stability, your anchor, your joy, and your strength. Pastor Gary encourages you to keep relying upon Him. His Word to you trumps every word spoken about you. Stay rooted in His love.

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God! In today's message from Pastor Gary, he encourages you to take action toward growing your faith. If you feel like your faith is dwindling, get into the Scriptures. We all can go through desert seasons where it feels like our faith is being dried up. That's why Pastor Gary emphasizes the importance of staying rooted and anchored in the Bible. Recite verses over and over until they stick in your mind. Also, surround yourself with fellow believers who can sharpen your faith!

Believe it or not, but Jesus lives to make intercession for you! Pastor Gary shares with you this beautiful truth through today's message. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Heavenly Father. Whether you feel His presence or not, He is present in your life. Pastor Gary explains that Jesus knows and understands your concerns and cares. He intercedes for you daily to His Father. Understand that you're never alone in this life. Jesus through His Holy Spirit is with you and empowers you.